Trumpism's most telling and defining moments – not its most important, nor most harsh, nor most threatening, nor stupidest, but possibly its most revealing – emerged earlier this harvest season. In the course of a few weeks, the nation's leader began displaying all observers his designs for a gilded ballroom twice the size compared to the White House and then commenced solo dismantling the East Wing to erect it.
He has performed deeds 10,000 times as bad – the existing assessment of casualties resulting from his reductions to USAID is 600,000 and increasing, and presently a study forecast his energy policies would cause deaths another 1.3 million. However nothing as distinctive. No other president would have risked – really, no former commander would have contemplated – independently wrecking large sections of the White House in order to erect a royal-themed celebration hall, with the active collaboration of some of the richest Americans, almost all of whom maintain dealings with the government.
We went from 'the meek shall inherit the planet' into 'the meek shall die from cholera'
As bewildering as it is to observe the chief executive try to upend the established notion regarding democracy and exchange it with its direct contrary, there is one large group among Americans who should not find it entirely new. This includes individuals like us – in older age cohorts almost a majority – who were raised within mainstream Protestant traditions.
We have watched over the years as rightwing evangelical churches transformed the Christ we were raised with into exactly the opposite of our perception of his character. Essentially, they transformed an image of compassion into a symbol of hostility who approves specifically the brutality that he criticized in biblical teachings; this transformation occurred more slowly, over decades rather than months, however it is still disturbing through similar means, a disorienting gut punch for countless people.
A Toxic Christianity Takes Hold
Therefore allow me to outline the Jesus from my upbringing, since in theory Jesus is the center within Christian belief, and given that the fastest-growing cadre of Americans may possess limited understanding regarding him since they are skeptics or doubters or spiritual independents. I have no problem with these various perspectives, nor with different religions; but I do think that there are pearls of significant worth in biblical accounts.
It is decidedly not the story of a powerful ruler appearing; rather, a child comes into the world to homeless parents in a garage, who are forced to hastily depart to a different country to evade undercover officers. The infant develops in modest conditions, an employed craftsman; his doctrine focuses on affection for other people, especially for the poor – and not a sentimental love, but tangible care, shown by providing food and housing. Jesus' answer to violence is to offer the opposite cheek – not as an act of submissive tolerance, but as a means to instruct the attacker; his crime policy indicates that whenever someone steals your coat you ought to provide them your pullover as well.
The obvious and clear reality that the Savior in biblical accounts requests a type of radical love centered on the needy has perpetually caused Christian religion something of a scandalous religion: engaging for the general public, but because of its natural unconventionality needing to be restrained. During the 1950s it was restrained via weakening – Protestantism was so dominant that it basically blessed current circumstances.
A Struggle for the Best of Us
Hence I have become inspired to see the determined opposition to Trump develop over the last twelve months. It has been substantial consolation to help build the initiative that has taken to the streets in rally after rally, and seems to have inspired voters to turn out in numbers during minor elections. We must have to continue it, and with identical determination, displaying national flags throughout each rally and calls to the best parts of American history.
We shall be interrogated ... about how you treated the immigrant? Did you accept these individuals and welcome him or reject?
America is best defended, essentially, through connection to the highest within national tradition, similar to Christianity is best defended by reference to that which renders it special and magnificent, which is the example of Christ. In all circumstances does it imply feigning the worst about the nation and religious tradition was nonexistent; it represents both humility and belief, a mixture that serious American Christians should embrace.
