Trump the Fascist?

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It's a question that has been raised a lot this election cycle: "Is Donald Trump a fascist?" Opponents will be quick to answer affirmatively, but Trump and his supporters simultaneously lob the same accusation back at Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and prominent Democrats. Furthermore, if you go back through the past few decades of political rhetoric, you will see Hitler/fascist comparisons frequently thrown at candidates. Way back in 1964, Barry Goldwater was accused by his Democratic opponents of being a fascist. I also remember during the George W. Bush years how some likened the growth of government oversight post 9/11 to Nazi Germany. The accusation of "fascist" in politics is not a particularly new one.

Indeed, I've hesitated to write this post for a while because of how easy it is to flippantly compare a politician we don't like to Hitler. After all, American democracy has continued through all these decades despite accusations of fascism against our leaders. Indeed, this tendency to rush to accuse is so common that there's a theory around it. It's called "Godwin's Law," which states that "as an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1." Applied to politics, Godwin's Law suggests that if a political debate continues long enough, someone will sooner or later compare their opponent to Hitler or Nazi Germany, even if such a comparison is faulty. As such, we should be wary of quickly making such accusations, especially since doing so minimizes the horrors of the Holocaust and atrocities committed by those like Hitler.

That being said, Godwin's Law does not mean that such comparisons are never warranted. Instead, they should be carefully weighed to ensure the comparison is historically accurate and appropriate, not politically driven. Furthermore, one should not use Godwin's Law to shut down comparisons to Hitler that might be legitimate when directed against someone we support. Incidentally, it's worth noting that Mike Godwin himself, the creator of Godwin's Law, has stated that comparisons between Trump and Hitler are appropriate. Last year, Godwin wrote, "But when people draw parallels between Donald Trump’s 2024 candidacy and Hitler’s progression from fringe figure to Great Dictator, we aren’t joking. Those of us who hope to preserve our democratic institutions need to underscore the resemblance before we enter the twilight of American democracy."

So, how warranted are these comparisons between Trump and Hitler/fascists? Is this just another Democratic scare tactic, or should we all be worried about a Trump re-election? 

These accusations have gained steam in the past month as reporters have given attention to retired general and former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Kelly's words about Trump and Hitler. According to Kelly, Trump has made comments like "Hitler did some good things too" and "I need the kind of generals Hitler had [i.e.- totally loyal to the person]." Kelly has also noted Trump's repeated admiration for modern dictators and observed, "Certainly the former president is in the far-right area, he’s certainly an authoritarian, admires people who are dictators — he has said that. So he certainly falls into the general definition of fascist, for sure."

Of course, defenders of Trump have pointed out that these comments come mere weeks before the election and allege they're a convenient set of lies intended to damage Trump's chances of winning. While perhaps the timing of Kelly's comments are politically motivated, the fact is that legitimate concerns about Trump's connections to fascism, authoritarianism, Hitler, and far-right rhetoric are not new. In fact, some concerns reach back decades, which should give us reason to weigh Kelly's words carefully.

Indeed, as early as 1990, way before Donald Trump entered politics, he was being accused of admiring Hitler. A Vanity Fair article in that year covering the ending marriage of Donald and Ivana Trump included several sentences about Trump possibly owning a copy of Mein Kampf or My New Order (a book of Hitler's speeches.) Ivana claimed that Donald owned a copy of My New Order and would pull it out to read it and note how Hitler was a master propagandist. One of Trump's friends confirmed giving Trump a copy of the book, and when asked about it, Donald became defensive, but confirmed he owned a copy of a book by Hitler. He did (somewhat) deny actually reading it, but given Donald's troubled history with the truth, it's a little hard to believe his denial. It's worth observing that the English version of My New World at the time also contained analyses of Hitler's speeches and why they were effective. 

Additionally, the article noted one of Trump's friends would proclaim "Heil Hitler" at times when entering Trump's office. 

There are plenty more recent connections between Trump and Hitler that also predate Kelly's remarks. During Trump's first term as President, there were frequent scandals of Trump retweeting content from racist and even neo-Nazi groups or supporters. When white supremacists marched on Charlottesville, Trump refused to condemn them. He repeatedly used language resembling dog whistles to far-right extremist groups. He fawned over authoritarian leaders like Putin, Kim Jong-Un, and others. Coupled with many other similarities, such as demonization of Muslims and immigrants, attacks on the media, pushing a populist brand of extreme nationalism, and more, many critics were already drawing comparisons to Hitler and fascists way before his 2024 campaign. 

