Topic: WorldNetDaily
Along with hating LGBTQ people, Michael Brown is also known for trying to sell Donald Trump to evangelicals, imploring them to ignore his amorality because he delivered on right-wing agenda items, though the Capitol riot caused him to waver. So as we play catch-up with Brown's hating on non-heterosexuals, it's worth noting another example of Brown's wishy-washiness over Trump's growing extreme rhetoric. He wrote in his March 10 WorldNetDaily column:
Former President Trump's "I am your retribution" comments at CPAC have created the expected firestorm. For his loyal supporters, this was vintage Trump, as once again, he stood up boldly to fight for "us" against "them." To paraphrase, "They may have hurt you, but I will make them pay!" For Trump critics, this was Trump at his arrogant and dangerous worst, pledging a holy war against those who stood in his way.
To quote Trump in full, "In 2016, I declared I am your voice. Today, I add I am your warrior, I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution. I am your retribution. Not going to let this happen. Not going to let it happen. I will totally obliterate the deep state."
To repeat those central words: "I am your retribution."
What are we to make of this?
Weirdly, Brown didn't reference Trump's name again in this column, even though the column was a response to Trump. Instead, he ruminated on the biblical aspects of retribution, concluding by arguing that retribution is for God alone but, again, not calling out Trump for trying to substitute his judgment for God's:
So, rather than try to destroy our enemies or bring retribution on them, our goal should be their conversion and transformation. That is the radical Jesus way.
Of course, some of us will immediately try to rationalize our way out of this command, saying that such efforts are a sign of compromise. Or we'll create ridiculous scenarios, asking, "So, if a killer breaks into my house, am I supposed to cook him a nice meal?"
That is obviously not what the Word is saying.
But God is calling us to crucify our flesh, to put down our carnal desires for retribution, and to make it our goal to overcome evil with good, thereby following in the footsteps of the Lord.
As for vengeance and retribution, we do best to leave that to God.
Which may be true. But if Brown won't specifically address Trump with that admonishment, his words are meaningless in this context. If Trump is claiming retribution where he shouldn't Brown needs to actually say so. Otherwise, he's just serving up more wishy-washiness over someone whose agenda he loves too much to be completely turned off by his severe character flaws.
