17 Comments

Before you cast your vote look at the evidence and say "yes I choose this." That's a REALLY good way to put it. I find myself wishing I had used my social capital more wisely - I got really mad during COVID and I reckon some folks got sick of me... But still you've worked quite hard to offer good ways to think about this. Not too early to start thinking about local races in 2 years, and how we can get involved to shape a society that prizes goodness and kindness.

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I don't know what went on in Germany, but I am impressed at what is going on in the US because of people like you, Cassidy Hutchinson, Liz Chenney, Adam Kinzinger, Tim Alberta, Mark Milley (Former United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), Neal Katyal (Former Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States), John Kelly (former Chief of Staff for Trump), J. Michel Luttig (Former Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit). AND the number of women that have registered to vote and ARE voting. Every one of those mothers, grandmothers, aunts has influence over sons, husbands, boys and will shape this nation. AGAIN. Enough with this patriarchial nonsense. It takes the WHOLE village, COLLABORATING TOGETHER for the good of EVERYONE. HOW can you call your self a CHRIST FOLLOWER and support this confused man?

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founding

Have you seen this ad? https://youtu.be/FaCPck2qDhk?si=EODB2aCTY0X29h4r

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HEAR HEAR!!! Thank you so much!

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founding

Here is another. It’s helping with my anxiety. https://youtu.be/jlsd1wZ9jF4?si=UlitiA8ZhMpuGYeG

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God created the ultimate game. That anxiety is the look between the husband and wife in that ad. It's what made a stand up comedian the leader for freedom in Ukraine. It's the willingness to talk about Jesus to make a disciple. This election is the picture good versus evil. Fear or trust. Will we or won't we? Trust Jesus has got this. Are we going to get out of this pain free? If Jesus is the example, and He is, he got nailed to a cross. Expect nothing less.

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"He does not call us to do what he did, but to be as he was"

I've been corrected. This comment showed up in the Bible Gateway Dallas Willard devotional Oct 31. "He calls us to him to impart himself to us. He does not call us to do what he did, but to be as he was, permeated with love. Then the doing of what he did and said becomes the natural expression of who we are in him."

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I live in California. If Trump wins it won't be our fault. But there are still Christians out here who are strong Trump supporters. Talking to them is not about who they vote for, but rather about how their Christian beliefs lead them to Trump. As far as I can tell it is built on the belief that our founders intended America to be a Christian nation from the very beginning and that our constitution does not separate church from state. They think God wants to bring America back to himself and needs us to vote for Trump to make that happen. I disagree historically and theologically, but I also hope the presence of Trump has highlighted the need for more open and honest conversation with our fellow image-bearers.

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I hope that you will all read this and share especially with those friends and family who are not sure about how to vote.

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Kristin,

Your comments were right on. We must act now. I know now from watching the MAGA Nazi rally at MSG that there will be some violence around election day. Be prepared psychologically to deal with the effects. And pray that the violence is limited and justice is quick. Not sure how we recover from this. We the church have lost our credibility. Who or what will step up to fill the void? Take care and thanks.

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Reason and rational thought will not persuade. We must tap into emotions. It's called Deep Canvassing. Asking questions, listening to their stories and reasons and finding what can reach their hearts or gut.

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At this point it’s easy to take the worry route , I do it as well as many good friends. Today NYT columnist David French, a conservative evangelical who turned a never Trumper, explained his failure to understand the religious appeal of Trump in the last few years. It’s a great read.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/27/opinion/never-trump-maga-evangelicals.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

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Thank you for speaking out

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As I’ve commented here before, we need all the things in order to preserve democracy. One thing I’d like to highlight is that we need to support and encourage the elected officials who demonstrate that they value democratic ideals. Democracy no longer runs on autopilot, if it ever did. We need to develop and encourage those who pay the high price of public service, and recognize them. We need to look for those with a servant’s heart, and with the skills, abilities, experience and education to run for office. And then we need to encourage and support them. We need to gracefully challenge disparaging comments about “the government” and “politicians.” We need to ask our sisters and brothers in Christ to recognize public service as a true service. We need to thank those who serve.

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Early voting in Indiana seems packed. Long lines in Indianapolis.

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I continue to write daily for fence sitters. Today I challenge "Bible Believing" white male Christians in my article "A Word for the New York Times"

https://open.substack.com/pub/jonathanbrownson/p/a-word-for-our-new-york-times?r=gdp9j&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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