Wouldn’t you like to know where the Garden of Eden was located?
Scholars have sought its location for a long time.
Scripture tells us that four rivers flowed from its heights (it was on a mountain (Ezekiel 28:13-14)): the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates. We can identify the Tigris and Euphrates today, but the location of the Pishon Gihon is uncertain. This has frustrated attempts to determine its exact location.
It’s clear from scripture that the Garden of Eden was a specific place, not the entire earth. It was a place that Adam, with Eve’s eventual help, was supposed to tend to.
Genesis 2:15:
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”
But Adam and Eve also were told their dominion over nature went well beyond the garden’s boundaries.
Genesis 1:28:
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
The garden also contained the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Both are in the middle of the garden.
All of the splendor of God’s abundance was around them, but they were told not to touch only one tree. And that single object became their sole focus of curiosity.
So they ate, and history changed.
Since then, God has been working through history to return us to his intended created order, to redeem humanity and all of creation.
Romans 8:19-21:
“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”
Colossians 1:19-20:
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
Throughout the Old Testament, we see God trying to work with humanity without utterly destroying his image bearers to try and get us back to the garden ideal.
Story after story shows humanity in rebellion, filled with selfish concerns, denying God’s sovereignty over his creation, and seeking their own wisdom to rule themselves and their environment.
God eventually turns to a chosen people — a people who would eventually lead to the messiah, but also a people who were expected to honor God and learn his ways.
Israel was commanded by God to be a light unto the nations, but Israel didn’t exactly carry out that mission. The nation often failed to do a good job of taking care of itself, repeatedly falling into idolatry and sin.
So, we are left to speculate about what paradise lost was actually like.
There is a mystery hidden in the Genesis account. What was the rest of the earth like? What creatures roamed the lands and swam in the seas? How might the descendants of Adam and Eve have subdued it and cared for it, had dominion, in a way that would have aligned with God’s rightly ordered creation?
Without sin, how would creation have been different than what we have? Certainly, humanity would not have exploited the planet, and its abundance of good things would have been available to all, with no poverty, oppression, or death.
This is the created order God is trying to lead us to and to prepare those who follow Jesus to be a part of, but we can hardly grasp what the new heaven and earth will be like.
God’s intended created order was abundance, and as Christians, Jesus told us to strive to create this order so that all of humanity might enjoy this abundance.
Instead, humanity remains bogged down by the illusion of scarcity, which drives the greed that leads to the exploitation of the earth and its bounty. The fear of scarcity has created much evil in the world. Name any evil done by man, within the Church or without, and at its root is scarcity and insecurity.
Yet, we also long for the Garden of Eden.
All of man’s imagined utopian visions for the future might very well have been inspired by Luke 12:22–31:
22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.
23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.
30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”
As we look at this mess of the world, what should we, as Christians, do to work toward a God-ordained approach to caring for his creation and ensuring its bounty is available to all our fellow image bearers?
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.”
These are strange times. Arguably, these are times that are without precedent in United States history. Utter chaos abounds. The current administration thumbs its nose at courts, taxes Americans without representation, grants unique power to an unelected technocrat, kills off programs that save lives, ignores and insults the judiciary, and violates the due process rights of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people.
For anybody paying attention, we cannot be confident that the freedoms we’ve enjoyed throughout our lives are guaranteed for tomorrow.
We are on the brink of potential economic calamity, thanks not just to the president’s unsound policies but also to his unstable approach to those policies. He miscalculated the responses of markets, citizens, members of his party, courts, and foreign leaders, causing him to recalibrate multiple times.
For those who follow Jesus, we know God is sovereign, and nothing in heaven or earth is outside his control.
So, it sure seems like He has given us over to our stubborn hearts so we might understand the folly of proclaiming our ways wiser than God’s.
After all, that seems to be Adam and Eve’s lesson. Our image-bearing ancestors sought the knowledge of good and evil, meaning they no longer trusted God to give them the necessary wisdom to exercise dominion over his creation.
Perhaps we are suffering the consequences of our folly (Romans 1:24-28).
This nation’s, this world’s, really, sins are multiple.
Idolatry: Loving anything more than God—whether materialism, self-worship, or reliance on human systems—violates the greatest commandment to love God above all else (Exodus 20:3-5; Matthew 22:37-38).
Division, hatred, and lack of Love for neighbors: Failing to love others undermines Jesus’ second-greatest commandment and leads to societal breakdown (John 13:34-35; Galatians 5:19-21).
Fairlureto adequately care for the poor, widows, and orphans: God commands His people to provide for the poor, defend the cause of widows, and care for orphans as an expression of true religion and justice (Deuteronomy 15:11; Isaiah 1:17; James 1:27).
Disregard for the sanctity of life: Human life is sacred because all people are made in God’s image; abortion and lack of proper care for the elderly violate this principle (Psalm 139:13-16; Proverbs 6:16-17).
