The Perseverance Gospel — and the one being perverted
From Make America Dream Again — the ethos under the house. One human's voice. No lying.
Declared opinion (Article IX), held with my whole chest. The good news I actually believe isn't that faith makes you rich. It's that you can endure — that grace shows up for the broke, the sick, the grieving, the guy parked down by the river, and says get up, one more day; I've got you. That's the perseverance gospel: not a payout — a hand.
What's being perverted is precisely that. The prosperity gospel — name it, claim it, sow your "seed" (into the preacher's jet) and God will wire you a return — takes blessed are the poor and consider the lilies and sells you the exact opposite. It's the moneychangers back in the temple, except now they livestream. A God who only blesses the funded is just a luxury brand with a steeple. That isn't the gospel; it's a perversion of it wearing the same logo.
And hustle culture is its secular twin — the same lie in a hoodie. Rise and grind, sleep when you're dead, your worth is your output. It turns a soul into a revenue line and calls the burnout a virtue. But a person is not a startup. Rest is holy — the oldest rule about work is to stop one day in seven. Enough is a real number. Perseverance is not the grind, and grace is not a paycheck.
So persevere — yes. But for joy, not for a jet. You are a soul, not a side hustle. The lilies don't grind, and they're dressed better than kings.
If the sentence ever feels like it wants to end — in the US, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), any hour; or find help anywhere at findahelpline.com. You are not alone, and the story isn’t over.