The Third Political Party

Why I Can No Longer Support Today’s Republican Party

Until recently, I was a lifelong Republican. I chose the party when I first began voting because it stood for freedom, small government, and respect for the individual. It was a party I was proud to belong to. But a lot has changed in the past 50 years.

Today, what used to be a two-party system feels more like three. We have Democrats, Republicans, and a third faction I’ll call the MAGA Republicans. This group originally surfaced as the Tea Party, but when most Americans resisted its extreme agenda, its leaders abandoned the name and moved into the Republican Party, keeping the brand but discarding its long-held values.

There are still many Republicans who carry the values of the “Grand Old Party.” Yet for reasons I don’t fully understand, they have allowed this infiltration to go unchecked. Many continue to vote Republican out of habit, and in doing so, have created fertile ground for MAGA Republicans to replace the party’s morals, values, and focus. Ironically, the people who loudly call others “RINOs” — Republicans in name only — have become exactly that.

What Republicans Once Represented

Traditional Republicans believed in the individual and in the future of our country. They valued honesty, conservative principles, and personal responsibility. They wanted government to stay out of people’s private choices. Most of the Republicans I’ve known through my church and community have been people of strong morals and integrity.

That vision has been cast aside. Political debate today often looks like a middle-school insult contest. We used to argue over policies and principles. Now the loudest voices compete to see who can demean opponents the most.

Truth Replaced by Conspiracy

Honesty has also eroded. Of course, dishonesty exists in every party, but MAGA Republicans have normalized it. Conspiracy theories are spun with no regard for truth — the only goal is to inflame anger and gain power. Winning has become more important than reality.

Consider the words of the 1984 Republican Party Platform:

The Democratic Party [... ] thinks our country has passed its peak. It offers Americans redistribution instead of expansion, contraction instead of growth, and despair instead of hope. In foreign policy, it asserts the rhetoric of freedom, but in practice, it follows a policy of withdrawal and isolation.
— Republican Party Platform, 1984

Ironically, this description applies far more to MAGA Republicans today than it ever did to Democrats. They praise authoritarian leaders like Putin, Orbán, Xi, and Kim Jong-un. Some even speak of leaving NATO. These authoritarian figures are not models of democratic leadership — and there is not one of those countries I would choose to live in.

America Is Not in Decline

MAGA Republicans paint a picture of a weak and failing America. This is a scare tactic — and it isn’t true. The United States continues to stand as the largest economy in the world, with a nominal GDP of over $29 trillion, accounting for more than one-quarter of global economic output.(Wikipedia)

Crime, too, has been falling. Violent crime declined an estimated 4.5% in 2024, marking continued reductions in major categories—murders fell nearly 15%, aggravated assaults decreased 3%, robberies decreased 8.9%, and rapes dropped 5.2%.(Federal Bureau of Investigation, The Guardian) In many U.S. cities, homicide rates remain well below pre-pandemic levels.(My WordPress)

These facts undermine the claim that America is unraveling — in reality, we’re moving forward on multiple fronts.

The Poison of Bigotry

Perhaps most troubling is the blatant bigotry. When leaders call a race of people “poison,” slander a religion, or spread lies that immigrants are eating pets, they reveal not leadership but hatred. These lies wound real people and turn Americans against each other. All people — of every race, religion, and background — are made in the image of God. To call them “poison” is to reject that truth.

Empty Promises for Ordinary Americans

MAGA Republicans often warn about “socialism,” a loaded word used more for fear than clarity. I agree that socialism isn’t the answer, but I also believe God calls us to care for both the poor and the middle class. Instead, this faction pushes tariffs that could raise consumer prices by around 20%, seeks to roll back affordable healthcare, and reserves the largest tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations. Ordinary Americans are left behind so the rich can get richer.

Immigration as a Political Weapon

Immigration is a real challenge, and I agree increased action was needed sooner. But when a bipartisan bill — developed by both parties — was nearing passage, it was blocked by a presidential candidate who preferred to keep the issue alive as a campaign weapon. Solving the problem mattered less than fueling fear and division.

