When this Progressive Christian Whips Out the Old Testament, You Know Shit's Getting Real
Fear Not
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I’m one of those progressive Christians that many on the right think isn’t really Christian, and many on the left think doesn’t even exist.
And here’s my temperature today: I am scared shitless over the upcoming elections in the U.S.
Kamala Harris? She’s stellar and already has experience in both the legislative and judicial branches of government. I’d vote for her over a long list of other politicians. But let’s be real—the bar is subterranean when her opponent is Mr. January 6.
After that day, there was nothing he could do to earn my vote ever again—in this lifetime or any other.
And while in normal years Harris-for-prez would be a slam-dunk, this election’s far from a sure thing. And why is that? An unearthly cabal of dark money and Christian Nationalist / Dominionist manipulators.
My Blue-voting cousin in Alabama, who’s way more politically in the loop than I, has been sending me article after article about the dark money fueling Trump’s campaign.
I had been wondering who was propping up the orange sock puppet
Turns out they’re big money elites (hello, irony!) who are unintentional bedfellows with Russia, Iran, and China in their bid to bring down, and I mean very literally, truth, justice and the American way.
These fucking dark money assholes cut their teeth on manipulating local elections decades ago are using trump now, and if trump goes down then they’ll just find another sock puppet to fulfill the same role for them, as long as they’re around.
Until we find a way to stop them—to unseat these unelected oligarchs who are trying to wrestle power from our voting public—they’ll be funding widespread smear campaigns of utter garbage while low-information voters continue to fall for their lies. And if they succeed in pushing through Project 2025 goals, they’ll end:
The U.S. Department of Education
The Head Start program for young children in poverty
The Title I program that provides federal funding to schools serving low-income children
Federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ students
Federal funding for students with disabilities
Federal protections that ensure children with disabilities are adequately served by schools
Plus, they’ll continue to suck funding from public schools by siphoning them off to private and parochial schools.
If we don’t turn this around soon, we’ll have nothing but low-education voters in the future
So how can we shut down this carnival of horrors once and for all?
I’m not much of a hand-wringer about things, but this feels different. I was practically hyperventilating last night before bed. totally worked up, fight-or-flight firmly switching in the ON position.
“Fear not,” the voice in my head said. “Fear not.”
Huh, I said. I’ve heard that somewhere before.
Here’s where it gets Biblical
It’s Isaiah 41:10, the book that the Jews wrote when they were enslaved—led away from a conquered Jerusalem to work the fields and kitchens and foundries of Babylon:
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Why thank you, Sunday schools of my youth, for tucking that in my brain decades ago, because I really need it now.
I went and pulled out the Oxford Annotated Bible I’d borrowed from my pastor the other day, and it fell open to Isaiah 24:16.
The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously,
Indeed, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.”
Yep. Sounds familiar. There are traitorous and treacherous bad-actors out there right now, with more money and power than someone with evil intent should. I kept reading, hungrily. Here’s Isaiah 26:5-6.
5For He brings down those who dwell on high,
The lofty city;
He lays it low….
6The foot shall tread it down—
The feet of the poor
And the steps of the needy.”
In Isaiah it was the Jewish slaves, exiled in Babylon. Now, it’s we who need deliverance.
I thought, If it was available to Jewish slaves and exiles in nearly 2600 years ago, it’s available to us now. Today.
What were the odds that the Jews would ever see Jerusalem again? Slim to none
History teaches us again and again that large empires turn into black holes, swallowing all societies around them. History’s smaller lights usually blink out of existence, taking their languages, religions, and cultures with them. But that didn’t happen for the people of Isaiah.
Sometimes, all you need is hope, and a reminder that things can turn around, even when it seems impossible. I did feel hope — a spark, rekindling.
After that, I was able to cool down and go to sleep. We each get our own messages, sent to us alone when we open any sacred text, so your read will doubtlessly be different than mine.
The message I got was, Hey, I’ve got you. The shitheads who are dealing treacherously with this nation are going to be brought down like Babylon.
Where’s Babylon today? It’s a dusty ruin. The culture and religion and language have been erased by time. Israel’s still around, though.
So, you know, take heart. the voice in Isaiah says. I know what to do with villains.
And yes, this Progressive Christian has faith in that word.
Wondering what got me so upset the other night?
I’d been reading this article:
And this one:
Housing Crisis Profiteers Are Underwriting the Trump Campaign
And this one too:
Evangelicals Have a Plan to Flip 19 Key Counties.
Need more pick-me ups in this election season? Here you go:
Genesis 15:1
After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."
Genesis 31:5
and he told them, "I can see from your father's countenance that his attitude toward me has changed; but the God of my father has been with me.
Genesis 49:24
Yet he steadied his bow, and his strong arms were tempered by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, in the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
Exodus 14:13
But Moses told the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD's salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.
Exodus 20:20
"Do not be afraid," Moses replied. "For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning."
Deuteronomy 20:1
When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.
Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
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