The rage bait that I have successfully avoided for years by being a conscientious resistor to digital media generally and all social media particularly is now in my mailbox. If you live in Texas, you have probably received the fake flyer sent out by the shell company registered last month in Sheridan, Wyoming, designed to appear as if it’s from the Transgender Education Network of Texas. The brochure is deliberately fabricated with words and images and triggering phrases to enrage Christians, to inflame in us the decidedly un-Christian emotions of fear and hate.

Don’t bite the bait.

I could write pages this morning on the evils of this fraudulent brochure and the one(s) who has paid millions of dollars to ensure it landed in your mailbox. Instead, I’m going to re-post here what my good friend Darin Wood, the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Midland, wrote yesterday:

“Friends, this past Sunday, I stood at the pulpit in our church and declared our political opponents–whoever they might be–are NOT our enemies. I stand by that. We can disagree without being angry, cruel, or fearful. That’s what makes this brochure going out across Texas so dangerous. Whoever sent it isn’t nearly as important to me as why. Clearly, the purpose of this brochure is to stoke fear, division, and rage. From my social media feeds, it has worked in spades. This is EXACTLY what Satan wants, especially right now. It lines in cleanly with John 10:10. While I’m 100% on board with protecting our children from propaganda and the lies of the enemy but please, friends, don’t allow Satan to scare you into hatred.”

Well said, Darin. And true. Thank you, brother.

The brochure in our mailboxes proves there’s too much money in the political system. And too little decency. Too little concern for community and the greater good. The power-hungry people in our broken political machine decided a long time ago that their party’s ends justify any means. Both parties. They’ve both gone so far past the line, the line is only a dot in the rear view mirror. Followers of the crucified and risen Christ Jesus do not give in to any grabs for power or fear mongering or hate. We build up and do not tear down, we create and do not destroy, we reconcile and do not divide.

Don’t bite the bait.

Peace,
Allan