Trumpism's most telling and distinctive occasions – not its most significant, nor most harsh, nor most threatening, nor most senseless, but perhaps its most illuminating – came earlier this autumn. Over the span of multiple weeks, the nation's leader started showing all observers his designs for an ornate dance hall double the dimensions of the White House and then began solo dismantling the East Wing portion to build it.
He has committed acts countless times more severe – the present calculation of casualties due to his slashing to international aid is 600,000 and rising, and recently research forecast his fossil fuel policies would kill another 1.3 million. Yet nothing as characteristic. No former leader would have attempted – really, no former commander would have conceived – solo demolishing major areas of the executive mansion to construct a royal-themed celebration hall, with the enthusiastic participation of multiple America's wealthiest, nearly all of which have business with the government.
We moved from 'the meek shall inherit the planet' into 'the humble will perish from cholera'
As confusing as it is to observe the leader attempt to overturn the old idea regarding democracy and exchange it with its direct contrary, there remains a substantial portion within America who should not find it completely novel. That is those of us – within elder demographics almost a majority – who were raised within mainstream Protestant traditions.
We have watched over the years as rightwing evangelical churches turned the Jesus we learned about into the total contrary of our perception of his character. Fundamentally, they turned a figure of compassion into a figure of hostility who approves precisely the cruelties that he criticized in biblical teachings; this has happened more gradually, across decades as opposed to months, but it is nonetheless disconcerting via comparable methods, a confusing personal impact for numerous individuals.
A Harmful Christianity Takes Hold
Therefore allow me to outline the Jesus 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 as they consider themselves skeptics or doubters or spiritual independents. I have no problem with any of these traditions, nor with different religions; but I do think that there are pearls of great price in the Christian story.
It is unquestionably not the story of an authoritative monarch appearing; conversely, a baby is born to homeless parents in an automotive shelter, who must quickly flee to a foreign land to evade secret police. The baby grows up in modest conditions, a laboring woodworker; his doctrine is about love for other people, especially for the poor – not simply tender feelings, but practical compassion, shown by providing food and sheltering. The Savior's reaction to violence is to turn the other cheek – not as a gesture of submissive tolerance, but as a way to educate the assailant; his crime policy states that when a person pilfers your outer garment you must offer him your sweater as well.
The evident and straightforward reality that the Jesus of the gospels requests a form of radical love centered on the poor is what has always made Christianity somewhat of a controversial faith: appealing to the populace, but owing to its intrinsic extremism needing to be contained. In the fifties it was restrained by dilution – The Protestant faith was so prevalent that it essentially sanctified existing conditions.
A Battle for the Highest Among Us
Hence I have become heartened to witness the persistent defiance against Trump develop in this past year. It has been great solace to help build the movement that has taken to the streets in rally after rally, and likely has encouraged electorate to show up in large quantities in the off-year elections. We will need to continue it, and in the same spirit, featuring US banners during all protests and appeals to the finest aspects of American history.
We shall be interrogated ... regarding how you welcomed the immigrant? Did you welcome them and embrace them or refuse?
The country is optimally secured, to put it differently, through connection to the best about American history, exactly as the Christian faith is optimally secured by relationship to what makes it unique and wonderful, which is the example of Christ. In both situations does it mean pretending the most damaging about the nation and Christianity was nonexistent; it signifies both humility and faith, a blend that committed national faithful should embrace.
