There's a reason Mike Pence is refusing to endorse his former boss, and it's a reason Christians should think carefully about before supporting Donald Trump. Our ex-president was willing to let his second-in-command die.
To a dangerous malignant narcissist, there is nothing more important than hanging on to power, even if it means letting people die to support your cause. Although he lost by more than seven million votes, Trump spent weeks whipping his followers up into a frenzy with false allegations of election fraud. Never mind that both state and federal courts had already thrown out nearly four dozen Trump lawsuits attempting to upend the results.
“Big protest in DC on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!” Trump tweeted. And it was. At his summons, a crowd of his most rampant followers gathered to join their leader. Their protest included smashing windows, spreading feces and urine in the corridors of the Capitol building, destroying statues and other historical relics, threatening to hang Mike Pence (for telling the truth by certifying the election results), and killing five people while injuring hundreds more. While Pence ran for cover, Trump egged the rioters on and ignored pleas from members of congress from both parties who begged him to make them stop.
Our ex-president has positioned himself as the church's political ally, but he poses a dangerous spiritual threat. There are certain individuals who have the capacity to lead large numbers of people into violence and corruption for their own benefit. The Bible calls these people, "false prophets," because they pose as followers of God.
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies. . . Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. . . (2 Peter 2:1-3)
Trump continues to manipulate the people of God with fabricated stories. Mike Pence used to be one of those people. He finally snapped out of it when his boss tried to force him to lie on his behalf, and when his very life was threatened. What will it take for those who continue to be exploited? We can't know for sure, but we know this: if Pence eventually snapped out of it, there is hope for the others. Pray.
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