The Golden Calf in American politics
I was inspired to write this blog post after a weekend dealing with “idolatry” – watching the Oscars and reading in synagogue about the Golden Calf in Exodus.
The worship of idols (including graven images) is the No. 1 no-no in monotheist religions, starting with Judaism. As the Torah states (Exodus 32:20), Moses “took the calf they had made, burned it in fire, ground it to fine powder, scattered [it] upon the surface of the water, and gave [it to] the children of Israel to drink.” In Exodus 32.35, it reads :”Then the Lord struck the people with a plague, because they had made the calf that Aaron had made.”
Well, idolatry didn’t stop there, and has been with us to this very day.
Idol worship is defined in an online dictionary as “the worship of an “idol“, also known as a cult image, in the form of a physical image, such as a statue or icon.” But people are drawn to human idols, too — actors, sports figures, and of course, political leaders.
Despite playing down the anti-Trump politics at the Oscars, the Hollywood idols saw their ratings drop about 20%. Good!
But liberals are by and large secular and I believe more drawn to idol worship than folks of faith. However, when it comes to President Trump and the GOP leaders in Congress, the “professional class” in this country seems more interested in a soothsayer (i.e. Obama) than results leading to a better livelihood, security and freedoms for all Americans.
Despite eight years in office and little to show for it, Barack Obama is more popular in polls than Trump. Millions would vote him back in, if they could. I believe he is an idol.
I attended a Rutgers alumni event recently and was besieged by friends, all New Jersey residents, and professionals, dumping all over Trump and the tax cut (they feel the limit on the state income tax deduction is going to screw them). But when I engaged with them, it seemed many of my friends dislike what Trump says and Tweets vs. what he is trying to achieve.
I am not comparting Trump to Moses, but I feel Moses, Aaron, Joshua, David, Solomon, plus Jesus, the Apostles and Paul, were probably not the most politically savvy and certainly had their foibles, but they were trying to achieve results for humanity. It is a shame that many voters cannot distinguish results from rhetoric.
But Republicans have their idols, too. Republicans idolize Ronald Reagan and want to impose a “Reagan Litmus Test” to every candidate we nominate, forgetting Reagan raised taxes in some areas, expanded disability entitlements and did little to reign in illegal immigration or abortion.
I personally did not sign on with Trump from the get-go of the 2016 campaign because of his Tweets and plain talk, and I don’t idolize him. Rather I saw Trump as a results-oriented business leader who could work both sides of the aisle to achieve great things. And, we are seeing these results.
But results are a funny thing. Politicians who work for results get beat up by those who don’t want that result. It takes a lot of work, leading to gray hair and sleepless nights, to get a majority vote for a piece of legislation. And then, a section of the electorate hate you. This is why so many members of Congress spend more time talking to the TV cameras and making speeches than trying to pass legislation. Forget about trying to cut spending.
I ran all my four of my winning campaigns for Leesburg Town Council and the Loudoun Board of Supervisors on various slogans dealing with results – i.e., “Common Sense Solutions for Leesburg” and “Real Leadership with Results.” Except when I was the top vote getter among seven candidates in 2016’s Council elections, all my elections were close, often just edging out candidates who achieved very little. Our current Leesburg Supervisor, a Democrat, Kristen Umstattd, has held office as a councilmember and mayor in town since 1992 and I cannot think of many things she initiated, but she smiles, is funny and engaging and she wins elections by big majorities.
Trump is not so loveable and warm, and the national GOP in Congress may soon find out that at least in some constituencies, people really don’t care about results. This fall, we are likely to see droves of middle and upper middle class voters (largely liberals and independents) flocking to the polls to make another “protest vote” against Trump like they did in Virginia in November. And in the process, they will be voting out a number of very good Republican leaders in Congress and giving the reigns to the Democrats.
These “professional class” voters, which now fuel Democratic blowouts in statewide races in Virginia, do not seem to care about the tax cut Trump and the GOP gave them, the improved economy and stock market, progress against ISIS and North Korea, and other results. They already have their homes, jobs and retirement funds. They have no empathy with Midwest steelworkers who are losing their jobs to foreign competition, much like a Norfolk maker of artificial Christmas trees that is going under after 60 years in business Conservatives complain that voters do not think about “Country First” any more – well, that slogan failed McCain and Palin in 2008, didn’t it?
I sincerely hope I am proven wrong about the upcoming mid-term elections and the GOP will retain at least one house of Congress and that Trump will continue on the “MAGA” path.
However, a good quantity of the electorate still yearns for an idol to worship versus kick-tail results.
As David wrote in Psalm 135:15-18
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the handiwork of man.
They have a mouth but do not speak; they have eyes but do not see.
They have ears but do not listen; neither is there any breath in their mouth.
Like them will be those who make them, all who trust in them.