Personally, the comparisons between Hitler and Trump really came home in 2020. The organization I work for runs a thrift store, and in 2020 we came across a copy of Mein Kampf that had been donated. Not sure how we felt about selling it inside our Christian-based, nonprofit thrift store, I elected to just buy the copy myself to read for better first-hand insight into what Hitler was actually saying at the time. However, as I read through Hitler's words, passages kept leaping out that sounded like they could have been ripped from some of Trump's own rallies. I had already come to the conclusion that Trump was unfit for office, but the rhetorical similarities to Hitler were chilling.

The truth is that most people have not actually read Hitler's words or listened to his speeches at length. Additionally, many Americans don't actually have a good definition of "fascism" and aren't that familiar with Hitler's history or rhetoric. Our common understandings are usually reduced to "fascism=authoritarianism" and "Hitler was a dictator and tried to wipe out the Jews." While theses are true in part, it's important to really understand both fascism and Hitler the man before we seriously lob those accusations at someone.

Indeed, this lack of understanding is why Trump is believed by his supporters when he accuses Kamala Harris of being both a "fascist" and a "Marxist." Anyone who has done even a little reading on fascism or is familiar with Hitler's rhetoric will know this is absurd. Fascism is a far-right ideology (something Harris can't be accused of) and Hitler hated Marxists (he felt they were part of what was destroying Germany). The fact that Trump tries to label Harris as both either proves he does not understand either term or he knows his audience doesn't understand them.

So, what is fascism and how does Trump compare? This could be an entire book (and books have been written on this topic), but I'll try to focus on the key components of fascism, as well as my own assessment of Trump's rhetorical comparisons to Hitler in Mein Kampf. 

First, what is fascism?

1. Origins of Fascism

Fascism arose out of WW1. The first World War not only wreaked physical and economic havoc in Europe, but it also transformed the view of numerous leaders concerning violence and war. For some, the entire nation was to be mobilized for military purposes and the distinction between civilian and soldier became blurred. Both economically and militarily, fascists called citizens to "fight" to restore their country to former greatness.

The word "fascism" comes from an Italian word meaning "bundle of sticks." Mussolini and Italian fascists took this symbol to convey the idea of powers and functions of government being "bundled" around the chief leader to create strength through unity. Mussolini and Hitler are the most well known fascists.

The comparison here to our time is that, like the fascists of last century, Trump plays off the concerns of people that our country is lost and being "destroyed" by liberal forces. Historical fascists used the dissatisfaction and misery of the masses to build support by promising a national restoration of pride, power, and winning. As Hitler write in Mein Kampf (MK), "To win the masses for a national resurrection, no social sacrifice is too great…if they help to give the broad masses back to their nation." If that all sounds familiar to the battle cry of "Make America Great Again" or "Take America Back," you're not wrong.

2. Fascism is a far-right movement

Historically, fascists have attacked Marxists and liberals as "enemies" of the state. As I read through Mein Kampf, I noted how frequently Hitler blasts "Marxists" and liberal democracy. At one point, Hitler writes, "The question of the future of the German nation was the question of destroying Marxism."

So, when we see Trump blasting Harris as a "Marxist" or calling her "comrade Kamala," this is in line with the ideology of fascists.

Similarly, fascists frequently claimed to represent conservative values for their nation. Hitler would complain about the loss of German language, traditional education, German way of life, and national pride. He complained about evils like prostitution that plagued liberally educated cities. Fascists would also point to origin myths about their nation and call their followers back to those stories as inspiration for greatness. 

And yet, this was not a simple conservatism. Instead, fascism used conservative values and origin myths to promise a revolution of a new country. This is not dissimilar to how Trump relies heavily on religiously conservative voters for his base. He offers them conservative values in policy, and yet he promises a revolution and a new movement. Simultaneously, Trump does not look or act like a conservative, perhaps because he is recreating "conservatism" in his own image.

However, at the end of the day, if one side of this election is likely to be a fascist, it would more likely be Donald Trump as he lies closest to the far-right end of the political spectrum.

