The Tryst With Trump

It wasn’t the first time God’s people had strayed, searching for more tangible and immediate solutions to their problems.  There had been the golden calf, but after all, Moses had lingered on the mountain and Aaron himself – the very brother of Moses – said it was alright. Generations later God’s people grew tired of the ineffective leadership of His Judges, drifted away from God and demanded from Samuel a king – a king like their enemies had, to “judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”  

There was even the time that God’s people chose Barabbas over Jesus.  Sure, they had been attracted to Jesus’ wisdom, his moral character and his miracles, but Jesus wasn’t claiming his rightful throne, wasn’t addressing their most pressing problem – the oppressive assault by the Romans on their very identity as God’s nation.  Jesus seemed content with souls and teaching. Barabbas, on the other hand, was a man of action.   He had demonstrated his ability and willingness to fight for their freedom and return them to their rightful place as God’s people.

So now, tired of waiting and being marginalized and threatened, the old desire returned.  This man understood and appreciated them.  He gave them the attention that they deserved.  He would protect them.  He would push back their political enemies.  They didn’t need a statesman, they wanted a fighter – a king to go before them and fight their battles.  The rest of the nation needed to be reminded that they were the largest voting block in this country.  In fact, this country was a Christian country founded by mostly Christian leaders.  Did it really matter that he denied the need for Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection – that he did not need to ask for forgiveness beyond “drinking my little wine… and having my little cracker.”  Did his pride and propensity as a mocker and narcissist really disqualify him from doing God’s work?  And remember, he attended church on Christmas eve, and allowed the laying on of hands and prayers in the oval office.  Was this not evidence of a new spiritual awakening?   They weren’t “straying” from God, they were just recognizing that God sometimes uses “flawed” men for his purposes, and this man was God’s tool for a righteous end.  Their tool.

From his perspective, it had started innocently enough. There it was, a neglected and harassed contingency of voters longing for a champion that would punch the liberals in the face. It need not be a serious relationship or a long-term commitment. He would wave his little pocket testament, eat his little cracker, drink his little wine. After all, he was a good guy who worked hard, he wasn’t a Muslim or a jew; come to think of it he was one of them – his name was even written on the inside of that little Bible! So what if some of their pastors were a little enthusiastic – all that “laying on of hands” and “praying over” stuff. What could it hurt? They were a HUGE voting block, and they LOVED him!

The flirting turned to embraces, and the embraces turned to commitments of fidelity. For better or worse, they were now one.

Tom Noble