Those people of faith

I continue to read letters that imply that “people of faith” are rabidly supporting Trump and fellow Republicans, not so subtly implying that people not supporting him are not “people of faith.”

This is not a Sunday School lesson on what constitutes persons of faith, but you all do know that it runs much deeper than a political party, right? Jesus said that we will know a tree (good or bad) based on the fruit it produces. He was referring to fruits of the spirit. You will have to read scripture to learn what those are, but that should be easy for people of faith. He said, “If you love me, you will obey my teachings.” What would Jesus do? He ate with criminals. He touched the diseased. He turned the other cheek. He cared for children. He blessed the widow. He told the rich young man to sell all that he had and distribute his money to the poor. He said that the worker who came late should be paid the same wage as the one who came early. He said to love our fellow man with our hearts, souls, and minds.

As a quasi-religion/political party, what do Republicans do? Demand an end to abortion because life is precious and only God’s to give or take while resenting the countless children that need their communities’ support after birth, and clamor for capital punishment. Spend millions to travel to foreign countries to spread the gospel and cash but resent tax dollars being used for Medicaid in our own country. Share the story of the Good Samaritan but harbor dark feelings about foreigners. Teach the biblical truth that the love of money is the root of all evil but brag about stock market gains since 2016. Can you say hypocrisy?

I believe Donald Trump hijacked the Christian faith for votes. I am stunned that men and women who claim faith in Jesus have accepted and repeat his lies, racism, hubris, misogyny, pettiness, greed, hate-filled rhetoric and juvenile fits of rage. May God have mercy on all of us, including people of faith.

SARA LANGSTON North Little Rock