The Trump movement's most illuminating and distinctive moments – not its most crucial, nor most brutal, nor most hazardous, nor most foolish, but perhaps its most illuminating – occurred earlier this fall. Over the span of a few weeks, the nation's leader started showing all observers his plans for an ornate dance hall twice the size than the White House and then began solo dismantling the eastern section to erect it.
He has done things countless times more severe – the current estimate of deaths from his cuts to USAID amounts to 600,000 and increasing, and recently research predicted his energy policies would kill an additional 1.3 million. But nothing as definitional. No previous president would have dared – genuinely, no previous leader would have imagined – independently wrecking major areas of the presidential residence to construct a palace-inspired entertainment space, with the enthusiastic participation of some of the nation's most affluent, almost all of whom conduct transactions with federal agencies.
We transitioned from 'the gentle will obtain the world' to 'the meek shall die of cholera'
As confusing as it is to witness the leader try to upend the established notion regarding democracy and substitute it with its complete opposite, there remains a substantial portion within America who might not perceive it totally unfamiliar. This includes individuals like us – in older age cohorts close to half – who were educated as mainline Protestant Christians.
We have witnessed throughout the years as politically conservative religious groups transformed the Christ we were raised with into exactly the opposite of our perception of his character. Essentially, they transformed an image of affection into an icon of animosity who blesses exactly the harshness that he condemned in the Gospel; this transformation occurred at a slower pace, over decades rather than months, yet it remains disturbing in the same ways, a disorienting gut punch for countless people.
A Harmful Christianity Establishes Itself
Therefore allow me to outline the Jesus that I grew up with, since in theory the Savior is the core within Christian belief, and since the rapidly expanding group of Americans may possess limited understanding regarding him as they consider themselves atheists or agnostics or nones. I raise no objection with any of these traditions, nor with any other faith; but I do think that contain precious wisdom of great price within Christian narrative.
It is emphatically absolutely not the narrative of an authoritative monarch emerging; conversely, a child comes into the world to parents without shelter in an automotive shelter, who need to rapidly escape to a different country to escape undercover officers. The infant develops in humble circumstances, a working carpenter; his teaching focuses on affection for others, specifically for the disadvantaged – not simply tender feelings, but tangible care, shown by providing food and protecting. Christ's response to violence is to present the additional cheek – not as an act of compliant endurance, but as a method to educate the attacker; his approach to wrongdoing indicates that whenever someone steals your coat you ought to provide the person your additional clothing also.
The obvious and clear fact that the Jesus in biblical accounts calls for a form of radical love focused on the impoverished has perpetually caused the Christian faith something of a provocative belief system: appealing to the general public, but due to its natural unconventionality needing to be contained. During the 1950s it was controlled via weakening – Protestant Christianity was so prevalent that it essentially baptized the status quo.
A Battle for the Best Among Us
So I have been encouraged to observe the persistent defiance against Trump develop over the last twelve months. It has been significant comfort to participate in developing the movement that has taken to the streets via continuous gatherings, and seems to have inspired citizens to show up in significant amounts in interim political contests. We will need to maintain it, and through comparable resolve, featuring US banners during all protests and appeals to the highest qualities in US history.
We're going to be asked ... about how you treated the stranger? Did you welcome them and receive them or refuse?
America is best defended, in other words, through connection to the highest about American history, just as Christianity is optimally secured through connection to elements that cause it to be special and wonderful, which is the example of the Savior. In both situations does it mean acting as if the worst regarding America and religious tradition did not happen; it represents both humility and conviction, a combination that serious national faithful should be comfortable with.
