There has not really been much doubt about Donald Trump’s brash self confidence and high view of himself. However, many of us have expressed frequent concerns about the way that his supporters have at times pushed the boundaries, presenting their hero as a messianic figure and comparing him to Christ.
Donald Trump has himself now published this image on social media.
This begs the question, “how do Christians who have sought to justify and excuse him continue to do so with a straight face?” I believe that Jesus’ reference to the abomination of desolation and that standing in the place where it should not is one of those examples of something that is typical. In other words, we are not meant to expect one abomination of desolation, just as there won’t be just one end time anti-Christ but rather there will be many, a spirit of anti-Christ and a spirit of abomination.
My good friend Andrew Roycroft has perfectly summed up what our response should be on facebook.
Sadly, I fear that many Christians have got themselves so caught up in Christian Nationalism and MAGA that even in response to something as extreme as this, we are now at a stage where they cannot disentangle themselves. Here is a lesson for us. This is how the enemy ensnares us into idolatry. He takes us through the excuses to the point where we find ourselves justifying something that at the beginning we would have considered repugnant.
We should also note that what Trump says with overt crassness is just what those of all political and religious shades seek to do with more subtlety when ever they present themselves or their heroes as saviours. We can even fall into the trap ourselves as we seek to take roles that are not vacant and accept praise that is not ours to receive.
One final question for which I do not have an answer yet. How can we show grace to those who are well and truly entangled in this hideous mess including Donald Trump himself?
Faithroots 