Two Different Kinds of Suffering

I am no fan of attorney Jenna Ellis.  I have written to her before and told her that her claim to be a Christian is completely undermined by her work for and support of Donald Trump.  I do not think a follower of Jesus Christ can support Trump at all.  I wrote about that here.   Ms. Ellis posted her mugshot from her arrest in Georgia yesterday with these comments.

Personally, I do not consider Christianity and conservatism compatible.  As far as I can tell, Christianity and conservatism, if they were depicted on a Venn diagram, are two circles which do not even touch, let alone overlap. Conservatism has repudiated everything Jesus taught, especially in the Sermon on the Mount.  I think Ms. Ellis is a pseudo-Christian at best.

But let's say I am totally wrong about her.  The fact remains she did not get arrested for doing anything a Christian should do.  She talks about a weaponized government and yet she got arrested for trying to weaponize government.

1 Peter chapter 4 (I almost always quote from NRSV) describes two ways people can get into suffering.

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. 16 Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. 

So we read there are two kinds of suffering here.  (1) Suffering for being a follower of Jesus Christ.  (2) Suffering because you did something criminal.  Jenna Ellis is suffering for reason (2), not reason (1).  There can be no doubt about it.  A follower of Jesus would not go before a legislative body and knowingly make false statements.

Jenna Ellis DID NOT GET INDICTED BECAUSE SHE IS A CHRISTIAN.  I admit I have a difficult time considering those who share her political views to be Christian.  But let's say I am wrong. Let's say she is a Christian. THE FACT REMAINS that she got indicted for racketeering, the racket being to steal the votes of the voters in Georgia.  So she got indicted as a thief!!  Again, Jenna Ellis DID NOT GET INDICTED BECAUSE SHE IS A CHRISTIAN.

I think it is incumbent on everyone who is concerned that Christians live out the values Jesus taught TO CALL THIS OUT.