13 - Heartbreak and Hope

Episode 13 (recorded 5 November 2020). Bishop Jack Lumanog shares unscripted from the heart about his heartbreak about the 2020 presidential election results. In light of mismanaging a global pandemic, insulting veterans and Gold Star families, undermining the democratic process, cozying up with foreign dictators and domestic white supremacists, he and his children treating The White House as their own personal enterprise, and dismantling the various parts of the governmental infrastructure through his Cabinet secretaries and breaking just about every presidential norm -- that still quite so many Americans voted for President Trump. This was NOT a repudiation of Trumpism that our country so desperately needs. But, the good news is that as people of faith, "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken" (Hebrews 12:28a). We are a pilgrim people with our eternal citizenship in heaven. But, there is still a high calling for pastors and Christian leaders to speak out against the lies, falsehoods and dangerous misinformation being spread by President Trump -- aided and abetted by evangelical leaders like Franklin Graham and Paula White. According to an October survey from the Public Religion Research Institute, most Americans think religious leaders have a role to play post-election: More than eight in ten say it is important for religious leaders to speak out about a peaceful transition of power regardless of who wins the election. Bishop Lumanog believes that pastors and Christian leaders have their work cut out for them and re-claim our voices in the public square by telling the truth to our congregants and communities -- even if it means speaking out against the sitting President.