3. Fascism is authoritarian

Perhaps the most well known aspect of fascism is authoritarianism. Indeed, as Hitler writes in MK, 

"[In our movement,] the chairman is elected, but he is the exclusive leader of the movement. All committees are subordinate to him and not he to the committees. He makes the decisions and hence bears the responsibility on his shoulders."

and

 "Does anyone believe that the progress of this world springs from the mind of majorities and not from the brains of individuals?...By rejecting the authority of the individual and replacing it by the numbers of some momentary mob, the parliamentary principle of majority rule sins against the basic aristocratic principle of Nature."

In fascism, power is centralized not just in a single party, but in a single man. And yet, this dictatorship can still be sold to the people as "democracy." Again, Hitler writes, 

"True Germanic democracy is characterized by the free election of a leader and his obligation fully to assume all responsibility for his actions and omissions. In it there is no majority vote on individual questions, but only the decision of an individual who must answer with his fortune and his life for his choice."

Trump has repeatedly shown admiration for authoritarian leaders. The current Republican party has been structured to support and protect him at all costs. He has supposedly asked individuals in his cabinet why police can't shoot protesters and places a great emphasis on loyalty to him personally. Some of his wildest anger has been directed at those he perceives to have betrayed this loyalty. And as many former staff members point out, Trump seems to value loyalty to himself above loyalty to country.

"He initially thought I would do it. He thought I would be loyal and obedient to him. I told him we were loyal to our oath to the Constitution. If he told you to slit someone’s throat, he thought you would go out and do it." -John Kelly, former chief of staff for Trump

 "The American people deserve to know that President Trump asked me to put him over my oath to the Constitution, but I kept my oath and I always will." -Mike Pence, former vice president

"In September 2019, the president issued a veiled threat against an intelligence community employee who reported the president for inappropriately coaxing a foreign government to investigate one of his political opponents. Trump said the employee was ‘close to a spy.’ He continued, ‘You know what we used to do in the old days when we were smart, right? The spies and treason, we used to handle it a little differently than we do now.’ The implicit suggestion was that the whistleblower should be hanged. Such behavior is unbecoming of a president and the presidency. To anyone with even a modest reverence for the principle of free speech, it is also morally wrong." -Miles Taylor, chief of staff, Dept. of Homeland Security

The way Trump has questioned our electoral system also speaks to concerns over authoritarianism. When he lost the election in 2020, he refused to accept the results and began spreading unfounded lies, leading to the violence of January 6th. As the current campaign unfolds, he has again preached the same lies about our elections. Like a con man flipping a double-headed coin, Trump sees no way he can lose. Either he will win in a landslide or he will lose due to "rigged" elections. But of course, the elections will only be rigged if he loses, not if he wins. Either way, the argument is that he already is the next President, regardless of what the voters will say.

Similarly, Trump (and his followers') rhetoric strongly presents Trump as the "savior" of America. Our country is broken and he is the only one who can fix it. He is the only one "smart" enough, strong enough, and willing enough to do what needs to be done, he claims. And just like Jesus, he is being persecuted but has led his followers to believe that God will sustain him through the enemy attacks he faces. If not, he'll be a martyr. Such are the words countless dictators have used before him to gain and keep power.

While Trump supporters will point to the remaining presence of democracy in America as proof that Trump wasn't a dictator in his first term, there are still reasons to be concerned here. In his first term he was surrounded by many more career politicians and other individuals who could serve as a check to his whims. There were plenty of individuals in his Cabinet who prized the Constitution over self and told him "no" to hold him in check. This second time around will be different. This time around, Trump has seized the Republican party by the scruff of its neck and has built up a system of loyalists around him like he always wanted. There will be fewer checks to his power the second time around.

Finally, whether or not Trump is successful or not in being an authoritarian is irrelevant. What matters is what he wants, and the history clearly shows that he would love unlimited power and perfect loyalty to him (remember his boasts about shooting someone in broad daylight and not losing his base?). While America is not 20th-century Germany and has a much deeper well of democracy to support its systems, the question remains of how much wear and tear can our democracy take from an authoritarian-wannabe before it finally breaks?

4. Fascism is ultranationalist

Nationalism is key to fascism. If you want to consolidate power under a single party/man, you need something to unite people. Nationalism provides the perfect vehicle to do so. Hitler praised Germany's golden past and lamented the loss of German greatness. He then called the people to restore pride in the fatherland. He writes in MK:

"Only a handful of Germans in the [pre-Hitler] Reich had the slightest conception of the eternal and merciless struggle for the German LANGUAGE, German SCHOOLS, and a German WAY OF LIFE. Only today, when the same deplorable misery is forced on many millions of Germans by the Reich…amid their longing at least to preserve their holy right to their MOTHER TONGUE, do wider circles understand what it means to be forced to FIGHT for one’s nationality....The lack of ‘national pride’ is most profoundly deplored"

"I address myself to all those who have to fight even for the holy treasure of their language, who are persecuted and tortured for their loyalty to the fatherland, and who now long for the hour which will permit them to return to the heart of their faithful mother."