Oppression and injustice: God commands justice and mercy for the marginalized, including minorities, migrants, and the poor (Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8).
Trusting human systems over God’s sovereignty: Relying on political or worldly systems instead of trusting in God’s power reveals a lack of faith in His ultimate authority. Christians on both the left and right have put too much trust in political institutions. (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 146:3).
Greed: Greed leads to exploitation and idolatry, distorting society’s priorities and harming others. Greed deprives others of God’s abundance and care. (Colossians 3:5; Proverbs 28:25; James 5:1-6).
Sexual Immorality: Sexual sin damages relationships and communities, violating God’s design for purity and faithfulness. While many Christians think first of LGBTQ’s prominence in culture, they ignore the prevalence of pornography and, I suspect, their own sexual sins. (Romans 1:24-27; Hebrews 13:4).
Mistreatment or exploitation of migrants and foreigners: Fair treatment of sojourners reflects God’s justice and mercy, which He commands His people to embody. This applies to wage exploitations as well as family separation policies and deportations on invented charges and without due process. (Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:18).
Failure to protect children from violence: Scripture emphasizes protecting children as a sacred responsibility, condemning any harm done to them. Our failure to come together as a society and stop the mass murder of children in schools is inexcusable. (Matthew 18:6; Psalm 127:3).
Corruption in leadership: Leaders are called to serve with integrity and righteousness; corruption undermines trust and perpetuates injustice (Proverbs 29:4; Exodus 18:21).
Environmental exploitation: Stewardship of creation honors God’s design and reflects humanity’s responsibility to care for the earth responsibly (see also, Greed). (Genesis 2:15; Psalm 24:1).
Participation in or support for unjust wars: Supporting wars driven by greed or power, wars that disregard the humanity of its victims, contradicts God’s desire for peace and justice (James 4:1-3; Isaiah 2:4).
Pursuing the imposition of doctrinal issues as political causes while in a minority status: Using political: Forcing doctrine through political means rather than living out Christ-like love undermines the Gospel’s transformative power (Matthew 5:13-16; John 6:66).
Election of Trump despite moral and ethical concerns: Supporting leaders with manifest moral failings risks compromising Christian witness and aligning with worldly pragmatism over biblical principles (Matthew 20:25-28; Proverbs 16:12).
Reducing advocacy for life to political coercion: Focusing solely on legislation without addressing broader needs neglects biblical justice’s call for compassion and care for our fellow image bearers (Micah 6:8; James 2:15-18).
Please note: This is not a call for political action. Jesus was radically apolitical. This is a call for prayer and witness, evangelism and discipleship.
Jesus was the last man to radically change the world. None of us alone are up to that task, but if we first change our hearts to realign our priorities with God’s, we will start to change the world.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
I often see the following questions on Reddit: “What is God’s will for my life?”
There’s a real simple answer to these questions: Obedience.
Obey God, and he will guide your path. Obedience is an act of love. (John 14:15) It is how we grow closer to God and learn to hear his voice.
What job should you take? Who should you marry? Where should you live? Should you enter the ministry?
All of these questions are answered by obedience. Obedience starts with the small things. Obedience is a matter of practice. As we grow, we will better discern how to answer the bigger questions or perhaps even find those questions less stressful than we imagined.
Micah 6:8:
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
John 14:23:
“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’”
Obedience is a direct expression of our love for God.
The Bible is a great guidebook for obeying God. It reveals God’s commands, instructions, ethics, and heart. If we study it well, it is a roadmap for how we should center our lives around obedience.
That doesn’t mean it helps us in every circumstance.
God can speak to us in a number of ways: Messages we perceive while praying, sudden unexpected words of wisdom that come to mind, we open scripture and a timely verse or passage come into view, we come to a sense of peace about a decision, during a worship service we get a confirming message, a strong inner conviction, friends contact us and share something that seems to reveal a message, or a pattern of information from a variety of sources gets our attention.
I’ve experienced all of these, and I don’t believe I’ve experienced a couple of others: Audible voices and dreams and visions.
There is also a matter of assessing the resources God has provided to you, and I’m not just talking about money, though it can be that. You have certain talents and gifts, predilections and interests, knowledge and experiences.
Those are God’s resources, so the first questions you need to ask is: How am I using what God has given me to serve His kingdom? What opportunities is God providing for me to use what he has given me to serve him? How can I start serving him today using all that he has provided me?
When I realized those were the questions I needed to answer, I began a process of taking inventory of my resources, praying about it, looking for clues in scripture, circumstances, and what trusted Christian friends were saying, and that’s how I wound up on Substack.
I’m a writer, a knowledge collector, a thinker, and an experienced teacher. I know a good deal about economics, history, and politics. I am deeply concerned about the drift of Christianity away from Christ and toward worldly concerns, such as achieving political victory at any cost.
I knew I needed to start writing about these things, but there are so many writers. God made it clear to me, “Be a voice in the crowd.” On Substack, that’s all I am. I’m just one voice among hundreds, if not thousands, carrying much the same message.
