Some wonder where I came up with my screen name. Among other sports I grew up playing baseball from childhood into college and have followed the game all of my life, which is where the name originates. Professional baseball has been all about teams trading players for over a century. Some of those players have been called trade bait to attract other teams to do deals with them. The players they offer, the trade bait, are usually good or have upside that might fit another team’s needs. However, they are not considered key players on their current rosters. So the clubs use them to attract the talent they believe they need from rosters of other clubs.

Such was also life in my business career. Hence, TradeBait.

Today’s scripture is from Matthew 16:13-18;

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”

All of life hinges upon your response to these questions of Jesus, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” If you answer as Simon, God the Father has informed you. Be thankful, have peace in your soul and tell others. It is worth noting that Jesus asked these questions at what was believed to be the gate of Hades itself at Mt. Hermon in Caesarea Philippi, the center of Greek paganism and debauchery that is said to have included human sacrifices and sexual perversion in the cave beyond its entrance. Which is why he went on to say in verse 18;

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” 

These scriptures lead in well to today’s subject, which is also a major worldwide culture and character divider in America that has a constructionism dividing line – Christianity.

I will be spending more time in this and future threads discussing the applications of these terms. Reminder:

Strict Constructionist – Literal and narrow reading (interpretation) of the document that limits the powers of the federal government to what it provides.

Loose Constructionist – Views it as a “living document” that is interpreted broadly that adapts to society as it evolves and its needs change..

For this subject, please ignore the federal government related documents and powers aspect in the definitions. Insert the Bible and its authority instead. Consider which Christian denominations, groupings, and individual belief systems would have strict versus loose constructionists today. Remember that strict is a literal or narrow as written view while loose views it as a “living document” that adjusts with an evolving society and world.

All sorts of descriptive words have been used with the two. Fundamentalists, traditionalists, Bible thumpers, holy rollers, snake handlers, Jesus Freaks and such would come to mind with some folks to represent the strict constructionists. Ecumenical, whiskapalians, Gracelanders, cultural Christians, liberation theologists, Christ progs, social gospelers and so on represent the loose constructionists.

If we go back to the Revolutionary War period we could say that most Christians were strict. That would mean they had a more narrow interpretation of the Bible and operated more rigidly in the churches. The loose interpretation would go to the enlightenment influenced folks who trusted reason and experience as they would view the Bible more philosophically. That was a smaller, but growing group in those days. Over time it led to the social gospel and social justice to take root during that period. Some may have called themselves Christian in a cultural sense. That would make them more acceptable to society.

The same applies today. It would seem obvious that perhaps the majority of Christians have a loose constructionist view of Christianity. Even some members of the Catholic Church have been looking the other way and supporting social gospel and justice positions. Many ignore church tenets about abortion, homosexuality, divorce and so on. This attitude is especially true in blue states where the Catholic Church dominates Christian culture, yet, is still losing membership who walk away, per their own statistics provided by the Catholic News Agency. These are clearly cultural Christians who are loose constructionists of the faith who have influenced the priesthood to lighten up on the old dogmatic approach if they want their attendance and donations.

Catholicism may have been THE most conservative, strict constructionist faith in Christianity at one time. But it really never has translated that way in the election booth in America as the blue states continue voting lockstep for the political party that endorses the activities the Bible has warned against for many decades. For example the majority there refuse to vote for GOP candidates; a political party that openly supports Christianity, is pro life and has conservative societal views.

But a similar aversion to the written word has also been happening with Protestants. This “we all have sinned so how can I judge them” argument is accepted as the gospel in many churches. They sing their beautiful contemporary songs and listen to pastors who never mention the reality of sin, discipline, Hell, or the judgment that is a significant part of Christianity. They sell cheap faith – get saved, baptized and go do your thing. You have your fire insurance. This type faith is a million miles wide and less than an inch deep.

Starting at America’s founding, in what direction has the majority of Christianity moved over the 260+ years since Jonathon Edwards, George Whitefield and the Great Awakening of strict constructionists led hundreds and even thousands of attendees at each service to fall to the ground as if dead from fear for the state of their souls due to the realization they had fallen short of Holy God’s desire for their lives? The answer for the Christian version of leading up to more recent times is obvious – the wrong direction away from truth. It is also the opposite direction of the 50+ founding fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence and risked everything for our freedom.