These all sound like similar complaints among Trump supporters: immigrants don't learn English, our schools are too liberal and teach a wrong version of American history, those who burn American flags should be jailed or killed, and those who are not "proud to be an American" should be kicked out. These are sentiments that Trump feeds regularly.

But the danger of ultra-nationalism is that it also seeks a villain to unite the people against. If there are things that define you as part of the nation, then there are also threats to that identity? While sometimes it is a set of values, it often also devolves into race. This leads us to the next characteristic of fascism.

5. Fascism seeks a scapegoat and racial purity

Another well known aspect of Hitler's reign was his emphasis on the "Aryan race." However, we must make sure to link this belief back to the nationalistic ideals of Hitler. The two are interwoven. German "culture" was not abstract, but was connected to "ideal" Germanic peoples--i.e. white with blonde hair and blue eyes. Conversely, when Hitler attacked Jews, it was also because they did not represent German national culture in his mind. They were outsiders who refused to conform to the customs of Hitler's German nationalism.

Scapegoating these minority groups in the culture was also a way to locate blame for the problems of society. In Hitler's case, the Jews were blamed for Germany's weakness in the first world war, for the economic problems Germany faced, for a rise in sexual immorality and poor hygiene, and even for slavery of white people. Hitler even connected Judaism to liberal ideals as he argued Marx was a Jew:

"The Jewish doctrine of Marxism…denies the value of personality in man, contests the significance of nationality and race, and thereby withdraws from humanity the premise of its existence and its culture….the result of an application of such a law could only be chaos, on earth it could only be DESTRUCTION for the inhabitants of this planet….Hence today, I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the godless Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord." (in MK)

Hitler portrayed his destructive, dehumanizing words against Jews as protecting German culture, a meaningful way of life, and even Christian faith. In other places, he calls Jews and the liberal press "criminals," "parasites," "a virus," and "vermin"--language that might sound familiar if you listen to Trump rallies.

Sadly, this fits perfectly with Trump's own rhetoric. In his first campaign, he vilified Muslims and immigrants. This election cycle, he has ramped up the demonization of immigrants to almost Hitler-esque levels. In particular, he reduces these groups to something less than human. He uses similar language for Harris and "communists" around her, similar to what Hitler did. Here are some words of Trump in recent days:

"Many of them [undocumented immigrants] murdered far more than one person, and they are now happily living in the United States. You know, now a murderer, I believe this, it’s in their genes. And we got a lot of bad genes in our country right now." -Trump at Oct. 2024 rally

“We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country that lie and steal and cheat on elections….They'll do anything whether legally or illegally to destroy America and to destroy the American dream." -Trump at a Claremont, NH rally

"No control whatsoever [at the border], nobody has any idea where these people are coming from, and we know they come from prisons, we know they come from mental institutions, insane asylums, we know they're terrorists…It's poisoning the blood of our country, it's so bad and people are coming in with disease, people are coming in with every possible thing that you can have." -Trump interview with The National Pulse

"Kamala has imported an army of illegal alien gang members and migrant criminals from the dungeons of the third world … from prisons and jails and insane asylums and mental institutions, and she has had them resettled beautifully into your community to prey upon innocent American citizens." -Trump at Oct 2024 rally

Trump has questioned the citizenship of both Barrack Obama and Kamala Harris without evidence, simply because they are people of color and political opponents. He has told his nearly all white crowds that they have "good genes" while portraying non-white immigrants as genetically inferior.

