Today’s Scripture Reading (July 25,
2015): Exodus 20
What is the
biggest gift the American Republican Party could give to its Democratic rivals?
It is an easy question. The answer is Donald Trump. The genius of Mr. Donald is
that his comments have motivated the core of the Republican Party to support
him. He is speaking their language, clearly identifying their dreams and
aspirations; what it is that they want for the future. The problem is that the
ideals at the core of the Republican Party are largely unelectable. And thus
the gift. If the Democrats win the American Presidential Election a little more
than a year from now, the reason for the win will most likely be Donald Trump.
As President Obama’s lame duck presidency struggles to find the finish line,
the United States is ready for a change. But Donald’s presence is making a
change in political party unlikely.
Personally,
I don’t believe that we will ever see a Donald Trump led Republican Party no
matter where Donald appears to be in the polls. At some point the Republican
Party will wake up and recognize Donald Trump for what he really is – political
entertainment. But if he does win the nomination, then the Democrats win the
election because Donald will not be able to come back from the things that he
has said that has mobilized the core of the Republican Party; the espousing of
what are really unelectable ideals. But if he loses the nomination, there seems
to be a good chance that Trump will run as an independent Third Party
candidate. If that happens, Trump will successfully split the Republican core
vote and the Democratic Party will burst through to victory – most likely with
a minority of the votes. This is a great example of how interconnected our political
system really is. And when Hillary Clinton (a candidate in the Democratic Nomination
process) comes out and praises John McCain (an esteemed Republican Senator),
defending him from the words of Donald Trump, the interconnectedness is raised
to the next level. And the key to the next election would seem to be in the
hands of Donald Trump.
There is an
argument that the Ten Commandments might not be “Ten.” In fact, we sometimes disagree with which
commandments are really listed in this passage. But there is a very interesting
argument that surrounds the last one – Do not covet (or do not desire what it
is that you cannot have.) The argument is that, other than the first
commandment, this is the only commandment that is spiritual in nature. While
the other commandments are all about the things that we do, the final one is
about the nature and condition of the heart. Not coveting is not something that
you do – it involves who you are. Some argue that covetousness is an automatic
response in all who have not been changed by their relationship with God.
But some also
argue that this final commandment is not a commandment at all – it is a
promise. “Do not covet” is interconnected with all of the other commandments.
If you can figure out how to do the first nine, you will have already dealt a
death blow to your covetous nature. Or maybe in reverse, if you can figure out
how not to covet, the other commandments will (or at least the final five which
all deal with our relationships with each other) will be a cake walk. The key
to the interconnectedness of the commandments is hidden right here with the
command not to covet. And covetousness is not about giving into or acting on
the wrong desires of the heart, it is essentially about not having those
desires in the first place. The fate of the Ten Commandments in our lives rises
and falls with what we decide to do with this last one – Do not Covet.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Exodus
21
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