Today’s a new day! Let’s take a trip back to the election season of 2016. It’s an election season that changed America and the world forever. And I believe personally for the worst. In 2016, I saw so many white pastors, white Christian leaders and many white Christian’s trash their moral compass to gain political power.

There are many issues I could point to, but one area I want to address is loving everyone. There are many scriptures that discuss the importance of “Loving your neighbors.” All of our neighbors! Below are some scriptures I think many Christians, including myself need to review.

“‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Matthew 12:31

“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” Matthew 5:44

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

As a longtime white Christian, I have been heartbroken to see so many white Christians focused not on loving all of their neighbors, but rather having an enemy that must be hated. Fear of these enemies is the ultimate motivator, not love. I have witnessed some white Christians create, fabricate and inflame hate for those they disagree with. Sadly, so many white Christians have chosen fear and hate over the love of a Savior they claim to serve. Here are some examples of how so many “White Christian Nationalists”are choosing to live their hate filled lives…

If they love minorities as themselves they fear the minorities will take over the church and society, and they’ll lose their white way of life. Their white privilege.

If they love African-Americans as themselves, they might have to take a real look at racism, true equality, true police accountability, true legal fairness, true economic justice, and true opportunity.

If they love the LGBTQ+ community as themselves, they’ll have to look past their hate and see a real human being. They will find people who love their families and only want to live a peaceful and better life.

If they love the least-of-these as themselves with economic equality, affordable health care, a real living wage, social security, long-term care, educational fairness and the removal of poverty they will have to come to terms with a thriving economy where everyone has a chance at the “American Dream.”

“Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least among you, you did not do for me.’” -Matthew 25:41-45

“He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich–both come to poverty.” -Proverbs 22:16

“Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.” -Ezekiel 16:49

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” James 2:8-9

In these scriptures, we see where God admonishes that our highest motivation should be the unconditional love and care for all of humanity equally. In contrast, there is truly no other fuel that drives White Christian Nationalism than having enemies to fear, hate, marginalize, fight, and treat unequally.

This is why the former president has the addictive support and allegiance of this UnChristian group of White Christian Nationalist. For the only thing they understand is fear, and the former president speaks their language like no other. He mocks special needs people, bullies his perceived enemies, embraces racism, fosters white supremacy, mistreats women, ignites division, worships greed, and loves himself above all things.

Biblically, this is the ultimate blaspheme of the Spirit.

To see love as the enemy.

To see fear as the friend.

To see enemies as the goal.

To fight at all cost, with lies, violence, duplicity, and sin.

To see a white, conservative, Republican, American Jesus as the way, truth, and life.

To see white, conservative Evangelicalism as the Kingdom.

Sorry, I want a President with whom love is greater than fear. I want a country where to love all people equally is a friend and not an enemy. I want see character in a flawed leader, a great society, a great economy, and a great nation to be defined by its love for all people equally, not fear nor hate. 

I choose this way of life because the Bible commands me to. ~OC