Since the 2015 to 2016 US election campaign, evangelical supporters of Trump have had to put up with constant attacks on their faith for their support of the Don. It is common for those who support Trump to have their Christianity, or Christian intentions questioned or doubted. I want to respond to one particular example which I encountered on Facebook just today.
I saw a post
the other day, where someone had shared some photos of physical billboards in a
post, contrasting some of Trump’s statements with those of Jesus. The poster
began his argument against Christians voting for Trump with this:
“I am troubled by Trump... but I'm even more troubled by the
Christians who defend him. When we look
at the things Jesus said in the Gospels and the Sermon on the Mount, it becomes
impossible to justify the hateful rhetoric and hurtful policies of this
administration. Some things are not
about the Left and Right, but about right and wrong.”
The person,
who I do not personally know, then went on with the usual argument that if
you are a real Christian, you will vote in a way that shows you don’t stand
with Trump’s “hateful rhetoric” and “un-Christ-like” behaviour.” Their argument
was essentially, that you will show with your vote, whether or not you stand
for decency. In other words: it is your Christian duty to vote for the other
guy.
As, I
mentioned, the poster linked to some pictures of billboards that contrast
Trump’s words with Jesus’ words in the gospel. Below I will show the Billboards
in that persons post and my corresponding responses, but first let me say this:
If you
compare anyone's words to Jesus's words, they would all fall far short. Far,
far short. Whether Trump, Biden, you, me or any of us. So, the premise of the
billboards in this sense, to me, is quite odd. Of course Donald falls short of Jesus,
we all know this. Because the Christian position is, officially, that we all
fall far short of Jesus’ example.
But
secondly, the billboards on display below are not an honest comparison. Let’s
have a look:
1) 'No
one builds, better walls.'
The
implication here is that walls are un-Christian. But Jesus has no problem with
walls:
"14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they
may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the
gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and
murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood"
(Rev 22:14-15).
Indeed, one
of the entire books of the Old Testament, Nehemiah, is about a righteous man
building a wall: Nehemiah 2:17-18 –
“17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how
Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of
Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the
hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the
king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they
strengthened their hands for the good work.”
Also, it is
important to note that an individual Christian's responsibility for charity,
should not be confused with a national leader’s responsibility to protect his
people, and his people alone. The southern border of the United States brings a
constant stream of illegal drugs, sex trafficked women and kids, and other
criminal activity across it. Nations have a biblical right to defend their
borders (Acts 17:26), and every responsibility to make sure they control their
borders for the good of their own people.
2) 'Blessed
are the peacemakers.'
Trump has
created more peace deals in the Middle East than any other recent US president.
Rather than increasing the wars in the Middle East, as previous Presidents have
done, he has created the opportunity for world changing peace deals (for more
information about these peace deals, read here). So, the billboard writers are
deliberately ignoring that Trump is not a war monger. Trump has been
consistently against war, but as US president, he has also had to use threats
of war to force dangerous nations to the table. We don’t live in heaven yet, and
this is a dangerous world. Many great men in the Bible engaged in war, for the
sake of safety and peace. Using threat of war to reign in troublesome countries
is necessary in this world. But more importantly, Trump's peace-deals prove he
is a world class peacemaker.
And when it
comes to making threats of war, we are told this about Jesus:
"11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse!
The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he
judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are
many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is
clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The
Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and
pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword
with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of
iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord
of lords" (Revelation 19:11-16).
Christ
threatens war and destruction on those who are wicked and dangerous.
3) 'I'd
like to punch him in the face'.
1) Biden has
said that he wishes he was in school, so he could take Trump ‘behind the gym’[1],
so the billboard poster and Facebook is selectively dishonest. So, both Trump
and Biden have spoken in similar ways about other men, in these terms. 2) Every
man has said this about someone at some point. 3) Jesus violently cleansed the
temple with a whip –
“13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up
to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep
and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of
cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he
poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And
he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my
Father's house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was
written, “Zeal for your house will consume me” (John 2:13-17).
There is no
doubt that Jesus’ anger is of a righteous quality beyond any other man or
woman’s anger. But wrath at the wicked has been felt by many good men and women
over the years. And, according to some reports, the wickedness Trump is
fighting in Washington is off the charts.
4) ‘If
they stay poor for generations, they are morons.’
The Bible
says a lot more about the poor than just that one comment above:
Paul said
this: 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - "For even when we were with you, we would
give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat."
The book of Proverbs
is even more blunt:
Proverbs
6:10-11 - "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands
to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an
armed man."
Proverbs
10:4 - "A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes
rich."
Proverbs
28:19 – “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows
worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty."
The bible often
speaks harshly about the poor persons responsibility in their poverty. There is
a poverty that comes from oppression and exploitation, and there is a poverty
that comes from lack of initiative and effort. Trump is clearly talking about
the latter. In America, there are plenty of opportunities to make something of
yourself, even if you start off with very little. Remember this as well, Trump’s
economy was breaking records before the coronavirus hit, and look at this: “Despite
Covid, riots and racial strife a record 56% of Americans say they are better
off now than they were in 2016.”[2]
Think about that, even in the midst of a pandemic, the riots and more, most
Americans feel like they are doing better under Trump, than under Obama. This
speaks powerfully for Trump’s ability to lift the lot of struggling Americans.
And of Jesus
own words we read:
"24 He also who had received the one talent came
forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did
not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I
went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But
his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap
where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought
to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have
received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give
it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be
given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what
he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer
darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’" (Matthew
25:24-30).
Jesus here
is harshly judging someone who made nothing of themselves with what he gave
them. Even though this servant was given the least. Now while this parable is
about much more than just money, it certainly includes all that we have been
given, including our financial resources. There is nothing inherently righteous
about being poor, though some people seem to think there it. Rather, the Bible
looks at the circumstances of why someone is, and then speaks accordingly.
As, I said,
the Bible says much more about poverty than that one quote above.
Trump is not
Jesus. I'd expect him to fall short of Jesus’ words and behaviour, we all do.
But these are very poor and very selective examples, that are easily disputed
by the very words of Jesus himself and his wider scriptures.
Not one
Christian Trump supporter I know thinks Trump compares to Jesus. Not one. But
he's certainly not being completely unbiblical in the above sentiments. He’s
being rough, but rough is not the same as un-Christian. Indeed, even the one
swear word quoted above is used by the Apostle Paul, in Philippians 3:8, though
of course he uses the Greek word ‘skubala’, instead of the English word
s#@%. And Christians can support him and these sentiments, without having their
Christianity or wisdom questioned.
Attacks like
this on the genuine nature of a Trump supporting Christian’s faith are easily
dismantled, by reading the Bible itself.
[1] Brent
Griffiths, 2016, “Biden suggests he wants to beat up Trump”, Politico: accessed
16/10/2020, https://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/joe-biden-donald-trump-behind-the-gym-230174
[2]
Jack Newman, October 2020, “The worst year ever, right? Despite Covid, riots
and racial strife a record 56% of Americans say they are better off now than
they were in 2016”. Daily Mail Uk, accessed 16/10/2020, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8838481/Despite-Covid-riots-record-56-Americans-say-better-2016.html.
Pictures used with permission of the source website: Vote
Common Good, accessed 16/10/2020, https://www.votecommongood.com/his-words-matter/?fbclid=IwAR1EdWXlSqi34sTilwaFhSovrIqd0c4SwxDGd3bbVzAbRXwKNxZ6JpwCs-M
No comments:
Post a Comment