Share
Decision 2024: Delight and Dread
This edition of the Dicta will, with intended brevity, survey some of the worldview trends reflected in the 2024 election. No doubt, some voters were ecstatic; and no doubt, others were subdued, or even depressed. Understand however, that keying our equanimity to politics or other circumstances relies on an unfaithful mistress. Politics can never satisfy because politics is not salvific – only Christ redeems and only Christ provides “the peace which passes understanding.”[1] We must not place our hope for satisfaction in that which cannot satisfy – instead, let’s show our neighbors, whether ecstatic or depressed, a better way, the Way.[2] Let’s get to the gist.
The Delight
A Peaceful Transfer of Political Power
At the outset, note the post-election social behavior: it was generally peaceful with the absence of violence or riotous chaos. Alexander Hamilton, writing to persuade citizens to ratify the constitution, set forth a key predicate question:
[T]o decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflectionand choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.[3]
The orderly selection of leadership followed by good-mannered actions indicates governance by reflection and choice. This in turn manifests an answer to many faithful prayers:
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.[4]
A peaceful transition of power is a blessing and should be celebrated with gratitude. Such peace is a condition for human flourishing and provides a taste of God’s Kingdom, His will on earth as it is in heaven.[5]
Decisive Outcomes
A second delight stems from the clarity of the presidential contest: a decisive and uncontestable victory for President Trump: 312 to 226. The “after party” debates center not on who won, but rather, on why VP Harris lost so decisively. No matter which candidate one backed, a decisive expression of political will blesses society precisely because it provides clarity. As Paul noted in another context, clarity is crucial for right action:
And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?[6]
No more lawsuits or bickering about “hanging chads.”[7]
Recreational Marijuana Goes Up in Smoke
Next, the voters of several states rejected legalizing “recreational” marijuana use. Florida, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota all rejected this invitation.[8] Marijuana is an hallucinogenic and is often “adjacent” to pagan rituals seeking “spiritual” experiences, replete with shamans and other pagan accouterments.[9] Rejecting this is a stand against pagan spiritual gateways, whether intended or not. The spirituality of “getting high” is not the sanctification of being “filled with the Spirt.”[10]
Open Primaries and Ranked Choice Voting Defeated
The citizens of Idaho, Arizona, and Nevada rejected innocuous-sounding “open primary” schemes which are always tethered to “ranked choice voting.” These schemes are pitched as embodying “true democracy”. However, they actually undermine participatory republicanism. The U.S. constitution guarantees to the States a “Republication Form of Government.”[11] How is this related spiritually?
Without going into too much detail, open primaries and ranked choice voting dilute and shrink a citizen’s voting authority, thereby undermining equality under the law.[12] This is contrary to the Imago Dei. Paganism in contrast often “ranks” people based on non-creational or Gnostic hierarchies: The traditional Hindu castes,[13] the “Ascended Masters” of various Eastern pagan traditions,[14] the “initiated” of neo-pagan schemes[15] all compare and contrast people using criteria other than their humanity. In the same way these voting schemes work to make some votes “count” more than others, often times unconstitutionally compelling voters to support candidates – by requiring them to rank the top 4 candidates – whether Democrat, GOP, Green, or Communist – they would never support – on the threat of having their entire ballot rejected.
Rejecting the Progressive Agenda and Candidate
Erick Erickson, a radio host and political commentator – and a Reformed Christian – notes a number of things. His analysis demonstrates that progressivism, with pagan underpinnings like identity politics, was soundly rejected:
I have been decried as a racist for saying something true. Black voters in America did not think Kamala Harris had the lived experience of a black American. She was the daughter of immigrants whose father descended from a family of slave owners. She grew up in Canada and progressive Berkeley. She did not have the struggles of a black woman in Detroit or Raleigh. Before she ran for President, Harris called her upbringing “privileged.” On the trail, it became Middle Class. What it never became was the lived experience of a black American woman.[16]
Voters also rejected Progressive politics pushing gender ideology, antisemitism, and Critical Theory:
The progressive left has embraced intersectional politics and it is killing them. They cannot align with most voters on transgenderism. They have divided themselves over Israel and antisemitism due to their “colonizer” talking points. Harris could not pick Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania because of the anti-semitism in her party. He might have saved her. These intersectionally woke white Democrats cannot fathom that black voters might not relate to Kamala Harris because, to these white progressives, they share a skin color. Identity politics and intersectionalism will keep tripping up the Democrats.[17]
What Erickson is noting is that the electorate rejected pagan-infused politics. While these voters may not be able to draw the line from paganism to “gender ideology” to puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, in their collective guts they know it’s mistaken and wrong-headed. And, the same is true for identity politics, valorizing people for accidental characteristics like wealth, skin color, ethnicity, etc instead of as individuals, which is the Christian way. The Pagan way is the way of power and tribalism – blood and soil – whether on the Left and on the Right. This election signaled in an encouraging way a retreat from these pagan-infused political schemes.
