The symbolism was both powerful and by some estimations
poignant. With the Bible and the Brazilian Constitution on the table before
him, Jair Bolsonaro proclaimed the people must learn to 'coexist with the
truth'.
Though there was some opposition from Evangelical quarters,
it would seem that Evangelicals overwhelmingly supported the Bolsonaro
campaign. Though he himself is a Roman Catholic, he has surrounded himself with
Evangelicals and with the help of some powerful players has forged an alliance.
There's something of a sick irony in his use of the famous
John 8 passage regarding the truth. The American Central Intelligence Agency
has likewise hijacked the verse and appropriated it in support of its agenda of
lies and deception.
Bolsonaro, the new Brazilian Trump as some have called him is
very much in keeping with the ethos of his American mentor. Truth is about the
farthest thing from his mind. While Christians must also reject feminism and
sodomy, Bolsonaro's Right-wing rhetoric is also offensive, anti-Christian and
must be rejected. It does not serve the cause of Christ. And as far as truth is
concerned, Bolsonaro is a spin doctor, a wizard propagating lies and myths
about the Brazilian dictatorship, its origins, support as well as its brutal and
murderous record.
There's not an ounce of Christianity to be found in Bolsonaro
and the fact that so many Christians have supported him, like their North
American counterparts with Trump, sounds a warning about the state of politics
in the West but even more so with regard to the rampant and growing apostasy
within Western Evangelicalism. Dominionist Theology has won the day and even
now is beginning to self-destruct. And like Theological Liberalism it risks
bringing the whole house down.
This theology which transforms Christ's Kingdom into an amalgam
comprised of the Church, State and Culture has generated schism and has sown
confusion, violence and destruction.
Bolsonaro is a feather in the cap of those in Washington who
have laboured to turn back the Pink Tide. Truly the vision of Hugo Chavez has
died. Falsely labeled as communistic by fools such as Bolsonaro, many also
mistakenly believe the Chavez inspired 'Bolivarian Revolution' to be socialist
in character. It tried, borrowed the concepts, rhetoric and ethos but failed to
ever really implement socialist policies. It ended up being little more than
capitalist largesse and patronage. And when the US orchestrated and fomented an
economic crisis, the market based system collapsed. And like what was done to Chile
under Allende, the economic juggernaut of Wall Street has sought to make the
economy scream and to pour fuel on the fire creating a humanitarian crisis.
Chavez and Maduro are not above criticism of course. They too
are corrupt, power hungry and unwilling to follow through on their rhetoric.
But while Venezuela (through the financial might of its military) continues to
hang on, the rest of Latin America has already made a sharp turn to the right.
For a brief time Colombia was almost alone in its alliance with Washington.
Today, only a few defiant nations remain. The turnaround has been fairly
stunning and it's also been interesting to watch how the supposedly 'Left' and
Liberal media in the West has played along. I have yet to hear a good report
from a mainstream outlet that actually delves in and tells the whole story,
history, geopolitics and all. It's not in their interest to do so. By interest
I refer to the entertainment value and profit-based nature of US media as well
as its relationship to the political order. Telling the truth and the whole
story is not really in the cards when it comes to the media mainstream.
So now we will wait and see what Jair Bolsonaro does and to
what extent the Evangelical Church in Brazil will whore itself out to his
designs. Will they support a police state? A military dictatorship? Look for a
crisis in which Bolsonaro will proclaim a state of emergency. That will be a
sure sign.
More than ever the Church needs viable voices of opposition
who will speak out and warn Christ's people about not just the political and
social dangers but specifically warn
about those in the Church who would ally with the likes of Jair Bolsonaro
and Donald Trump. They need leaders who will dash the false binary arguments
regarding politics, the false either-or choices we are so often presented with.
But it's not going to happen until the Church divorces itself from Dominionist
Theology, let alone the money machine and political structures. These same
Church leaders are too busy making money. Why would they risk becoming pariahs?
For the sake of the truth? These men have sold themselves out to liars like
Bolsonaro and Trump. Why would they be any different?