His language about immigrants "poisoning the blood of our country" is especially chilling as it's ripped straight from Mein Kampf. Here are a few of the many places Hitler used that same language toward his racial and political enemies:

"For me there is but one doctrine: people and fatherland. What we must FIGHT for is to safeguard the existence and reproduction of our race and our people, the sustenance of our children and the PURITY OF OUR  BLOOD, the freedom and independence of the fatherland, so that our people may mature for the fulfillment of the mission allotted it by the creator of the universe.” -Hitler

 "Blood sin and the desecration of the race are the original sin in this world and the end of humanity which surrenders to it." -Hitler

“The Germanic inhabitant of the American continent, who has remained racially pure and unmixed, rose to be master of the continent; he will remain the master as long as he does not fall victim to DEFILEMENT OF THE BLOOD.” -Hitler

 “The Jew POISONS THE BLOOD of others, but preserves his own. The Jew almost never marries a Christian woman; it is the Christian who marries a Jewess. The bastards, however, take after the Jewish side….The Jew is perfectly aware of this, and therefore systematically carries on this mode of ‘disarming’ the intellectual leader class." -Hitler

"Wherever I went, I began to see Jews, and the more I saw, the more sharply they became distinguished in my eyes from the rest of humanity….Was there any form of filth or profligacy, particularly in cultural life, without at least one Jew involved in it?...The relation of the Jews to prostitution and, even more, to the white-slave traffic, could be studied in Vienna as perhaps in no other city of Western Europe.” -Hitler

There are many other places where Hitler uses similar language to speak about Jews and Marxists "poisoning the blood" of the culture and systems of Germany. It's also not an accident that Trump is using this phrase. After he first used this wording at a rally, he was confronted about it and told that Hitler used the same language. Trump claimed he didn't know, but then proceeded to continue using it after specifically being told about the Hitler connection! He's has made a conscious, informed choice with these words. Given he uses this phrase in relation to minorities and immigrants, it's another strike against him for looking like a fascist.

6. Fascists attack the free press and education

“I swallowed my disgust and tried to read this type of Marxist press production, but my revulsion became so unlimited.” -Hitler in MK

 “It is of paramount interest to the state and the nation to prevent its people from falling into the hands of bad, ignorant, or even vicious educators. The state, therefore, has the duty of watching over their education and preventing any mischief. It must particularly exercise strict control over the press, for its influence on these people is by far the strongest and most penetrating….It must not let itself be confused by the drivel about so-called ‘freedom of the press’ and let itself be talked into neglecting its duty….For what food did the German press of the pre-War [WWI] period dish out to people? Was it not the worst poison that can even be imagined?...Did it not help teach our people a miserable immorality? Did it not ridicule morality and ethics as backward and petty-bourgeois, until our people finally became ‘modern’?....The so-called liberal press was actively engaged in digging the grave of the German people and the German Reich.” -Hitler in MK

Trump loves to attack the press. He calls them all kinds of names, claims they are lying about him, tries to sue them for defamation/slander, and gets his followers to chant against and boo them.  Similarly, Trump plays to conservative fears about public education. He claims schools are indoctrinating children in liberal values and are destroying American values. These are all from the playbook of 20th-century fascists. Fascists hate a free press because it holds them accountable and limits them.

We have already seen how Trump not only vilifies the free press that challenges and fact-checks him, but he is creating alternate means of communicating with (and pushing propaganda to) his followers. When kicked off of Twitter, he created "Truth Social." News services like Newsmax and Fox News essentially function as propaganda machines for his campaign. This election cycle, he has frequently appeared on podcasts that stream directly to (heavily male) audiences. The more he can build up a news ecosystem that creates an echo-chamber for his followers, the more likely they are to believe anything he says.

Trump is right that the news and media we consume affects how we view the world and how we view politics. The problem is he is not at all interested in created a balanced media or one rooted in reality, only in one that tells his version of "truth."

7. Fascism is militaristic

Hitler and Mussolini turned their nations into military states. They believed that there was a scarcity of resources in the world and their nations must conquer other lands to remain great and productive. Influenced by concepts of social Darwinism, there was a clear belief that might makes right and that the strong are entitled to enforce their will over the "weak." 

“The stronger must dominate and not blend with the weaker, thus sacrificing his own greatness. Only the born weakling can view this as cruel, but he after all is only a weak and limited man.” -Hitler, MK

 It's interesting to me that Trump places a huge emphasis on "greatness" and being powerful, while emphasizing the "weakness" of his opponents.

"He [Trump] thought that the worst thing you could be called was a 'loser' or 'weak,' so he deployed those words a lot. He thought that the way to get under the skin of people in the media was to claim that their ratings were bad. He questioned people’s confidence, their looks, their intelligence — whatever he thought would do the most damage to someone’s psyche.” -Stephanie Grisham, former Trump press secretary

We've seen plenty of name calling from Trump over the years. He's called veterans "losers," said you have to "treat women like shit," called Harris a "shit vice president," blasted Nikki Haley as a "birdbrain" without "talent," insulted the physical appearance of countless women and candidates, and taunted other world leaders as "weak."

