As an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, I observe that our country, from its very beginnings, has had conflicting origin stories.
About one-third of Christians today believe that the United States was set aside by God as a paradise for white, male, European Christians who would then exercise divinely conferred, top-down dominion (power and control) over the “others” (women, children, persons of color, the environment, etc.).
I choose to stand with the other two-thirds of Christians, who cherish our pluralistic democracy as it seeks to incarnate the biblical values of compassion, mercy, justice for the least, the last and the lost, and inclusive community with joy.
The current administration seems to be confusing Jesus with Machiavelli.
Rev. Dr. Douglas Nielsen
Harpswell
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