From Sojourners 11/03/20. A Faustian Bargain and a Corruption of the Soul, Rev. Jim Wallis interviews Rev. Rob Schenck.
Politics in Washington, D.C., is often antithetical to the teachings of Jesus. Rev. Jim Wallis and Rev. Rob Schenck, the president of the Dietrich Bonhoffer Institute, discuss the spiritual cost of placing access to power above the gospel.
Schenck recalled, "I was present sitting at a table when it happened in Cleveland, during the Republican National Convention. I was at the table and a colleague, a very well-known evangelical leader who had run for president himself, turned to me and said, 'Look, we'll plug our noses. We'll cast our vote for Donald Trump. And then we'll go and puke if we have to.' And that was the deal. It was a corruption of the soul. It would give us access and ability to manipulate the levers of power, but it would exact a huge price from us."
Gandhi said one time he would convert to Christianity if he ever found a church that actually followed the teachings of Jesus.
Another wit said, "Christianity is not a bad idea if anyone actually applied it."
The closest thing to Christianity I have ever found in my free and responsible search is Unitarian Universalism. UU is a dull religion, very intellectualized, lacking in resonating spirit, but morally right on target. Jesus would be a good UU covenanting to affirm and promote its seven principles which His teachings and life manifested.
It is hard to understand what the Evangelicals ever saw in such a corrupt leader as Donald Trump. After perpetrating violence for a photo op in front of church holding a bible backwards and upside down, you might think Evangelicals would question their judgment if indeed they really believe what they state they stand for.
UUs on the other hand have stood firm on their principles of affirming and promoting the inherent worth and dignity of every person and justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
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