I guess that would do it...
Trump cradling a Bible in his right hand standing by St John’s Episcopal Church, known as the Church of the Presidents (“because it had been attended by every one since James Madison in the early 1800s”).
When asked by a reporter whether the Bible he was holding is his own, Trump replied: “It’s em a/em Bible.”
So, this morning, I would entitled the image below as this: “Trump and a Bible.”
It was a 17-minute photo session after Trump walked over to the church at 7:01 pm on Monday. This is the brainchild of one of his advisers, Hope Hicks.
And mind you, in order to clear the path for the photo session with a Bible and a church, Trump’s security had to strike the protestors “with flash-bang grenades and doused with tear gas.”
One observer said: “Let me be clear. This is revolting. The Bible is not a prop. A church is not a photo op. Religion is not a political tool. God is not your plaything.” (James Martin SJ).
Lesson? One, and bless the president’s intention, whatever it is, as I believe it is to end the racist schism that is breaking out all over the country.
But whatever its redeeming intention, it ends there. And this is where the real problem with religion starts.
Let me say that the symbol is not the faith. Similarly, the power is not in the cross where Christ was crucified. Neither is it in the empty tomb nor the communion elements.
In modern context, the power is also not in the building, the music or even the Bible. That is why holding it up would not bring about the peace that Trump and his adviser Hope have wished it would bring.
Recall that it is the living word, not just a printed one. For what is the use of a vaccine against coronavirus if you just flash it around, instead of injecting it in your body? For it has to challenge one’s immunity system within in order to strengthen it against the virus with-out.
The word has to become flesh, and the flesh thereafter crucified before the Bible can be deemed a living seed that germinates into a healthy tree planted by the river of life in order to bear life-transforming fruit. The process, like a wine-press, takes time, for most, if not all, takes a lifetime.
This brings me back to Trump, the most militarily powerful man on earth. I just want to say that there is nothing wrong with power, fame and wealth.
The Great Commission is about making Jesus known, all over the world. The assurance of faith is the assurance of power to change, to command the storm of life, and to influence, shepherd and lead lives. And how about prosperity?
We have read and seen great men and women of great wealth performing great exploits for the kingdom of God. The Bible thus, if one is prepared to embody it with love and sacrifice, is the living word unto godly grief, repentance and love demonstrated in a broken life. All power, fame and wealth therefore are humbled means to kingdom’s ends.
Returning to Trump, and his religious posturing at St John’s, and taking his life as the backdrop, I can’t say with certainty (for now at least) that this is one individual who takes the Bible, or a Bible, seriously. I suspect it may just be a glorified means to an end of power, fame and wealth for himself.
Yes, that old familiar reminder comes in, “Nobody is perfect”. But, it is also said that you shall know him by his fruit, as well as these words of Jesus to a sinner who wiped his feet with her tears and hair: “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
When you put them together, we are not left without a guide (or standard) to come to our own opinion of Christian leaders who are supposed to be beyond reproach.
For greater power comes greater responsibility. And there is nothing worse than having great power only to bear little or no accountability and responsibility.
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