The First Trump

Where the truth lies

I asked an American fundamentalist friend how any Christian Bible-banger could support Don Trump, who has demonstrably broken every commandment and gone back for seconds.

He replied, “Other than Jesus or God, can you name one person who is depicted in the Bible who has not sinned?”

For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. – Romans 3:23

“He detests ALL sins equally. My sins as well as your sins, dear lady. Equally, both of us are sinners just as is our President. No difference in God’s eyes about all three of us.

“Jesus chose to dine with the sinners because Jesus did not come to call the righteous, but to call the sinners. Sinners have more chance to follow Jesus through the gates of Heaven than the self-righteous. Jesus always defended and helped the sinners. To judge others rather than allowing God only to do that job is like slapping Jesus in the face and calling him a fool.”

Killing those fatted calves

Jesus loves sinners, fair enough. My friend didn’t actually want to admit that Don Trump was a sinner except in the widest possible way, but I got the message. Like rejoicing over the Prodigal Son rather than the dutiful brothers, one celebrates the return of the sinner.

Another friend was more open:

“President Trump is a deeply flawed man. All of his Christian supporters acknowledge that. But he supports Christians living by their beliefs. Democrats think Christians should be forced to violate their beliefs. President Trump supports babies. Democrats support killing them.

“So I know President Trump is flawed but he is much better than anyone the Democrats can run against him.”

Politics and expedience beat everything that Jesus taught, eh? If nothing else, he’s one touch better than a pack of baby-killing bastards, and that’s all you need worry about come voting time.

Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. — John 8:11

Love the sinner

Jesus was able to embrace a sinner and tell them, “go, and sin no more”.

Forgiveness and repentance are key to Christianity. Don Trump is one of God’s children, and therefore able to be saved from the flaws in his behaviour, that I see some of my American friends recognise. After all, we see the faults in others very clearly, and nobody is more in the American spotlight than Don Trump.

“Love the sinner, hate the sin,” is another key precept. Jesus was never shy of embracing and comforting those shunned by society. He turned nobody away. Tax collectors, prostitutes, foreigners: all children of God, all flawed, all loved by Jesus. Like any one of us.

Hate the sin

But he was never one to refrain from denouncing sin. Remember his behaviour in the holy Temple, when in that sacred and public place he expressed his displeasure with the behaviour he found there?

Nor did he condone liars. If Jesus did nothing he else, he was there to reveal the truth and show the way to salvation.

I am the way, the truth, and the life — John 14:6

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. — John 8:32

I do not see any similar behaviour from America’s most prominent Christians. I do not hear them calling out in outrage and dismay at the unceasing torrent of lies. When Trump addressed a gathering of Boy Scouts, who have all made promises to be of good and moral conduct, and described with evident pleasure his own salacious actions, where were the calls for repentance and reform?

A Scout is trustworthy. Tell the truth and keep promises. People can depend on you. — Scout Law

Boy Scouts pledge to tell the truth, so when Don Trump stood before them and dropped a few whoppers, what sort of example was he as the First Man in America?

I got a call from the head of the Boy Scouts saying it was the greatest speech that was ever made to them, and they were very thankful. — Don Trump

There are some things God hates. Sins, rather than sinners, you’ll notice.

These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. — Proverbs 6:16–19

When Trump fawns over brutal dictators, selling out decades of American effort in encouraging human rights and the rule of law, where is the outrage and dismay from America’s Christians? Where, exactly, do they stand on morals, godliness, and the Ten Commandments?

I see the two tablets represented in many American public places, indicating a certain veneration and respect for the words inscribed on them.

I hear America’s Christian leaders broadcasting their hatred of sin, and loudly pointing out the faults and flaws in various public figures.

But not Don Trump

I think of the words my American Christian friends used, and those same words could describe some of history’s worst examples of unChristian behaviour.

“Yes, Hitler is a deeply flawed character, but he is passing laws and installing judges that we agree with. If he kills a million Jews, we Christians will forgive him and love him all the more. He can kill as many as he wants and we will forgive him everything and call for four more years.”

Tell me, America’s Christians. When has Don Trump ever expressed sorrow or remorse or repentance for his sins? Has he ever appeared on television sobbing over his past actions and promising to do better in future?

On the contrary, I see and hear nothing but promises to keep on doing exactly what he has been doing, and never the slightest acknowledgment of any past error.

I see other politicians stand bravely up and admit their sins when discovered in some scandal, calling for forgiveness, the tears running down their cheeks, and vowing to do better in the future.

But not Don Trump. He just piles on more lies, heaps more praise on godless dictators, and laps up the fawning devotion of America’s Christians.

He can do anything, and they forgive him. A mother might wash out her son’s mouth with soap and water for telling a lie, and give him a stern talking-to on the matter of sin.

But no words of reprimand for Don Trump’s sins.

I can see the future, and there is no humility in it

Here is my prediction. Don Trump will never apologise, he will never beg forgiveness, he will never admit a lie, and he will never look someone in the eye and allow that he has done anything wrong to them.

That’s in his nature. He wears his soul on his sleeve. We know Don Trump very well by now, and his sins are no surprise.

But we might expect more honesty of those who preach it.

I predict America’s most prominent Christians will spend the next nine months heartily endorsing the past three years behaviour, and calling for more. They will never utter the slightest criticism of Don Trump, because they fear to lose his good favour and access to the Oval Office for photo opportunities.

They have their own political agendas – and please do not tell me that church leaders do not have political positions and do not endorse politicians – and they will remain silent, tolerating the most flagrant abuses of God’s law, piling up their own sins, because they are fearful of offending Don Trump and his howling legions of devoted followers.

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. — Matthew 7:5

I don’t think that Jesus would hold any hypocrisy in his heart. He would not say that the end justifies the means. He would say that the Kingdom of God is here and now and there is no room in his heart or those of his followers for any quibbling or prevarication or reservation.

One does not get to Heaven by going 99% of the way, holding back a little here and there.

Britni

Britni Pepper writes for Kindle Direct Publishing. She runs a blog where she reviews erotica, and rambles on about this and that. She may be reached on Twitter and Facebook.

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