This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I have a request to make of all candidates for president of the United States who have declared themselves followers of Christ, and of those who support these men and women under the banner of preserving our Christian-American civilization.
Please stop calling yourselves Christian.
What you call yourself should have at least a nodding acquaintance with your actions. Jesus Christ teaches us to turn the other cheek, not to slap it. He preached that the hungry should be fed, the homeless sheltered and the sinner forgiven. He did not advocate throwing the poor out onto the street to starve, nor did he advise us to revile them for suffering misfortunes which could strike any of us through no fault of our own.
He said, "Suffer the little children to come unto Me." He did not say that the suffering and deaths of those little children was an acceptable price to pay so that adults could play with their guns.
He told us to "Be not afraid." He did not at any time tell us that out of our fear we should annihilate what we have taught ourselves to fear, or what amoral politicians have told us we should fear.
Perhaps the only true Christian in all history died on the cross 2,000 years ago, I do not know, but I am certain that no one worthy of that description is running for president of the United States in 2016.
Michael J. Lombardi
Bluffdale