So there is no doubt that Trump views the world in terms of winners/losers and strong/weak. However, he goes beyond that and revels in the military power that the presidency can offer. He's made comments desiring strong and loyal generals, praised the military processions of dictators, threatened nuclear war against enemies, and recently has threatened to use military and police power against immigrants, reporters, and political enemies. 

Trump supporters will point to the fact that the US did not enter any new wars during Trump's tenure and repeat his words that he is for "peace." There is some merit to this argument in that Trump seems to favor an isolationist foreign policy. However, this might be one way in which fascism evolves in the 21st century. Everyone generally recognizes that you can't just invade other countries. However, Trump has also expressed support for Russia and ending the Ukraine conflict. Perhaps Trump is not eager to see America get into a war, but he certainly admires those with the guts to invade other countries unprovoked.

While Trump's "peaceful" international record may be true to an extent (as it was checkered with plenty of fears of war and alienated allies), it is also undeniable that Trump has displayed a kind of lust for military power for himself, especially a military power that is loyal to him alone. Whether or not our military systems will stand up for the Constitution remains to be seen (I am hopeful), but again, the desire and lust for power is there within Trump which is dangerous.

-----------------------

Finally, beyond the main components of fascism, I've also noted other similarities between Mein Kampf and Trump's rhetoric:

• A blending of faith and nationalism. Most scholars agree that Hitler did not really have a personal faith, but simply admired Christianity from afar and used it to connect with the masses. In MK, he writes that Christianity's greatness was not in its doctrines themselves, but "in its own inexorable fanaticism in preaching and fighting for its own doctrine." I see this in Trump. While he claims to be a Christian when asked, the fruit of his life indicates it's not a core part of who he is. However, he readily sees the value of the evangelical vote and knows they are a powerful political ally that are uncompromising in their beliefs.
• "Genius" and mental incompetence are frequent themes in Hitler's words. He describes his political enemies as stupid morons with low IQs. Conversely, he sees his way of thinking as smart and leaders who can take control and promote German values as "geniuses." Sound like any current politician who frequently insults other people's intelligence while boasting about his own "genius"?
• Hitler understood the power of speech and staying connected to the "masses." He observes, "the broad masses of the people can be moved only by the power of speech…A movement with great aims must therefore be anxiously on its guard not to lose contact with the broad masses." In his rise to power, he used both rallies and radio to effectively connect with crowds. In a similar way, Trump uses his own rallies and social media to speak directly to people and keep them fired up.
• Hitler notes the importance of "concentrating the attention of the people on a single foe." He continues, "It belongs to the genius of a great leader to make even adversaries far removed from one another seem to belong to a single category, because in weak and uncertain characters the knowledge of having different enemies can only too readily lead to the beginning of doubt in their own right.” Trump is also effective at this. The most recent example is how he insists that Kamala Harris is personally importing dangerous criminals into the US. This combines both his political opponent and the scapegoat of immigrants into a single rhetorical enemy.
• Finally, Hitler emphasizes "the fight." Indeed, the title Mein Kampf means "my struggle/fight." There are frequent calls to his listeners to "fight" for German heritage and pride (see some quotes above). Likewise, Trump's rallies have the repeated altar call to "Fight, fight, fight!" and "Win, win, win!"
• There are also other comparisons that I won't get into here. For example, Trump and other fascists have pursued isolationist policies and bullied private companies into working for them. Tariffs and trade wars have historically been used by fascists to protect industrial sectors of interest to them and their followers. Fascists have also enriched large corporations and enlisted their help to reach their political aims (Elon Musk, anyone?) You can read some additional similarities here in this 2019 article. 

So that is a lot. But where does it leave us?

In my mind, there is no doubt that Trump is using the playbook of historical fascists, and is perhaps doing so intentionally. Of course he will deny it as no one wants to be called a "fascist" after the atrocities of other fascists in history. And he has a good defense to do so as Democrats have been too loose in throwing that term at other opponents in the past. But, I am fairly certain he knows what he is doing and recognizes the effectiveness that the rhetoric and policies of historical fascists had over people.

