America is at a serious spiritual inflection point in its march toward a just multi-cultural democratic society. Thus, it has rightly been said that: “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Transactional politics in the Trump Administration is on full display spearheaded by billionaire tech-industrialists. No doubt about it, transactional politics is autocratic politics to the nth degree. The 2025 presidential inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 47th President is a calibration; not a celebration, because an individual can purchase position and power, but you cannot purchase, love, honor and enduring respect. Of course, the inauguration of President Trump was indeed an abnormality in the history of American democracy, and Trump’s Presidential ceremonial ritual was with- out spiritual-moral mean- ing. Therefore, in the case of President Donald J. Trump, it is “immoral man”, but moral society. With President Joseph R. Biden it was moral man, but immoral society.
America, it’s a shame when democratic political discourse becomes ungodly, distorted, and spiri- tually upside-down. Right is right. Wrong is wrong, and individuals cannot make wrong right, and make wrong work for universal good. I am spiritually reminded of the choice that Pilate gave the Israelites when he asked what is the truth? Therefore, Pilate asked Jesus are you a king? Jesus answered: “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end I was born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18: 37-38). Pilate then said: what is the truth? Jesus the Christ or Barabas the thief. Pilate then said what is truth. “I find no fault in the man, Jesus”.
It is Passover, and it is customary for me to release one prisoner. Should I release the King of the Jews or Barabas the thief? “Then cried they all again, saying not this man, but Barabbas.” (John 18:40). Does it seem as though the same spiritual scenario played itself out in the 2024 Presidential election?
The Civil War was a serious spiritual inflection crossroads concerning whether America could ever live-up to the spiritual meaning of its universal declaration and creed that all men are created equal. Sadly, America’s political system has become too ungodly transactional and monetarily driven, and at the same time, we all know that money and power corrupt. Therefore, it is written, “godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out…..For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6: 6-7, 10). Most Americans naively believe that money can buy happiness. Happiness is an internal spiritual state of being. The Gospel Writer St. Paul said it best: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in what- ever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4: 11). America, attitude is life, and an individual’s attitude influences the entirety of his/ her life. This is why: “Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13: 5-6). Hallelujah.
