Trumpism's most illuminating and defining instances – not its most significant, nor most brutal, nor most hazardous, nor stupidest, but possibly its most revealing – occurred earlier this fall. During the period of multiple weeks, the American president commenced revealing the public his designs for a gilded ballroom double the dimensions than the White House and subsequently started independently demolishing the eastern section to construct it.
He has performed deeds countless times more severe – the present calculation of fatalities due to his slashing to foreign assistance stands at 600,000 and growing, and this week an analysis forecast his energy policies would result in fatalities an additional 1.3 million. Yet nothing as characteristic. No other president would have attempted – truly, no other president would have conceived – independently wrecking significant portions of the presidential residence to construct a Versailles-style party room, with the direct cooperation of numerous the richest Americans, almost all of whom maintain dealings with federal agencies.
We transitioned from 'the humble will receive the Earth' into 'the meek shall die from cholera'
As confusing as it is to witness the chief executive try to upend the traditional concept of democracy and exchange it with its direct contrary, there exists a significant segment within America who might not perceive it totally unfamiliar. That is those of us – in older age cohorts almost a majority – who were brought up within mainstream Protestant traditions.
We have witnessed over the years as politically conservative religious groups turned the Jesus we learned about into exactly the opposite of who we understood him to be. Fundamentally, they transformed an image of affection into an icon of hostility who endorses precisely the cruelties that he criticized in biblical teachings; this transformation occurred more slowly, through multiple decades rather than months, however it is still disturbing via comparable methods, a bewildering emotional blow for countless people.
A Harmful Christianity Gains Ground
So let me first describe the Savior from my childhood, since in theory the Savior is the core of any Christian faith, and given that the quickly increasing segment of Americans could have minimal awareness of him because they identify as non-believers or agnostics or religiously unaffiliated. I raise no objection with these various perspectives, nor with different religions; yet I maintain that there are pearls of great price in the Christian story.
It is decidedly absolutely not the account of a mighty king arising; conversely, an infant arrives to displaced parents in a storage space, who are forced to hastily depart to a foreign land to escape undercover officers. The child matures in humble circumstances, a working carpenter; his doctrine concerns compassion for others, especially for the poor – not merely emotional affection, but practical compassion, shown by providing food and housing. The Savior's reaction to aggression is to turn the opposite cheek – not as a gesture of compliant endurance, but as a means to educate the aggressor; his crime policy states that when someone steals your coat you ought to provide them your pullover also.
The evident and straightforward truth that the Jesus of the gospels advocates for a type of profound affection concentrated on the poor is what has always made Christian religion somewhat of a scandalous religion: engaging for the general public, but due to its inherent radicalness needing to be contained. In the fifties it was restrained by dilution – The Protestant faith was so dominant that it practically baptized the status quo.
A Struggle for the Highest Within Us
Hence I have become heartened to witness the steadfast resistance against Trump develop over the last twelve months. It has provided great solace to participate in developing the campaign that has taken to the streets through repeated demonstrations, and likely has encouraged citizens to participate in significant amounts in interim political contests. We will need to persist with it, and with identical determination, featuring US banners during all protests and calls to the best parts within national heritage.
We shall be interrogated ... about how you treated the immigrant? Did you welcome them and receive them or reject?
America is best defended, in other words, by reference to the best about American history, similar to Christianity is most protected through connection to that which renders it special and beautiful, which is the example of the Savior. In both situations does it imply feigning the most negative regarding America and Christian faith never occurred; it signifies both humility and conviction, a mixture that serious American Christians should be comfortable with.