My Vote This Year

This year, I will vote for the Democratic candidate. If a Republican candidate truly represented the values of the party I once loved, I might support them. But in this election, there are only two viable options: a Democrat or a MAGA Republican. I will never vote for the latter.

As Mesa, Arizona’s Republican mayor John Giles said:

“Voting for a Democrat does not make you a Democrat, it makes you a patriot. It’s okay to vote for change.”

We have lost the ability to hear

I am sitting out on my back porch listen to music. No, it is not the music we listen to in church. I have come to think of that as "bubble" music. It places us into a bubble where all is pure and wonderful. It touches our heart where we need to be touched. But it exists in a bubble. It is not the real world. It is praise and joy and halleluiah. It is heaven on Earth. But most people live in hell...

I don't intend to be offensive here but I suspect that I will be to many of my brothers and sisters. I am going to sacrifice some of our sacred cows. We have them, you know. Like Aaron and the children of Isreal at the foot of Mt. Siani, we have built our own calves of gold. We name one of those idols Doctrine. The teachings that define us as different from those that do not have it right. The idols of division that cause us to look down our nose at those that honestly understand the word differently than us. We squabble, judge and sneer at each other with words intentionally chosen to cut down and degrade others that believe in Jesus and are trying their best to live lives as His disciple.

We have closed our ears to the world around us. We can no longer hear them. We can no longer care about them because we are fixated on whether or not a female can serve crackers and grape juice, speak or share a thought. We are fixated on "decently and in order". Our minds are fully engaged. We can argue the point. We can debate and win. We are obsessed with the mechanics, the doing, the outward signs of our righteousness and like the church of the Ephesians, we have lost our first love. Our heart has taken second place to our mind's desire to "do things right".

I can think of no instance when Jesus condemned a people for their doctrine. I can think of no instance when God, before Jesus, condemned the Jews for the way in which they worshiped him. If there was any condemnation it was because their hearts were not right. Not because their minds were not right. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus is very pointed. God wants our hearts, not just our minds.

What if what we do on Sunday mornings is meaningless in the larger scheme of things. What if the fact that we have elders and preachers instead of pastors is meaningless. What if the fact that we take the Lords Supper every week is not important to our Lord. What if the fact that we sing acapella is just a nice thing to us. What if the structure of our worship is but a convenience, one to encourage us but not necessarily the command of God. What if God is not interested in our identity. I ask because I am not sure I know the answer. In my heart I believe that our focus may be misdirected.

All that said to say that we have lost the ability to hear, listen, understand... Wondering when I would get to the title? So was I :)

I believe we have become blind and deaf to the world. They are hurting. Pain that we are, for the most part, incapable of understanding. Who among us has suffered from addiction, abortion, rape, family hatred, vindictiveness, and poverty? (If you are reading this it is likely that you are in the top 5% of global society) Who among those that are reveling in their salvation, their heaven on Earth, is willing to do as Jesus did and step outside of paradise to see, understand and love the people who still live in hell every day. Every single day. Hell.

We need to learn how to listen. We need to learn how to hear the cries of the lost and hear them in their own language (crude as it might be). Jesus did not come to judge but to offer salvation. We need to remove our blinders and open our hearts to the hurt that surrounds us. We, like Jesus, need to focus on the needs of the impoverished, the sinner, the sluts (does that word offend you?), the thieves, the people dependent on society and the generosity of others.

We are to be Jesus. He "Heard" (with all of the connotations that come with that word), the woman caught in adultery, the woman at the well living in sin, the blind men, the lepers, the dregs of society. He did not isolate Himself within the bubble. He did not wear blinders. He saw people. All people.

So, as we politely (or not) argue the finer points of the law and how we should communicate and how we devote our energies in the defense of the mechanics of our faith, our "doctrine", people are dying, alone, in pain, in sin and all the ugliness that comes with that. Are you willing to leave your paradise to "hear" and save the lost? Jesus was.