I’m sure we can all think of Christians in the world who are espousing doctrine we realize is ungodly. The Christians in these errors may be equally as devout as us, but somewhere, they’ve strayed.
So, if we’re following the path I outlined above, how do we know we haven’t fallen into error?
We guard against error by checking everything against scripture. God will not ask you to do anything that contradicts his word.
It is important to remember that it is easy to misread circumstances. Confirmation bias, for example, might lead us to the wrong conclusions. Our inner convictions, without confirming evidence, could echo our desires. We could listen to the wrong teachers, and they might lead us astray. (Proverbs 3:5-6, Jeremiah 17:9)
We protect ourselves from straying from the obedient path by being grounded in scripture (Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17) and inviting trusted Christian friends who demonstrate good fruit to rebuke us when we stray. (Matthew 7:15-20, 1 Thessalonians 5:21)
We may still make mistakes as we walk with God, but God is faithful, and his will can cover our mistakes. When we make mistakes, we recognize them and keep walking; thus, we grow. (Romans 8:28, Ephesians 2:8-9)
We walk with him daily, step by step, developing a relationship with our Lord, and let him guide our path. We exercise wisdom and discernment to better understand and interpret any guidance we receive. We don’t worry about tomorrow; we’re ready to obey his call when we hear it. (Psalm 37:4, John 15:4-5).
In that way, we discover God’s will for our lives, both in the small things and in the bigger questions of our lives.
Devout Trump supporters are too committed to change
No amount of evidence will sway the hearts and minds of committed Donald Trump supporters because they have surrendered their identities to MAGA.
Identity is our stable understanding of ourselves. It is the expression of ourselves at a fundamental level. It is so central to our being that to lose it is to lose our world, our sense of place, and our reason for being.
It is so vital to our self-concept that we fight all threats to our identity.
MAGA is its own culture, and culture can be a primary driver of identity formation.
“Every culture says, ‘this is how you can determine who you are and how well your self-worth, your self value, how well you feel about yourself,’ said Timothy Keller in one of his many talks on identity. “Every culture does that. No culture uses the term. And every culture pushes an identity process on you, as the only one.”
The devout Trump supporter expects others to see them as proudly MAGA. Any other identification wouldn’t do.
This means that attacks on Trump are personal affronts. This is why stories that highlight Trump’s flaws, mistakes, or failings, or anything that contradicts the MAGA narrative, are “fake news.” Once “fake news” is declared, there can be no further discussion.
On social media, anyone who criticizes Trump, whether rational or rant, is a “libtard” or a Biden voter (which has become the highest form of insult in Trump world.)
Insults and grievances, modeled by their leader, are a standard rhetorical device.
To avoid the cognitive dissonance of acknowledging any Trump flaw, the Trump devotee doubles down on the venomous insults.
Here are some MAGA comments left on news stories about this past weekend’s “Hands Off” protests:
(NOTE: I have no idea if any of the folks who made those posts are Christians, but the comments do accurately reflect MAGA culture).
I’ve found that the more committed Trump supporters are, the less likely they are to engage in dialogue. They do not attempt to defend Trump or any of his actions. They spew insults as a substitute for reasoned, fact-based arguments.
But even the ones who at least bring up this or that policy position are often wrong on the details and are immune to any counterargument. There is no fact you can muster, no source you can cite, that will make a dent in their righteous armor.
Keller again, “If we get our very identity, our sense of worth, from our political position, then politics … is about us. Through our cause, we are getting our self and our worth. That means we must despise and demonize the opposition.”
For Keller, our identity should come in Christ Jesus.
“Sin is building your identity—finding your greatest meaning, significance and security—on something besides God. Everyone centers his or her life on something, and whatever that is becomes by definition and function your god—something you adore and serve with your whole heart, and your ‘savior’—something you have to have in order to feel spiritually and emotionally significant and meaningful.”
Exodus 20:3-6
“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments”
Jeremiah 17:5
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.’”
How can you discern whether an elected leader has become a false idol?
When a person never finds fault with his leader or is unable to admit when the leader has made a mistake;
When the leader’s faults, particularly those that conflict with scripture, are consistently overlooked;
In discussions, when the focus of the conversation is shifted, whataboutism is employed, or attention is redirected to what others have done or said;
When criticism of the leader is perceived as a personal attack;
When those who criticize the leader are attacked or demeaned, or reports questioning the leader’s actions or words are dismissed and labeled as “fake news.”
If one of these five items applies to a person, that person might be engaged in idol worship. If all five apply, the case is all but closed. Only God knows for sure.
There are approximately 2,000 verses in the Bible that deal poverty, justice, and care for the poor.
We can’t quote them all, but here’s a few:
Deuteronomy 15:11
“Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land’”
Proverbs 14:31
“Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.”
Proverbs 29:7
“The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.”