The Dread
The election, however, also embraced a number of pagan or pagan-adjacent positions. Most disappointing were the resounding pro-abortion victories in state after state[18]: Arizona constitutionalized abortion; so did Colorado. In Florida, while a clear majority (57.1%) favored overturning the state’s abortion ban after six weeks, the proposition needed 60% to pass. Maryland enshrined abortion in its constitution. Missouri turned abortion into a “fundamental” right. Montanavoters did the same thing. Nebraska voters faced two propositions, passing the less evil one, which still permits abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy. Nevada sought to enshrine abortion constitutionally and the proposition passed; however, it must be passed again in 2026 to amend the constitution. New York further buttressed its abortion regime. South Dakota rejected the invitation to constitutionalize abortion. For those counting, abortion – even with a decisive Trump victory – won 80% of the time, including in “red states” with over 2 million voters casting votes for Trump andabortion[19] And let’s not forget, the GOP has abandoned political and legal efforts to pursue a national ban on abortion, saying this is for the states to determine.[20] Would that be its position if the issues were women suffrage or chattel slavery?
Let’s be clear: Our God is the God of life.[21] Death is an enemy.[22] And, God hates the shedding of innocent blood.[23] Winning the White House while digging more graves for the least of these are hardly equivalent outcomes.
Foolish Post-election “Christian” Commentary
Trump’s drudging of Harris sparked glee from a number of constituencies. And predictably, a number of “influencers” needed to publicize their “hot take” on things. Sadly, some of these publicity hounds claim Christ and even hold the office of “pastor.” As we are commanded to speak the truth in love,[24]and also to expose evil,[25] we will briefly examine one blurb and consider whether it reflects Christian thinking. This is what “pastor” Brian Suave posted on social media:
“They 100% stole 2020, and it’s obvious now.”[26]
In a prior Dicta[27] – dealing with what Calvin called “ugly monsters” – we exposed Sauve and his clan’s views relating to women, Kinism, nationalism, and other sins of partiality, etc. How should we assess his post-election blurb? Here’re a few observations for starters:
- Who’re “they”? This is a vague meaningless notion without specifics. Perhaps this indefiniteness is designed to avoid triggering a defamation action. But, that is conjecture on my part. Perhaps it is simply a product of sloppiness or ignorance, rather than a sharp strategic legal move.
- “100%” – here, Suave makes a claim with metaphysical certitude. Really? Jesus rising from the dead is “100%.” He doesn’t cite any evidence and in fact the “stolen election” narrative has been literally investigated to death and found wanting and unsustainable. Indeed, perhaps Fox News should have consulted with Suave before agreeing to settle Dominion’s defamation lawsuit for $787 million dollars.[28] Fox just didn’t know the cheating was a 100% provable certainty apparently!
- “Stole”? If stealing worked so well in 2020 against Trump, did the Left somehow lose that playbook? Did it forget how to steal elections? Did the Left have a Damascus Road conversion experience and decide not to steal in 2024 – even against Trump??!! As Ricky Ricardo often purportedly said, someone’s “got some splainin to do!”[29]
- 2020 v. 2024 – here, Suave commits the fallacy of mixing modalities by comparing apples with oranges. 2024 involved different candidates with different cultural and economic considerations and no COVID. Moreover, the voter turnout involved a different quantity of voters. And, Sauve fails to note how Blue voters in 2020 changed horses in 2024: blacks, Latinos, and white married women.[30] Remember, Vice-President Harris failed to perform better that Joe Biden across the board.[31] Biden won New Jersey and Illinois by 17% in 2020; Harris won these dark blue states by only between 3 to 5% – she’s simply a mediocre candidate and the electorate did not buy her overtly progressive agenda as unambiguously illustrated by her political track record.
- And what of the 9th Commandment? Blathering in cyberspace is still subject to God’s standards. Suave’s group professes to adhere to the West-minster Standards.[32] I suggest he and his ilk suspend their frothy, but nutritionally deficient, social media menu and seriously study those standards they claim to embrace. This would include the Larger Catechism, which expounds the 9thCommandment this way:
Q. 143. Which is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Q. 144. What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?
A. The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, and the good name of our neighbor, as well as our own; appearing and standing for the truth; and from the heart, sincerely, freely, clearly, and fully, speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, and in all other things whatsoever; a charitable esteem of our neighbors; loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name; sorrowing for and covering of their infirmities; freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces, defending their innocency; a ready receiving of a good report, and unwillingness to admit of an evil report, concerning them; discouraging talebearers, flatterers, and slanderers; love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requireth; keeping of lawful promises; studying and practicing of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report.