Rules for arguing

Pondering... are there "rules of engagement" for arguing. Arguing is something I see as a failure to communicate coming to a head... How does one make arguing a positive venture, were communication actually happens instead of it becoming a contest on who can yell the loudest or get in the most hurtful jibes.

So, as I ponder, I must have some context. Politicians argue and get paid for it. Philosophers argue because that is the joy that binds them. I am glad I am not a philosopher! Scientists argue to seek truth and knowledge. I guess for this brief excursus I will focus on the type of arguments that have the potential to break hearts, homes and relationships... the most deadly of arguments...

If there are no such rules for such arguments then here are mine. If there are, then I like mine better! (I may need to ponder arrogance at some point but not today <insert favorite smiley icon here>)

Since "rules" (and I hate rules) are generally bulleted here is my list of "rules" in no particular order.

1. First and foremost if you are going to argue, do so with a purpose. What should that purpose be? It is not to win. Really? Yes, really. Then why am I arguing? Good question. Winning an argument means that there is a loser.  I submit that the purpose of an argument is to communicate. I would also submit that that communications is a two way street that involves listening as much, if not more than, expressing your own thoughts.
2. Respect the person you are arguing with. This can be hard when you are angry. Still if you want to actually be heard you must be willing to listen. In the context of this list you are arguing with someone you love. That person has a mind of their own. They are not mental clones of yourself. Them being themselves is why you fell in love with them in the first place. Show respect as you disagree with each other. Recognize that that they feel the way they do because of who they are and that you love them. Never disrespect them as a person and never disrespect their feelings.
3. No sharp objects. If you have been together any significant amount of time you know precisely how to cut the heart out of the other person and leave them emotionally gasping. If you ever use that scalpel in an argument you will lose the trust that they have for you. They will close themselves off from you to protect themselves. You may successfully end an argument with this but you will have done so at a cost you may not be happy to pay.
4. Never with an audience. Disagreement is natural but bystanders can only see the fight. If kids are around they simply do not understand and adults fighting frighten them, giving them a feeling of insecurity. If you grew up in a house full of fighting you know what I mean. By publicly arguing you draw nothing but contempt from adults. You emotionally scar children and that is a sin of the utmost degree.
5. If you are married, you most likely promised to honor each other. If you are not married then honor is an unspoken expectation. What is honor? We know how it applies to Klingons, which is a personal honor. But what is it to give honor to the one we love but disagree with. I would say that it is to only show them in a positive light. Never take your argument into your community of friends with the purpose of shaming them. Never seek to establish sides. As far as the world around you knows, the person you are fighting with is perfect.
6. Never use love as a bargaining chip. The phrase that begins with: "If you love me..." is not only unfair, it is destructive. You are basically saying that they have to choose between loving you and disagreeing with you. It is a dangerous game to place them in that position. It may work a few times but eventually they will choose their argument over their love and you will both lose.
7. Keep the argument room temperature. The more heated an argument gets the less likely that a positive outcome will occur. The temperature of an argument is measured by how much one is forcing their feelings on the other through a play for power. At some point that heat causes an explosion that erupts in neither side winning and both sides being devastated. That is not a positive end to an argument.
8. Do not bring up the past in an effort to justify the present. If one has made a mistake in the past, regardless of size, it is not fair game in an argument today. Keep the argument focused on the items that are relevant to the specific situation that you are arguing about.
9. No name calling. This one ties closely with honoring. When you call the other person by some derogatory designation, you have expressed your lowest opinion of them. You have taken out the switch blade to injuriously cut at their self worth. Winning an argument is never worth cutting the legs out from under the heart the one you love. If you love them your goal is to build up, never cut down. Sticks and stone may break bones but words can devalue a person to the point of complete and utter despair.
10. And because lists like this are always 10 in length, no more and no less (and who am I to argue?) this is the last one. Love wins the day and hurt loses it. You can weather any storm if you know that you each have each other's back and that each other's love is unconditional. You can feel safe sharing your diverse opinions knowing that in the end you will still be loved.
11. And because I hate rules :) Number 11 is: No shields and so sabers. Absorb the hard to hear words and never use your words to cut back. Listen to understand. An argument is not a duel to the death. It is a coming together to better understand each other. So, leave your shields down and hear what is being said. For that to work, though, both sides need to commit to making it safe to leave shield down.  

