The Trump phenomenon's most telling and characteristic instances – not its most crucial, nor most harsh, nor most threatening, nor most senseless, but possibly its most revealing – came earlier this autumn. In the course of several weeks, the nation's leader began displaying the public his plans for an ornate dance hall double the dimensions of the White House and then began unilaterally ripping down the East Wing to build it.
He has done things countless times more severe – the existing assessment of deaths resulting from his reductions to USAID amounts to 600,000 and growing, and recently research projected his energy policies would kill an additional 1.3 million. Yet nothing as characteristic. No previous president would have attempted – truly, no previous leader would have contemplated – solo demolishing large sections of the White House to build a royal-themed celebration hall, with the enthusiastic participation of multiple the richest Americans, almost all of whom have business with federal agencies.
We moved from 'the meek shall inherit the planet' to 'the meek shall die of cholera'
As disorienting as it is to witness the leader attempt to overturn the traditional concept regarding democracy and exchange it with its direct contrary, there exists a significant segment of Americans who might not perceive it totally unfamiliar. This includes individuals like us – within elder demographics close to half – who were educated as mainline Protestant Christians.
We have observed throughout the years as rightwing evangelical churches converted the Savior we grew up with into exactly the opposite of our perception of his character. Essentially, they turned a figure of compassion into a symbol of hostility who endorses precisely the cruelties that he criticized in the Gospel; this transformation occurred more gradually, through multiple decades rather than months, yet it remains disconcerting in the same ways, a bewildering emotional blow for many of us.
A Damaging Christianity Establishes Itself
Therefore allow me to outline the Jesus from my childhood, as conceptually the Savior is the core of any Christian faith, and given that the rapidly expanding group within America might have little sense regarding him as they consider themselves atheists or uncertain individuals or spiritual independents. I take no issue with these various perspectives, nor with alternative spiritual paths; yet I maintain that there are pearls of substantial value in the Christian story.
It is emphatically definitely not the story of a mighty king emerging; conversely, a baby is born to parents without shelter in a storage space, who must quickly flee to another nation to escape undercover officers. The child matures in simple surroundings, a working carpenter; his doctrine concerns compassion for other people, particularly for the disadvantaged – not simply tender feelings, but a concrete one, shown by providing food and housing. Christ's response to hostility is to turn the other cheek – not as a gesture of compliant endurance, but as a way to teach the assailant; his method regarding offenses indicates that whenever a person pilfers your jacket you ought to provide the person your additional clothing as well.
The evident and straightforward truth that the Savior of the gospels advocates for a type of radical love centered on the needy has perpetually caused Christian religion somewhat of a scandalous religion: engaging for the populace, but due to its intrinsic extremism needing to be controlled. In the fifties it was contained through watering down – Protestantism was so prevalent that it practically sanctified existing conditions.
A Battle for the Highest Among Us
Hence I have become encouraged to observe the persistent defiance against Trump emerge over the last twelve months. It has served as substantial consolation to participate in developing the initiative that has taken to the streets in rally after rally, and seems to have inspired voters to turn out in numbers in the off-year elections. We will need to continue it, and with identical determination, featuring US banners at every demonstration and calls to the best parts within national heritage.
We will be questioned ... about how you treated the foreigner? Did you welcome them and welcome him or refuse?
The nation is most protected, in other words, through connection to the best about American history, just as Christianity is most protected by relationship to that which renders it special and magnificent, particularly the pattern of the Savior. In both situations does it mean acting as if the most negative of both America and Christianity was nonexistent; it represents both humility and belief, a blend that committed American Christians should embrace.
