Trumpism's most telling and characteristic moments – not its most important, nor most harsh, nor most hazardous, nor most senseless, but perhaps its most illuminating – occurred earlier this fall. Over the span of multiple weeks, the US president started showing all observers his designs for a lavish reception room double the dimensions of the White House and then began independently demolishing the East Wing portion to erect it.
He has performed deeds ten thousand times worse – the present calculation of deaths due to his slashing to foreign assistance stands at 600,000 and rising, and presently a study forecast his energy policies would kill 1.3 million more. But nothing as definitional. No other president would have attempted – really, no former commander would have conceived – solo demolishing major areas of the presidential residence to build a Versailles-style party room, with the active collaboration of some of the richest Americans, the majority of whom have business with federal agencies.
We transitioned from 'the gentle will obtain the planet' toward 'the gentle will succumb to cholera'
As confusing as it is to witness the chief executive attempt to overturn the traditional concept about democracy and exchange it with its direct contrary, there exists a significant segment among Americans who wouldn't consider it totally unfamiliar. This includes individuals like us – within elder demographics almost a majority – who were raised within mainstream Protestant traditions.
We have watched across decades while conservative evangelical congregations converted the Savior we were raised with into exactly the opposite of our perception of his character. Fundamentally, they converted a persona of affection into a symbol of animosity who endorses exactly the harshness that he denounced in the Gospel; this has happened more slowly, through multiple decades instead of months, yet it remains disturbing through similar means, a disorienting gut punch for numerous individuals.
A Harmful Christianity Takes Hold
So let me first describe the Savior from my childhood, because theoretically Christ is the focus of any Christian faith, and since the rapidly expanding group among Americans might have little sense regarding him since they are atheists or doubters or nones. I have no problem with any of these traditions, nor with different religions; yet I maintain that contain precious wisdom of great price within Christian narrative.
It is emphatically not the narrative of a mighty king appearing; rather, a baby is born to homeless parents in an automotive shelter, who are forced to hastily depart to a different country to evade secret police. The child matures in humble circumstances, a working carpenter; his message concerns compassion for other people, especially for the poor – not merely emotional affection, but tangible care, expressed by feeding and sheltering. The Savior's reaction to aggression is to turn the other cheek – not as an act of submissive tolerance, but as a method to instruct the aggressor; his method regarding offenses is that if someone steals your outer garment you ought to provide them your pullover also.
The obvious and direct fact that the Jesus in biblical accounts requests a type of extreme compassion focused on the impoverished is what has always made Christian religion something of a scandalous religion: appealing to the general public, but due to its intrinsic extremism demanding to be controlled. During the 1950s it was contained via weakening – The Protestant faith was so prevalent that it practically blessed current circumstances.
A Battle for the Highest of Us
So I have been encouraged to observe the persistent defiance regarding Trump emerge during the previous year. It has provided great solace to participate in developing the movement that has taken to the streets through repeated demonstrations, and likely has encouraged voters to show up in significant amounts during minor elections. We shall require to maintain it, and in the same spirit, displaying national flags throughout each rally and appeals to the finest aspects within national heritage.
We will be questioned ... about how you treated the foreigner? Did you receive him and receive them or refuse?
The country is optimally secured, in other words, by relationship to the finest about American history, exactly as the Christian faith is optimally secured through connection to that which renders it distinctive and wonderful, which is the example of Christ. In both situations does it mean feigning the worst of both America and religious tradition was nonexistent; it represents both modesty and belief, a combination that serious American Christians should embrace.
