If you are irreligious, maybe you don't need to read this. Then again,
maybe you do!
Nothing much seems to faze Trump zealots, so here's a call
to those who call themselves Christians. If you support Trump, you are a
blasphemer. I don't mean this metaphorically; I mean it literally. If you are
pro-Trump, you mock the very foundations of your purported faith.
I will not delve into Trump's politics, his appalling
personal immorality, his incivility, and the daily doses of mean-spirited
nastiness he doles out. Instead I call attention to a remark he made at the end
of August. In the midst of defending his trade war with China Trump suddenly
declared, "I am the chosen one." It was an unprompted comment from
which he backpedaled days later. He claimed it was just a "joke," and
resorted to his usual script of claiming it was "fake news" cooked up
by the media. But then again, he has also said that any Jew voting against him
is "disloyal." He hasn't repudiated that.
Whoa! If you are the slightest bit Christian, these are not joking matters. Check out the first
three Commandments! What I'm about to say is Biblical, not political. I dislike
Trump intensely, but I'm going to cite chapter and verse. Not many people know
this, but I once contemplated going to seminary. I had no interest in being a
minister; I simply wanted to study theology. I was working on an M.A. in
medieval history and grew fascinated with how Christianity evolved as both a spiritual
and philosophical system. I didn't go to seminary, but I did read a lot of theological and philosophical treatises,
and the Bible twice. I may be rusty, but I know my way around Scriptures and
theological discourse well enough to say that Trump's words and behaviors are suggestive
of those of Satan and the Antichrist.
It bears noting that it's likely that the images you hold of
Satan are probably those that came from the Middle Ages. They are more out of
paintings by Albrecht Durer and Hieronymus Bosch than Biblical text. The word
Satan translates "adversary," though the Old Testament uses Lucifer
more often, which means, "light bringer." In Hebrew it translates
"shining one" or "morning star." In other words, the Devil
isn't a burnt, behorned, pitchfork carrier; he's an attractive deceiver.
Generally, Satan is viewed as the "ruler of this world." (John 12:31,
II Corinthians 4:4)*
Check out some of the things the New Testament has to say.
Bear in mind that Trump has uttered more than 12,000 falsehoods since taking
office. John 8:44 relates that Satan "has nothing to do with the truth
because there is no truth in him. When he lies he speaks according to his own
nature, for he is the father of lies." As the "ruler of this
world," Satan tempted Jesus with riches and control of over worldly
things: "To you I will give all this authority and their glory; for it has
been delivered to me." (Luke 4:6) Contrast Trump's "I am the chosen
one" to Luke 9:35, when Jesus is anointed: "And a voice came out the
cloud, saying, 'This is my son, my chosen one.'" In the Middle Ages Trump
could have been burned at the stake for his remark. Again, I mean this
literally.
Now a dose of Matthew 24:4-5: Jesus remarked, "Take
heed no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the
Christ,' and they will lead many astray. In verse 24 Jesus is more explicit:
"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show many signs and
wonder, so as to lead astray…." II Corinthians 11:13-15 reemphasizes this: "For such men are false
apostles, deceitful workmen disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no
wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not
strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of
righteousness."
II Thessalonians takes it to the next level. For those
Christians thinking of the end times, Trump should be an alarm: "… for
that day will not come, unless rebellion comes first, and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself
against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in
the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God." (2:1-2) Later there is
a passage ascribed to the doings
of the Antichrist: "The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan
will be all power and with pretended signs and wonders, and with all wicked
deception for those who are to perish…." (2:9-10)
The Book of Revelations rather graphically yet cryptically discusses
two beasts that herald the Apocalypse. The first has been interpreted as Satan,
the second as the Antichrist. The second "makes the earth and its
inhabitants worship the first beast." (13:1-10) The writer–generally thought
to be the Apostle John–goes on to speak of the blasphemy and the war against
the saints that the second beast will foment.
This is the time to note that one of the dominant
characteristics of the Antichrist is that he attempts to place himself in
Christ's place. Is it merely a "joke" when Trump utters, "I am
the chosen one." If you call yourself a Christian, it cannot be. He has
also said, "I play to people's fantasies. People may not always think big
themselves, but they can get excited by those who do…. People want to believe
something is the biggest, greatest and most spectacular." Maybe that's
good psychology, or maybe it sounds a lot like the temptation of Christ. Trump
now says he's not the Messiah, but isn't that what you'd expect from a false
apostle?
* Some theologians see Satan, Lucifer, and Beelzebub as
separate demons; some see them as different expressions of the same evil, fallen
angel.
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