Religion
Are Christians Finally Waking Up?
When will they realize Trump is not a model for them?
Why would a religion allow its sacred principles and honorable beliefs to be trampled on by a scheming and ruthless man to achieve his own pitiful objectives? This is what is happening in some sectors of the Christian religion in the USA.
A President who incites governors and its citizens to use forceful action, call in the military, and destroy free speech is one that is well on the road to fascism. This is why it is so alarming. Look at the inflammatory tweets inciting hatred and violence.
The perfect background too. Deaths soar to 100,000 from a pandemic and economic disaster facing the nation with 40 million jobless. Add in racial tensions rising after decades of police brutality to support and uphold entrenched inequality.
Up to yesterday, many Christian groups were reluctant to disown Donald Trump. They turned a blind eye. They just said he is a sinner like the rest of us. They even invited him after his impeachment trial to the National Prayer Breakfast. He held up the impeachment acquittal headlines in a newspaper.
He was able to do that with impunity because he knew that 81% of evangelical Christians had voted for him in 2016.
This is the same as inviting a convicted thief to the breakfast. But when the thief says he did nothing wrong?
The more outlandish and extreme defenders even went as far as to make a film, The Trump Prophecy saying that Trump was a prophet called by God. No prophet is perfect, after all.
Faint sparks of protest were also flashing in the dark after Trump’s impeachment and his “grossly immoral” actions and policies which are a contradiction of what the Bible teaches. In an editorial published by Christianity Today, believers were warned to think again before supporting or voting for Trump.
But something gave yesterday.
Donald Trump’s actions were the last straw that broke the camel’s back. He ordered the military to clear out the peaceful protesters outside the White House.
The reason was so that he could be photographed holding the Bible outside St. John’s Church. This drew an indignant response from the clergy. They protested they would not allow their church and religion to be used as a photo-op by Trump.
The Episcopalian bishop of Washington (The Right Rev Mariann Budde) said:-
“Let me be clear, the President just used a Bible, the most sacred text of the Judeo-Christian tradition, and one of the churches of my diocese, without permission, as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus.”
The Catholics were also deeply offended and Fr. James Martin SJ tweeted:-
“Let me be clear. This is revolting. The Bible is not a prop. A church is not a photo op. Religion is not a political tool. God is not your plaything.”
How many more Christians of all denominations will stand up to Trump as America faces one of its worst moments in history?