Jesus v Evangelicals This post is meant for believers, but I do pray that others will see hope and grace in this as well.

Last night our President, Donald Trump and Vice President – JD Vance posted an AI generated video of Trump flying a jet with a crown on his head while dumping feces on Saturday’s Democrat protesters. I went to the source, Truth Social, and saw it on his page with my own eyes, mainly because I had trouble believing it myself.  Yes, I am on Truth Social, I watch FOX news, CNN, MSNBC, and NPR.  I no longer rely on any news being fair and balanced, so I catch them all to get a well-rounded perspective. I find it my duty as a Christin and an American citizen to look for truth, reject anything that results in (ALL)God’s children being rejected and hurt.

 I can see many Republicans laughing and writing Trump’s video off as humor, or worse, so I will take this opportunity to write this off as something else – immaturity,  sarcasm (let me remind you of the meaning-Sarcasm is hateful, spiteful and comes from a Greek word meaning tear the flesh), an intentional moment to create more division, meanness, and the most frightening, a display of  how Trump truly sees himself in the political arena.  All the ways our democracy is being destroyed will be for another writing.

These days I am finding it very hard to make a separation between Republicans and Christians. Obviously, this was a well thought out plan in order to manipulate a large vulnerable group into a voting block.  I know that there are non-Christian Republicans, but the reason Trump is in office is the simple fact that Christians handed Trump the decisive vote.   I mention this because this is the most baffling, confusing, contradictory public relationship I have ever seen. My first beef is personal.  I am a believer and as a democrat I have been called the following by the leader of the free world: scum, vermin, animal, enemy of the people, enemy from within, dangerous, terrorist, crooked and vicious foe, crazy, heartless, horrendous, sick, vicious, stupid, doing anything to hurt and disparage our country, rude and nasty, corrupt, angry and deranged, and on and on.  In my opinion, any leader who consistently uses this type of verbiage is unhinged, immature, intentionally divisive and has no self - awareness . If you care, and would like to see a list of insults from Donald Trump let me indulge you - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/19/upshot/trump-complete-insult-list.html

I feel as though the only appropriate response to all this is, “I know you are, but what am I”. ….Since this is a conversation a 4 year -old would have.

For me personally, this has been a very difficult time. I have been deeply disappointed in ways the Christian Community has responded to this moment – either by getting behind a man who is so deeply morally flawed and/or believing he is flawed, but saying nothing other than God is behind him.    I just cannot see how getting behind this man is representative of the teachings of Jesus Christ.  I wish those Christians/Evangelicals who have tied their faith with their flag and party would stop and think for a minute before they confuse political power with faith.  This is a very damaging viewpoint to Christianity for many reasons.  A good example of what is given up in fighting this way is using and comparing Trump with David and Cyrus from the Bible. David is simply not an appropriate example for Trump being a chosen one.  When God pointed out David’s sin, David came face to face with his sin and could no longer resist God.  He CONFESSED and was repentant, deeply grieved by his actions.  Never have I seen any indication of metanoia in Trump. For me, the reason for rejecting this comparison is obvious.   Let’s talk about Cyrus – First of all, Cyrus was known for being a humane leader, (I am not sure that Trump would comfortably fit in that description.) Cyrus did not force nations into his mold but allowed them to keep their identity and institutions. The only way that Christians see this is that God used him to free the Jewish captives even though he was not a believer.  Many do not even know the history of Cyrus.  The only thing I see going on here is Christians trying to force prophecy – something we were never asked to do, or worse trying to excuse their real reasons for voting for Trump.  God is perfectly capable of bringing about what he wants without us intervening.  All He asks is for us to do is love one another and love God.  On another note, using David and Cyrus as examples for justifying Trump as a leader chosen by God, is that many non-Christians know a lot about theology, and they know that these examples are a feeble attempt at making something Biblical when it is not. That only translates into hypocrisy for many observers and cements their decision to never give their life to Christ.   One more issue here is that if Christians wish to force their belief of end times then they must also address the thought that Trump could be an antichrist. There is an equally appealing argument for this case as well.  Again, the truth is – WE DON’T KNOW, but many of us have mustered up the ego to think we do.

Let’s talk about Israel and Gaza for a moment.  Trump’s rhetoric is equating STOP THE BOMBING with pro Hamas.  Ok people. How many democrats do you know that truly believe what Hamas did to Israel was ok?  I’m not talking about the few you see on the news, they are amplified.  As a democrat in Tennessee, I don’t know one. Yet most Republicans assume we are all pro Hamas.  Ridiculous and offensive.   We do however, believe that starving people after bombing most of their homes and communities is a good place to stop (sooner than later).  But Israel won’t stop killing innocents.  Many Christians are going to back them until every Palestinian man, woman and child is dead.  It is my belief that God does not want that kind of help nor needs it.

Let’s move to another religious component of the equation now. There are at least 4 or 5 ways Christians interpret Revelation (end times, etc.) and other prophetic verses.  ALL are speculation and interpretation.  Some genuinely believe “The Left Behind” series is the Gospel truth, many- not so much.  Here’s the truth. WE DON’T KNOW.  There are many interpretations of the rebuilding of the Temple, etc.  Again, we have one job. Love one another and love God.  What if, when we get meet our Lord and He asks, “You had one job. To love one another, care for one another, and to love me.  Why did you choose the power behind making political laws and marginalizing others instead of love and personal relationships to bring about my Kingdom?  I only asked for love and sharing through relationship, not laws.  We might want to think about our answer.

I believe the best way for Christians to understand what they should do or be in the social/cultural arena is to look at the example of Jesus every time.  He lived during a time that was not that different from today – pagans, tyrants, etc…  Slavery, oppression and tyranny was rampant, but Jesus never once opted for political change, or to capture the culture for biblical morality.  Jesus didn’t come to be a political or spiritual reformer. He came to make us new through the work of the Holy Spirit.    So many are likely getting it wrong.  

In closing, a very good short read, (I listened to it in my car) is Jesus v Evangelicals, by  Constantine R Campbell.  https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-v-Evangelicals-Biblical-Critique/dp/0310135443

God cannot be happy with what is happening with his church. We should be at the forefront of showing love and grace. Time for a deep dive.