Clifford Hill asks: why?
Donald Trump's election as the 45th President of the United States has been hailed as the greatest political upset in the country's 240-year history. But what is its significance? Opinion is sharply divided. Is this the death of democracy, or the start of a new era of prosperity and justice in the USA? Trump has no political experience; he is a businessman used to hiring and firing and exercising autocratic rule. How will he manage as head of state?
This is just one of a multitude of unknowns, with commentators across the political spectrum speculating about what the unexpected result might mean for freedom, justice, peace, the economy, the environment and a host of other hot topics.
President Hollande of France, on hearing the news of Trump's election said that the world is entering a time of great uncertainty. This contrasted Theresa May's message of congratulation in which she looked forward to working closely with the new President and refreshing the 'special relationship' between Britain and the US.
Champion of the Forgotten?
Trump's numerous references to Brexit during his turbulent campaign struck a similar note to that of the 'Leave' campaign in Britain. And, just as Remainers in Britain are continuing to oppose Brexit, so too the Democrats are demonstrating against the President-elect.
Trump's anti-establishment pronouncements appealed to the disconnected, the alienated and the powerless – to those who felt that they were the forgotten underclass who didn't matter to the privileged elite. This is just what happened in Britain, where people felt alienated from the lawmakers of Brussels and wanted the freedom to make our own laws. Both Brexit and Trump appealed to the disenfranchised masses.
Trump's anti-establishment pronouncements appealed to the disconnected, the alienated and the powerless.
Student protest at University of Connecticut, Wednesday. See Photo Credits.But isn't this exactly what Jesus did? Read Matthew 23 where Jesus addressed the crowds warning them against the religious authorities who "tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them" (Matt 23:4). Jesus said some outrageous things about the rulers in his day, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous...You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" (Matt 23:29-33).
The crowds of ordinary people loved Jesus and followed him everywhere he went. It was the authorities who hated him and who eventually crucified him, even manipulating a crowd to condemn him. But the ordinary people who were suffering oppression and injustice at the hands of the powerful elite - the poor who struggled to feed their families and felt powerless in a system that benefited only the rich – they all heard the words of Jesus with joy!
Trump's Messianic Appeal
Now, before you pick up stones to throw at me, please hear me out! I'm not likening Trump to Jesus! I'm looking at the situation in the nations today and looking for some biblical precedents. The Bible shows many similarities between Jesus and the Prophet Jeremiah. He was told that there were many things in the nation that had to be "uprooted, torn down, destroyed and overthrown" before there could be any creative building up in the national life (Jer 1:10). Jesus had a similar message. They both warned of coming disaster upon the nation unless there was radical change.
Despite all his vulgarities and obnoxious statements, Trump has had a 'messianic' appeal to the crowds in America who feel disenfranchised and forgotten by those who control the system. The vote for Trump was a vote against the 'establishment'; it was a vote for change, primarily among blue-collar workers and so-called 'middle America'. They are bitterly disappointed with Obama who promised so much change, but after his eight years in power they feel worse off than before.
Despite all his vulgarities and obnoxious statements, Trump has had a 'messianic' appeal to those who feel disenfranchised and forgotten.
It is this same anti-establishment spirit that is spreading across Europe today and will eventually lead to the break-up of the European Union. Protest groups in each of the EU nations are rising in support and significance, as will probably be seen in the Presidential election in Austria next month. But the protest movements do not only have political and social significance, they also have implications for the moral and spiritual future of the Western nations in a day when the threat from both secular humanism and Islam is rising.
Biblical Hopes
Most evangelical Christians in Britain have welcomed Brexit as providing an opportunity to re-emphasise basic biblical values, moral and spiritual, that have been neglected in recent decades under the impact of the secular humanist social revolution. So too evangelical Christians in America - while disliking Trump as a man - have embraced the opportunity for change!
Already, two Christian organisations, Family Watch and the National Organisation for Marriage, have welcomed the new President and outlined their expectations which include:
- the appointment of judges to the US Supreme Court, who will reverse rulings on same-sex marriage and enact laws to protect the unborn child, reversing Obama's policy of easy abortions right up to birth;
- the change of Obama's gender identity directive allowing public toilets to be used according to felt gender identity;
- the reversal of Obama's policy of coercing other countries into accepting same-sex marriage as a condition of receiving US aid;
- the appointment of a Presidential Commission to examine the harmful effects on public health of internet pornography.
If changes of this nature take place during a Trump presidency, many Christians will feel justified in having voted for him. But it does seem strange that an autocratic billionaire becomes the champion of the poor and a self-confessed immoral, racist bigot becomes a 21st-Century social reformer carrying the expectations of the moral majority! What a strange world we live in!!
Perhaps Most Importantly...
But why has God allowed Trump to triumph? Could there be a deeper reason that has nothing to do with Trump's moral promises, or America not being ready for a female President (as some commentators have said)? Hillary Clinton not only represented the status quo – the political elite who have dominated Washington for decades – but she and her husband were advocates of the Two-State solution to the problems of Israel and the Palestinians, which would reduce still farther the tiny piece of land occupied by the Jewish state. For the Palestinians, such a reduction would only be a step towards the total annihilation of Israel – their ultimate objective, backed by all the Arab states.
Trump has publicly stated his intention of moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognising Israel's historic right to the land of their forefathers. The word of God states unequivocally the promise given to Abraham "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Gen 12:2).
With events in the Middle East moving dangerously towards an Arab conflict with Israel, to have an American President who is a friend of Israel could be extremely significant for the future of world events.
An American President who is a friend of Israel could be extremely significant for the future of world events.
Call to Prayer
Yes, as President Hollande said, we are undoubtedly moving into times of great uncertainty. Surely the greatest need among Christians is to study the word of God to understand the times, and increase our commitment to prayer – praying for our leaders, upholding our brothers and sisters and covering our nations.
