Sean Major-Campbell | Faith in Donald Trump

Say what you may, many Christians are maintaining that President Donald Trump is an answer to prayer. He is protecting their favourite doctrines, he loves the Bible, and he is God’s chosen. This is a position held by many evangelicals across the globe.

Christianity Today (CT) notes: “ Christian leaders who were initially hopeful about the US president are now feeling conflicted.” What does this say though about a ‘Christian position’ that maintained that these leaders were speaking prophetically with their initial pronouncements? Were they wrong? Is God to be blamed? Did God, or those speaking for God, make a mistake?

With reference to Rubén Enriquez Navarrete, secretary, Confraternidad Evangélica de Mexico, Christianity Today notes, “ In Mexico, Christians have mixed feelings about Trump’s presidency. For the more conservative and the upper-middle class, the sentiment has been positive because they believe he is sticking to biblical principles.”

Over in Nigeria, James Akinyele, secretary general, Nigeria Evangelical Fellowship, also contributed to the conversation. The publication notes, “ Trump’s administration has had a mixed impact on Nigeria. His clear stance against LGBTQ ideology resonates well with many Christians, as it aligns with our cultural and biblical values at a time when there is international pressure on our nation to adopt pro-LGBTQ policies.”

In Bangladesh, Philip Adhikary, chairman, National Christian Fellowship of Bangladesh, was also interviewed. The perspective revealed, “ Trump’s presidency has had a positive impact on Christians in Bangladesh, as he has consistently emphasised the importance of religious freedom worldwide, encouraging Bangladesh to take greater steps towards acknowledging and respecting minority communities.”

It is worthy of note that readers of Family and Religion would also present with mixed sentiments. There are those who would indeed see Trump as a dear Christian soul to be celebrated and affirmed as a saint of the Church who was robbed of the Nobel Peace Prize. Then there are those who would see him as not meeting the standards of Christ consciousness around matters of humility, kindness, and regard for the least and humble of the world.

After speaking with, Rubén Enriquez Navarrete, CT notes, “For the middle and lower classes, it has been negative due to his actions against migrants. This has led to doubts over whether Trump is a Christian, as he seems more focused on nationalism than spirituality.”

In the talk with James Akinyele of Nigeria, it is observed that “the cuts to USAID, meanwhile, have caused many Christian employees to lose their jobs or suffer salary reductions”.

An interesting position is presented in Sri Lanka by Noel Abelasan, national director, Every Home Crusade. CT learnt, “ Despite being misunderstood or even ridiculed by some non-evangelical segments of the Church, we continue to honour and thank God for President Trump’s leadership, especially his interest in protecting Christian values globally. At the same time, we appeal to the president and his advisers to consider the real impact of his policies on developing nations and to act with justice, mercy, and compassion — values at the heart of the gospel that he has often defended.”

The Russian Evangelical Alliance was not left out of the conversation. Vitaly Vlasenko, general secretary, was helpful in his declaration. “ In terms of domestic policy, Russian Christians look positively on Trump’s decision to change the US’s gender policy and his desire to ban transgender people from the army. We also appreciate his attention to religious freedom issues, including –appointing a former Southern Baptist pastor as ambassador-at-large and addressing anti-Christian bias in the State Department.”

HUMAN RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE

Some people believe that the role of governments is to protect the interests of all citizens versus the doctrine of any religious group. A human-rights perspective would support protecting the rights of all peoples to believe and practise their religious doctrines in so far as they do not breach the rights of others.

Not all church leaders respond to questions about Donald Trump with conflicted sentiments. New Hampshire Public Radio reports Episcopal Bishop Robert Hirschfield as saying, “I have told the clergy of the Episcopal diocese of New Hampshire that we may be entering into that same witness. And I’ve asked them to get their affairs in order, to make sure they have their wills written, because it may be that now is no longer the time for statements, but for us, with our bodies, to stand between the powers of this world and the most vulnerable.”

Readers may also recall Episcopal Bishop Marrian Budde of Washington National Cathedral, who, at the inaugural prayer service, said, “ Let me make one final plea, Mr President. Millions have put their trust in you and, as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives. The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings; who labour in poultry farms and meat packing plants; who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals……I ask you to have mercy, Mr President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away… . May God grant us the strength and courage to honour the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love, and walk humbly with each other and our God for the good of all people …. in this nation and the world. Amen”

Fr Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human rights and dignity. Please send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com.