Trumpism's most telling and defining moments – not its most crucial, nor most brutal, nor most hazardous, nor stupidest, but perhaps its most illuminating – occurred earlier this fall. Over the span of several weeks, the nation's leader started showing all observers his intentions for an ornate dance hall twice the size compared to the White House and then began solo dismantling the East Wing to erect it.
He has committed acts ten thousand times worse – the existing assessment of fatalities from his cuts to foreign assistance amounts to 600,000 and rising, and recently a study forecast his fossil fuel policies would cause deaths 1.3 million more. But nothing as definitional. No other president would have attempted – genuinely, no previous leader would have imagined – solo demolishing large sections of the executive mansion in order to erect a palace-inspired entertainment space, with the enthusiastic participation of some of America's wealthiest, almost all of whom maintain dealings with the government.
We went from 'the humble will receive the Earth' toward 'the gentle will succumb to cholera'
As bewildering as it is to observe the leader try to upend the old idea regarding democracy and substitute it with its direct contrary, there remains a substantial portion among Americans who wouldn't consider it completely novel. That encompasses people such as ourselves – in older age cohorts close to half – who were raised within mainstream Protestant traditions.
We have watched over the years as politically conservative religious groups transformed the Christ we were raised with into the complete reverse of our understanding of him. At its most basic, they transformed an image of affection into an icon of animosity who endorses precisely the cruelties that he denounced in the Gospel; this transformation occurred more slowly, across decades rather than months, but it is nonetheless disturbing via comparable methods, a disorienting gut punch for countless people.
A Harmful Christianity Gains Ground
Therefore allow me to outline the Savior that I grew up with, since in theory the Savior is the core of any Christian faith, and because the rapidly expanding group within America may possess limited understanding regarding him as they consider themselves atheists or doubters or nones. I have no problem with any of these traditions, nor with alternative spiritual paths; yet I maintain that there are pearls of significant worth in the Christian story.
It is unquestionably definitely not the narrative of a powerful ruler appearing; instead, a child comes into the world to displaced parents in an automotive shelter, who must quickly flee to a foreign land to escape secret police. The baby grows up in modest conditions, an employed craftsman; his doctrine focuses on affection for others, especially for the poor – and not a sentimental love, but tangible care, expressed by feeding and sheltering. The Savior's reaction to hostility is to present the additional cheek – not as a gesture of passive acceptance, but as a way to teach the assailant; his approach to wrongdoing indicates that whenever someone steals your outer garment you should give him your sweater as well.
The obvious and clear fact that Christ of the gospels requests a kind of extreme compassion centered on the poor has perpetually caused Christianity somewhat of a scandalous religion: appealing to the populace, but owing to its natural unconventionality needing to be contained. In the fifties it was restrained by dilution – Protestantism was so prevalent that it basically blessed current circumstances.
A Conflict for the Best Within Us
Therefore I have felt inspired to observe the persistent defiance regarding Trump develop over the last twelve months. It has been substantial consolation to assist in constructing the movement that has protested openly in rally after rally, and appears to have motivated citizens to show up in numbers during minor elections. We must have to maintain it, and with identical determination, with American flags at every demonstration and appeals to the finest aspects within national heritage.
We shall be interrogated ... about how you treated the stranger? Did you welcome them and receive them or not?
America is best defended, to put it differently, through connection to the finest about American history, just as Christianity is optimally secured by reference to that which renders it distinctive and beautiful, particularly the pattern of the Savior. In both situations does it suggest pretending the most negative regarding America and religious tradition did not happen; it signifies both modesty and faith, a blend that genuine US believers should embrace.
