The Trump phenomenon's most revealing and characteristic moments – not its most crucial, nor most brutal, nor most threatening, nor stupidest, but potentially its most enlightening – occurred earlier this fall. Over the span of a few weeks, the American president began displaying all observers his designs for an ornate dance hall twice the size compared to the White House and then commenced independently demolishing the East Wing portion to erect it.
He has performed deeds countless times more severe – the present calculation of fatalities resulting from his reductions to USAID amounts to 600,000 and increasing, and presently a study predicted his energy policies would cause deaths another 1.3 million. But nothing as definitional. No former leader would have attempted – genuinely, no other president would have conceived – solo demolishing large sections of the executive mansion in order to erect a Versailles-style party room, with the active collaboration of some of America's wealthiest, almost all of whom have business with public institutions.
We went from 'the meek shall inherit the Earth' to 'the meek shall die of cholera'
As bewildering as it is to witness the president try to upend the traditional concept regarding democracy and substitute it with its complete opposite, there remains a substantial portion among Americans who wouldn't consider it entirely new. That is those of us – within elder demographics close to half – who were educated as mainline Protestant Christians.
We have witnessed over the years as rightwing evangelical churches converted the Savior we grew up with into the complete reverse of our understanding of him. Fundamentally, they transformed an image of affection into a symbol of hate who blesses precisely the cruelties that he condemned in scripture; this change developed more gradually, across decades instead of months, however it is still disconcerting through similar means, a confusing personal impact for countless people.
A Toxic Christianity Establishes Itself
Therefore allow me to outline the Savior from my childhood, as conceptually the Savior is the core of any Christian faith, and since the fastest-growing cadre within America may possess limited understanding regarding him because they identify as skeptics or doubters or religiously unaffiliated. I raise no objection with these different approaches, nor with different religions; yet I maintain that contain precious wisdom of substantial value in biblical accounts.
It is decidedly not the narrative of a mighty king arising; conversely, a baby is born to displaced parents in an automotive shelter, who must quickly flee to another nation to evade covert authorities. The infant develops in simple surroundings, a laboring woodworker; his message is about love for others, especially for the impoverished – not simply tender feelings, but practical compassion, shown by providing food and housing. Jesus' answer to aggression is to present the additional cheek – not as a gesture of submissive tolerance, but as a method to instruct the attacker; his approach to wrongdoing states that when an individual takes your coat you must offer the person your additional clothing also.
The apparent and clear truth that the Jesus from scripture advocates for a type of extreme compassion concentrated on the impoverished has perpetually caused the Christian faith somewhat of a controversial faith: appealing to the general public, but owing to its inherent radicalness needing to be controlled. In the 1950s it was restrained via weakening – Protestant Christianity was so widespread that it basically sanctified existing conditions.
A Conflict for the Highest of Us
So I have been heartened to see the determined opposition to Trump arise during the previous year. It has served as substantial consolation to participate in developing the campaign that has demonstrated publicly through repeated demonstrations, and seems to have inspired voters to show up in large quantities in the off-year elections. We will need to continue it, and in the same spirit, with American flags throughout each rally and calls to the best parts in US history.
We shall be interrogated ... regarding how you welcomed the stranger? Did you receive him and embrace them or refuse?
The nation is most protected, in other words, by reference to the best within national tradition, similar to Christianity is optimally secured by reference to what makes it special and beautiful, particularly the pattern of Jesus. In both situations does it imply acting as if the most negative of both America and Christian faith did not happen; it represents both meekness and belief, a blend that serious national faithful should embrace.
