The Trump phenomenon's most illuminating and distinctive moments – not its most significant, nor most brutal, nor most threatening, nor stupidest, but possibly its most revealing – emerged earlier this harvest season. Over the span of a few weeks, the nation's leader began displaying all observers his plans for an ornate dance hall twice the size than the White House and subsequently started independently demolishing the East Wing portion to erect it.
He has committed acts countless times more severe – the existing assessment of casualties resulting from his reductions to USAID stands at 600,000 and increasing, and this week an analysis projected his energy policies would result in fatalities an additional 1.3 million. Yet nothing as characteristic. No other president would have risked – really, no other president would have contemplated – unilaterally destroying significant portions of the executive mansion to construct a Versailles-style party room, with the direct cooperation of some of the richest Americans, nearly all of which maintain dealings with federal agencies.
We moved from 'the gentle will obtain the Earth' toward 'the humble will perish to cholera'
As disorienting as it is to witness the president seek toé¢ è¦† the old idea of democracy and substitute it with its polar opposite, there is one large group within America who should not find it totally unfamiliar. That is those of us – in older age cohorts close to half – who were educated as mainline Protestant Christians.
We have observed across decades as politically conservative religious groups transformed the Christ we learned about into the complete reverse of our perception of his character. Fundamentally, they converted a persona of affection into a symbol of animosity who approves specifically the brutality that he condemned in scripture; this transformation occurred more gradually, over decades as opposed to months, however it is still disturbing in the same ways, a confusing personal impact for countless people.
A Toxic Christianity Takes Hold
So let me first describe the Jesus that I grew up with, since in theory the Savior is the core within Christian belief, and because the rapidly expanding group among Americans might have little sense of him since they are atheists or doubters or spiritual independents. I have no problem with any of these traditions, nor with different religions; however I believe that contain precious wisdom of great price in the Christian story.
It is emphatically absolutely not the story of a powerful ruler appearing; instead, an infant arrives to displaced parents in an automotive shelter, who must quickly flee to a foreign land to evade undercover officers. The baby grows up in humble circumstances, an employed craftsman; his teaching focuses on affection for other people, especially for the impoverished – not merely emotional affection, but tangible care, expressed by feeding and housing. Jesus' answer to hostility is to present the opposite cheek – not as a demonstration of compliant endurance, but as a means to teach the assailant; his method regarding offenses states that when a person pilfers your coat you must offer him your sweater as well.
The apparent and straightforward truth that Christ from scripture calls for a form of radical love centered on the impoverished is what has always made Christianity somewhat of a scandalous religion: attractive to the general public, but due to its natural unconventionality needing to be restrained. During the 1950s it was controlled by dilution – Protestant Christianity was so prevalent that it basically sanctified existing conditions.
A Battle for the Highest Among Us
Therefore I have felt encouraged to observe the persistent defiance regarding Trump arise during the previous year. It has provided substantial consolation to assist in constructing the initiative that has protested openly through repeated demonstrations, and appears to have motivated electorate to participate in significant amounts during minor elections. We will need to maintain it, and through comparable resolve, with American flags at every demonstration and appeals to the best parts in US history.
We will be questioned ... regarding how you welcomed the foreigner? Did you welcome them and embrace them or refuse?
America is best defended, in other words, by reference to the finest within national tradition, similar to Christianity is most protected by reference to what makes it unique and beautiful, specifically the model of the Savior. In both situations does it suggest acting as if the most damaging about the nation and Christian faith was nonexistent; it means both humility and belief, a blend that committed national faithful ought to accept.