Q. 145. What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, especially in public judicature; giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, outfacing and overbearing the truth; passing unjust sentence, calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked; forgery, concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others; speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning, or in doubtful or equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of the truth or justice; speaking untruth, lying, slandering, backbiting, detracting, talebearing, whispering, scoffing, reviling, rash, harsh, and partial censuring; misconstructing intentions, words, and actions; flattering, vainglorious boasting, thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; denying the gifts and graces of God; aggravating smaller faults; hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession; unnecessary discovering of infirmities; raising false rumors, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defense; evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any; endeavoring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy; scornful contempt, fond admiration; breach of lawful promises; neglecting such things as are of good report, and practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering what we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.[33]
Here’s the lesson: Churlish cheeky click-baiting chirps do not reflect Christian thinking – being contra factual and leaping onto and pushing disproven conspiracy theories hardly honors Christ. As we noted previously, these folks are not serous men, nor are they serious presbyters.
Christians who take Christ’s Lordship seriously must be both competent and responsible. Only in this way can we take His Lordship to “Every Square Inch.” For an approach that glaringly contrasts with Suave’s chirping, consider TxC’s recent event.[34] For further mature input on how to understand politics and the public square, consider this brand-new work, edited by TxC Scholar, P. Andrew Sandlin, which includes a chapter by me and other TxC Scholars: The Sanctified State: Politics in the Christian Worldview.[35]
[1] Phil. 4:7
[2] John 14:6; Acts 9:2
[3] The Federalist, No. 1
[4] 1 Tim 2:1,2
[5] Matt. 6:10
[6] 1 Cor. 14:8
[7] https://cseweb.ucsd.edu/~goguen/courses/275f00/abc-chads.html
[8] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/06/marijuana-legalization-election-results/76085205007/; Nebraska’s voters did authorize legalizing the use of medical marijuana.
[9] This is becoming a destination industry. Consider the ayahuasca ritual: https://amazonfrontlines.org/chronicles/ayahuasca-remedy/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA57G5BhDUARIsACgCYny4NeziZN0Ow02SS8xNa4PvRhebgHx_IeINYyYGQBu-SO-OO2noIFkaAre8EALw_wcB
[10] Eph. 5:18
[11] U.S. Const. Art. IV, Section 4
[12] Put briefly, open primaries undercut the associational prerogatives of people to gather based on commons or shared beliefs. Open primaries intrude and dilute that purpose; it would be like allowing unbelievers to help determine a church’s elders or leadership. Similarly, ranked choice voting forces citizens to “rank” preferences for usually the top four candidates receiving votes. They could be of any party and could hold to a myriad of views. If a citizen fails to rank the candidates, his entire ballot is rejected. If he does rank every candidate this is a form of unconstitutional compelled speech and may violate the citizen’s conscience by forcing him to vote for a candidate the opposes Christian conviction regarding abortion, marriage, LGBTQ, etc.
[13] What is India’s Caste System? https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35650616
[14] The Ascended Masters: Who They Are and How They Can Help? https://www.kaliana.com/blogs/eatdrinkthink/the-ascended-masters-who-they-are-and-how-they-can-help
[15] See, e.g. Isaac Bonewits, Neopagan Rites: A Guide to Creating Public Rituals that Work (2007)
[16] Erick Erickson, November 6 commentary
[17] Erick Erickson, November 6 commentary
[18] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/06/abortion-election-results-2024/76043630007/
[19] https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/11/08/nx-s1-5184539/trump-election-abortion-votes-harris;https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-06/millions-of-voters-backed-trump-and-us-abortion-on-election-day?embedded-checkout=true
[20] https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2024/07/10/gop-platform-nixes-abortion-ban-but-trump-could-outlaw-it-using-this-theory/
[21] John 14:6.
[22] 1 Cor. 15:26
[23] Prov. 6:17b
[24] Eph. 4:13
[25] Eph. 5:11
[26] @Brian_Sauve – 8:51 AM – Nov 6, 2024
[27] https://truthxchange.com/the-ugly-monsters-of-baptized-partiality/ – there we also noted that Suave and any other man claiming to be Christian and holding an ordained office who embrace the sin of partiality should demit the ministry.
[28] https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-trump-2020-0ac71f75acfacc52ea80b3e747fb0afe
[29] In reality, the character never actually uttered this famous catch phrase in so many words. https://www.metv.com/lists/9-famous-tv-catchphrases-that-were-never-actually-said-on-their-shows
[30] Erick Erickson, November 6 commentary
[31] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2024/11/06/charts-how-harris-underperformed-biden-across-america/
[32] https://www.refugeutah.org/weber-church/what-we-believe – the website fails to specify which version of the Westminster Standards its leadership embraces, 1647 or 1788. One wonders whether these folks understand that significant differences exist between these versions. And, they also have some leaders who purport to embrace the 1689 London Baptist Confession, which of course sacramentally conflicts with Westminster. So these “leaders” do not even agree among themselves regarding the sacramental mechanism for advancing the Great Commission, Matt. 28:18-20. But, they 100% know about the 2020 election?? Right. This simply doesn’t pass the smell test.
[33] https://reformedforum.org/podcasts/larger-catechism-questions-141-150/
[34] https://truthxchange.com/symposium/
[35]https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Sandlin+The+Santified+State&crid=1DNE3K0AAY1VL&sprefix=sandlin+the+santified+state%2Caps%2C130&ref=nb_sb_noss