Calling Trump an Antichrist

Last updated on: June 11, 2020 at 5:08 am by James F. McGrath

Calling Trump an Antichrist 2020-06-10T21:52:30-04:00 James F. McGrath

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.

Prof. D. Stephen Long writes:

I think it appropriate that reasonable people of faith begin to refer to Trump as antichrist. I don’t come to that conclusion lightly…The obvious contradiction between Trump and his administration’s response to white supremacists and to those protesting on behalf of black lives demonstrates a demonic force at work that must be named by all of us who at baptism pledged to resist sin, death, and the devil, “the spiritual forces of wickedness,” or “the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God.” It is time that we call Trump what he is, an antichrist, and pastors and faithful Christians must start doing so from their pulpits, Sunday School classes, bible studies, and whatever means are available.

I’ve written about this topic before. But I want to add a little here because, on the one hand, we recently concluded a study of 1 John in my Sunday school class, and the idea that there will be a single “Antichrist” a la Left Behind itself reflects the lack of biblical literacy even among religious people in the present day; and second, because I saw someone I know well posting outlandish conspiracy theories in an effort to defend Donald Trump and malign his opponents. Excusing the sins of the powerful while fabricating worse sins allegedly committed by their opponents is most certainly the spirit of antichrist and deserves to be labeled as such. One doesn’t have to believe in literal personal spirit beings such as demons to identify racism and tyrrany as demonic. Many liberals shy away from such words. They should be part of our vocabulary, used of course in a way that makes clear what our convictions are and mean so that we are not misunderstood. Being inclusive, being committed to nonviolence, being opposed to bigotry and lies are (and must be seen to be) stances that are the opposite of some wishy washy idea of love and kindness for all that serves the purposes of antichrist as avoid saying or acting anything that might possibly offend someone. As Lenny Duncan writes in Dear Church, “It’s time to stop prioritizing tradition and civility over the lives of the marginalized. Our well-meaning desires to be tolerant and welcoming have left us ill equipped to face radical evil.”

For those of us whose paradigm is Jesus, we must not only name the name of Christ if we want to truly be his followers. We must appropriately name and oppose that which is anti-Christ as well. This does not mean to demonize someone like Donald Trump. On the contrary, in recognizing the demonic for what it is, we must recognize that it is precisely the demonic that engages in demonization. In calling Trump antichrist, we do not demonize him, but apply the appropriate label to one who demonizes others, and find nonviolent but non-passive ways to resist, advocate for, and embody a different way of being.

Also related to this topic are an interview with Bryan Massingale, advice from Peter Marty to Trump about the Bible, as well as the following:

Tim Gombis has had an excellent series of this is but one post:

The Anemic Individualism of White Evangelicalism

To Better Understand the Destructive Myth of White Supremacy, Read this Book

Ron Sider has spoken out:

https://thewayofimprovement.com/2020/06/10/will-evangelicals-remain-silent-in-2020/

Bless Me with Anger at White Supremacy

https://thewayofimprovement.com/2020/06/07/dont-make-too-much-about-the-slip-in-white-evangelical-support-for-trump/

https://thewayofimprovement.com/2020/06/07/evangelicals-hit-the-streets-for-justice/

On #BlackLivesMatter, colour blindness, centering, and Aboriginal deaths in custody

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/06/10/southern-baptist-head-admits-black-lives-matter-but-what-will-he-do-now/

7 Signs Donald Trump (and His Supporters) Hate America

Finally, here is a call for videos about religion and Covid-19, with intersections with politics, conspiracy theories, and end times ideas all explicitly mentioned.

politics

antichrist

Donald Trump

Previous Post

June 10, 2020

Justice and Supermarkets

Next Post

June 12, 2020 A Call for Compositions Setting Biblical Texts #CFP

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 Corinthians 1 John 1 Peter 1 Samuel 1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Corinthians 2 Kings 2 Peter 2 Samuel 2 Thessalonians 2 Timothy academia Acts of the Apostles afterlife Akhaten Alcatraz American Academy of Religion Amos Anglican Arabic Aramaic archaeology art artificial intelligence astronomy atheism atonement Babylon 5 Baptists Battlestar Galactica Bible Biblical Studies Carnival biblioblogging Black Mirror Blade Runner Book of Job book review Buddhism Call for Papers China Christianity Christmas Christology Chronicles Coptic creation Daniel Deuteronomy Doctor Who Dune Easter Ecclesiastes economics education Eldad Keynan Enoch Seminar Ephesians eschatology Esther Evangelicals evolution Exodus Expanse Ezekiel Ezra fantasy Fringe fundamentalism Galatians games Ge'ez genealogy Genesis Gnosticism Gospel of Jesus' Wife Gospel of John Gospel of Judas Gospel of Luke Gospel of Mark Gospel of Matthew Gospel of Peter Gospel of Thomas Greek Harry Potter Hebrew Hebrews Hinduism historical Jesus history Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Holidays horror Hosea humor incarnation India inerrancy information literacy inspirational Intelligent Design Ireland Isaiah Islam Israel Italy James Jeremiah John the Baptist Jonah Joshua Judaism Jude Judges Judith Lamentations languages Latin Leviticus libraries literature Lord of the Rings LOST Mandaeans Mandaic memes Methodism Micah monotheism morality Mormons movies music mythicism NASSCAL Nehemiah new perspective New Testament news Numbers Orthodox paganism panentheism pantheism Patheos Paul and his letters Pentecostals Philippians Philippians 2:6-11 philosophy physics Planet of the Apes podcast politics Progressive Christianity Protestantism Proverbs Psalms pseudoscience racism religion Revelation Roman Catholicism Romania Romans Ruth scams science science fiction Secret Gospel of Mark Society of Biblical Literature Song of Songs Star Trek Star Wars Stargate Swahili Syriac Taoism technology Terminator The Handmaid's Tale The Hobbit The Matrix theodicy theology theory Timeless Titus tomb Torchwood travel TRON Uncategorized United Kingdom Westworld X-Files young-earth creationism Zechariah

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 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 July 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 March 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 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 February 2007 January 2001

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz