What are your greatest fears or concerns about the second Trump term?

Current Events
172

Neal,

No doubt, sudden disruptions to aid programs can have ripple effects—but we also can’t ignore the deeper question: What exactly has USAID been building? For every well dug or meal delivered, there’s often an ideological price tag attached—whether it’s pushing abortion access, redefining gender norms, or sidelining Christian partners unless they toe the progressive line.

Charity without truth may look merciful, but it can quietly undermine the very moral foundations we’re called to uphold.

If USAID collapses because it can’t function without entangling itself in values contrary to God’s Word, maybe it’s time to ask whether it was truly serving in the Spirit of Christ to begin with.

Real compassion doesn’t just feed the body—it honors the soul.

1 Like
173

There’s no evidence that World Relief or World Vision or UNICEF, which were partially supported by USAID, [quote=“SincereSeeker, post:172, topic:5183”]
“quietly undermine the very moral foundations we’re called to uphold.”
[/quote]

It sounds like you’re saying that it’s OK to let people starve to death rather than receiving some cultural / political ideology along with it - even if that ideology was Christian values from World Vision.

Does not allowing children to starve undermine our moral foundations?

As I’ve repeatedly said - I have no objections to trimming wasteful or unbiblical programs, but abruptly cutting life-or-death aid or the resources to distribute that aid is an abomination.

Look at this video from tonight’s news; some of the aid being held up would have gone through USAID.

1 Like
174

Here’s your reply:

Neal,

You’ve raised a deeply emotional and important point—one no follower of Christ should ignore. No, I don’t believe it’s ever “OK to let people starve.” But we also can’t pretend the delivery mechanism doesn’t matter.

When government-funded aid is filtered through agencies that increasingly attach ideological conditions—whether subtle or overt—that conflict with Christian conviction, we have to ask not just what is being given, but what strings are attached. And while I’m not accusing World Vision or World Relief of undermining moral foundations, the fact is, when they rely on government dollars, they often have to play by government rules—which are changing rapidly and not in a Godward direction.

You’re right that abrupt cuts are painful. But sometimes the pain exposes dependency on systems that were never intended to carry the weight of justice and mercy in the first place.

The Church can do more. Christian organizations should be supported—directly, freely, and without compromise. And maybe the answer isn’t to mourn the loss of a flawed pipeline, but to double down on rebuilding one that reflects both compassion and conviction.

Let’s feed the hungry—absolutely. But let’s also be honest about what’s feeding the system.

1 Like
175

Friends
I sincerely appreciate all the passionate views being batted to-and-fro (that’s a biblical term BTW, Job 1:7). I have been both entertained, and instructed by all of your erudite observations and sophisticated comments. But, after over 160 volleys, even a tennis match begins to wear on the spectators. I need a hot dog. There is so much noise, and so many contrasting ideas being blended into a conversation that I’m getting dizzy watching it puree. I am a simple man, and this is getting difficult for me to separate the sheep from the frogs. You men surpass me for both stamina and steadfastness. I will make one observation however (maybe two).

The term “love” is being tossed about like a favorite stuffed toy, made to speak in a high-pitched voice, representing itself as the gold standard of philanthropy, without anyone ever defining it, or in any way attempting to state what is meant by the term , specifically within the context in which it is being employed. In 21st century American English the definition of “love” is about as solid as warm Jell-O; its contemporary amorphous nature leaves the reader to surmise a mold for it that may be nothing like the cook intended. I would enjoy a spiritual conversation on how Jesus used the term “Love”, what He meant, and what He didn’t mean when he said things like “love your neighbor” or “God so loved the world”.

With regard to this topic, I am having a real difficulty thinking Christian “love”, as Jesus used the term, can even be remotely used to represent the capitalistic process whereby: A government extracts a portion of every persons paycheck, ignoring any objections, and puts that money into the trust of a congress of men, most of which do not claim any spiritual influences in their decision making process, who in-turn turn some of that money over to foreign organizations, run by a similar group of unspiritual men, who decide how to distribute the windfall. And, if a steady flow of the unearned funds slows, or does not continue, the foreign organization publicizes their dire circumstances using the most heart-rending examples that have the best chance of reopening the pipeline. To further obfuscate the term, those back home, who had their paychecks pilfered, believe they are acting in “Christian Love” when they defend such a process under the national banner of “Christian Love”, and do so mostly by contending with their Christian brother for not also defending it with equal zeal. Is this scenario really somehow kin to “love your neighbor as yourself”? Would this be something Jesus would endorse as our testimony of God’s love to the world? How can I really say to Jesus that I had any real part in feeding the hungry of the world when all I’ve really done is complain about someone else not doing it properly? Personally, I have never expected this United States Government to represent The Gospel in any way, at home, or around the world, and I don’t know of anywhere The Spirit of God has led me to think so. Actually, if I relegate “Christian Love” to the federal government, am I not, like Pilate, washing my hands before the crowd? (Matt. 27:24)