James 2:14-17
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead”
Jesus also commanded us to carer for the poor in the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 25.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
How can Christians apply God’s clear command to care for the poor?
Recognize the inherent dignity of all people regardless of their status.
Share resources generously. God loves a cheerful giver. Donate to charities, especially in your community, that provide food, clothing, and shelter to the poor. The Salvation Army is a great place to start.
Support causes that help the poor gain greater self-sufficiency.
Defend the rights of the poor. Scripture tells us, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves… defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8-9) When we see injustice, speak up, confront the powers in charge.
Volunteer — volunteer at food distributions, shelters, and clothing closets.
Pray. Always pray for the poor, the oppressed, the foreigner, the widow, the orphan — all those who are on the margins of society.
All Christians share in the ministry to the poor, and all have gifts God provides that can be used for His kingdom.
This is the story of how I arrived here, in this moment, as “a voice in the choir.’
On July 16, I received an email from a childhood best friend who reminded me of something we did together when he was 8 and I was 6. It was something significant that I had forgotten.
The date is relevant because I had spent the previous three days in great anxiety about the state of the world.
I had grown up in a Nazarene Church, attended a Nazarene college, and was pretty well grounded in scripture (or so I thought). I traced my conversation to about 7th grade, when our pastor preached a sermon on the coming tribulation and the antichrist. That scared me and got me on my knees at the altar, with my friend’s mother joining me.
I hadn’t attended a Sunday service in more than 30 years. My late wife and I had left our church in San Diego after a political kerfluffle. It soured us on church.
I tried to be a good person on my own for a couple of decades. Then, in 2016, after a year of studying economics, human behavior, probability theory, and human history, I decided, at least in my own mind, that I was a materialist. The material universe is all that exists.
I didn’t share my new insight with my wife because I didn’t want to sway her away from her faith. I kept it to myself because her hearing about it second-hand was a risk.
My libertarian bent also meant I didn’t feel it was my place to try to persuade anyone to my way of thinking.
After my wife died, there was a series of events that I’ll keep private that started to erode my faith in materialism. I became a spiritual seeker. I was interested in a more spiritual life but not necessarily Christianity.
During all my time as a materialist, the Christian part that was still in me worried about Christianity. I saw Donald Trump, with so many Christians falling for his congame, doing grave damage to the Christian witness. An odd position for an unbeliever, but I couldn’t fathom Christians falling for him.
Then that email arrives, three days after an attempt on Trump’s life. My anxiety level was high. My friend asked me if I remembered when I asked him to explain Christianity. He did. And then I asked him to pray with me.
I wept.
I realized I was saved when I was six, and now God was calling me back.
I started that day rebuilding my faith brick by brick.
From the start, I felt this compulsion to start writing about Trump and Jesus. I resisted. I was chased out of a church because of politics.
It seemed so wrong to mix faith and politics. I firmly believe Jesus is apolitical. All four Gospels tell me so.
I spent months wrestling with God about this. I resisted the idea.
During that time, I grew as a Christian and came to understand obedience to God better than ever before, also I felt impressed upon my heart in a way I had never experienced before a real compassion for the poor, the oppressed, the foreigner, all of those on the outskirts of society, and in context of Old Testment justice and mercy concept of God.
I came to realize:
I’m a writer. That’s how God made me.
I’m a decent researcher as a lifelong journalist.
I am drawn naturally to news of current events.
I then understood that obeying God meant using his resources — in this case, me — to serve his kingdom on earth.
I needed to write for God and about issues I believe grieve Him.
Initially, I thought I needed to make a maximum impact, so I planned to write for magazines. That isn’t farfetched. I’ve done it before. But it’s also hard to get editors who have never worked with you to accept articles for publication on a timely basis. This is a problem for articles tied to current events.
The other problem I saw was that there are so many Christian writers in the world. I thought, “Does God need another Christian writer? Can I make a difference?”
This became a new struggle. What should I do? I started to think about Substack, which meant perhaps writing for only a handful of people.
My girlfriend suggested that I not worry about how many people I reach. I should just write.
So I set up a Substack and started tinkering with it. But what should I call it? After wrestling with that question for a couple of days, I decided to use just my name.
While doing the dishes one evening, I thought what a blessing it has been to find so many faithful Christians on social media who also reject Christian nationalism. It reinforced that I am not alone, and I’m not insane.
Then I heard in my head, “Be a voice in the chorus.”
That’s it: I’m just going to be another voice in the choir so that perhaps others will be encouraged to know they are not alone, that they are not insane.
That would be an encouragement to all who read this and also resist Christian nationalism from a faith-based, scripture-based perspective. Be a voice in the choir. Sing proudly the truth of God’s love, justice, and mercy for all of our fellow image bearers.
In his role as a special government employee, Elon Musk has done a lot of damage.
