Never a Resounding Gong or Clanging Cymbal

A few months ago, I wondered how it is possible that people who self-identify as Evangelical Christians could possibly support a presidential candidate who doesn't have a clue what Jesus would do. I concluded that most of them are not Christ's followers; they merely identify culturally with a Christian church denomination. But sadly, a man whose political message is completely contrary to Christ's command to love your neighbor as you love yourself has swayed some Christians.

One of the Bible passages I read when I considered this puzzling issue was John 10, about the Good Shepherd and His Sheep. Jesus said that his sheep listen to his voice; they follow him because they know his voice. A thief may sneak into the pen, but the sheep will not follow him. In fact, they will run away because they do not recognize the stranger's voice. The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus came so that we can have life and live it more abundantly.

In his beautiful and eloquent description of love in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul the apostle wrote, "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." It doesn't matter how persuasively I speak, if I do not have love, I am nothing. 

The Discordant Sound of a Resounding Gong and Clanging Cymbal
In voting, I must often choose between the lesser of two evils. Many politicians are dishonest and self-serving and hold political views that I cannot align with my conscience. But the Resounding Gong has taken evil to a level we have not seen in decades. To the ears of Christ's sheep as well as to the ears of many who are not remotely religious, his words are disturbing and painful to hear.

Deception. PolitiFact, a fact-checking website, rated the Clanging Cymbal's statements for truthfulness. Based on their analysis, about 75% of the time, his statements are mostly or completely ("pants on fire") false. The Clanging Cymbal has been called a pathological or compulsive liar. Does he believe what he is saying? I don't think so. I think his lies are calculated to make himself look better than he his, to make other people look worse than they really are, and to manipulate his audience. I don't think he lies out of habit; I think he lies to get his own way. He has no conscience. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say, he lies like a sociopath?

Sociopaths are often charming and charismatic, but they use their talented social skills in manipulative and self-centered ways... 

Even without fact checking, it is easy to spot manipulation in the deceiver's speech. He frequently uses hyperbole, the language of exaggeration. The Clanging Cymbal calls this technique "truthful hyperbole" but this is an oxymoron. In the article Trump & Truthful Hyperbole, Mike LaBossiere writes that "hyperbole is by definition untrue" and it "lacks logical force." While hyperbole is not necessarily harmful, it can be, particularly when it is "mixed in with fabrication." The author illustrated this with the example of the fabricator claiming that "thousands and thousands" of Muslim residents celebrated the fall of the World Trade Center on 9/11.

It is sad that so many people are so easily deceived. I shake my head when I hear people say they like the sound of the Clanging Cymbal because he tells it like it is. Some even go so far as to call him honest. Yes, the manipulator expresses the truth about what his admirers are thinking and feeling. He exposes the anger and resentment in the hearts of those who are nostalgic for the way things used to be. But to call the great deceiver honest for exposing the ugly truth of the state of American hearts while ignoring his lies is selective hearing. 

Boastfulness.  Egotistical people have always turned me off so it is no surprise that I am repulsed by this braggart. A truly admirable person does not have to toot his or her own horn. But those who have excessive pride do not see themselves honestly in relationship to other people and to God. They give themselves too much credit for their achievements and do not admit their need for improvement. 

Here's what the Bible says about boasting (Jeremiah 9:23-24):

This is what the Lord says:

"Let not the wise boast of their wisdom

or the strong boast of their strength

or the rich boast of their riches,

but let the one who boasts boast about this:

that they have the understanding to know me,

that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,

justice and righteousness on earth,

for in these I delight,"

declares the Lord.

The real worth of a man is not determined by wealth or power or business success but by how he treats other people - with kindness, justice and mercy. A righteous man is good and decent, treating others the way he wants to be treated.

Self-worship.  The braggart has been called many things but narcissist is probably the most misunderstood. In Why Narcissism is a Profoundly Misunderstood Psychological Disorder, George Dvorsky writes that narcissism isn't just about having an out sized ego; it is "a serious psychological disorder" characterized by an excessive sense of self-importance and a lack of empathy for others. The narcissist reacts to criticism with anger and by humiliating the critic. He takes advantage of other people and primarily pursues selfish goals. He exaggerates his achievements and talents. He needs constant attention. Sound familiar?

In The Mind of Donald Trump, Dan P. McAdams acknowledges that narcissists can be very charismatic and successful, possibly even good leaders. I am not so easily charmed and impressed. But for those who are easily persuaded to follow a narcissist, many will eventually get tired of the narcissist's self-centeredness.  McAdams says that, "When narcissists begin to disappoint those whom they once dazzled, their descent can be especially precipitous."

The personality of the narcissist who wants to be president is highly disagreeable. McAdams says that anger is at his emotional core. In fact, anger may be the operative emotion behind his low agreeableness. His anger is revealed in his lack of basic human decency and kindness and in the way he tears down anyone who does not mirror back to him his excessive love of self.

Mean-spiritedness: Name-calling, insulting, and bullying are the hallmark behaviors of the Clanging Cymbal. Anyone who challenges his sense of superiority, whether a political opponent, a reporter, or a member of a different religious or ethnic group, is ridiculed, denigrated, and disparaged. The cruel man demeans others in an attempt to elevate himself but instead shows how low, mean-spirited and emotionally bankrupt he is. His words reveal the ugliness of his heart. Just as a good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, an evil man brings out the bad things out of the evil in his heart. 

The wanna-be bully in chief clearly does not believe that all men are all created equal. He promotes ethnic bigotry and xenophobia with his slanderous comments about immigrants and his fear-mongering comments about Syrian refugees. He promotes religious bigotry with his prejudicial comments about Muslims and his dismissal of non-mainstream religions. He demonstrates a lack of respect for women by judging us based on physical appearance. This is not treating others the way you want to be treated, with dignity and without prejudice. His eagerness to build up of walls and shut out people who are not white Protestants is not being a good neighbor.

One of the central themes of Christ's gospel is loving your neighbor as yourself. I challenge anyone who harbors resentment of another race, religion, or ethic group to read The Parable of the Good Samaritan with fresh eyes. This is not just a story about helping a random stranger. The parable was Christ's answer to a man who asked, "who is my neighbor?" In those days, Samaritans and Jews despised each other. Yet the Samaritan put aside this cultural hatred and demonstrated love towards his fellowman. Today, the Good Samaritan might be called the Good Mexican or the Good Muslim.

The Sweet Sound of Love
Above the resounding gong of self-adulation and self-worship, I hear an infinitely higher and sweeter sound of love and mercy. The Lord commands: you shall have no other god before me. I hear Jesus say, love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. I am not looking for a mere human to solve the problems of this world. I am not looking for a savior. I already have one. 

Above the clanging cymbal of hatred, bigotry and divisiveness, I hear Jesus say, Love your neighbor as yourself. Love your enemies; anyone can love people who are like them. I hear the words of Paul explaining what love is. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.