Donald Trump Is Not Jesus

Some evangelical preachers interpret texts of Scripture with a reckless abandon. Reading tea leaves or the bones of a chicken would be as likely to offer truth as some of these interpretations. Back in 2016, Lance Wallnau compared Isaiah 42 to Trump being the 42^nd president (if he won). Based on this wild assumption, Wallnau anointed Trump as God’s new Cyrus.

This opened the door to a flood of evangelical biblical comparisons. For a time keeping track of all the biblical characters that reminded evangelicals of Trump became impossible. Trump was Samson (an odd choice), David (a even odder choice), Esther (What?), and these were only a few of the scatter-brained attempts to give Trump biblical credibility.

All these wild-eyes guesses can be given a pass if evangelicals will stop comparing Trump to Jesus. Take a deep breath and ask, “What in the world makes people think of Jesus in the same breath with Donald Trump?”

A recent post drew parallels between the lives of Trump and Jesus of Nazareth, writing: “It’s ironic that Christ walked through His greatest persecution the very week they are trying to steal your property from you.” Trump reposted the tribute from his follower.

Trump described the sentiment as “beautiful.”

Here’s one reason it’s hard to be charitable with Trump supporters – the Jesus comparisons.

Trump is not the new Messiah. Trump is not Jesus. Trump is not like Jesus. There is a vast gulf fixed between Jesus and Trump. The two are opposites.

Trump preaches a gospel with no repentance. Jesus initiated his ministry with, “Repent and believe in the good news.” Trump has famously claimed he didn’t need to repent. He said if he ever did anything wrong, he would consider repentance. In Trump’s view repentance would relate to saying, “I’m sorry” or “I’m wrong.” Trump never apologizes, accepts blame, or embraces accountability.

He is a seventeen-time accused sexual harasser who has bragged about grabbing women by the “pussy,” and called his daughter a fine piece of ass. “If she weren’t my daughter, I’d be dating her,” he said.

His reckless, gutter talk about women is nothing less than verbal abuse. Craig R. Smith says, “In response to remarks Cher made about him, Trump responded, “I knocked the shit out of her on” Twitter. He claimed the New York Times columnist Gail Collins had “The face of a dog.” Ridiculing her claim to have Cherokee blood, Trump referred to Senator Elizabeth Warren as Pocahontas. His comments about Carly Fiorina’s looks, Megan Kelly’s anatomy, and Rosie O’Donnell’s temperament are well known.”

Jesus treated women with respect. The woman at the well in Samaria, the woman “caught in adultery,” the woman with the sick daughter, who said, “Sir, even the “Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs” (Mark 7:28) – and numerous others – discovered in Jesus an equalitarianism completely lacking in Trump.

Trump preaches revenge. Jesus preaches forgiveness and reconciliation. Trump’s message of revenge: “If somebody screws you, you have to screw them 5 times, 10 times, 15 times as hard.” Jesus says, Forgive 70 times 7.”  Jesus also teaches, “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” No comparison.

Trump’s message, according to his followers, should be ignored. People are supposed to take Trump seriously not literally. Jesus’ message matched the messenger. He was what he said. The Sermon on the Mount is the rhetorical expression o the character of Jesus. In Trump’s case, the message and the messenger are not a match. His followers tell us to pay no attention to his words.

Jesus was without sin. Trump has managed to mangle most of the Ten Commandments. He has become the poster child for the actions the Bible insists God hates. In Proverbs 6, there’s a vivid description of an evil person:

A scoundrel and a villain
   goes around with crooked speech,
winking the eyes, shuffling the feet,
   pointing the fingers,
with perverted mind devising evil,
   continually sowing discord;
on such a one calamity will descend suddenly;
   in a moment, damage beyond repair.
There are six things that the Lord hates,
   seven that are an abomination to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
   and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
   feet that hurry to run to evil,
a lying witness who testifies falsely,
   and one who sows discord in a family.

Obviously, this has nothing to do with Jesus. The words offer vivid description of how Trump speaks and acts.

If there is any decency left in the evangelical imagination, please stop comparing Trump to Jesus. Pick any biblical character, but don’t be foolish enough to think Trump has anything to do with Jesus.

The suffering servant who died on the cross has nothing in common with the demagogue, Donald Trump.