Federal employees have been arbitrarily fired, cut aid to provide food and health care to the poor, created chaos the Social Security Administration and other departments, misrepresented his findings, or non-findings regarding fraud and misappropriation of funds, among other damaging actions.
He’s proudly celebrated his destruction by wielding a chainsaw, a rather heartless display of hubris.
But to every proud man comes a downfall.
His actions have created a backlash across the country, from peaceful protests to destructive vandalism and Tesla owners being harassed.
It must be noted that vandalism and harassment are unacceptable responses. In the first case, people can be hurt, suffer hardship, and lose (people other than Musk), and it’s a waste of God’s resources. Regarding harassment, all people should be treated with dignity and respect. We should assume just because somebody drives a Tesla, they support Musk.
The backlash has taken a toll, too, on the price of Tesla stock. The price per share has fallen 33.7%. On Jan. 20, it traded for $426.50. Its opening price on April 3 was $282.
In the U.S., Telsa sales declined 13% in the first quarter. In Europe, sales have declined by 43%. In Denmak, sales are down 66%.
The price of a used Tesla has dropped as much as 13.56% for a Model Y.
Musk’s net worth has dropped 30 percent since January, or $132 billion.
If the stock price for Telsa continues to fall, Musk will be in serious financial trouble. He borrowed $44 billion to buy Twitter. He pledged 238.4 million shares of Tesla stock as collateral. If the price falls to $114, it will trigger a margin call on the loan. That could trigger his own sell-off to meet the call, which would drive share prices down further.
Musk’s involvement with the Trump administration hasn’t been without consequences.
And Musk isn’t happy.
“I mean, you have Tim Walz, who’s a huge jerk, running around on stage where the (Tesla) stock price had gone in half, and he was overjoyed,” Musk told Fox News’s Bret Baier. “What an evil thing to do. What a creep, what a jerk.”
He’s also said, “It’s kind of disheartening to see so many people happy because I’m facing challenges. It’s like they’re rooting for me to fail, not realizing that if I fail, it could have broader consequences for everyone.”
Yes, his failure will have consequences beyond his interest, maybe not for everyone, but for many people.
People with Tesla could lose jobs.
If the company goes out of business, current Tesla owners will be left with vehicles that may not have mechanical or software support going forward.
It will be a setback for the electric car industry, a critical component to battling climate change.
Investors who lost money cannot earn it back through Tesla.
Since Musk is reportedly leaving his DOGE position, rooting for the stock price to fall far enough to trigger a margin call may have consequences that outweigh the benefits.
The only justifiable reason to put pressure on him through his company’s stock is to drive him out of his government position, to stop him from doing further damage to the nation and its people.
Once he leaves, if he stays out, mission accomplished.
This is a man who not long ago said, “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy. The empathy exploit—they’re exploiting a bug in Western civilization, which is the empathy response.”
Should we feel sorry for him? The richest man in the world has celebrated cuts to USAID that have stopped food shipments to poor people worldwide and discontinued medical care for needy people.
Let’s discuss his humanity for a moment.
He, like so many of us, is a victim of this fallen, broken world.
His childhood was marked by significant trauma, including abuse from his father, severe bullying at school, and a lack of recovery support.
According to the Walter Isaacson biography on Musk, after a brutal school beating that left Musk hospitalized, his father berated him for over an hour, calling him “worthless” and “an idiot” while taking the side of the bullies. This is a charge Errol Musk denies.
Musk was reportedly repeatedly bullied at school. A particularly brutal attack occurred when a group of boys pushed Musk down a flight of concrete stairs, sat on him, and repeatedly beat and kicked him in the head. His face was so swollen afterward that it was unrecognizable.
According to the biography, Kimbal Musk, Elon’s brother, described this as “the worst memory of his life,” noting their father showed “zero compassion.”
It’s our poor luck that a man who suffered so much has attained such power and wealth, and he acts with little empathy for the people he harms.
So what is the Christian response? We are supposed to love our enemies and forgive those who sin against us. And that might be a hard thing for some of us to do.
What we can do is start praying. We pray for our changed hearts so we see him as a broken man; more importantly, we pray for Elon Musk, that his stone heart be changed to a heart of flesh, that he come to faith and repentance, and that he become a man interested in using his wealth and power to help people rather than harm people.
Here is the fact check on this essay:
Here are links to substantiate the fact claims in the essay:
1. **Federal Employees Fired Arbitrarily**:
– Over 300,000 federal employees have been terminated under Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with critics arguing this undermines government efficiency rather than improving it[15].
– The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), under Musk’s direction, has also faced backlash for hiring a driver while laying off essential personnel[1].
2. **Cuts to Aid Providing Food and Health Care**:
– Musk’s DOGE has frozen billions in federal grant funds and canceled essential programs, including those providing food and healthcare assistance[11].
3. **Chaos in Federal Agencies**:
– Mismanagement and mass layoffs have disrupted operations in agencies like the Social Security Administration, with Musk spreading misleading claims about widespread fraud in the program[2][11].