There. My 10+1 rules for successful arguing! Now go forth and communicate!

Who to Vote for in 2016

What's on my mind, FaceBook asks.... How should I vote? That is what is on my mind...

I got my mail in ballot the other day asking for my choice of person to represent my political party in the presidential race. I have yet to choose. None of them show the type of integrity I would wish to see represent me to the nations of the world. I would be politically embarrassed if any of them succeeded in gaining the position. Still the choice looms and not choosing is, to use a good old 70's term: "A cop out". Therefore I ponder...

There is a passage in Ezekiel 16:46-50 that weighs on me heavily as I consider where to place my little black dots signifying my support for the person running for the office of President of our nation.

If the words of God in the Old testament were printed in red as the words of Jesus frequently are in the New Testament, the page would positively glow with the color. God is upset with the country that He calls His. The people that He has chose to be a blessing to the world. The one He calls "beloved". His words are harsh for His people.

He says:

“Behold, everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb concerning you, saying, ‘Like mother, like daughter.’ You are the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and children. You are also the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. Now your older sister is Samaria, who lives north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lives south of you, is Sodom with her daughters. Yet you have not merely walked in their ways or done according to their abominations; but, as if that were too little, you acted more corruptly in all your conduct than they."

Paraphrased: You are as bad, no, worse than the countries that you hate hate the most. And the worst part is that all of the other countries that you think should look up to you - They are the ones mocking you, using you in cliche, saying you are no different from them.

He continues:

"As I live,” declares the Lord God, “Sodom, your sister and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done."

Wow! Remember Sodom? They were so evil that God destroyed, no, obliterated them. And we all know what they did wrong. Right?

"Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me."

Oh, Wait. That is not what I expected to hear. They did not take care of their poor? That is why they were wiped from the face of the planet? But... but... but... What about the way we treat our poor? Surely there was an escape clause for the lazy or the stupid or those that made poor choices. Searching.... searching.... can't find one. I think we are in trouble.

He closes with a single, very short, blunt and to the point sentence:

"Therefore I removed them when I saw it."

Friends, if that does not make you want to run and hide, you are simply not getting it. I want to run and hide. I want this election to be over. I want to stop being the laughing stock of our "sisters" and and "mothers" as the politicians profess a life they do not live and seek to gain a position of power through fear mongering, deceit and false promises.

How am I going to vote??... I don't know yet but this one thing I do know. I will side with those that would not be arrogant, not be careless at ease and who will work diligently to care for the poor and needy. If these are God's priorities, they should be the priorities of all those that would call Him Lord.

If you got all the way to the end of this post then you have more patience that I probably would have had :)smile emoticon 

God bless you and vote responsibly!

Don't be the "they" that say...

I am listening to music on my back porch tonight. I love the evening and the pleasures of mild night and a song comes on and it touches me in a place I don't like being touched.... My conscious, my heart...

The lyrics to say:

We've all seen a man at the liquor store beggin' for your change
The hair on his face is dirty, dread-locked, and full of mange
He asks a man for what he could spare, with shame in his eyes
"Get a job you ****ing slob," is all he replies
God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes
Cause then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues

Not sure why this touched me. Maybe because I have been guilty of similar sentiments. I resolve that this is not who I am.

The song then continued and broke my heart...
Mary got pregnant from a kid named Tom that said he was in love
He said, "Don't worry about a thing, baby doll
I'm the man you've been dreaming of."
But three months later he say he won't date her or return her calls
And she swear, "G*d d***, if I find that man I'm cuttin' off his balls."
And then she heads for the clinic and
She gets some static walking through the door
They call her a killer, and they call her a sinner
And they call her a whore
God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in her shoes
Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to choose

Not the language I use but I can feel her pain her shame.

