A Contrasting Pair Of Trios

COULD JESUS BE OUR SAVIOR?

This is trio #1:

Warnock occupies the pulpit Martin Luther King, Jr., once did. Talarico has famously preached that “there’s nothing Christian about Christian nationalism.” Hamilton founded and leads America’s largest United Methodist church.

Their common bond is obvious.

If things go well, there will soon be three true Christian leaders serving in the United States Senate. (Reverend Warnock is already there.)

I admire people who try to follow Christ’s teachings. Can that be said of those who extend tax cuts to the rich while cutting health care for the sick and needy?

Who enable the bombing of children, the live-streaming of executions, or scenes like this? Which is to say: virtually all the Republicans in the Houe and Senate?

Who enable chaos, cruelty, and corruption?

Where others get led astray (see: Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds), these three admirable Christians, Warnock, Talarico, and Hamilton, will add to the Senate chamber some much-needed guidance and grace.

BIBLE BONUS: I’ve just listened to Andy Beshear’s Go and Do Likewise: How We Heal a Broken Country. How did he win the governorship — twice — in a state Trump won by 30 points? It had a lot to do with living out his faith.

OR ARE WE BEYOND SAVING?

Trio #2:

Putin, whose unprovoked invasion has killed and wounded millions.

Trump, Putin’s admirer. “Everything he touches dies.” (See also Timothy Snyder’s latest post: Trump’s Superpower Suicide.)

Netanyahu. Seeking surrender from an enemy sworn to your annihilation is almost entirely opposite from what Putin has done, and the corruption for which Netanyahu stands trial (and of which he not yet been proven guilty) is nothing compared with Trump’s. But still. Like Putin and Trump, he’s been no champion of democracy (there were huge anti-Netanyahu protests before October 7). And, like Putin, he is accused of war crimes.

Putin shapes our policy on Ukraine (going all the way back to Paul Manafort — see Heather Cox Richardson); Netanyahu, in his urging Trump to renege on the Iran nuclear deal followed by his urging to join a war of choice, our policy on Iran.

All three cling to power in part to avoid prosecution.

All three need to go.