As we approach the inauguration of President Trump I would like to offer a few personal political and religious reflections, and confessions. As those who have followed my posts during the election are aware, I did not support Donald Trump for president. For the first time in my adult life I did not vote for President.
However, I must confess that I was pleased with the defeat of Ms. Clinton and the Democrats. I am grateful for a unified Republican government, and that the US Supreme court will get a new Republican nominated justice. Furthermore, I must say that I have been impressed with the Trump transition. I think his cabinet appointments have been very good. I am aware of the criticism that it’s a elitist group of wealthy capitalist. But, wealth is only a criticism when it’s Republican wealth. There are many wealthy Democrats who don’t get the same critique.
As with all presidents, including Barack Obama, I will pray for Donald Trump, I will respect him, and I will support his administration when his policies don’t conflict with my religious principles.
However, those of us on the political right should be careful to resist the hubris of power. We should not dismiss the call to justice and peace. We should be generous to immigrants as we seek to protect our national sovereignty. We must also realize that there are many faithful Christians who don’t share our politics and to them we must offer grace and respect. We must be careful not to bow before the gods of political expediency. One of my great concerns during the election was the willingness of many conservative Christians to embrace the immoral excesses of Mr. Trump.
In the years prior to the ascension of Constantine, the Roman Empire persecuted Christians. With the ascension of Constantine, Christianity was legalized and protected. Constantine converted to Christianity and called the Council of Nicaea to encourage the Christian bishops to come to some agreement on their doctrine of Christ. The myth is that the bishops capitulated to Constantine. They did not. Those who survived the persecution of Diocletian did not surrender to their benefactor – Constantine. Instead, they rejected his preference for Arianism (Jesus is the first-born created Son of God) and insisted that Jesus is “true god” of the same substance of the Father. This is not theological “hair-splitting,” this is truth-telling.
In the next few years, it may very well be that President Trump will be the friend of the religious right. But, that does not mean that the religious right should sacrifice the values of the Gospel in favor of political expediency. Even as we have a friend in the White House we must be ever vigilant in the pursuit of truth.
