The Trump movement's most illuminating and defining moments – not its most important, nor most harsh, nor most dangerous, nor most foolish, but possibly its most revealing – occurred earlier this fall. In the course of multiple weeks, the nation's leader began displaying all observers his designs for a lavish reception room double the dimensions of the White House and then commenced independently demolishing the East Wing to erect it.
He has done things ten thousand times worse – the current estimate of casualties resulting from his reductions to international aid is 600,000 and increasing, and presently research forecast his fossil fuel policies would cause deaths 1.3 million more. Yet nothing as characteristic. No former leader would have dared – genuinely, no former commander would have imagined – independently wrecking major areas of the presidential residence to construct a royal-themed celebration hall, with the enthusiastic participation of numerous the richest Americans, almost all of whom have business with federal agencies.
We went from 'the gentle will obtain the Earth' to 'the humble will perish to cholera'
As disorienting as it is to watch the chief executive try to upend the old idea about democracy and exchange it with its polar opposite, there exists a significant segment of Americans who wouldn't consider it totally unfamiliar. That is those of us – among senior generations a near majority – who were educated as conventional Protestant believers.
We have observed throughout the years as rightwing evangelical churches converted the Savior we grew up with into the complete reverse of our perception of his character. At its most basic, they turned a figure of compassion into a figure of hostility who endorses precisely the cruelties that he criticized in biblical teachings; this has happened at a slower pace, across decades rather than months, but it is nonetheless disturbing via comparable methods, a bewildering emotional blow for many of us.
A Harmful Christianity Takes Hold
Hence I shall explain the Savior that I grew up with, since in theory the Savior is the core within Christian belief, and given that the fastest-growing cadre of Americans might have little sense regarding him since they are non-believers or agnostics or religiously unaffiliated. I take no issue with any of these traditions, nor with alternative spiritual paths; yet I maintain that there are pearls of substantial value within Christian narrative.
It is emphatically definitely not the narrative of an authoritative monarch arising; rather, a child comes into the world to parents without shelter in a storage space, who must quickly flee to another nation to evade undercover officers. The child matures in humble circumstances, a working carpenter; his doctrine focuses on affection for fellow humans, particularly for the impoverished – and not a sentimental love, but a concrete one, demonstrated through nourishing and sheltering. Christ's response to aggression is to turn the opposite cheek – not as a gesture of submissive tolerance, but as a way to instruct the assailant; his approach to wrongdoing indicates that whenever someone steals your coat you should give them your pullover also.
The apparent and direct reality that the Jesus from scripture calls for a kind of profound affection focused on the needy has consistently rendered Christianity somewhat of a controversial faith: appealing to the general public, but because of its intrinsic extremism demanding to be controlled. In the 1950s it was controlled through watering down – Protestant Christianity was so dominant that it essentially blessed current circumstances.
A Battle for the Finest Among Us
Therefore I have felt heartened to witness the steadfast resistance regarding Trump emerge in this past year. It has provided significant comfort to help build the initiative that has protested openly through repeated demonstrations, and seems to have inspired voters to participate in large quantities in interim political contests. We will need to continue it, and in the same spirit, featuring US banners during all protests and calls to the highest qualities of American history.
We're going to be asked ... about how you treated the immigrant? Did you accept these individuals and embrace them or reject?
America is best defended, essentially, by reference to the best within national tradition, just as Christianity is optimally secured by reference to elements that cause it to be unique and beautiful, specifically the model of Christ. In both situations does it imply pretending the worst regarding America and Christianity did not happen; it means both humility and faith, a blend that serious national faithful should embrace.
