CHRIST-APP by philtierneyblog

VII

Putting those clues for uncovering an antichrist together, several contemporary, powerful individuals come to mind.  There’s been advancement in autocratic movements in recent years, whether in Syria, Venezuela, Turkey, the Philippines, or parts of Eastern Europe.  But not all dictators are antichrists.  Kim of North Korea is certainly a candidate, since he demands to be considered a god.  But another, more subtle, candidate stands out among the rest, as well. 

Unlike any other President of the United States or world leader, except for Kim, Donald John Trump claims personal greatness that surpasses anyone else.  Even though he is an ordinary human being, he claims personal greatness that transcends other mortals.  Everyone has heard him say or read tweets in which he claims to be the greatest president, greatest businessman, and most stable genius, who knows more than anyone else, including members of the Joint Chiefs of (military) Staff or medical experts, for example.  But he has gone further.  He has called himself “the Chosen One” and “Anointed One.”  Those are specific titles reserved for the Messiah in the Bible.  

In the Hebrew Scriptures the term “Messiah” had a very specific meaning.  It meant “the One sent and anointed by God to save the people.”  The Hebrew word ‘Messiah,’ in Greek, was Christos, ‘Christ’ in English.  Hence, Trump has referred to himself as (a) Christ and so have quite a number of prominent, white, American Christian fundamentalists. 

Although it’s astounding, some of the most well-known Evangelical and Pentecostal leaders in America have promoted that notion more than anyone else. The likes of Franklin Graham and Jerry Falwell, Jr. subscribe to those beliefs. Pentecostal leader Lance Wallnau has identified Trump as a messiah after the order of King Cyrus the Great of Persia, some 2,500 years ago. Indeed, Benjamin Netanyahu has called him a messiah. Just about 1/3 of all white Evangelicals in America believe that Trump has been chosen and anointed by God.  53% of all white Pentecostals and Charismatic Protestants in America believe that Trump is chosen and anointed by God.  One influential conservative Messianic Jewish author, Wayne Allyn Root, has even called Trump “the King of Israel” and “the second coming of God.”  No modern leader has ever had such claims made of him or been regarded in such ways.

Suspending disbelief of that claim for a moment, what do such American Christians believe that the Creator has chosen, sent and anointed Donald Trump to save people from?

• From Persecution: by preventing the U.S. government from financially penalizing Christians for depriving other people of their civil rights because they conscientiously object to their lifestyles. 
  • And yet, Jesus never suggested that his followers should avoid persecution for their faith.  He taught his disciples to pick up their crosses and follow him.
• From Immorality: by preventing people in the United States from legally aborting fetuses and people of the same gender from legally marrying.
  • And yet, Jesus never suggested that his followers should prevent people from making their own decisions or even from sinning.  The biggest problem in Jesus’ time was prostitution.  He never indicated that it should be made illegal.  He was, in fact, criticized for associating with prostitutes and other career sinners. 
• From the Prevention of public displays of personal faith: by preventing the government from prohibiting prayer, Bible readings, and religious celebrations in public schools and in the public arena.
  • And yet, Jesus taught his followers not to display their piety in public.  He taught them to keep their prayers, religious readings and ceremonies private, even secret. He said, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.” 
• From Israel being vulnerable: by uncritically supporting the State of Israel regardless of its treatment of Palestinians.
  • And yet, the Hebrew Scriptures continually charge Israel to treat foreigners among them as brethren.
• From America losing its status as a Christian nation: by enshrining Christian beliefs and values as the foundation of the U.S.
  • And yet, while Jesus did speak about the Kingdom of Heaven a great deal, he never suggested that any temporal nation could be God’s Kingdom on earth.  Instead he taught that the Kingdom of Heaven is within and among people, not that God wants it imposed upon people by the rule of any government.
    • Christian “Dominionists,” like Peter Wagner, have been ascendant in Evangelical circles.  They teach that democracy is a heresy. They believe that since humans are totally depraved they cannot be trusted to vote for what God wills.  They believe that only a council of “right thinking Christians” can lead a nation according to God’s will.  They are, therefore, convinced that God wants right thinking Christians to take over and dominate all key aspects of American government and culture in order to dictate and thereby extend Christ’s lordship over America.  They regard Trump as the means to that end.  And yet, forcing God’s will and ways on others was never Jesus’ way!
• From allowing refugees, especially from Latin America, to enter the U.S.:                by building a wall to block entry, detaining refugees, separating children from their families and placing them in concentration camps.
  • And yet, Matthew’s Gospel specifically states that Jesus and his family were refugees in Egypt, seeking safe haven, there, from King Herod’s death squads.

Donald Trump has offered to support those goals and has installed more Evangelical and Charismatic Christians in positions of high office in the U.S. government than any other President in American history.  He has done this in exchange for absolute support and loyalty.  This may be the fulfillment of belief that Donald Trump is the Chosen One, anointed by God to save America.  But, on the contrary, it may be a reenactment of the same dynamics as were played out in the story of the “Temptation in the Wilderness.”  You will recall that both the serpent in the Garden and Satan in the Wilderness offered a quid quo pro, a bargain.  The objects of the trap, in each instance, seemed good and promised to fulfill the characters’ hearts’ desires. Eat this fruit and you’ll be wise, like God.  Bow down to me and you’ll have all the power of all the kingdoms in the world.  Is Trump the instrument of God or an antagonist, posing as God’s ally?  More evidence must be considered to determine the truth.