Here it is in simplicity. I am entirely laying aside any questions about Trump's own faith or morality. Christians hold (at least) two sometimes competing "biblical" values: the nature and mission of the Christian church, the "body of Christ" vs. the prophet Jeremiah's (or rather God's) instruction to the Israelites in Babylon to "seek the peace (shalom) of the city in which live." Now, let's suppose for the sake of argument (wincing here) that 'seeking the peace of the society' would best be fulfilled by "making America great again" in the sense that Trump proposes. And furthermore, let's suppose that Trump actually could do that. In other words, I am here (painfully) giving all the benefit of the doubt to Trump and his supporters on value #2.
What about the other value? I am entirely unwilling to equate the basic agenda of the Christian church with American greatness, mostly because the Christian church is a global, transnational body. I am entirely unwilling to suppose that Trump's agenda is consistent with the basic agenda of the Christian church as defined by ANY major transnational stream of Christian thought (individual ideologues aside) in the past 200 years. Here, I am not willing to give Trump the same benefit of the doubt, but let us suppose that a Trump Presidency, in its enacted policy, neither hurts nor helps the most basic agenda of the Christian church (I am presuming that this agenda precludes xenophobia and religious discrimination, even if such agendas did fit with value #2). I am decidedly unconvinced that brutal military response would appropriate or effective to stop (rather than enflame) the persecution of Christians in places where they are vulnerable.
The very moderate question I want to ask is this: will the visible, audible, public support of Trump by Christians (publicly, visibly, audibly representing themselves as representative Christians) help or hurt the agenda of the Christian church, the "body of Christ" in carrying out its mission as defined by ANY major transnational stream of Christian thought in the past 200 years?
I can imagine a convoluted scenario whereby the Christian church ends up repenting of its support for Trump and its public humility and demonstrable repentance ends up helping the basic agenda of the Christian church, but I wouldn't suggest this as a game-plan.
Along with many others, I affirm Paul Wehner's Trump and the debasement of faith.
What about the other value? I am entirely unwilling to equate the basic agenda of the Christian church with American greatness, mostly because the Christian church is a global, transnational body. I am entirely unwilling to suppose that Trump's agenda is consistent with the basic agenda of the Christian church as defined by ANY major transnational stream of Christian thought (individual ideologues aside) in the past 200 years. Here, I am not willing to give Trump the same benefit of the doubt, but let us suppose that a Trump Presidency, in its enacted policy, neither hurts nor helps the most basic agenda of the Christian church (I am presuming that this agenda precludes xenophobia and religious discrimination, even if such agendas did fit with value #2). I am decidedly unconvinced that brutal military response would appropriate or effective to stop (rather than enflame) the persecution of Christians in places where they are vulnerable.
The very moderate question I want to ask is this: will the visible, audible, public support of Trump by Christians (publicly, visibly, audibly representing themselves as representative Christians) help or hurt the agenda of the Christian church, the "body of Christ" in carrying out its mission as defined by ANY major transnational stream of Christian thought in the past 200 years?
I can imagine a convoluted scenario whereby the Christian church ends up repenting of its support for Trump and its public humility and demonstrable repentance ends up helping the basic agenda of the Christian church, but I wouldn't suggest this as a game-plan.
Along with many others, I affirm Paul Wehner's Trump and the debasement of faith.
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