Today’s Old Testament reading focuses on the Chosen people to whom the Lord God Yahweh says, “I have appointed you watchman for the house of Israel.” “If I tell the wicked, ‘O wicked one, you shall surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death.”
U.S. Religious Nationalists of MAGA worship the War Lord God Yahweh. They believe he is talking to them personally from the Bible. The Lord is Choosing them and the U.S. as his Chosen nation, a Christian nation taking over from Israel, and he’s appointed MAGA members as watchmen over the wicked. MAGA can quote some of the U.S. founding fathers to support their Chosen status. For example, George Washington: “No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States.” Thomas Jefferson: “We receive the favor of that Being in whose hands we are, who led our fathers, as Israel of old.” MAGA can also quote some of U.S. founding fathers to support their belief the U.S. is a Christian nation. For example, John Adams: “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.” First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Jay: “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” MAGA can also quote U.S. founding fathers to support their belief they’re appointed as watchman over the wicked. For Thomas Jefferson and too many other founding fathers, the wicked often meant “merciless savages,” and “the blacks.” Heir to Old Testament prophets and founding fathers is Secretary of War Pete Hegseth who titles himself a Christian nationalist and is instituting evangelical worship services at the Pentagon and recognizing predominantly evangelical chaplains for the military. He believes the U.S. is a Christian nation and repeats the words of Ezekial, other Old Testament prophets, and the founding fathers in his speeches. He believes he is a watchman for the house of the U.S. and thus is instituting Tech Bro AI technology for mass domestic surveillance and autonomous weaponry. He also routinely prays for violence against the wicked, “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy” and for wicked souls to receive “eternal damnation.” Is Pete Hegsesth and MAGA mistaken to believe that worshipping the Old Testament’s Lord, being his Chosen people of a Chosen nation, and being watchmen against the wicked make them Christian? Is anybody mistaken about whether Jesus or Pete said, “We’re fighting religious fanatics who seek a nuclear capability in order for some religious Armageddon… But from my perspective, I mean, obviously I’m a man of faith who encourages our troops to lean into their faith, rely on God.” Is anybody mistaken about whether Jesus or Pete said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no evil to the neighbor.”
“Goodbye, Christ Jesus… Beat it on away from here now. Make way for a new guy… A real guy named Marx Communist Lenin Peasant Stalin Worker [Tech Bro Musk Privileged Thiel Worker] [Private Equity Vance Dutiful Portfolio Worker] [Capitalist MAGA Trump Cabinet Hegseth Worker]… Go ahead now, You’re getting in the way of things… And step on the gas, Christ! Move!” (Goodbye Christ – Langston Hughes)
Prayer: Beautiful Spirit, keep us steadfast in our love of all neighbors.
Question: Am I a watchman for the wicked or do I labor as a lover for their conversion?
September 06, 2026 Gospel Matthew 18:15-20 Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
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