Godwin's Law recognizes that you can connect essentially any person or leader to Hitler if you want to. We can point to many militaristic presidents, or politicians who are racist, or other leaders who accused the press of bias. Connection to a few fascist traits does not automatically make one a fascist. However, when a person starts to check nearly all the boxes, then Godwin's Law says we should pay attention.

Now, do I think we're on track for a Holocaust of immigrants and liberals in the next 4 years if Trump wins? No. There are some important differences between us and Germany a century ago. For one, the US does have over 200 years of democratic history and tradition, compared to Nazi Germany's much younger history of democracy that was emerging out of royal and authoritarian rule. 

Secondly, while Trump likes to claim to be a genius, there are many ways in which he is still a bumbling buffoon. His first term revealed plenty of incompetency and scandal. So many aspects of his government were dysfunctional. His history of business dealings also show that he a great showman, but not always a great businessman. Put against our free press and our systems of checks and balances, he often is not adept enough to do whatever he wants.

That being said, just because a Holocaust is likely not on the horizon doesn't mean we shouldn't take these similarities seriously. On the contrary, they should be huge warnings for us. Words and rhetoric do matter. Even if Trump doesn't resort to killing immigrants, words do have an effect. If you spend 8 years dehumanizing the lives of immigrants, other people will start killing immigrants, even if it's not the government. 

Secondly, another Trump term will be less restrained. As stated above, more loyalists means Trump will have more freedom to unleash his whims. How far he will go remains to be seen, but he has threatened a lot (using nukes against foreign countries, jailing or executing political rivals, using the military and police to raid communities of immigrants, etc.) There are any number of crimes that could be committed given permission to do so. Coupled with the recent Supreme Court decision that essentially excuses any and all actions a President might take, there will be little accountability for him. 

But finally, we should not be so naïve to think that we are fundamentally different from pre-Hitler Germany. We like to convince ourselves that Hitler was pure, obvious evil and that Germans were stupid. But, Hitler's was a slow rise to power. People did not take him seriously at first. But over time, he drew the people to his side. After the worst evils in world history have been committed, the people who were there always say, "But I didn't know!"

I don't think most Germans at the time Hitler was rising to power deliberately wanted to see millions of their neighbors killed. They were simply indifferent and thought the political changes were all "normal." It took years of destructive rhetoric to create a people who would turn a blind eye to the Holocaust or even endorse it. And, like it or not, we as Americans have that same propensity for evil. Time and time again in human history, people have examples in the past to learn from, and yet we continue to make the same mistakes. Like the people of Israel in the Old Testament, our memories are short. We think we are better than our ancestors and only with hindsight discover that we are just as bad.

Just in the past 8 years, we have seen Trump completely transform the Republican party and coalesce support. In 2016, the majority of Republicans opposed him and there was a strong "Never Trump" movement. Today, the RNC actively lobbies for him and treats him like an insider. Republicans who openly challenge their great leader are almost extinct. Other politicians who try to step into leadership are immediately squashed or repent of their "crimes" against Trump shortly after. Even the white evangelical church, like the Deutsche Christen a century ago, has largely given Trump a pass for his actions, sometimes with enthusiasm. He has convinced them and many other Americans that he is normal and that he is inevitable. Give him a few more years and what might he do to the rest of the population?

I hope our democratic, press, and church systems can withstand another Trump presidency, but I also know that monsters and atrocities are not created overnight. They are cultivated. And right now, Donald Trump is plowing a very similar soil to what Hitler and other fascists cultivated before him. The question remains, "What will sprout up?" And that is what scares me.

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Roe v. Wade gone. Why I hesitate to cheer.

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The greatest evil. A stain on our nation. A reason for the decline of America. When I was growing up, this was how abortion were described to me. When it came to politics, I unblinkingly supported Republican "pro-life" candidates and could not fathom how anyone who called themselves a Christian could possibly vote for any Democrat who supported abortion rights. But more than anything, I and those around me longed for the day when Roe v. Wade would be overturned. It always seemed like a pipe dream, but it was a cause worth fighting for. If only this heinous court case could be thrown out, abortion could be illegal again and millions of babies could be saved.

And so, today, as the dream has become reality with the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, my younger self would be rejoicing.

But, I am not so young anymore.

Yes, I am still pro-life, but lived experience and complexity of our world means I have mixed feelings about this day, and even a bit of anxiety.