4. **Misrepresentation of Fraud Findings**:
– Musk has repeatedly overstated fraud statistics in Social Security programs, propagating unverified claims about mismanagement[2].
5. **Tesla Stock Price Drop**:
– Tesla’s stock price fell 33.7% from $426.50 on January 20 to $282 on April 3, 2025, due to declining sales and backlash against Musk’s political involvement[3][7].
6. **Tesla Sales Decline**:
– Tesla’s global sales dropped by 13% in Q1 2025, with U.S. sales contributing significantly to the decline[3][12].
– European sales fell by 43%, with specific countries like Denmark experiencing a 66% drop[4].
7. **Used Tesla Prices Falling**:
– The price of used Tesla vehicles, such as the Model Y, has declined by as much as 13.56% year-over-year due to reduced demand and backlash against Musk[6][14].
8. **Musk’s Net Worth Decline**:
– Elon Musk’s net worth has dropped by $132 billion (30%) since January, largely due to Tesla’s stock price decline and broader challenges facing his companies[5][13].
9. **Margin Call Risk**:
– Musk pledged 238.4 million Tesla shares as collateral for personal loans, including his $44 billion Twitter acquisition. If Tesla’s stock falls to $114, it could trigger a margin call, forcing him to sell shares and potentially driving prices down further[7].
10. **Backlash Against Tesla Owners**:
– Protests against Musk have escalated into vandalism and harassment of Tesla owners, with incidents involving firebombing and property damage reported across the U.S.[6][14].
11. **Musk’s Complaint About Criticism**:
– Musk expressed frustration about people celebrating his struggles during an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News, calling such behavior “evil” and “disheartening”[6].
12. **Childhood Abuse and Bullying**:
– Walter Isaacson’s biography recounts Musk’s traumatic childhood, including severe bullying at school that left him hospitalized and emotional abuse from his father, who sided with the bullies after one attack[8][9][10].
These sources provide evidence for the claims made in the essay regarding Elon Musk’s actions, their consequences, and his personal history.
Sources
[1] US agency leading Musk’s firing spree to hire new driver, emails show https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-agency-leading-musks-firing-spree-hire-new-driver-emails-show-2025-03-31/
[2] Musk Again Misleads on Social Security Fraud https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/us/politics/elon-musk-social-security-fraud.html
[3] Tesla stock price today: Why is TSLA facing a drop on April 2, 2025? https://economictimes.com/news/international/us/tesla-stock-price-today-why-is-tsla-facing-a-drop-on-april-2-2025/articleshow/119910846.cms
[4] Tesla’s electric car sales decline deepens in Europe https://electrek.co/2025/04/01/teslas-electric-car-sales-decline-deepens-in-europe/
[5] Elon Musk Loses a Billion Dollars Every Time the Tesla Stock Drops by $2.43 https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/elon-musk-loses-billion-dollars-every-time-tesla-stock-drops-243-1732298
[6] Tesla owner fights back with warning to Cybertruck vandal, vows to ‘make an example’ of suspect https://www.foxnews.com/us/tesla-owner-fights-back-warning-cybertruck-vandal-vows-make-example-suspect
[7] Could Elon Musk Face Margin Call Over Tesla Stock? What We Know https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-facing-margin-call-tesla-stock-2047059
[8] Elon Musk: From Bullied Kid to Billionaire Disruptor – LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/elon-musk-from-bullied-kid-billionaire-disruptor-hasan-kubba
[9] Elon Musk faced bullying in childhood, was hospitalised and forced … https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/elon-musk-faced-bullying-in-childhood-was-hospitalised-and-forced-to-leave-school-2435046-2023-09-13
[10] How Elon Musk Went from Superhero to Supervillain | The New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/09/18/elon-musk-walter-isaacson-book-review
[11] Exposing the Work of Elon Musk and DOGE https://americanoversight.org/investigation/exposing-the-work-of-elon-musk-and-doge/
[12] Tesla sales plunge: Biggest decline in history https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/02/business/tesla-sales/index.html
[13] Elon Musk Net Worth Has Dropped by Over $100 Billion So Far This Year https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-net-worth-drops-100-billion-2025-2042084
[14] Violent attacks on Tesla dealerships spike as Musk takes prominent role in Trump White House https://apnews.com/article/tesla-vandalism-musk-trump-domestic-extremism-7576c03393a733eaf34b793e86ad1a6f
[15] DOGE’s mass firings will only make government less efficient https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/elon-musk-doge-mass-firings-government-rcna193563
[16] Assessing Elon Musk’s Misleading Claims About Fraud in … https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/us/politics/fact-check-elon-musk-government-spending-fraud-claims.html
[17] Here are all the agencies that Elon Musk and DOGE have been … https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/elon-musks-government-dismantling-fight-stop/story?id=118576033
