I Don't Get It, Either

 Christians Object to Alan Ritchson Calling Trump a "Rapist and a Con Man"

If you've never heard of Alan Ritchson, you're not alone.  Ritchson is an actor who plays an ex-military police officer turned vigilante in an Amazon Prime series.  That's not really my kind of entertainment, though I've seen advertising and video clips for the series.  But I picked up really quickly on the article, linked above, in the Huff Post.  It was who Ritchson is, and what he said that got my attention, mainly because he said what I've been saying for years now, and the reaction, predictable and typical of the kind of behavior exhibited by many American Christians who can't tolerate disagreement or dissent with their perspective.  

Ritchson, a Christian, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, expressed confusion over Christians who support the former President.  

"Christians today have become the most vitriolic tribe," said Ritchson in the interview.  "It is so antithetical to what Jesus was calling us to be and to do."  

If he'd made that statement from the pulpit of a church, and I was in the congregation, I'd have given him a hearty "AMEN!", applause, and a standing ovation.  Contrary to popular perception, I think there would be quite a few other members of the congregation who would join in and support that position.  

"Trump is a rapist and a con man," he said, "And yet the entire Christian church seems to treat him like he's their poster child and it's unreal.  I don't understand it."  

Neither do I.  

"The Most Vitriolic Tribe" 

Christians, especially those who identify as conservative, fundamentalist, charismatic or Pentecostal under the broader banner of "Evangelical," have always had a tendency to be vitriolic. The divisiveness that has always existed among the various sects that have developed in the Christian church, especially since it became absorbed into the political system and produced "divine right" monarchies that set the world on fire and had it in perpetual warfare for centuries is part of the culture of American Christianity too.  

This has become particularly evident through the development of what I call a "populist" form of Christianity, based on doctrine and theology developed by literal renderings of King James translations of the Bible, rather than with any context or idea of the intentions of the Bible's original authors.  Protecting their turf and attempting to expand the capacity of the collection place has led to all kinds of pronouncements from the various preacher personalities who encouraged their followers to condemn anyone whose "jot or tittle" didn't hit the same spot on the paper, and most conservative and fundamentalist Christians know exactly what that means.  

And yet, for all of the claims of belief that the biblical text is inerrant and infallible in its "original autographs," (none of which exist now) this vitriolic divisiveness and system of denominations and sects along lines of doctrinal and theological interpretation, and church practice, is not a model of the Christian church that is found, authorized, or otherwise instructed anywhere in the Biblical text.  In fact, the conduct, language and treatment of each other, especially among the more conservative sects of American Christianity, runs contrary to every single virtue and characteristic of Christian followers of the gospel of Jesus Christ taught and modeled by Jesus and his apostles.  

So it is not surprising that a man who promotes a personal image of ungodly worldliness, including openly denying any personal need for a conversion experience has found a following among people from which his fascist politics can carve out a pseudo-religious base and separate itself from true followers of the Christian gospel in such a distinctive, characteristic way. 

One of the Christian church's pre-eminent apostles, Paul, characterized the marks of true Christians in his epistle to the church at Rome, of all places, the first Christians who really faced direct opposition and persecution from the emperor.  Considered as a group, the Trump-supporting, far right wing, political Evangelicals do not exhibit these characteristics, and can be characterized as both pseudo-Christian, and apostate. 

"Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.  Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering persevere in prayer.  Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers."  Romans 12:9-13, NRSV

Treating Trump Like Their "Poster Child" 

In grasping at straws to try and justify their support for an evil man who denies the very core principle of Christian conversion, I've heard some pretty outlandish statements that require twisting Bible passages and examples well beyond recognition, or original author's intention.  One is to point to the Old Testament example of King David, claim that David wasn't perfect but God still used him as a mighty leader of Israel.  

According to the Biblical account, that is true as far as it goes.  But the problem is comparing Trump to David.  There is no legitimate comparison here.  There are two huge differences that pose insurmountable obstacles making the comparison bogus.  First, every time David messed up, God brought him to conviction and to justice.  He didn't get away with anything.  Ultimately, his ability to be the leader God wanted him to be was impaired by his imperfection, and he had to settle for less than what God had planned as a result.  Whenever Trump is approached by a Christian leader, for a "softball" explanation of his conversion experience, he denies that he has ever done anything requiring God's forgiveness, and claims that his own idea of who God is doesn't require that kind of repentance.  

Second, David was repentant when confronted with his sinful actions.  His acknowledgement of his sin, which, in some cases, wasn't always immediately forthcoming, was always followed by repentance and by obedience to whatever act of restitution was required by God.  That's what made him a great leader.  Trump never acknowledges mistakes, never demonstrates repentance, always proclaims that whatever he does is right, lies to cover up what he has done, and that's what makes him a terrible choice for President, and the exact opposite of the kind of leader Christians, given the opportunity to choose their nation's political leadership, should cast their votes to support and elect.

The more conservative groups among Evangelicals have become doctrinal and theological "turf protectors."  They've set finite boundaries for the purpose of judging the veracity and sincerity of other Christian and evaluating their eternal worthiness by whether or not they "preach it like we preach it."  Trump has invaded their space with a similar attitude, and has figured out that they are only interested in political power to advance their own causes, and are specifically focused on abortion rights and restrictions on persons of LGBTQ orientation.  They completely miss the point of the grace provided in the gospel, which is its whole foundation.  

It's inconsistent to make abortion rights, under the banner of "the sanctity of human life," as one of just a few top political issues, but stand behind the politics of Trump and his embrace of Christian nationalism, which advocates war and murder of people opposed to their particular worldview.  Trump does not believe in the sanctity of human life, and it's not that hard to come to that conclusion.  It happens every time he opens his mouth. 

Calling it Out 

There are Christians, even within the conservative, Evangelical community, who see all of this for what it is.  Like Alan Ritchson, they are calling it out.  They do not see how someone could be familiar with the Christian gospel, and the Bible, and not see the inconsistency of supporting someone who deliberately chooses to live and set his political agenda outside of the boundaries of acceptable practice when it comes to the Christian gospel.  Growing up in church, taught in Sunday school, listening to the preaching, the contrast between the practice of the Christian gospel and support for Trump should be obvious and easy to discern.  But when people make Christianity what they want it to be, rather than letting it be what it was intended to be, this is what happens.