Banes S. Lal
There is division among Christians. Some insist that Trump is a Christian hero standing for religious rights. At the same time, others counter that evangelical Christians have entered into a corrupt yet beneficial pact with a depraved leader whose affinities are dictatorial, not religious. And that's primarily what Christians in the United States did. Believing they were under assault, this powerful man pledged to defend them. And in doing so, he has made great strides.
Trump's religious beliefs are not even relevant nor even equivalent to those of Christians; his value proposition is a protector, not a model to be emulated.
A vast majority of evangelical Christians have lined up behind Trump; Trump has repaid them with constant attention to abortion and religious liberties. There's little outward sign of any religious devotion on Trump's part. Still, leading Christian figures, writers, and preachers, including many Canadian churchgoers, have defended his good Christian intentions and insisted that he is an ally of evangelical Christians but also a true believer.
But a few prominent evangelicals have remained deeply critical of Trump. They contend that Trump displays zero signs of Christian faith or morality and that Christians who align themselves with this president are making a crude deal with a flawed man to reach the safe refuge. Christians portray themselves as being an oppressed minority that needs a strongman to liberate them. This is how Trump has encouraged evangelicals to see themselves. He has handled evangelicalism as an interest group requiring protection and elevation.
Why are so many Christians loyal to this president, a man that is so transparently not Christ-like? He lies, he cons, and he incites racism. He would do anything to further his selfish interests. Jesus preached love, forgiveness, humility and acceptance; Trump is the root of selfishness, narcissism, hate and divisiveness. He is simply the worst example of Christian values. Trump's connection is rooted in the abortion issue, which governs all everyday Christian voters.
Because Trump and his Republican followers remain on the anti-abortion side of the aisle, they consider themselves defenders of Christian principles.
As a Christian, I find it challenging to comprehend how those who encourage love, acceptance and the equal protection of every member of society neglect to understand that there is more to being "pro-life" than merely standing against abortion.
I am in favour of gun control. How can we state we care about the sanctity of human life while doing nothing to reduce the rising rates of gun violence in the US? Unrestricted access to guns is not "pro-life." Our gun laws might not be perfect, but I'm certainly proud of what is in place.
I am in favour of universal health care. This is a fundamental human right. Suppose you genuinely value the sanctity of all human life. In that case, the availability of affordable healthcare for all people is a must. Thank God we have universal health care in Canada.
You can't be "pro-life" without believing we must take care of this planet, which sustains all life as we know it. Shouldn't we all be good stewards of this planet?
Finally, I am in favour of fundamental decency and kindness. Everyone is worthy of simple human respect.
Christians believe that everyone is a unique creation of God. In contrast, Trump is crude, condescending and despicable. Constant disrespect towards other people isn't consistent with respect for life.
No one individual or political party has a monopoly on Christian values. There are good Christians on both sides of the aisle, Democrat/Liberal and Republic/Conservative. Still, it is quite clear that the party more closely aligned with Christian beliefs is not the party of Trump. Christians who endorse Trump continue to distance themselves from the very heart of Jesus' teachings.
So, to church leaders, elders, and preachers who consistently lift Trump as chosen by God, now is the time to take your seat near the back and assess yourselves.
Ask yourselves, If Jesus were walking the earth today, would he be donning a red MAGA hat?
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