To be clear, this is not a debate about whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would make a better President. I'll let you figure that one out for yourself. This is not an article telling you who to vote for or not vote for. This is not a discussion about Hillary Clinton or her faith and comparing it to Mr. Trump's.
This article is addressing one specific issue: Donald Trump's understanding of what Christianity actually is based on his repeated statements regarding the faith. Donald Trump calls himself a Christian - but, to quote the Princess Bride, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
This article is addressing one specific issue: Donald Trump's understanding of what Christianity actually is based on his repeated statements regarding the faith. Donald Trump calls himself a Christian - but, to quote the Princess Bride, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
His comments here, in particular, highlight a deep, fundamental misunderstanding of what Christianity teaches.
"...we don't exert the power we should have...the Christians don't use their power...We have to strengthen. Because we are getting — if you look, it's death by a million cuts — we are getting less and less and less powerful in terms of a religion, and in terms of a force."What Mr. Trump fails to realize about Christians is that the power we exert is not the same kind of power he, and the world, exerts. The kind of power Mr. Trump is talking about is not the kind of power that God utilizes. (Isaiah 55:8-9) It is not the kind of power Jesus wielded or called his followers to wield. (Matthew 16:23)
God's power is not a show of worldly force, but worldly weakness, for God's power was displayed most fully on the cross. As Paul stated, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)
By the definitions that Mr. Trump understands people to be "winners," Jesus is one of the biggest "losers" ever. He willingly allowed himself to be arrested, was tried without offering up a defense, and was executed by the Roman government in the most humiliating way possible. He didn't use his "power" to zap his opponents dead, or even to save himself from death on the cross. I have no doubt that if Jesus were currently here criticizing him in any way, Trump would likely Tweet something like: "People think Jesus is a savior because he died on a cross and rose from the dead. I like a savior who doesn't die." (ref. Trump's statement from July 18th, 2015 regarding John McCain's war hero status)
Jesus did not "exert" the power Mr. Trump is promising to give Christians. In fact, he subjected himself to human powers and allowed those powers to do as they wished. For people who understand power the way Mr. Trump does, this kind of power is not power - it is weakness. It is foolishness. It is the exact opposite of what Mr. Trump values.
Mr. Trump's understanding of power is to build walls, wage war, kill the families of terrorists, make tons of money and verbally berate anyone who challenges him.
Mr. Trump added,
"Because if I'm there, you're going to have plenty of power. You don't need anybody else. You're going to have somebody representing you very, very well. Remember that."No, Mr. Trump. What you have stated does not represent me or my understanding of Christianity. You are not representing the ideals and faith that I have dedicated my life to.
As a Christian - I do not want the power Mr. Trump is offering, because it is antithetical to the kind of power I understand God's power to be. In fact, Trump's kind of power is the very power we are warned to stay away from. (Ok, you knew I couldn't get through a post without mentioning Revelation at SOME point...) Revelation outlines the power of the beast: the power of empire. A power that oppresses, wages war, and grows wealthy at the expense of others. It is power that masquerades as "Christian" power, but is in fact the kind of power that destroys.
The power exerted by Christians is revealed by the Two Witnesses (Revelation 11) who are killed and then raised from the dead. Christian witness to God's power over death is displayed not with guns, bombs, or politics - but sacrifice. God's power is revealed by Christ riding in on his horse wearing a robe dipped in his own blood, wielding the "sword of his mouth." (aka the Word of God.) Christian power is revealed not through the mighty and powerful kings of the world, but the Lamb who was slain.
In other interviews/speeches, Trump has also claimed that he does not feel he needs to be forgiven for anything (July 18, 2015), that he is more about "an eye for an eye" than forgiveness (Jan. 27, 2016 Bill O'Reilly interview) which completely ignores Jesus' statement:
"You have heard that it was said, "Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you and, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."An "eye for an eye" was originally intended to mitigate the propensity for over-the-top human vengeance. (Genesis 4:23-24) Jesus goes even further and says instead of seeking vengeance, forgive seventy times seven times.
Now Mr. Trump may very well love God as he claims. I'm not one to sit in judgment over that. But based on his actions and statements, I'm just not sure the God he loves is the same God that is revealed to us through Jesus Christ. There is a huge disconnect from his words and the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament writers. He is free to call himself a Christian, but I call foul on his claim that he will represent Christians based on his understanding of what Christianity is.
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