27 comments
The one thing that proves an idol has feet of clay is to wash away the image and replace it with some semblance of the truth. I am disgusted that DOJ Sessions is just now “considering” as second special counsel to get at the abuse of the FISA courts when the issue all along is much bigger – the misuse of government agencies for political purpose and to aid in the horrific misuse of national security for personal gain. Who will smash the golden cow? And it needs to be done to save the nation.
For the #nevertrumpers that continue to blather here, the answer is obvious. The saddest result of their continued dissent over the leader of the republican party is Virginia will remain a BLUE state. I can’t wait to hear their prattle when we nominate a GOP Senate candidate that actually supports President Trump. I can guarantee Tim Kaine won’t have any dissent from his base leading into November!
Idolatry is the worship of earthly things ahead of God.
Trump inspires Christian people to ignore the teachings of Christ in favor of “winning.” Trump causes so-called spiritual leaders like Jerry Falwell, Jr. to tell Christians that a man’s character is not important, but how he votes is everything. Trump is teaching people that what happens here on earth is more important than eternal salvation.
That seems to me to be the definition of worshiping earthly things ahead of God.
In December of 2020, when we look back on the wreckage of the Republican party, having lost the Presidency, the House, the Senate, and countless Governors and State Legislatures, will we still be able to tell ourselves that all of it was worth it in order to get one Supreme Court Justice appointed to the Supreme Court?
It was worth keeping the Hildebeast out of the White House, no matter how bunched your britches are.
It’s hard for a number of ideological conservatives in the party to see that Trumpism is changing the GOP for the better. Congress and teh White House are laser-focused on bread and butter and national security issues — not getting bogged down in wars with teh Left over gay marriage, Transgender bathrooms and race relations. Even the gun issue is not as dominant as it was when Obama was in office. you and i both backed trump primarily to put emphasis on trade, taxes, health care and BIG issues that will improve the lots of many. Even Mick’s chosen candidate for President, Ted cruz, said on Morning Joe (MSDNC) that “despite the chaos, we got a lot done.” Yes, a large number of Republicans now idolize Trump for what he says and tweets, but its our challenge to move the conversation toward what he is doing and the results. My column was designed to generate debate on whether middle and upper class voters really want results as they are doing fine — not so much Appalachia, Steel Valley and urban blacks, and that’s where I hope Trumpism will work to help these folks.
I can always spot a Democrat or a Never by the first thing they say about Trump. It’s invariably a comment about his tweets. “I wish he wouldn’t tweet so much”, or some such thing.
The tweets are a silly thing to be concerned about. I do love them for the humor and straight talk, but ultimately tweets are meaningless. It’s the winning that matters.
I agree and appreciate your column. After spending 20+ years in the military, I am a results oriented kind of guy. I have never seen so many campaign promises be kept by ANY politician, to include our sainted Ronald Reagan, that have led to so many positive results. I only wish those “results” were enough to bring our party together so we can take Virginia back. Too many would rather use some sort of Christian litmus test to judge, while they are ignoring the plank in their own eye.
Matthew 7:3
So your definition of Trumpism making the Republican party better is making us pro-gay marriage, pro-transgender, and pro-gun control?
Thank you for making my point for me. Trumpism is turning the Republican party into the Democrat party, which shouldn’t surprise anyone since Trump has been a Democrat all his life.
I will never get over when she was running against Obama;
“Who do you want answering the phone at 1am in the
morning “?
Well the phone was ringing off the hook from Behngazi and she was derelict in the execution of her duties.
No one gets left to die!
An Ambassador her Professional Commrade. If she had no concern for him she would she ever have it for the other Americans?
No
the column was not printed in its entirety , accidentally. So, please re-read if you wish.
I voted for the same candidate you did in the nomination race. But I was wrong. I can see now that Trump was the only guy who had the guts for a fight to win. Even Ted Cruz supports him now. I kinda like winning. Doesn’t seem so bad to me.
I also like the teachings of Christ.
“There are none so blind as those who will not see.”
I am not that good at this so please feel free to slap me around a bit.
I think it was Paul that said;
We are to pray for our leaders not for the failures.
With Trump we can still pray.
God Bless America
And to others please give your blessings to Americanism.
If you really like the teachings of Christ, then you would know that he never said that. That quote is attributed to John Heywood back in 1546, who seemed to be paraphrasing a passage in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah 5:21 “Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.”
I think the quote is an apt analogy for a die hard Trump supporter, though. He constantly puts forward policies that go directly against what he promised in the campaign but none of his supporters seem to care.
I prefer Mark 8:36 myself. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul.”
There is also the passage out of 1 Corinthians 5:11 where the Apostle Paul talks about how to deal with unrepentant sinners:
“But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister, but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.”
Your boy Cruz is in danger in Texas. And 3 2 1 It is because of Trump!!! BS… it is because your boy W and his Daddy never saw a border they wanted to enforce. Then Barack helped them out with that. So they have completely changed the demographics of Texas and Va by the way. So whine all you want about true conservatism… the Democrats have the numbers to win now.
I want Trump to do well , to do the things he said.
