OMG

I have been watching and listening to the impeachment trial of Donald John Trump the past few days, but this morning was the first time I happened to catch the opening prayer delivered by the Senate chaplain, Barry C. Black.

I was floored. I mean, it took my breath away. I could not believe what I was hearing. Maybe I have been away from organized religion such a long time that I have forgotten just how involved in the affairs of humans God is thought to be. I literally did a small shocked spit-take with my coffee when I heard the chaplain’s words.

If I can find a full transcript I will post it below, but in the meantime I have found the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MteWjpOVSqk (Chaplain Black’s prayer starts at the 1:02:50 mark and runs less than two minutes.) He started by asking that God “unite our Senators in their striving to do Your will.” And then went on to say “We trust the power of Your prevailing providence to bring this impeachment trial to the conclusion you desire.” 

My first reaction was, “Wait, does this gentleman really think that the 100 Senators in the chamber are truly striving to do God’s will?”

My second reaction was, “Does Chaplain Black actually believe that God has a desired outcome to this impeachment trial?”

I am sure there may be a few United States Senators who are sincerely striving to do God’s will. On a day when I am feeling generous, I would put the number at no more than 10. A person does not rise through the party system in America and get to be a Senator without a whole bunch of compromising along the way---no matter which party they are in. The twin needs to raise funds and to appeal to the base leave far too many opportunities for ethical compromise for a sitting US Senator to have much claim to “striving to do God’s will.”

But I get it. Maybe Chaplain Black was appealing to their best selves and reminding them of what they want to believe about themselves.

The next part is a little trickier for me to understand. Do people really think that God has a “desired outcome” for this trial of Donald John Trump? Is God a cheerleader who really hopes (and prays?) for things to happen? Giod is all-powerful, right? And if you believe in God’s omnipotence, then whatever way the trial turns out IS God’s desired outcome, no?

There is a real danger in believing that whatever happens is God’s desired outcome. It feels to me like the believer’s version of that pabulum I hear so frequently “It is what it is.” Of course Donald Trump will be found Not Guilty. Is that because it is God’s desired outcome? Or might it have something to do with the political prospects of 100 Senators?

I do not believe in God, but if I did, she’d be pretty angry at what is going on in D.C. these days.