Evangelicals are bringers of good news. That’s what the word means.
It is notable that for many American evangelicals, where “American” describes national identity and “evangelical” describes a particular Christian identity, rooted in a particular understanding of the Christian gospel, the nationalist impulse has now trumped the gospel impulse – and may well destroy it altogether.
In the not too distant past President Trump addressed the Values Voters Summit, a gathering of American evangelicals organized by the Family Research Council. The Family Research Council and its values voters claim to be a group of Christians who care very much about values and morals. Donald J. Trump is a man who, at least lately, likes to talk very much about values and morals.
Yet Trump is a person who by any account is an immoral man who seems mainly to value himself and… well, he really just seems to value himself. Even his supposed care for his family and inner circle seems mainly to be about himself. Those of us who count genuine narcissists among our circle of family or friends know a narcissist when we see one, and Donald Trump is undoubtably a narcissist. He is his own highest value. Nevertheless, the Values Voters embrace him.
Trump’s summit visit and the enthusiastic response of these American evangelical voters who, purportedly, care so much about values, might be seen as a study in irony. Or perhaps not – it is notable that among the lines delivered by Trump that gained their energetic response was that “We respect our great American flag.” Trump has seized on nationalist sympathies in his rise to power, and among the reasons he has become so popular with American evangelicals is his appeal not to their gospel fervor but to their nationalist – dare I say white nationalist? – fervor.
American evangelicals will object to that, and to them I reply that, if they are to prove otherwise, it is on them to answer a number of questions that lead many of us – many who are Christians – to that conclusion:
And a final question: What has caused you to so betray your gospel values that you would not only elevate Donald Trump to his current platform, but that you would cheer on his agenda? The good news of the Christian gospel is about the coming of Jesus Christ as a loving act of the Creator to establish the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God and the love of God in Christ have nothing to do with
Yet, this is the agenda of Donald Trump. He has encouraged white nationalists, neo-Nazis and other racists. Before you object, just stop for a minute. Our president has done this. It is a fact. It isn’t fake news. So stop objecting and just take this in.
Trump lies constantly. This is simply a fact, one that is well documented. This isn’t fake news. It is news. It is bad news.
How long, American evangelicals, will you continue to exchange the gospel’s good news for Trump’s lie? The whole world can see the bad news, yet the very people claiming to be entrusted with the good news are proving too blind, too dumb, to deliver it.
It is notable that for many American evangelicals, where “American” describes national identity and “evangelical” describes a particular Christian identity, rooted in a particular understanding of the Christian gospel, the nationalist impulse has now trumped the gospel impulse – and may well destroy it altogether.
In the not too distant past President Trump addressed the Values Voters Summit, a gathering of American evangelicals organized by the Family Research Council. The Family Research Council and its values voters claim to be a group of Christians who care very much about values and morals. Donald J. Trump is a man who, at least lately, likes to talk very much about values and morals.
Yet Trump is a person who by any account is an immoral man who seems mainly to value himself and… well, he really just seems to value himself. Even his supposed care for his family and inner circle seems mainly to be about himself. Those of us who count genuine narcissists among our circle of family or friends know a narcissist when we see one, and Donald Trump is undoubtably a narcissist. He is his own highest value. Nevertheless, the Values Voters embrace him.
Trump’s summit visit and the enthusiastic response of these American evangelical voters who, purportedly, care so much about values, might be seen as a study in irony. Or perhaps not – it is notable that among the lines delivered by Trump that gained their energetic response was that “We respect our great American flag.” Trump has seized on nationalist sympathies in his rise to power, and among the reasons he has become so popular with American evangelicals is his appeal not to their gospel fervor but to their nationalist – dare I say white nationalist? – fervor.
American evangelicals will object to that, and to them I reply that, if they are to prove otherwise, it is on them to answer a number of questions that lead many of us – many who are Christians – to that conclusion:
- How can you claim to honor Christ and walk in the way of Jesus while cheering for a man who constantly mocks and disrespects others, who lies with impunity, whose words and actions betray bias against people of color, and who has more than a little history of misogyny and sexual harassment?
- Why is it that your first response to the question I just asked is to defend Trump, while were I to recount three good accomplishments of Barak Obama as president your first response would be to criticize him?
- Why is it that the last question I just asked bothers you so much?
- Why was it that when Bill Clinton was president, it was important for the US President to be moral and why did you then say that the words and actions of our president must be of a certain respectability, while you give a complete pass to Donald Trump?
And a final question: What has caused you to so betray your gospel values that you would not only elevate Donald Trump to his current platform, but that you would cheer on his agenda? The good news of the Christian gospel is about the coming of Jesus Christ as a loving act of the Creator to establish the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God and the love of God in Christ have nothing to do with
- Encouraging white nationalists
- Abiding inequities against people of color in our society
- Lying constantly
- Mocking others
- Abusing women
- Denying rights to other humans
- Failing to show preference to the poor
- Caring for oneself more than others
Yet, this is the agenda of Donald Trump. He has encouraged white nationalists, neo-Nazis and other racists. Before you object, just stop for a minute. Our president has done this. It is a fact. It isn’t fake news. So stop objecting and just take this in.
Trump lies constantly. This is simply a fact, one that is well documented. This isn’t fake news. It is news. It is bad news.
How long, American evangelicals, will you continue to exchange the gospel’s good news for Trump’s lie? The whole world can see the bad news, yet the very people claiming to be entrusted with the good news are proving too blind, too dumb, to deliver it.
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