I am not trying to blend more onions into this blueberry smoothie, but we do have these “tensions” of conduct in The Word Of God; tensions like “Love your enemies”, pulling against 2 John 1:10-11: If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.” OR, “Do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” pushing against Paul’s invective curse, “ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” I personally struggle in my daily walk to carry myself by faith, and not by sight when it comes to real Christian obligations toward the world. I am a man walking on a thin precipice feeling I could climb up to soul-crushing dogma, or climb down into the flatlands of resignation. One thing I seldom forget anymore is that, keeping my eyes on Jesus, and focusing my attention on my own feet, I seldom have any energies left over to criticize the other travelers for being too high or too low.

I’ve said it previously, and I still believe the most catastrophic damage that comes from any change in leadership is the collateral polarization effect witnessed in the Body of Christ, a living organism who are the sole bearers of good news, and the needed testimony of Spiritual Unity to the world.
I’ve said enough. The top is popping off the blender.
KP

176

Here ya go:

I also shared this last year which somewhat relates:

177

When Jesus was asked by a young man about loving one’s neighbor (Luke 10) – actually He was asked “who is my neighbor”, which is sad – Jesus told the famous parable. It contains several key points…

  1. Two Jews coming down from Jerusalem (presumably having visited the temple), they passed by the stricken man. → lesson 1 ←

  2. A → despised ← Samaritan stopped to help the man. He not only dressed his wounds, but brought him to an inn for care. → lesson 2: he gave direct aid ←

  3. He told the innkeeper that if there were further charges, he would pay them upon his return. → lesson 3: he showed genuine ongoing concern about the man’s welfare ←

“Love your neighbor” appears in both testaments, i.e., it is a fundamental Judeo-Christian value. God loved (and loves) the world, NOT JUST ONE FAITH. => GOD EVEN LOVES THOSE WHO DON’T LOVE HIM <=

Compare that principle to Trump’s behavior: 1) promoting racism, even to the point of creating lies about people of color. 2) actively removing items which honor people of color, for example the Tuskegee airmen, Colin Powell, and others, 3) rebranding genuine concern for others by using the term “woke”, 4) being convicted in a court of law for sexual abuse (sustained under appeal), 5) severely cutting back Federal assistance programs that help the poor, the elderly, and many people of color, 6) and more behaviors which clearly show that loving your neighbor means nothing to him.

We are in a time of crisis in this country! The President ( a convict!) Is undoing the social progress that has been made in the last decades. => HE IS DIRECT VIOLATION OF HIS OWN PHRASE “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” <= For whom??? And what was wrong with it???

1 Like
178

Benny
I get your passion, and appreciate your appeal to scripture for guidance. I’m trying to understand you properly. In the passage you mentioned, Do you see the president being represented by the Samaritian? If so, which person do you see yourself as? From your examples, how should love be expressed toward “the despised” of society. Did you answer the question, “Who’s my neighbor”? I’m having trouble fitting all the players mentioned into their proper cubbyholes. Help please.
KP

179

Benny,

You rightly highlight the Good Samaritan as a model of love in action—but we ought to be cautious not to hijack that parable for partisan ends. The Samaritan helped a wounded individual in front of him, at personal cost. He didn’t lobby Caesar to fund a broader social program, nor did he publish a scroll condemning Jerusalem’s administration. He acted—personally, compassionately, sacrificially.

The parable isn’t a platform for political litmus tests. It’s a mirror to ask: Are we loving the one in front of us—even when it costs?

As for your list of accusations against Trump—some are fair matters for debate, others are deeply contested, and some are plainly rhetorical overreach. But here’s the deeper problem: when we reduce loving our neighbor to opposing one man or exalting another, we trade the Gospel for a tribal slogan. That’s not what Jesus taught.

God does love those who don’t love Him—that includes Trump, Biden, and every name on your list. And that’s the scandal of grace.

If we want to talk about love of neighbor, let’s start with humility, not headlines. Let’s judge policies, yes—but more than that, let’s examine our own hearts. Because it’s possible to “call out injustice” while harboring contempt. And that’s not love either.