I want Trump to be reelected not because of Trump himself but because Pence is next in line.
And if there is a Republican that does not want to see Pence in the WH is that person really Republican?
There are religious men then there are the Reverent ones;
Mike Pence
We can have common ground on that note.
Yes, it was worth it. The alternative was Hillary Clinton. I’d vote for Trump again over her any day.
Yes this idiot wrote articles before the election about how it would be okay if Hillary won.
I think you miss the point that God uses flawed individuals for his purposes. Trump is flawed but he repents through the clarity and honesty of his actions (unlike the politician). God has already reinvigorated Christianity through Trump and brought Americans back to the realization that Christianity is important in a world of very bad actors. Exactly what does Trump do that worships earthy things? – puts a Godly man on the Supreme court, reinvigorates the steel industry which was the foundation of industrial America, challenges evil around the world rather than making excuses for it, uses the abuses of the NFL to point out the importance of honoring the country, and much much more. The fact that he does it in ways of business rather than ways of politics is unnerving but he has the courage of a lion of God and the humbleness to owe his forgiveness to Jesus. He is no Obama, Clinton, Bush – he is just the right man provided by God at the exactly right time.
There are so many things wrong with this statement I hardly know where to begin. Your first problem is the notion you put forward that Trump “repents through the clarity and honesty of his actions.” First, Trump has never been honest about anything in his life. Second, that statement reflects an age old idea that, even if you don’t believe in Christ, you can somehow “work” your way into Heaven by doing lots of good things. This leads people like Trump to believe that he can continuously commit bad acts without remorse, but think that as long as they do enough good things to balance the scales, it will all be okay. That is not how it works at all.
It is faith in God and faith in Christ, and a true repentance of sins that is the key. We are called to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deut. 6:5). That love will lead you to follow God’s law and his commandments, which Christ expanded on in the Sermon on the Mount. and the most important commandments we are to follow deal with issues of morality, and how we treat our fellow man. In the following of God’s commandments, and in living the life God wants us to live, the good works will flow, not because you think you are “buying” your way into heaven with them, but because it is what you want to do to help your fellow man, and to honor God.
In his actions and his words, Donald Trump rejects the teachings of God. He has repeatedly stated that he has never asked for forgiveness because he doesn’t believe he has done anything in his life that requires forgiveness. He routinely breaks at least half of the 10 commandments on a constant basis. His twitter account is just one running violation of the commandment against “bearing false witness.” What makes it worse is that people who claim to follow God are looking to Trump and believing that he is doing God’s work. Then they start believing that, if they act like Trump, they will be doing God’s work, too. That leads them away from God.
Not a single thing you listed as an example of Trump doing God’s work is something God cares about. I can promise you God is not looking down and saying, “thank goodness Trump is starting a trade war to prop up the jobs of 100,000 union workers,” or “I’m so glad Trump really trolled those NFL kneelers.” He is looking down and saying, “my people are being led by a man who is leading them farther and farther away from my commandments.”
You are fixating your desires to see your side win in a political conflict as a sign that God is working through Trump, because you want to use that to try and justify your support of a man who so perfectly embodies every trait and every character flaw Christ tells us to avoid.
Trump is the embodiment of the seven deadly sins (Greed, Lust, Envy, Pride, Gluttony, Sloth, and Wrath), yet you try to convince yourself he is a “lion of God.” To quote our President: “SAD.”
If America is God’s country, then doing things that make America that shining city on a hill is doing God’s work.
If America no longer follows the path of God, can it really claim to be God’s country? God allowed the Jews to be conquered, taken from their homeland, and cast into slavery by the Babylonians for 70 years for falling into idolatry and paganism. Do you really think God is not willing to punish American for turning its back to him?
The party was pretty wrecked when that idiot W left office no? Obama… Democrat Super majorities in the Congress. Did you write about that?
Guys like you keep whining about Trump when the reality is, is that the Republican have signed their own death warrant with their immigration policies. The coming blue wave crossed the border for the past twenty years+ Do you GOP political consultant boys ever win California anymore? That has accelerated and now you can go back to being the minority party for decades.
Stick with Big ol’ Stonewall on immigration. Winning! Past elections have proven the Virginia electorate wants to vote on monuments, walls and immigration. Just push harder, keep reminding voters this is your issue and you’re not moving from it. No doubt they will eventually come your way. Why change course now?
I am not concerned with with the limit on State tax deduction( I am a S-corp, I’ll counter if need be) but I do have some concerns about the Capitol Gains on your primary residence if you sell every two or three years.
As lending regulations are eased the money will flow , values will increase and folks will sell and look to upgrade or cash out. We will see how all this plays out.
I am old enough for my “wants” not to bother me but professional to expect results.
This is some impressive cognitive dissonance. I have not seen anything like this in a long time, amazing.
The column was accidentally truncated. the full version is up there now if you wish to reread it
Thanks, comment redacted. This is a both sides thing. I agree with your point when reading the whole thing.