[18] Widespread job cuts begin at health agencies – NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/widespread-job-cuts-begin-health-agencies-rcna198859
[19] Elon Musk’s Social Security jabs cause concern among Trump allies https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/elon-musk-social-security-concern-trump-allies-rcna197527
[20] Fact-checking Trump and Musk’s claims that they are cutting … – PBS https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-trump-and-musks-claims-that-they-are-cutting-government-fraud-and-abuse
[21] Elon Musk and President Trump Slash Funding for State Health … http://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/elon-musk-and-president-trump-slash-funding-state-health-departments-make-it
[22] As Elon Musk’s DOGE Targets Social Security, Baldwin Calls on Trump Admin to Reverse Decision That Makes Accessing Benefits More Difficult https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-elon-musks-doge-targets-social-security-baldwin-calls-on-trump-admin-to-reverse-decision-that-makes-accessing-benefits-more-difficult
[23] The Biggest Hoaxes Spread By Elon Musk And DOGE, Debunked https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/02/19/here-are-the-biggest-doge-hoaxes-and-inaccuracies-as-8-million-canceled-ice-contract-listed-at-8-billion/
[24] A pattern emerges in Elon Musk’s federal government shakeup – NPR https://www.npr.org/2025/02/26/nx-s1-5308659/federal-employees-musk-trump-chaos
[25] Musk eyes Social Security and benefit programs for cuts | AP News https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-doge-b21b74f56f30012a6450a629e7232a1a
[26] Long waits, waves of calls, website crashes: Social Security is breaking down https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/25/social-security-phones-doge-cuts/
[27] A look at the misleading and incorrect claims on DOGE’s ‘wall … – PBS https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/a-look-at-the-misleading-and-incorrect-claims-on-doges-wall-of-receipts
[28] Used Tesla prices tumble as embarrassed owners look to sell https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/03/used-tesla-prices-tumble-as-embarrassed-owners-look-to-sell/
[29] Should You Buy the Dip in Tesla Stock in April 2025? https://www.tradingview.com/news/barchart:4e7c1c29b094b:0-should-you-buy-the-dip-in-tesla-stock-in-april-2025/
[30] Tesla just reported its worst quarterly sales in years as Elon Musk courts controversy https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-just-reported-worst-quarterly-135000012.html
[31] Tesla used car prices are falling at 3x the rest of the market – Electrek https://electrek.co/2025/03/17/tesla-used-car-prices-falling-3x-rest-market/
[32] Tesla Sales Crash 13%, Tesla Stock Rises 5% — Why? https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/02/tesla-sales-crash-13-tesla-stock-rises-5-why/
[33] Elon Musk Backlash Turns Into Global Sales Slump for Tesla https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/business/tesla-sales-elon-musk.html
[34] Tesla Resale Prices Are Plummeting – Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/tesla-resale-price-going-down-2046464
[35] Markets News, April 2, 2025: Stocks Plunge in Extended Trading After Rising Ahead of Trump Tariff Announcement https://www.investopedia.com/dow-jones-today-04022025-11707447
[36] Tesla reports 13% drop in first-quarter vehicle deliveries from a year ago https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/02/tesla-tsla-q1-2025-vehicle-delivery-and-production-numbers.html
[37] Tesla used car prices are falling at 3x the rest of the market – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RealTesla/comments/1jdoiuk/tesla_used_car_prices_are_falling_at_3x_the_rest/
[38] Tesla Stock Turns Higher on Report That Musk Will Step Away From Government Role https://www.barrons.com/articles/tesla-stock-price-delivery-day-musk-db5735ff
[39] Tesla sales rout in Europe deepens amid anti-Musk protests https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/france-car-registrations-down-1454-march-tesla-sales-fall-3683-2025-04-01/
[40] Elon Musk May Now Be The Biggest Risk To Tesla’s Stock, Here’s Why https://www.bankrate.com/investing/elon-musk-may-now-be-the-biggest-risk-to-teslas-stock-heres-why/
[41] Tesla faces vandalism and protests amid backlash against Elon Musk https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/10/business/tesla-vandalism-protest-stock/index.html
[42] Elon Musk’s Net Worth Is Down $121 Billion From December Peak https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/03/06/elon-musk-is-officially-121-billion-poorer-than-his-peak-as-tesla-stock-erases-most-all-of-its-election-rally/
[43] Tesla stock declines could cost Elon Musk something important https://www.thestreet.com/technology/tesla-stock-declines-could-cost-elon-musk-something-important
[44] Here’s how much American billionaires have lost since Trump’s inauguration https://www.forbes.com.au/news/billionaires/how-much-us-billionaires-have-lost-since-trumps-inauguration/
[46] Over 200 ‘Tesla Takedown’ protests take place throughout US on ‘Global Day of Action’ against Elon Musk’s role with DOGE https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/29/business/tesla-takedown-elon-musk-doge/index.html
