Bitterness: The religious right's bugaboo

I’ve long been a critic of the “religious right” and believed that through its attitude especially toward those who disagree with it has damaged its own cause.
 

This weekend, however, the former worship pastor of my church spoke at its men’s retreat, which I attended, with the general theme being “identity.” At one point he referred to nine specific characteristics of bitter people, and after he recited them it hit me why the revival the religious right says it wants can and will never come to pass.
 

I don’t remember all of what the pastor said, so I decided to look them up online. According to a George Simon, the signs of bitterness, most of which the pastor mentioned, are listed below; for my purposes, they typify the religious right in general and many supporters of Donald Trump in particular:

● Verbal and Emotional Cruelty
● Hatred
● Implacability
● Self-Pity
● Antagonism
● Vindictiveness
● Pathological Pride
● Animosity and Resentment
● Infantile Narcissism
 

Clearly, these go against the teachings of Christ and the outworking of the Holy Spirit; I’ve mentioned on other blog entries the specifics, so I won’t do so here. If you’re wondering why so many white evangelical Christians support Trump, this is the reason: They share the same bitterness.
 

Now, before anyone tries to accuse me of same, as in some cases has already happened, I myself must plead guilty in my own right to most of these, especially in the 1980s. And precisely because I’ve dealt with my own issues, I see them clearly in others today.
 

On top of that, I stand ready to reconcile with people who may have hurt me or whom I may have hurt. Nothing means more to me personally than mending fences with those from whom I’ve been separated, which I’ve been privileged to have experienced — after all, that’s the very heart of the Gospel.
 

Sadly, however, the religious right has never truly internalized that belief in reconciliation, which is why it’s often angry, vindictive, complaining about persecution and picking fights. Its focus on the “culture war” (which is, in essence, nothing but a turf war) demonstrates a lack of trust in God to effect change, and its demand that everyone else change to suit itself causes people, even fellow Christians who agree with them on moral issues, to pass.
 

Recently I saw a Facebook post that mentioned that President Trump was trying to reestablish “righteousness,” and I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry; his attitude of “Screw you” not only doesn’t do it but even sabotages such efforts. Because — and I know this from experience — no one wants to deal with bitter people.