The Trump movement's most telling and distinctive occasions – not its most significant, nor cruelest, nor most hazardous, nor most foolish, but possibly its most revealing – occurred earlier this fall. In the course of multiple weeks, the nation's leader commenced revealing everyone his designs for a gilded ballroom double the dimensions than the White House and then commenced unilaterally ripping down the East Wing to build it.
He has performed deeds countless times more severe – the current estimate of casualties due to his slashing to international aid is 600,000 and rising, and recently a study forecast his energy policies would kill another 1.3 million. But nothing as definitional. No previous president would have attempted – genuinely, no former commander would have contemplated – solo demolishing large sections of the executive mansion in order to erect a palace-inspired entertainment space, with the enthusiastic participation of numerous the nation's most affluent, the majority of whom maintain dealings with public institutions.
We transitioned from 'the meek shall inherit the Earth' into 'the gentle will succumb of cholera'
As confusing as it is to watch the president try to upend the traditional concept regarding democracy and replace it with its direct contrary, there is one large group among Americans who might not perceive it completely novel. That encompasses people such as ourselves – among senior generations almost a majority – who were brought up as mainline Protestant Christians.
We have watched over the years as politically conservative religious groups turned the Jesus we grew up with into the complete reverse of our perception of his character. At its most basic, they converted a persona of compassion into an icon of hate who endorses precisely the cruelties that he criticized in scripture; this transformation occurred at a slower pace, through multiple decades as opposed to months, however it is still disconcerting in the same ways, a confusing personal impact for countless people.
A Harmful Christianity Gains Ground
So let me first describe the Christ from my childhood, because theoretically Christ is the focus of Christian religion, and since the rapidly expanding group within America might have little sense regarding him as they consider themselves atheists or agnostics or spiritual independents. I raise no objection with these different approaches, nor with different religions; but I do think that there are pearls of significant worth in the Christian story.
It is emphatically definitely not the account of an authoritative monarch emerging; rather, an infant arrives to homeless parents in an automotive shelter, who need to rapidly escape to another nation to evade undercover officers. The baby grows up in humble circumstances, a laboring woodworker; his message concerns compassion for fellow humans, particularly for the poor – not merely emotional affection, but a concrete one, shown by providing food and protecting. Christ's response to violence is to offer the opposite cheek – not as a gesture of passive acceptance, but as a method to teach the aggressor; his method regarding offenses states that when an individual takes your jacket you should give him your sweater too.
The evident and clear truth that Christ from scripture calls for a form of profound affection centered on the needy is what has always made Christianity something of a scandalous religion: attractive to the masses, but due to its intrinsic extremism requiring to be controlled. During the 1950s it was controlled through watering down – The Protestant faith was so widespread that it basically sanctified existing conditions.
A Battle for the Highest Among Us
Hence I have become inspired to observe the persistent defiance regarding Trump develop in this past year. It has been substantial consolation to assist in constructing the initiative that has taken to the streets through repeated demonstrations, and likely has encouraged citizens to turn out in numbers during minor elections. We will need to continue it, and through comparable resolve, featuring US banners at every demonstration and appeals to the finest aspects of American history.
We shall be interrogated ... about how you treated the immigrant? Did you accept these individuals and welcome him or refuse?
America is best defended, in other words, by reference to the best in US heritage, just as Christianity is optimally secured by reference to what makes it special and magnificent, particularly the pattern of the Savior. In all circumstances does it mean feigning the most damaging of both America and religious tradition was nonexistent; it signifies both modesty and faith, a mixture that genuine US believers should embrace.
