For those who take seriously the sudden conversion…

Last updated on: June 28, 2016 at 12:48 am by Mark Shea

For those who take seriously the sudden conversion… 2016-06-27T17:39:51-07:00 Mark Shea

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…of Donald Trump.

So a few days ago, Trump met with a bunch of conservative Christians to signal that he is One of Us by assuring us that the long nightmare of Diocletian suffering we endure in the US will end with his beneficent rule and Macy’s clerks will again say “Merry Christmas”. With obedient compliance, conservative Christian leaders began disseminating the standard bushwah endorsements and nods to the rank-and-file, indicating that Trump is, like, super-serious about the whole Christian thing.

Jerry Falwell, Jr. had his picture taken with Trump in front of his lovingly framed Playboy cover featuring him and porn star (with an interview wherein Trump explained that Jesus had a gigantic ego). Falwell dismissed critics with the assertion that the Playboy thing happened years ago. He did not explain why the cover is still lovingly framed and mounted on Trump’s wall right now.

Franklin Graham, meanwhile–totally *not* endorsing Trump or anything like that–endorsed Trump with the classic “diamond in the rough” endorsement:

Graham also compared Trump to two other flawed leaders from the Bible: Moses and David. Reminding the leaders present that no one is perfect and we all sin. Including these two exemplary leaders who shepherded Israel to their best abilities. Both Graham and Jerry Falwell, Jr., who also gave a preliminary speech, assured the audience that Trump believes in Jesus.

A sinner, but with a heart of gold.

Indeed, Dr. James Dobson assured us that a man who denies ever having asked for God’s forgiveness is a “baby Christian“. All true Christians should be praying for this fledgling saint as he struggles toward humbly following Jesus’ servant king heart by handing him domination of the most powerful nation on earth, supporting his calls for torture, cheering for the murder of innocent women and children, giving him nuclear launch codes, endorsing his calls to deport 11 million poor people, smash a free press, and stamp out religious liberty for Muslims.

In the same vein, the Catholic conservative press swung into action as Austin Ruse, writing for Breitbart, quoted Deal Hudson assuring us that “”We saw the real Donald Trump” at the Evangelical confab. The man is Born Again. One of Us. You can kiss your doubts about him goodbye. Bottom line: “Trump is a sinner like the rest of us and we should be willing to look past that fact.” Only a Pharisee would hard-heartedly refuse to hand this humble, struggling sinner the power to incinerate millions and millions of people. He’s a real, but imperfect man, and with the grace of God and the power of the mightiest military in the history of the world, he could become a veritable St. Paul if only cold-hearted Christians will give him a chance to grow in grace and wisdom and in favor with God and men.

As to the other baptized Christian in this race, there is, of course, absolutely no doubt that she is beyond the reach of God’s grace. Prayer for her is pointless–unless it is the prayer offered repeatedly for her predecessor by Good Christians: “Let his days be few. Let another take his office.” Because nothing says “Faith in the redeeming power of the Spirit” like wishing death on Democrats.

The bottom line is this helpful diagram developed a few years ago by Tom Kreitzberg:

Do I hope that Dobson and Co are right that Trump has made some kind of serious effort of faith in Jesus? Of course. Do I believe he has? No. Not for one second. Does that make me mean and judgmental? No. It makes me somebody who is trying to be obedient to Jesus’ command, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¶ You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.” (Mt 7:15–20).

I see not one indication of the fruits of repentance from Trump, including the slightest sign that he believes he has anything to repent of. What I see is a man who knows what his audience wants to hear and gives it to them, confident that they are eager to lie to themselves to rationalize a vote for him. And that’s the real trouble. Trump is Trump: a con man. I don’t expect anything from him. But I do expect Christians to exercise some minimal discernment and not turn themselves inside out to try to convince themselves that the only way to exercise true Christian brotherhood is to let themselves be taken hostage by the notion that a narcissistic bully and aspiring war criminal needs only limitless power and acquiescence to all his most selfish demands in order to become a living saint. The whole “diamond in the rough” narrative is complete and utter garbage, but even if it were true and Trump’s “conversion” were genuine, I would point out the the relentless witness of Scripture from Abraham to Moses to the Judges, to David to Jesus to the apostles is not, “Those called by God immediately receive power, wealth, and acclaim” but “Those called by God immediately receive suffering, self-denial, loss, and heartache.” If you really buy the bushwah about Trump’s conversion, the last thing in the world you should be seeking in prayer or deed is to hand him the One Ring of the Presidency.

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