“I settled the suit with no admission of guilt” (Donald Trump’s atonement theory)

Last updated on: September 27, 2016 at 6:09 pm by Morgan Guyton

“I settled the suit with no admission of guilt” (Donald Trump’s atonement theory) 2016-09-27T18:09:56-05:00 Morgan Guyton

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“Donald Trump by Gage Skidmore 3,” Wikimedia Commons C.C.

“I settled the suit with no admission of guilt.” It was Donald Trump’s best line in the presidential debate. He said this in response to the charge that he had been sued for discriminating against black people in rental properties that he owned in New York City in the 1970’s. But there’s something poignantly theological about Donald’s statement. It describes a certain perverse understanding of atonement, in which accounts can be settled with God without an admission of guilt. I wonder to what degree this atonement theory is shared by the 80% of white evangelicals who will be voting for Donald Trump this November.

What happens when Jesus dies on the cross for our sins? How does it “settle” our accounts with God as humanity? Our answers to these questions depend on how we understand what problem Jesus’ atonement needs to address. Many evangelicals define the problem as God’s intolerance for our sin. God expects perfection; we’re not perfect; therefore we must burn in hell forever in order for there to be “justice.” Unless we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and savior (however one does that), in which case the account with God is “settled.”

The question is whether we can have our accounts settled with no admission of guilt. This is where white evangelical rhetoric can be very slippery. We teach that part of accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and savior means recognizing that you are a “guilty sinner.” But it’s easy to say that I’m a guilty sinner as a doctrinal statement without experiencing any guilt for my sin (and actually as a substitute for facing my personal sin directly). Here’s the key question. Does Jesus’ cross make me right or empower me to face my wrongness?

I believe the latter. I don’t think the problem Jesus’ cross resolves is God’s intolerance for our sin, but rather our inability to face our guilt. To put myself under the mercy of God doesn’t mean sweeping my sin under the rug; it means that I face my character flaws with full sobriety knowing the empowering unconditional love of God that makes me vulnerable and teachable. The degree to which I’ve accepted God’s grace can be measured by how easily I admit when I’m wrong.

What’s incredible to me is how many Christians have both a very harsh theology of sin and an acute inability to admit their mistakes. Perhaps what makes Donald Trump attractive to such Christians is how good he is at talking about how terrible everyone else is. If talking disparagingly about the world’s sin is the primary measure of someone’s Christian commitment, Donald Trump pulls it off pretty well. His rhetoric is very much in line with a theology of the total depravity of everyone else.

How much has Jesus liberated you from your need to be right? I really think that’s everything. Because if he hasn’t, then maybe you’re just another Donald Trump who’s learned how to speak with better-sounding Christian piety.

Check out my book How Jesus Saves the World From Us!

Subscribe to our podcast Crackers and Grape Juice!

Like my author page on Facebook!

Uncategorized

Previous Post

September 27, 2016

To the ones who never say yes

Next Post

September 28, 2016 My favorite quotes from our Rob Bell interview

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Beauty Will Save the World Bible Big Picture: Ephesians Bloggers Book Christian salvation and the Beautitudes Culture Daily Office Danceable Homiletics Deadly Sins Deep Roots: Genesis Devotions Dominican Republic May 2011 El Principio Misericordia (The Mercy Principle) Five verses God tattooed on my heart Fundraising FutureGospel Good Biblical Words Henri Nouwen Interview Jennings' Christian Imagination Jesus inside the beltway Jesus Is My Candidate Jesus vs the Pharisees Jesus vs. Plato Journey to Eternity Looking Back on 2012 Love Actually Monday Merton Monday Merton Music Occupy the manger On Earth As It Is In Heaven Original Sin Podcast Poetry Politics Prayer Psalm 119 Radical Jesus 101 Reviews Sermon on the Mount Sermons Spanish Bible study Special Series Spiritual but not religious Synchroblog Theology Things that made me think Thomas a Kempis Ugliness Into Beauty Uncategorized Viaje Dominicano 2013 Walking in the Valley (Lent) Welcome: It's More than a Mat Wild Goose 2013 Wrestling

Select a Month March 2022 January 2022 December 2021 September 2021 April 2021 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In the Gospel of Luke, how does the Virgin Mary learn of her pregnancy?

Select your answer to see how you score.

From Elisabeth From the Angel Gabriel Joseph From the wise men