This has led to songs such as these from artists who sense we have been in trouble as a people.

As well as from others who sensed and discovered there was more to life and found it in the red letters…

Add in some direction for finding what we truly seek. Yeah, it’s a Christmas special. So what, it’s truth!

Observation

What direction has #47, cabinet and patriots been pushing the SCOTUS and government in general? Yup. Clearly he is pushing it all back toward our founding and a strict constructionist understanding and administration of the Constitution. With all of the deep state and liberal pushback, how will he and the patriots get it done?

Us.

We the People of MAGA are his real military. This war has nothing to do with us taking up arms, although we are certainly willing to do so if the fist of criminal oppression rises against us. But in this situation there is a war for the hearts, minds and SOULS that involves the education of the masses in opposition. Many of the oppressors have no idea they have been manipulated by the globalist cabal who have used loose constructionism as their weapon in government as well as being in collusion with some faith leaders going back nearly two centuries.

Which is why it is so encouraging to see TPUSA on fire with young people all over this nation. They know the world they have been raised in is filled with bull crap activists that are as misguided as the educators trying to brainwash them. They were already thinking things through and none of it added up. Evil did not win the day it killed Charlie Kirk. It birthed a response that will engulf and devour the demons like a lion. For those who have not been keeping up TPUSA reported on 1/12/26 that there have been 1,371 new chapters opened on college campuses with a total of 4,221 new chapters nationwide in only FOUR MONTHS.

They remember Charlie just as we do. The reason they remember Charlie is he spoke with them and encouraged dialog instead of speaking at or down to them like leftists do.

The full benefit of this commitment by America’s young people will be felt for decades and it is only beginning.

The Constitution with related laws and rights are not “living documents” to be viewed loosely with the prevailing attitudes and understanding of the times any more than that view applies to the Holy Bible. They contain universal truths. The Declaration of Independence even states, “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator…” and so on. They establish a foundation for law and governance that comes from an understanding of Christian faith. The two fit hand in glove.

The Creator of all and everything does not change. He made that perfectly clear in Malachi 3:6. Hebrews 13:8 gives the same message about Jesus. The Lord had mankind write what He wanted written. He gave of Himself with His Son on that Cross at Calvary. He left Himself in the lives of believers through the Holy Spirit (Ghost). He also inspired the words that were written and approved by the founding fathers of our country in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights – the latter two documents that resulted from the Declaration and its submission to the providence of God.

The purpose of the Holy Word that He gave us as well as the founding documents of America are what they are. They do not change – we do. We conform to them to live in harmony with God as well as one another.

There can be no amendments to the former. It is written with the blood of Christ and He said, “It is finished.” That eliminates the living document aspect of loose constructionism from consideration with the Bible. The latter acknowledges Divine Providence, Creator, Supreme Being, the Lord, etc. You can not have Divine Providence without God, as it is a Christian term.

When our nation gets in trouble it is because we fail to live up to that covenant. Our founding fathers stated they wanted that covenant when they stated the nation sought to be under the Divine Providence in the documents. The diaries and personal correspondence of nearly all of them are even more effusive and convincing, there is no legitimate alternative conclusion of their intent. When we turn from that relationship and start doing what the world does individually and corporately, which is supported by the backers of loose constructionists in the Christian church as well government, our world gets turned upside down. Cause and effect go on full display.

The globalist cabal who have loosened the law over that time have made it increasingly difficult to have justice served throughout the corrupted system. They have used the method to do the same to Christian faith based institutions. And as always we can follow the money that helped them do so.

To counter and enter the Golden Age prepared, MAGA needs to strengthen and resolve to stay in sync with the Lord. The good news is the next Great Awakening has clearly begun. The churches are filling. Young people are strengthening their faiths in large numbers. Faith based community ministries are reaching out to help others. Older adults are teaching and mentoring again. More folks are openly talking about their faith and extending the hand of friendship. More are standing up to the crazies. People sense there is more to life than they have been led to believe. Truth is sought and fear is evaporating. Something is coming. The battle has been joined…

Doubt it? Ask the criminal leaders of Venezuela, Iran, Cuba with more to come.

Conclusion

Next week will bring more strict and loose. Until then…

Remember Wolf’s site rules. Note and label all AI. Please be kind to one another, we are all in this together. May God richly bless America and all of you.

Trust Trump and the plan.