Too Low, Even for Politicians

Folks, some things aren’t fair game. The list may be short, but it is absolute. You don’t protest at a funeral, you stand when the US flag passes by, and you never, ever politicize the death of a soldier.

Rep. Frederica Wilson (D. Fla.) did just that, but President Trump’s hands aren’t clean here.

I don’t care if Wilson is a Republican or a Democrat, black or white, man or woman, Christian or Buddhist. Wilson politicized the death of a soldier and tarnished that sacred moment when the President spoke with Army Sergeant Johnson’s widow – forever. Johnson’s death is forever. His widow’s pain is forever. Wilson’s callous disregard for the sanctity of that moment is forever.

Let’s get one thing straight. Neither you nor I was on the phone or in the room with the President or Sgt. Johnson’s widow during the call and all we have are news reports and post-call responses from which to judge the situation. So let’s clear up a few things.

Ms. Cowanda Jones-Johnson said President Trump “did disrespect my son” as reported by Fox News. Give me a break, folks. Ms. Jones-Johnson gets a pass. A mother just lost her son and was in the room when her daughter-in-law, the real victim in this tragedy, received a call from a President with whom she may have nothing in common, let alone a reverence for the duty of Commander in Chief. Neither Ms. Myeshia Johnson nor Ms. Jones-Johnson carries any blame.

President Trump is reported by both CNN and Fox News to have said Sgt. Johnson “knew what he signed up for, but it still hurts.” This comes after earlier claiming that former President Obama hadn’t often called gold-star families during his administration. First, why on Earth would he even say that? Who cares what a former president did to honor the death of a soldier? Second, if you’ve never had to make that call then you don’t even get a vote – you don’t get to criticize what the President said to the widow nor does your opinion hold any weight in the universe. You don’t know Jack. President Trump – shame on you for politicizing this issue, but I pray for wisdom because it won’t be the last call you have to make to a grieving widow.

Democrat Representative of Florida Frederica Wilson stumped the liberal news media within hours of the President’s call violating the sanctity of that moment, publicizing the details and politicizing the pain of the family. She preyed on the vulnerability of the grieving widow and mother and she attacked the poorly chosen speech of the President in what should be a vulnerable and sacred moment. Wilson’s time would be better spent consoling a widow and family and educating a president on the impact of his words. Instead she’s clamoring for your attention and for political points following the death of one of America’s finest – a selfless enlisted man in a fight on another continent, against an enemy neither you nor I will ever see, to ensure the strength and security of our nation. Shame on you, Frederica Wilson. I pray for wisdom for you as well, because one day you might learn your actions are actually hurtful and that day will be dark.

As a former Marine, I am angry. I think you can tell. But as a Christian seeking daily to overcome my shortcomings, I am trying to find the right way to respond to the President, Rep. Wilson, and the media. I’d like to burn it down – all of it – because of the pain and division it is causing in the greatest nation in the world. I’d like to be there when the light bulb actually comes on and President Trump and Rep. Wilson realize the error of their ways – oh to see their faces when the reality of the damage each has done to the Johnson family sets in. I’d like to be there to console Mrs. Johnson and let her know that her loss, though deeply personal and profound, hurts us all.

But I won’t. That’s God’s place, not mine. That’s God’s job, not mine. My sins are equally as egregious and I am in no better to judge President Trump or Rep. Wilson than I am to be President Trump or Rep. Wilson.

“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Rom 12:19, KJV)

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you…You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Mat 7: 1-2 and 5, NIV)

“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (Mark 11:25, NLT)

So, it really is that simple. As much as I would prefer to continue lambasting everyone for violating such a sacred moment, I can’t. Because if I’m truly a Christian, if I truly care about God’s precepts, and if I truly want to be God’s “hands and feet” then I need to follow my own advice and let God be God.

May the peace that passes all understanding flow over the Johnson family, and may God comfort the families of every lost serviceman. May we repent, daily, so that God may heal our land.

Selah.