LOGS, SPECKS, AND ASYLUM SEEKERS

As Christians we are admonished not to judge. We are reminded by Jesus about the log in our own eye and the speck in the other’s. But, as a human being, as a Christian I can observe. And in my observing I can see the actions of others. In observing I do not have to judge the actions of others. I do not have to judge the other for the one doing the action judges him or herself by their actions. So when “asylum seeking parents” have their children taken from them, when Trump gropes, forcibly kisses, ogles and demeans women he judges himself. When he calls other human beings animals, rejects asylum requests from people fleeing violence, and hunger in their own country, he judges himself. When he rejects and demeans people because of the religion they practice he judges himself. When he embraced murderous dictators, demagogy, and oligarchs he judges himself. When he looks at White Supremacists and says some are good people he judges himself.

I recently read where an author of an article said that some faithful Christians see what they regard as “good fruit” from Trump: saving “unborn” babies, stimulating the economy, and protecting American citizens from potential danger from those crossing our borders. Given Trump’s demonstrated character of “Trump First” he is not doing this for humanitarian reasons. He is appealing to his base, stimulating the economy to line his own pockets, and protecting Americans so his cronies can manufacture more guns, planes and implements of war to enrich the 1% Club of which he is a member (or at least says he is).

Trump is judged by Trump; we only need to observe and then decide on peaceful actions to counter what he and his administration are doing, what they stand for and what they embody; a new personification of evil.

The author of the article I mentioned previously says that God loves Trump. That may be (did Jesus love the demons He cast out?) but it is far past my capacity to love Trump or anything he stands for. I do leave this one up to God.

Returning to where I started; Trump judges himself by his actions, by the fruits he produces. I don’t have to judge.

“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Thus you will know them by their fruits.”

(Matthew 7:18 – 20  NRSV)