“Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is going to betray you?’) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’ Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?’” — John 21:20-23
I have my preference in the U.S. Senate GOP primary runoff between U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) and Jared Hudson, yet my position has nothing to do with either man’s Christianity.
How unfortunate that the runoff campaign between the two men has so quickly drawn blood from the veins of their shared Christian identity!
Yet perhaps we might find some happy fault in this fight.
Whether intended or not, Hudson’s recent statement, “Alabama wants a Senator who lives out a Christian conservative life, not someone who just talks about it in front of the cameras,” pierced too deeply where it should not have.
Perhaps Hudson only meant to express his genuine faith by generic contrast. Yet, the fact that his statement does not explicitly mention Moore ironically gives the slight a bit more bite.
I suspect that is what cut Mrs. Moore to her core. She saw her husband’s faith attacked, not by any explicit accusation, but by implication.
Forgive me for saying it, but women tend to be much better at spotting tactics of reputational destruction than men. That's not to say men don’t deploy or recognize such tactics, but Machiavelli’s fox has always been more feminine than his lion, and American politics has undoubtedly trended towards the fox for political women and men alike.
American politicians don’t duel with pistols or swords anymore. The weapons they deploy today are sharp words meant more to manipulate than inform. And in a game of wits during a head-to-head popularity contest, a subtle slice can cut much deeper than any straight punch to the face. Not only does it hurt, but it also muddies the water amongst the voters while giving the attacker plausible deniability.
Yet maybe Hudson really didn’t intend the implication that Moore’s faith is all talk or paper-thin. Perhaps it’s Mrs. Moore and the Moore team who are being performatively sensitive by using the implied slight as their own subtle weapon to slice Hudson with some generic line he’s been saying for months.
In Alabama, would you rather be the one attacking the other candidate’s faith or the candidate being attacked? Which would garner more support amongst Alabama voters?
If one has a direct, provable accusation to levy, then better to be the one attacking. But if one only has implied innuendo, then better to be the victim of an unjust, unfounded smear – look at the holier than thou Pharisee attacking me! How dare he stoop so low!
Yet could it be that Hudson didn’t intend the slight and the Moore camp genuinely felt the implied slice?
Perhaps neither camp is playing a Machiavellian game on the question of Christian identity. Perhaps both are playing the political game in good faith yet have drawn blood from their Christian veins all the same. If so, the tragedy only grows greater.
What a shame that even shared good faith can be reduced to a profane weapon in the political game! Comparison in a political contest is always a double-edged sword, where too much held in common – even a shared faith – sows division and discord. Too much in common, like desiring the very same U.S. Senate seat, can upset the best of intentions and even question the heart of each man’s Christianity.
Yet, what is Hudson and Moore’s Christianity to me when we truly share the same Lord? What is it to me that my Christian brothers get different or better rewards? What is it to me that the gifts and graces bestowed from above are for each according to each? What is it to me that certain disciples seem to receive more of His love?
Comparison is a thief that saps us of our joy and makes us unsheath weapons we didn’t intend to deploy against others and ourselves. Yet, despite our best and worst intentions – or the blood that we draw – perhaps we can still find some happy fault even in our worldly fights cut through by Adam’s tragic flaw.
I have my preference in the runoff race between Hudson and Moore, yet my position has nothing to do with either man’s Christianity.
Indeed, even if my preference loses – and certain powerful persons in Alabama make Trump kiss their ring again – I know that a good-faith Christian will win in a contest between these two men.
What a happy fault to be reminded that, despite political ambition or the envy of sin, the final victory has been won for those who follow Him.
Joey Clark is a native Alabamian and is currently the host of the radio program News and Views on News Talk 93.1 FM WACV out of Montgomery, AL, M-F 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. His column appears every Tuesday in 1819 News. To contact Joey for media or speaking appearances, as well as any feedback, please email [email protected]. Follow him on X @TheJoeyClark or watch the radio show livestream.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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