The Trump movement's most revealing and defining moments – not its most significant, nor cruelest, nor most dangerous, nor stupidest, but possibly its most revealing – came earlier this autumn. In the course of a few weeks, the American president started showing the public his designs for a lavish reception room two times larger than the White House and then began unilaterally ripping down the eastern section to construct it.
He has done things countless times more severe – the current estimate of casualties from his cuts to foreign assistance amounts to 600,000 and growing, and recently a study forecast his fossil fuel policies would kill another 1.3 million. Yet nothing as characteristic. No other president would have attempted – truly, no former commander would have conceived – independently wrecking significant portions of the White House to build a Versailles-style party room, with the active collaboration of some of the richest Americans, almost all of whom have business with the government.
We transitioned from 'the meek shall inherit the planet' toward 'the gentle will succumb of cholera'
As bewildering as it is to watch the president try to upend the old idea of democracy and exchange it with its complete opposite, there exists a significant segment within America who wouldn't consider it entirely new. That encompasses people such as ourselves – within elder demographics close to half – who were educated within mainstream Protestant traditions.
We have witnessed over the years as politically conservative religious groups converted the Savior we grew up with into the complete reverse of our perception of his character. Essentially, they turned a figure of love into an icon of animosity who endorses specifically the brutality that he criticized in scripture; this has happened at a slower pace, across decades rather than months, however it is still unsettling via comparable methods, a disorienting gut punch for numerous individuals.
A Harmful Christianity Gains Ground
Hence I shall explain the Savior from my childhood, because theoretically Jesus is the center of any Christian faith, and since the quickly increasing segment within America could have minimal awareness about him as they consider themselves skeptics or uncertain individuals or religiously unaffiliated. I raise no objection with these different approaches, nor with different religions; however I believe that there are pearls of great price in the Christian story.
It is decidedly definitely not the story of a mighty king arising; instead, a baby is born to displaced parents in an automotive shelter, who must quickly flee to a foreign land to escape undercover officers. The child matures in modest conditions, an employed craftsman; his teaching concerns compassion for other people, specifically for the disadvantaged – not merely emotional affection, but practical compassion, shown by providing food and housing. Christ's response to violence is to turn the opposite cheek – not as a gesture of submissive tolerance, but as a means to teach the assailant; his crime policy indicates that whenever someone steals your outer garment you must offer the person your additional clothing also.
The apparent and direct reality that the Savior in biblical accounts calls for a kind of extreme compassion focused on the poor has consistently rendered the Christian faith something of a scandalous religion: appealing to the populace, but owing to its natural unconventionality requiring to be contained. In the 1950s it was controlled by dilution – Protestant Christianity was so widespread that it practically sanctified existing conditions.
A Conflict for the Finest of Us
So I have been heartened to see the determined opposition to Trump emerge in this past year. It has been great solace to help build the initiative that has taken to the streets through repeated demonstrations, and appears to have motivated electorate to show up in large quantities during minor elections. We shall require to continue it, and through comparable resolve, featuring US banners at every demonstration and requests to the highest qualities in US history.
We will be questioned ... regarding how you welcomed the foreigner? Did you welcome them and welcome him or reject?
The nation is most protected, in other words, through connection to the best about American history, just as Christianity is optimally secured through connection to elements that cause it to be unique and wonderful, particularly the pattern of the Savior. In all circumstances does it imply pretending the worst regarding America and Christianity was nonexistent; it represents both humility and belief, a mixture that genuine national faithful should be comfortable with.