I know right from wrong. It has protected me from having to make such hard decisions. I praise God (and my mom) for that. But not all have had that blessing. Brothers and sisters allow empathy to trump judgment and recognize that the blessings you enjoy are just that: blessing, and give us no room to judge choices we were never required to make.

Brothers and sisters don't be the "they" that say...

Again, I resolve, with God's help, this is not who I am.

(song : Everlast singing "What it's like" )

What is a "True Christian"

I have a Christian brother that I met on Google+ that I have really come respect. He sees Christianity through fresh eyes and asks questions that provoke me to thought. In one of his posts he posed the following question:

How do you determine if a person can be trusted as a "true Christian"?

How does your church determine who can be trusted as a member of the church and a "true Christian"?

A very important question. This question is at the heart what divides the Christian community and is the point Joel was making when he posed it.

I am not going to claim that I have a complete answer to this but I believe I am getting closer. Here is how I responded to his question:

I have been "going to church" for 56 years. I could describe a good part of that time as circling the wagons to keep differing opinions out of the camp. I was probably guilty of worshiping my beliefs more than God. Still God loved me and called my His child, even though the relationship was heavily one sided. That is the way God is.

I am now one of several leaders in a medium sized congregation in Tucson. It still has the same moniker on the building as the one that I grew up in but it is not the same closed minded community it once was. We accept diversity and have placed Christ back at the center instead of our doctrine.

As for membership, we have taken a new track that we believe is really an old track. It used to be that one must Believe (like I do), Behave (like I think you ought) and then you can Become (a member of my church). We are actively rearranging those priorities. We call it "The Three B's" and we refer to it often in our teaching and admonishing.

First you Belong. Period. It does not matter who you are, what you wear, how many tattoos you have, if you are conservative or liberal  or progressive, young or old or what you believe or even if you have faith of any kind. We are family, not institution. It is our fervent hope and prayer that if you don't believe that by belonging you will come to faith and wish to develop a relationship with Jesus. We plant the seeds by the examples of our lives and study of His Word and let God do His part to bring about Belief. The last "B" is Behave and this is expected to be a process, not an instantaneous revolution. That is what Grace is for and Grace is not something only God can grant.

Are we perfect at doing this yet? Nope. :) But we are working on it and God still loves us and calls us His children. That is the way God is.

What's the point?

I am not much of a blogger. I read a couple. I respond infrequently. As you can see by the stretch between this post and my last that I don't keep my blog up to date either. While reading a blog the other day though my mind was challenged and it lead me to ask a few questions of myself. I share them here more out of a desire to organize my thoughts than any other reason.

The question that has been plaguing me (hmmm that sounds harsh... maybe occupying my every though would be better... nah, plaguing is the right word) lately is "What's the point?"

I know I am not the first to ask the question. Wiser men than me have taken a stab at it. Solomon tried and I believe failed. I don't think he actually wrote the end of Ecclesiastes. So, that verse that says that life is for fearing God and keeping his commandments, while true, is not from his wisdom.I get the impression that he went to the tomb feeling life was indeed worthless. All of his words are pointing me to the conclusion that there really is no point.

I can't live with that conclusion.

So, what is the point? I do not know yet but there are some conclusions that may help me on my way.

1) God does not experiment. He has no need to. Science is His creation. He established all of the rules. It is not an experiment if you know the outcome.

2) Since God does not experiment He does things with a purpose. God is not capricious, doing things just for the sake of doing them. At least I see no evidence of this. The "competing" gods of the time all had this attribute. God was different in that He broke this mold.

3) Since God does not experiment and is not fickle, but works with a purpose. I believe that He created mankind with a purpose.

4) I also believe that God is as interested with the individual as He is with humanity as a whole. I believe He knows and loves me personally, not collectively.

5) Putting all of the above together, I believe that I, personally, have a purpose.

6) And my purpose is .... still a mystery to me :)

I am still pondering these thoughts. I have some that are solidifying and others that are still in the runny-jell-o stage. As more thoughts come together I will expand this topic.