During an interview with The View, an ABC daytime talk show, Jill Biden, the First Lady of the United States, described the 2024 presidential election using the theme of good versus evil. This is a biblical term used to convey moral lessons, ethical behavior, and, in this particular case, to illustrate the consequences of voting for the wrong candidate. Mrs. Biden was basically characterizing President Biden’s political opponent as “evil.”
First Lady Jill Biden downplays polls that show Trump beating Biden:
“Those polls are gonna turn. I’m confident of it. … As people start to focus a little bit more about what’s at stake … I believe that Americans are going to choose good over evil.”
pic.twitter.com/Oe0XY2YJr6— 💋🇺🇸 Country Over Party🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@gagirlpolitics) May 29, 2024
This type of political language is intended to dehumanize the opposition, justify hostilities, and escalate the tensions between the parties. This language goes beyond disagreeing with people and showcases a deep-seeded hatred that prevails in politics. When someone is labeled as “evil,” this instills a sense of responsibility and urgency to protect citizens from the perceived threat.
In most communities, eliminating evil is regarded as a virtue in order to promote peace and harmony. Perhaps Jill Biden is disclosing why there are so many lawsuits being orchestrated against Donald Trump, her husband’s political opponent. Maybe if Donald Trump is viewed as “evil,” every attempt to harm or end his political career is motivated by the old saying: The end justifies the means. This usually means that one side will use any and all means necessary to eliminate “evil,” even if it means resorting to unconventional, unethical, questionable, or illegal methods.
Dehumanizing the opposition should be something that Seventh-day Adventists should take notice of because, in the very near future, this will be the attitude that will be demonstrated against those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Relation 14:12). According to the Spirit of Prophecy, the true and faithful will be seen as engaging in the worst possible “hostilities” against the United States and the rest of the world.
“Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt of authority. They will be accused of disaffection toward the government.” Great Controversy, p. 592.
“There will come a time when, because of our advocacy of Bible truth, we shall be treated as traitors.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 394
“Our land is in jeopardy. The time is drawing on when its legislators shall so abjure the principles of Protestantism as to give countenance to Romish apostasy … and thus arouse the tyranny which only waits for a touch to start again into cruelty and despotism.” Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, p. 410.
Enemies of law and order? Disaffection towards the government? Traitors? Tyranny, cruelty, and despotism? This is the kind of language that will be used against God’s people in order to misrepresent their motives and message. How many of our people realize what is happening today? When are we, as Seventh-day Adventists, going to wake up? God expects us to be faithful to our high calling and to lift up the principles of Protestantism, along with the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
“If they do nothing to disabuse the minds of the people, and through ignorance of the truth our legislature should abjure the principles of Protestantism, and give countenance and support to the Roman fallacy, the spurious Sabbath, God will hold His people who have had great light, responsible for their lack of diligence and faithfulness” (Review and Herald, December, 24, 1889).
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It’s a common political practice to demonize your opponent.