The Contrasting Values of Jesus and Donald Trump

Jesus asked us to follow him, to love others the way he loved those around him. He didn’t really ask us to believe certain things about him, or for that matter to develop a theology around the significance of his death and resurrection. That would all come later from the apostle Paul, early church fathers, and church institutions. So the primary question we need to ask ourselves is whether we are actually following Jesus, based on who he was, what he taught, and how he modeled behavior for us to emulate. I suggest that we cannot do this and also support Donald Trump who is the antithesis of everything Jesus taught, modeled and asked us to follow.

I would venture that most of us, like Donald Trump, are focused on what other people can do for us. He has plans on how to succeed and achieve and the primary way he does that is by using the people around him to attain those goals. Jesus clearly teaches the opposite, that an abundant life and genuine joy only come through focusing on others, especially the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed. Donald Trump would prefer these people not exist, or if they must exist, at least be ignored.

Donald Trump also focuses an incredible amount of time on acquiring prestige, never failing to slap his name on anything and everything he creates or purchases. I believe most psychologists would say this arises from a great deal of insecurity. Jesus teaches us that we are all beloved children of God and therefore inherently worthy and special. Indeed, he recognized that there are many in our world with poor self-esteem that need to hear the message that they too are beloved and worthy.

Most of Donald Trump’s focus has been on acquiring possessions and affluence.  Many of us also do likewise. Everything we see in media tells us that we need the best, largest, or most expensive objects. However, If you are a disciple of Jesus, your focus should instead be on people and building relationships and communities. It should be on the solidarity of humanity, a concept that extends our sense of family to include the entire human race, a concept in which we strive to make sure everyone has enough, not necessarily the same, but enough. Mr. Trump practices the opposite. He purposely promotes division among people, anoints certain people more worthy and deserving than others, and repeatedly promotes policies that selectively advantage those who already have tremendous wealth.

Are you someone who seeks a position of power and control? How about the leaders you follow? How about your president and congressional representatives?  Power and control is paramount in Donald Trump’s mind. Many of us similarly want to dominate.  We often want to be in charge and control of others. However, Jesus makes it clear that the greatest among us are those that serve. He points this out repeatedly whenever his disciples press him about who among them will be the greatest.

What do you do when you are wounded or hurt by someone? Donald Trump immediately seeks revenge and retaliation. Is that your first instinct? That is not the path that Jesus teaches us. We are to look for how the relationship can be repaired, and how it can be restored. According to Jesus, we should seek to give and receive forgiveness. How do you respond to violence in the world? How do you want your leaders to respond? Donald Trump has no problem with responding with more violence. If we are following Jesus, we will first hope for a peaceful solution to conflict. He teaches us to respond with love. He teaches that love is the only power strong enough to transform violence and hate.

As we see from the above discourse, Jesus laid out a path to follow, often referred to as “the way”, if we are to acquire abundant life in accordance with the will of God. It is the path that reconnects us with God and connects us with each other in the way that God intended. It is not an easy path. As Jesus points out to Nicodemus, it requires dying to one way of living and being reborn with spirit from above into another way of living, a way of living that is often distinctly different in its priorities from that with which we are accustomed. In any case, we should at least choose leaders who aspire to follow the path laid out by Jesus and clearly Donald Trump does not fulfill that mandate. The central tenants of that path are radical love, compassion, generosity, forgiveness, and peace. I do not see Donald Trump embracing any of those and therefore I find it impossible to support him if I aspire to follow Jesus.

Let us be more conscious of the choices we make. In the Lord’s Prayer we speak, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Do we really believe that? If you claim to follow Jesus, then you must choose to elect leaders who at least aspire toward the same values and goals as Jesus.