[47] What Is Elon Musk’s Net Worth? How the Tesla CEO Became the Richest Person in the World https://people.com/what-is-elon-musk-net-worth-11696472
[48] At what level does Elon get margin-called? : r/RealTesla – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RealTesla/comments/1j5kexy/at_what_level_does_elon_get_margincalled/
[49] Tesla Under Siege: Protests, Vandalism, and Musk’s Political Firestorm www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp6sztEC-n4
[50] Elon Musk Holds the Record for Largest Personal Fortune Lost. Here’s How Much Is Gone. https://www.investopedia.com/elon-musk-record-for-largest-personal-fortune-lost-11691829
[51] Tesla Stock Plummets 50%, Here’s How To Manage The Volatility https://www.forbes.com/sites/shaharziv/2025/03/11/tesla-stock-plummets-50-since-december-heres-how-investors-can-manage-the-volatility/
[52] Elon Musk | Book by Walter Isaacson – Simon & Schuster https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Elon-Musk/Walter-Isaacson/9781982181284
[53] Elon Musks Painful Childhood Explains Everything We See Today www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-4VJPuNcvQ
[54] Elon Musk Was Once Beaten Up By Bullies, Called Loser By Father … https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/elon-musk-was-once-beaten-up-by-bullies-called-loser-by-father-reveals-author-4638575
[55] Elon Musk (Isaacson book) – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk_(Isaacson_book)
[57] Get Help Now | StopBullying.gov https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/get-help-now
[58] The strangest revelations from Elon Musk’s biography | The Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/elon-musk-walter-isaacson-biography-revelations-best-bits-b1107301.html
[60] Elon Musk got “bullied” when he mocked a kid for having a dad that … https://www.reddit.com/r/RealTesla/comments/v4s7xi/elon_musk_got_bullied_when_he_mocked_a_kid_for/
[61] The Lingering Echoes Of Childhood Trauma: Insights From Elon … https://www.joymental.com/post/the-lingering-echoes-of-childhood-trauma-insights-from-elon-musks-biography/
[62] The Elon Musk Story – Growing up: Divorce, Abuse, & Bullying – Part 1 www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pVS2bhZ4d8
[63] Elon Musk Book Summary and Review – dannybooboo https://dannybooboo.com/elon-musk-book-summary-review-spark-notes-cliff-walter-isaacson/
[64] Musk, Trump, and Congress Are Coming for Our Food and Water https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2025/02/14/musk-trump-funding-cuts-food-water/
[66] ‘Big one to eliminate’: Elon Musk spotlights cost of federal … – CNN https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/11/politics/musk-federal-entitlements-costs/index.html
[67] Former head of Social Security says Elon Musk and DOGE are wrong about the agency https://www.opb.org/article/2025/03/30/doge-wrong-about-social-security-says-former-ssa-chief/
[68] Used Tesla prices depreciated more than any other automaker in 2024 https://www.fastcompany.com/91289006/tesla-prices-depreciated-more-than-any-other-automaker-in-2024
[69] Tesla sales drop 13% in first quarter as Musk backlash hurts demand https://www.euronews.com/business/2025/04/02/tesla-sales-drop-13-in-first-quarter-as-musk-backlash-hurts-demand
[70] Tesla Used Car Price Crashes—Model Y And Model 3 Deals Explode https://www.forbes.com/sites/brookecrothers/2025/03/09/tesla-used-car-price-crashes–model-y-model-3-deals-explode/
[71] Wells Fargo sees 5 reasons investors should brace for Tesla stock to drop another 50% https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-stock-price-crash-outlook-decline-elon-musks-tsla-cybercab-2025-4
[72] Tesla sales and production slumped heavily in Q1 2025 https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/04/tesla-sales-and-production-slumped-heavily-in-q1-2025/
[73] Elon Musk Faces Margin Call on Loan Used to Purchase Twitter https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/elon-musk-faces-margin-call-on-loan-used-to-purchase-twitter
[74] Protests against Elon Musk’s role in Trump administration swarm Tesla showrooms https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/protests-against-elon-musks-role-in-trump-administration-swarm-tesla-showrooms
[75] Elon Musk’s net worth dropped $29 billion in one day as Tesla stock tanks https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-net-worth-drops-billion-tesla-stock-2025-3
[76] Elon Musk’s Early Life: From South Africa to North America – Shortform https://www.shortform.com/blog/elon-musks-early-life/
[77] Elon Musk’s turbulent SA upbringing: Bullying to bloodshed https://www.biznews.com/leadership/2023/09/12/elon-musks-turbulent-upbringing
[78] Four takeaways from Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk – CNN https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/12/tech/elon-musk-isaacson-biography-takeaways/index.html
[79] Elon Musk has PTSD, biographer Walter Isaacson writes – Fortune https://fortune.com/well/2023/09/17/does-elon-musk-have-ptsd-walter-isaacson-biography/
[80] Awful Story of Elon Musk’s Dad Allegedly Berating Him After He Was … https://www.imdb.com/news/ni64934850/
