Seeing that Charlie Kirk showed up at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago started me thinking about why it is that conservative Evangelical Christians are attracted to Republican politics and are either unwilling, or unable to see the almost complete incongruity between the Christian gospel found in the New Testament, and the Trump Republican Party. When I prioritize my own personal convictions, and I determine to follow the words of Jesus, who said that the greatest commandment given by God is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind," and points out that the second greatest commandment is actually connected to that one, and that "loving your neighbor as yourself" is actually the means by which adherence to the first commandment is demonstrated, then I can only conclude that political extremism trumps [pardon the pub] the Christian gospel for people like Kirk.
Kirk, by the way, is the founder of Turning Point USA, a political auxiliary to the Republican party, more specifically to the Trump branch of the Republican party, aimed at brainwashing younger voters in the MAGA agenda and attempting to get them activated to vote on that side of the political divide. It depends heavily on politically engaged Evangelicals and has "re-establishing the church in the public square" as one of its aims.
It was actually Don Jr., speaking at one of these rallies in Phoenix, who made the claim that the teachings of Jesus were no longer relevant to the place of the church in the world, claiming that the practice of his teaching to "turn the other cheek," specifically, was what was keeping the church from having influence in the public square. That's a novel approach to Christian faith, I admit, along with considering the teachings of Jesus as being "woke" talking points.
Maybe Charlie Kirk Can Learn Real Values from Being at the DNC
Maybe that's why Kirk decided to come to Chicago. Aside from the chance to experience one of the greatest cities in America, he can learn something about the values he claims to want his political auxiliary to have. In just two evening sessions of the Democratic National Convention, it has become very clear that those biblical, Christian gospel values that his group has determined are no longer relevant are found at the very core of everything the Democrats are doing.
Democrats seem to be getting a much more favorable response to their approach than Kirk, Trump and the decimated GOP are getting. He's certainly had plenty of opportunity to hear about real, down to earth values and how the Democratic party has implemented them and wants to continue. The RNC was full of criticism, name calling, false accusations, outright lies, and a boring train of speakers all trying to do Donald Trump imitations, and failing at it. In one night of the DNC, I heard the word "joy" or a form of it mentioned a dozen times, along with hope, peace, humility and unity.
He had the opportunity to learn all about the meaning of "love your neighbor as yourself" from several speakers, including the Reverend Rafael Warnock, also a United States Senator, who transitioned from political speech into Baptist preacher sermon before he finished. We heard multiple examples of that virtue being put into practice as President Biden went down the list of his achievements and accomplishments in office, virtually every one of them based on considering the good outcome for one's neighbors. And even though they've been out of office for eight years, now, the Obamas are still lazer focused on their message of hope and they have the goods to back it up.
I saw a video clip of a conversation Kirk had with a young delegate from Georgia, who got the typical deflection one gets when discussing Trump's corrupt attempt to steal elections and empower fake electors, a deflection. Kirk asked him, "What's a woman?" The delegate responded, while walking off in frustration, "Why don't you meet one and find out."
I'd have been more subtle.
"A woman is a human being, created by God, who, in this room and in this party, unlike yours, is respected as an equal, empowered by her intellect and her creativity, balanced by her emotional strength and stability, capable and qualified to serve in the most powerful office in the world."
I hope Charlie Kirk has some kind of epiphany while enjoying all that this great city has to offer. Obviously, he spent his own money and showed up here because he is looking to fill in some big holes in values he currently does not understand or does not possess. If he stays for the next couple of days, he's going to hear an awful lot about joy, about making peace, about loving his neighbor and using what he's been given to make a difference for everyone. Above all, he's going to be in a place that was completely transformed by one of the most selfless acts demonstrating true patriotism and a love for one's country that we have ever seen from a President of the United States.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Talk is easy and cheap. I can hear those words coming out of both my mother and father's mouth when they were disappointed with a choice I made and wanted to provide some correction so I wouldn't repeat the mistake. I always appreciated that. It made a difference in my life.
Think for a minute, in the speeches that have been made over the past couple of nights at the Democratic convention. It's not difficult to discern what values are being practiced. And frankly, there aren't any political cliches or stereotypes of politicians that accurately describe what is going on. I grew up in an Evangelical Christian denomination and church, a fairly conservative one, and while the cultural insertion of biases and prejudices of the membership were part of the whole picture, I did listen.
Jesus himself opens up his preaching with a description of a set of virtues known as the "beatitudes," which included characteristics he insisted were part of what he preached. Being poor in spirit, or humble; mourning, or contrasting the world's idea of happiness with true happiness; the meek, who were humble and strong; those who hunger and thirst after righteousness; mercy; pure in heart; peacemakers and those persecuted because of righteousness are all marks of, or evidence of true Christian faith.
In his epistle to the Galatians, Paul lays down characteristics of Christian practice he called the "fruit" or product of the spirit. They include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. He added, "There is no law against these things."
In spite of the fact that Evangelical Christians are Trump's largest, and most loyal, constituency, I have to make this observation. I see none of those virtues and values, at the heart of the Christian gospel, exhibited by his followers. And I don't see a single one of these ever exhibited by Trump.
Maybe, by coming to Chicago and showing up at the DNC, Charlie Kirk can see the truth, and it will set him free.
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