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I am a patriot, American born and bred and I love my native land. I have traveled widely beyond our borders and that has taught me at least two things: First, every country I have visited, even the poorer ones, have their own unique beauty and pride. I have loved the people of every country I have visited. Second, I love my country, even as I love every other country I have visited. I am proud to be an American.

I am a patriot, and a Democrat. While I usually vote for Democratic candidates at every level, I have voted for Republican candidates at every level. I intend to continue that pattern, usually voting for Democrats but always willing to vote for Republican candidates. I have even voted third party and write-in on rare occasions. I am under no illusions that either major party can solve all our problems. We need one another. While I hold liberal positions on some issues, I hold conservative views on other issues. Republicans are not my enemies. (Two of my favorite presidents were Republicans.)

I am a patriot with friends all over the political spectrum. Some of my best friends, dear friends, are Republicans–and I want it that way. When I served a congregation as their pastor for 38 years, I knew that the congregation spanned the political spectrum, for which I was and am grateful. As a pastor I never told the congregation how I was voting or how they should vote. In my 38 years of leading pastoral prayers on Sundays, I always prayed for the president without regard to party or my views.

I am a patriot and now that I am not the pastor of a congregation I am taking more freedom in expressing some of my political views and opinions. Especially have I done so in this season because so many of Trump’s words deeply offended my faith. I hope that anything I write about politics is drenched in honesty and grace. When that is not the case I ask for forgiveness.

As a patriot I write shortly after the peaceful transfer of power. I am grateful for that peaceful transfer. I did not vote for Mr. Trump. In fact, I was troubled by his candidacy from his announcement a year and a half ago. I watched every Republican debate and simply could not believe that he could win the party’s nomination. His continued pattern of reckless speech berating other candidates and sections of the American population troubled me deeply. When he won the nomination, I thought there was no way he could win the general election, even through Secretary Clinton had lots of baggage and high unfavorable numbers.

Early on last November 9 we found out that Trump won the electoral vote, though in the days following we found out that Clinton won the popular vote by almost 3 million votes. That bothers me. We found out about very probable Russian interference in the election and that bothers me. I found FBI director Comey’s letter to congress 10 days before the election and then retraction of concern a week later very troubling. When Trump backers are troubled that the legitimacy of his presidency is questioned, I remind them that Trump publicly questioned the legitimacy of Obama’s presidency for several years.

I am a patriot and now Trump is president. My president. I accept that, even with the cloud over the election mandate. I will not say that he is not my president as long as he holds the office. What will I do about his presidency?

First, I will pray for him. As a follower of Jesus I am under orders to pray for those in authority. I am doing so and will do so.

Second, I will support his initiatives whenever I can. I will read and listen carefully and give him the benefit of the doubt whenever possible. I believe that he wants America to be great and prosperous.

Third, I will oppose him whenever I believe his actions are not in the best interests of our country and our world. I will always seek to do so in the great Christian tradition of respectful civil disobedience.

I am a patriot, but I am not a nationalist. There is a difference.  I believe that nationalism is dangerous wherever practiced. My nation is often right and often wrong. I love it enough to criticize it. I love it enough to resist when I thing it is wrong.

As a patriot I will not give my country absolute or unqualified allegiance. My absolute and unqualified allegiance will be given only to God and what the New Testament calls the kingdom of God. I will not bow the knee to any governmental leader. I will not make an idol of my country.

As a patriot I am troubled by “America first” language. I want America to prosper and peace to prevail, but I will not hold my nation to be superior to any other nation. I want God to bless all nations. I want my nation to be known for its goodness more than its greatness. As Lincoln often said, I believe that right makes might–and not the reverse.

As a patriot I will continue to respect and hold in high regard Barack Obama. While a flawed human being and, like everyone to hold that office, a flawed president, I found so much commendable in his public life and in his personal life. I have great affection for President Obama and Michelle Obama. Hence, I will recoil strenuously at any comments that belittle him, his wife, and his daughters. The Obamas are great patriots. I give thanks for their service to our nation.

No matter who our president is, about half the nation is not happy with him (and someday soon, I hope, her). Lincoln is my favorite president and he was reviled and hated by millions. The man who assassinated Lincoln thought that his heinous act would make him a hero to millions of Americans. Hanging in my study is a copy of Lincoln’s second inaugural address. I am reading it again, humbled by his humility, wisdom, and grace in our nation’s greatest trial.

While I object to so much Trump has said–and done–I will not hate him. I hope that his time in office is marked by peace and prosperity, with “liberty and justice for all.” I hope that his wife and family are held in respect.

I am a patriot.

 

When Donald J. Trump was running for president he promised that he would make it acceptable to say “Merry Christmas” again. He seemed to believe that political correctness, no doubt under President Obama (who is also responsible for the Civil War and both world wars), made it virtually illegal to say something as offensive as Merry Christmas.

Somehow I missed something. Every December that I can remember, including recent ones, even the last eight years, I have been free to say Merry Christmas and have said it to countless people countless times. No one reported me, harassed me, or brought charges against me. I have been free to say Merry Christmas in church, in shopping malls, in my neighborhood, and everywhere I have wanted to say it. And, amazingly, clerks and cashiers in commercial settings have said it to me, sometimes saying it first and sometimes responding to my greeting. Neighbors have said it to me. Strangers have said it to me. I didn’t report them, harass them, or bring charges against them.

At something called the Value Voters Summit in Washington, D. C., of all places (the very swamp that is not being drained by the Trump administration, but filled to flood stage), Donald J. Trump, now as President of the United States, on October 13 remembered that promise and assured the faithful gathered there to show off their values that we would all be able to say Merry Christmas this year. None of that happy holidays drivel for this country. After all, we really know, whatever the constitution does or does not say, that we are a Christian nation, or a Judeo-Christian nation, whatever that is. The values-voting crowd cheered the thrice-married values president. They love this man who boasts of groping women’s genitals, of kissing women he doesn’t know without even asking them, and of his serial adulteries while married. They adore this man who belittles anyone he chooses to, who campaigned by insults and bullying, and now governs by insults and bullying.

In full disclosure, I am a follower of Jesus, a Christian. At least I seek to be, however imperfectly. I am, further, a retired pastor and an adjunct professor at a Christian theological seminary in the evangelical tradition. Hence, it pains me to read and hear that something like 80% of white evangelicals voted for a person who seems to have no understanding of this nation’s historic commitment to have no state sanctioned religion; to have no understanding of the haven this land has been for oppressed minorities, people of Christian faith, people of other faiths, and people of no faith.

When December comes, I will continue to be free to say merry Christmas, or better, a joyous Christmas, to friends and neighbors that I know to be followers of Jesus. To other friends and neighbors I will likely say happy holidays or, horrors, season’s greetings (which has always struck me as appropriate every day of the year since everyday is part of some season). To Jewish friends and neighbors I will say happy Hanukah. I will offer all these greetings with sincerity and without reservation. If someone reports me, harasses me, or brings charges against me, so be it. I will not be silenced.

And to Mr. Trump I will say, “bah, humbug!”