Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

Donald Trump stands for “white nationalism” and it doesn’t bother him to say it.  He loves white and, if you aren’t, he says he hates you.

So it was that, with that reality in mind, I viewed recently a statement from a Christian leader who said the Trump’s stance doesn’t follow God.

The leader was Monty Wright, a regional district superintendent for the Christian Missionary Alliance, a denomination that hosts our home church in Salem, Oregon.

Here is the totality of Wright’s statement, which he issued on Facebook.

“As a follower of Jesus, I need to say this plainly and prayerfully:

“The ongoing rhetoric and actions coming from our president and members of his cabinet, particularly when they traffic in demeaning language, radicalized fear, or policies that harm already-vulnerable communities, are not something to celebrate.

“They are not strength.  They are not courage.  They are not moral leadership.  This is leadership at its lowest.

“We are living in a season of chaotic darkness, and darkness is never measured only by what is said or done, but also by what is excused, normalized, or baptized with religious language.

“I am especially grieved by the number of Christians who continue to align themselves with this moment, often in the name of faith, patriotism, or ‘protecting Christian values.’

“What we are seeing is not the gospel.  It is not the way of Jesus. And it is not compatible with the kingdom of God.  White Christian nationalism is not Christianity.

“It does not bear the fruit of the Spirit.

“It does not love its neighbor.

“It does not tell the truth.

“And it does not reflect the crucified Christ.

“The Church does not exist to defend power.  We exist to bear witness to a different way… a way marked by humility, repentance, justice, truth, and sacrificial love. 

“There will always be political differences among faithful Christians.  That is not the issue.  The issue is whether we will clearly and courageously say no when racism, cruelty, and dehumanization are wrapped in the language of faith.

“Silence in moments like this is not neutrality it is formation.  My prayer is that the Church would recover its moral clarity, its prophetic voice, and its allegiance, not to any nation, party, or personality, but to Jesus Christ alone.

“Light still shines in the darkness.

“But only if we are willing to step into it.”

I couldn’t have said it better, so, at least for the moment, I won’t try. 

What I will say is that I agree with Wright when he writes, “I am especially grieved by the number of Christians who continue to align themselves with this moment, often in the name of faith, patriotism, or protecting Christian values.”

So am I. 

I cannot fathom why some persons who express Christian faith can support Trump.