Dear Beth Moore,

I must say, I cannot believe that in 63.5 years of life you have not run across a doctrine, cause, or theory more seductive or dangerous to the saints than the support of a pro-life, pro-Christian, pro-American President.

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Dear Beth Moore,

I was ready to metaphorically smack John MacArthur for telling you to “go home” when he did so. I have really admired your chutzpah and your pressing forward despite the male-dominated ministry model which you helped to pierce. I still do admire you for that, and I have admired your pastoral teaching gift whenever I have happened to be exposed to it. Having said that, I really am very disappointed in your recent comments about “Trumpism.” 

You took it on the cheek and turned it so well when John MacArthur smacked you in the face; but my goodness, I am really puzzled about how you have come out swinging against a man of official authority and position and title, a duly elected President,  who has never done anything against you personally. 

I cannot sit idly by and let your comments go without some type of response. 

Let us take a moment to break down your comments into the essence of what you have said to examine them more closely. 

To quote: 

“I do not believe these are days for mincing words. I’m 63 1/2 years old & I have never seen anything in these United States of America I found more astonishingly seductive & dangerous to the saints of God than Trumpism. This Christian nationalism is not of God. Move back from it.

“Fellow leaders, we will be held responsible for remaining passive in this day of seduction to save our own skin while the saints we’ve been entrusted to serve are being seduced, manipulated, USED and stirred up into a lather of zeal devoid of the Holy Spirit for political gain.”

Here are your allegations:

1). These are not days for mincing words

By saying this, you are saying that these are incredibly important days and it is imperative that we speak plainly what we believe, and not in a way that could be misconstrued or misunderstood.  I agree with this statement. You have put forth your thoughts/opinions in strong language. That is not a bad thing. Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. We should all speak plainly and clearly what we think. That way, it becomes more easily objectified and examined. Oftentimes, we do not really fully know what is in our heart, until we do give voice to it.  We both agree that these are incredibly important days we are living in and that words have power. Indeed they do.

2). In 63.5 years of living, you are saying that you have never seen anything more dangerous and astonishingly seductive to the saints of God than ‘Trumpism.’

Merriam Webster says that -ism is a particular doctrine, cause, or theory. To place Trump in front of -ism is to say you believe he has become more than simply a person or a President, but a cause or a belief system. While it is true that he has become largely a bigger than life persona, to say his supporters have acquired a new cause or belief system that merits its own special ‘label’ is telling of your opinion not only of Trump but of those who believe in the cause he is championing for our nation. 

I must say, I cannot believe that in 63.5 years of life you have not run across a doctrine, cause, or theory more seductive or dangerous to the saints than the support of a pro-life, pro-Christian, pro-American President. I really, truly, find that quite astonishing, myself. I think if you honestly examined this comment more closely, you would find that there is something at work within you that is elevating a sense of reviling towards another human being that perhaps you are not aware is coming forth from you; some primal gut instinct that is rooted perhaps in something other than logic?

3). Christian Nationalism is not of God.

Nationalism is tied to land and quite often bloodlines. Nations are not evil. God in fact uses that terminology quite often to refer to Jesus’ inheritance. I cannot find where the term “Christian nationalism” is not of God, except where it does become elevated above the kingdom of God and the family of God in the sense of dividing the Body of Christ across the nations. This struggle for America is not rooted in one nation over another. It is, however, rooted in maintaining America’s fundamental essence of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all, free from bowing to forces and influences that do not have our nation’s well being at heart. I find myself wondering if you’ve looked out there at the rest of the world, lately? There is nothing wrong with Christians wanting to see America be a strong, prosperous, free, just, and righteous nation, is there? Or, are you saying that this is a valid goal,  just so long as Christians do not champion it?   

In my mind, the fact that Christians have only been interested in “my 4 and no more,” eschewing participation in the other ‘mountains’ or arenas of society, seems to be the reason why we are where we are right now (or were) …on a fast lane highway to hell. This “Trumpism” is simply the recognition that Christianity has abdicated any right to a voice in the larger arena of our nation’s governance. Yes, we have been lax and late to take up concern and care for what is transpiring in our government, but that is no reason to shoot in the foot those who have suddenly realized the grave danger of falling over into a deep abyss we had just about come to, before Trump began to mobilize America and yes, even the saints to begin to stand up and fight for truth and justice and righteousness over corruption. So, the term “Christian nationalism” is one you use in a negative connotation. Perhaps I am not seeing how it is so. 

4). Move back from it. (distance yourself from it).

This sounds like a warning to, like Korah’s followers, move back from this alleged aberrant lawless rebellious behavior, because God is going to open up a pit in the earth to swallow up its adherents. Hmmm. Not much to say about this, except I think it exposes your opinion of God’s so-called opinion of the many saints who are fighting for justice and righteousness in our nation. You have “prophesied” your thoughts. I guess time will tell if you are correct that God’s wrath is coming to strike down those who are for Trump, or not. I personally am not fearful of that, given that even before Trump was the Republican nominee for President, God revealed to me personally that he was His choice, and exactly why that was/is.

5). You consider yourself a leader of the saints

I thought so too. But, remember, we know in part, and we prophesy in part. Perhaps you might examine if you are in your proper ‘part’ in terms of knowing the fullness of what God is doing through this Presidency. I don’t at this point personally consider you “my” leader, at least in this sphere of authority or influence. You are a great shepherd of the individual heart in many ways. It is possible you are a leader in that arena but do not possess the anointing to lead in the one you are professing to lead in, where these matters are concerned. 

In such important times, in such weighty matters, should we give voice to our ‘opinions’ in the public arena as a ‘leader,’ or ought we instead be careful to weigh our words so as to make certain they are not at cross purposes to the purposes of God, areas where we may not have personal revelation from God, but simply an opinion?

6). You say that Leaders will be held responsible for remaining passive in this ‘day of seduction’ to ‘save our own skin’ while ‘the saints we’ve been entrusted to serve’ are being:

 a. seduced  

 b. manipulated

 c. used

 d. stirred up into a lather of zeal 

 e. devoid of Holy Spirit

 f. for political gain

All of these labels are your opinion of every Trump supporter. Wow. What we judge others of, is quite often revealing of what we possess in our own heart. Before you slap that judgmental label or accusation as a blanket judgment on every single Trump supporter, can you stop for a moment and remember that Jesus said that when you judge another man’s servant, you are sitting in judgment in God’s seat? As a teacher of the Word of God, you should know this, and that these labels and accusations are insulting. 

You may have 4.5 years of life experience on me, but, really Beth, I don’t think you have a right to call me or anyone else for that matter “seduced,” “manipulated,” “used,” “stirred up into a lather of zeal” (well, maybe that one is okay – Jesus said He would spew the lukewarm out of His mouth so I guess I prefer to be zealous than lukewarm); “devoid of Holy Spirit,” (now this one is really grievous), and all for (the final judgmental slap): POLITICAL GAIN.

It just felt like breaking down these words and labels and accusations and examining them more closely might help to put into perspective the mouthful you just lobbied against possibly half of the Christian population or more in this nation. 

I don’t feel “saved” by your un-minced words, I feel condescended to and judged. But, I forgive you. I have to, in order to keep moving and to fight for what I know is God’s revealed will regarding this Presidency because, as a watchman and an intercessor, that is my duty and calling. 

I’ll just pull that arrow out of my shield of faith and soldier on dear sister. I still choose to believe you are a good person. I won’t put any labels on you because, well, we are all fellow Americans, fellow brothers, and sisters in the Lord, and at the end of it all, really all fighting for the same cause.

 

Written by Lisa Jessie

 

Featured Image by Freddy Castro on Unsplash

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