Last Friday, May 1, Saul's piece was entitled, "The everything, everywhere, all at once corruption story." By popular demand, Tangle removed the paywall to make the whole article as widely accessible as possible. The full article is available here -- and I very much encourage you to read it (as well as some of the reader comments).
The article received so much response that Saul just posted a follow-up piece entitled, "I'm responding to criticisms of my Trump corruption piece." That response is available here. I encourage you to read this response as well.
Toward the beginning of the May 1 article, Saul writes: "After reviewing the evidence of the first 15 months of President Trump’s second term, I believe the president is profiting off the office and making foreign policy decisions based on business interests to a level we’ve never seen or even conceived of before, and apparently nothing is being done to stop it."
Saul ends his piece with the melancholic, "are there enough of us left who actually care?" As a follower of Jesus Christ and as a US citizen, I must care -- enough at least to help point out the unprecedented, blatant corruption by this POTUS taking place in plain daylight.
Comments welcome -- but only after you have read Saul's article and follow-up response.
Keep up the good work Nelson! :) I often wonder whether much of the Evangelical confusion around Trump is rooted in two additional mistakes: Mistake #1: Christians have a moral duty obligation to *confer* forgiveness on the impenitent. While God *offers* forgiveness to the impenitent, he doesn't *confer* forgiveness on the impenitent. This mistake creates the space with which an overlooking or "forgiving" of Trump's narcissistic / corrupt / anti-Christ behavior is re-framed as a kind of pragmatic & redemptive kindness, when it's actually not redemptive or kind.
ReplyDeleteMistake #2: God loves everyone unconditionally. Therefore, whenever conditions are present in a relationship, some kind of anti-God, anti-gospel, or anti-loving legalism are present. While God does indeed love unconditionally, he also imposes conditions on his relationships, *none* of which contradict his own love. These conditions are all over the place in the Word ...conditions on the Israelites in the celebration of Passover... conditions on salvation imposed by Jesus (unless we repent, we'll perish)...conditions on those who aspire to teach (...those who aspire to teach, must be able to teach), etc...
IMO, the two mistakes above not only blind many Evangelicals to the dis-integrating and destructive effects of Trump, they also create communities in which malevolent and impenitent abusers wreak havoc on women, children, and the local church.
Hi Nelson, I appreciate the way you continually encourage us to thoughtfully and critically compare what we are seeing from this President, his administration, and his party, to what we carry in our hearts: the foundations and values of our Christian faith. The difference could not be starker. The excuses, explanations, and silence are baffling.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the author has not completely unlocked the follow-up response to his original article -- only the first couple of paragraphs are available to non-subscribers. We could all use that ammunition for the inevitable pushback we will get from those who refuse to see the truth.
I commend the author for pointing out the hypocrisy of those who were critical of Biden yet turn a blind eye to the abuses happening today. I have made a bit of headway by asking Trump supporters, "Would you be okay if it was Biden doing what Trump is doing?" I usually get a "No" quickly followed by a "But ... Biden did do that ..." Perhaps some truth there, but anything Biden may have done pales in comparison. Therefore, I also commend the author for highlighting the scale and brashness of today's corruption -- we have never witnessed anything close to this in our history!
Something that is becoming clearer to me with each passing day is this. The key difference I have with this President, his party, and his supporters are not political at all. The key differences are moral and ethical.
Just curious as to what you would have POTUS do differently. I see from the left criticism but nothing that they would do to correct the issue. This is typical of the left. Chastize what is being done and offer NO alternatives that would make the nation and it's people better. Sad that this devide and lack of leadership persists but to be honest I expect nothing more from the socialist party that has consumed the left. Obviously the readers have not been made aware of all that this administration is doing to correct the ills of Obama and Biden and refuse to see the path that DJT has for our nation. Hope you never get what you are asking for..... America First!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback -- but I am afraid you are missing the point here. Isaac Saul and his newsletter "Tangle" are--again, as stated in their own words--"independent" and "nonpartisan." Their regular newsletter bears out that posture. Their newsletter takes quotes from conservatives, quotes from progressives, then give their own take on the topic for the day. // This post (and follow-up) by Saul & Tangle is, accordingly, "independent" and "nonpartisan." They are simply pointing out, through a litany of examples, how "the president is profiting off the office and making foreign policy decisions based on business interests to a level we’ve never seen or even conceived of before, and apparently nothing is being done to stop it." What would Isaac Saul, I, or I hope any of us want POTUS to do differently? Operate with integrity and accountability, particularly financial--that's the point here. // I would also discourage, as much as possible, monolithic and dehumanizing labeling of "the left" or "the right." Isaac Saul and Tangle don't fit either of those labels, nor do I or many, many other US citizens. This country is much more complex and diversified than easy, dehumanizing labels can identify. // Thanks again for reading the Tangle post(s) and for commenting.
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