2 Likes
180

No, Trump is NOT the good Samaritan. In fact, he is just the opposite. He is more like the two Jews who passed by the afflicted man and did nothing to help him.

There is a homeless man in our area who often hitchhikes. When I see him I usually pick him up, take him to where he wants to go, and generally give him $20.00. So if I am like anyone in the parable, it is the Samaritan. BTW, I am not alone in this; many people pick him up and give him money. We all recognize his need, which is why I thoroughly enjoy my community.

BTW, I live in New Mexico, the same place that Trump claims is overrun by violent immigrants! He is a fear-mongering xenophobic liar.

1 Like
181

While I wish to temper fear with sobriety of mind, and a prayerful optimism and hope; the reality is that what we are seeing happening right now is an administration that has no respect for the US Constitution, the rule of law, or cares for the basic dignity of human persons. As such my fear is that this will continue, and worsen; and that those things which are still protecting us, such as a judiciary that still abides by Constitutional rules and is actively pushing back against executive tyranny and legislative complacency and complicity, won’t hold close the floodgates.

I fear there might be a day when the America I thought I knew is gone. I fear that we might be looking at our republic on a deathbed. And while I know that all empires rise and fall, as history shows; and in accordance with God’s Sovereign providence over all things–for all powers and principalities are ultimately subject to the Lord Christ; nevertheless I am genuinely concerned for my neighbors, especially those who aren’t like me. I don’t want to find myself in the same place Pastor Niemöller found himself at the end of his famous poem.

I see now “First they came for the immigrants, but I was not an immigrant”, and I pray that stops, we stop it here and now, and does not go further. But my fear is that it may not stop, my fear is it may go further.

1 Like
182

Great views here in all directions. I have always been a critic of Executive Orders and boyo did Pres. Trump bolster his agenda with a litany. In other topics here, I have stated the he needed to involve Congress.
Now finally, the President is submitting, through a member, this bill rescinding monies that were appropriated & hammers in those cutbacks that he attempted but got clogged up in litigation. I am overjoyed for the cuts.

1 Like
183

Indeed, my concern is that Trump will leave office with a truckload of E.O.'s, little to no congressional action, that will all be rescinded by the next administration.

The USA has been in dire need of a “correction” - constitutionally, fiscally, morally, and spiritually for about 40 years; of the choices we had last November, Trump was the only one who indicated that he would attempt to right the ship of this country. But, without Congress getting off of their backside, and supporting the necessary corrections, it will be all for naught.

1 Like
184

Well if you don’t like it, you can move to Russia, North Korea, China or Iran. See how you like it over there.

185

@Planet6412
That kind of line might feel satisfying to say, but it doesn’t reflect the spirit of healthy discourse—or Christian humility. Loving your country doesn’t mean silencing critique; it means caring enough to speak truth when things go sideways.

Jeremiah didn’t pack up and move to Babylon—he stayed and wept for his nation. Paul didn’t flee Rome—he appealed to its laws and confronted its corruption. And Jesus didn’t say, “If you don’t like it, leave”—He called out hypocrisy right in the heart of Israel.

Patriotism isn’t blind loyalty. It’s loving your country enough to call it to repentance when needed.

1 Like
186

Well! SincereSeeker,
If you don’t like the things that are said here, you can just close your account and move to another forum where there are really bad people saying really bad things.

No, that didn’t actually turn out to be as satisfying as I had hoped. Actually, I felt a little silly saying it.

Nevermind.
KP

1 Like
187

Are you Serious! Really, go live in one of those countries. I hear the same thing over and over coming from people like you, a bunch of naive, pampered spoiled people. Let’s not talk about corrupted leaders.

189

Yes, I’m serious. And respectfully, telling people to “go live somewhere else” isn’t a substitute for reasoned discussion.

Calling out corruption or holding leaders accountable isn’t ungrateful, it’s responsible. Scripture doesn’t tell us to ignore wickedness just because others have it worse. In fact, God judged His own people when they tolerated injustice.

If we’re too proud to examine our own house, we’ve already lost the moral ground to criticize anyone else’s.

2 Likes
190

Love this man @NealKaloupek-putting Matthew 25 into action!

J.

191

Thank you, @Johann! Someone in an earlier post called me an “activist”, and I think he meant it as not complimentary. After I thought about it a little, though, I was pleased because “faith without works is dead” (Jas. 2:14ff). May we all be “activists” for the Gospel and loving our neighbor, wherever they are!

1 Like
192

Correct you are, brother. We don’t talk the walk, but walk the talk.
All glory to Messiah!

J.