For starters, let's keep in mind what this legal decision does not do--make abortion disappear. Abortions happened before Roe and they will continue after today. You can't legislate your way out of a challenge like abortion. In fact, the actual impact of the Court's decision today may be fairly minimal. Contrary to the belief of some who celebrate today, the overturning of Roe v. Wade does not make abortion illegal in the United States. Instead, it pushes the decision on abortion back to the states. So, while conservative states will outlaw abortion, moderate and progressive states will largely keep abortion rights intact and may even choose to expand those rights. The fact is, many conservative states have already enacted strict abortion laws and have seen numbers plummet over the past decade as those laws have limited who can get an abortion and have shut down countless abortion clinics. Rather than ending abortion in places where they are happening unchecked, this legal decision only ends abortion in the places where they were already becoming rare.

If this legal decision miraculously made abortion nonexistent in the U.S. then it would be easier for me to rejoice. But, that will not be the reality. Yes, even a small decrease in abortion numbers would be good, but we also have to ask about the cost.

Second, it's hard for me to rejoice because of how we got here. It's no secret that evangelical Christianity has been a primary driver in the fight against abortion for the past three decades. And, I think this is rightfully so as the Christian faith clearly declares that all humans are made in the image of God and science has increasingly shown there is little division between a "fetus" and a human being. It's hard for anyone who has seen a 3D ultrasound and listened to the heartbeat of a child a mere few weeks old to deny that it is a human life.

However, in our efforts to reduce abortions, white evangelical Christians have sold their souls to political devils without concern for the consequences when it comes to pursuing anti-abortion legislation. The rise of Donald Trump and Trumpian politics in Christian circles is a perfect example of this. Despite the countless moral and character failings of politicians like Trump, many Christians were content to jump on board for the sake of a legal blow against abortion. As one friend of mine who voted for Trump put it, "It's all about the Supreme Court."

Even beyond Trump, Christians backed Republicans as they made increasingly questionable moves to secure a "judicially activist" court of their own making. From stonewalling a qualified court nominee for months on end during Obama's final term, to sticking with a nominee with concerning sexual assault allegations against him, to rushing through their own nominee in the final hours before an election and contradicting their own previous arguments, Republicans seemed willing to do whatever it cost to secure a court majority willing to pursue their own agenda.

Of course, these behaviors are not unique to Republicans (one could look at Democratic efforts to pack the court with more justices), but the underlying point is the rule of modern politics is that the ends justify the means. It doesn't matter what you say, who you back, or how dirty and bloody your hands get, as long as the end results turns out in your favor. With Trump, we were willing to excuse vulgar language, fear-mongering, sexual immorality, lack of self-control, questionable policy, xenophobia, racist language, and more, all for the sake of ending abortion. While there's little hope for that attitude to change in politics, Christians ought to follow a higher standard. For Christians, we leave the ends in God's hands and ensure that the means are Christ-like, humble, and point to the Kingdom of God (read the Sermon on the Mount if you need a reminder of this).

As I've said before, the strange alliance between white evangelical Christians and Trumpian politics has eroded trust in Christians and the witness of the Church almost more than anything else in recent history. I have friends whose children are questioning their faith because of the behaviors they see from "Christians" in the political arena. So, on a day like today, it's hard to get excited about the babies that might be saved when there certainly are a whole lot of bodies in our wake that we made on the way to get here. To cheer today after so much ugliness and un-Christlike behavior is like rewarding bas behavior. It's like telling a child "good job" for helping clear the table when he pushed all his siblings down and yelled at them to do so.

We can also turn this concern to the future. Now that Roe has been overturned, what is the next target our political lords will point us Christians at? The only thing that's certain is that there will be another target. Much of this fight was not just about abortion, but also about power. Republicans can count on evangelicals to vote for them as long as the support the fight to end abortion. Now that the dream of overturning Roe has been realized, they will need something else to energize us. After all, we're already hearing about how the Left will be motivated to vote during the midterms because of this massive defeat. Republicans will need a counter issue. Will the topic be same-sex marriage? Critical Race Theory and civil rights? Immigration? Whatever it will be, there will always be some political interest to pull our strings and corrupt our Christian witness with "necessary" ethical and moral sacrifices for "the cause."

The problem with not caring about the means on the way to our goals is that there are always unintended consequences. What will those unintended consequences be here? 

One potential consequence is the legal ramifications of this decision in other areas. In making its decision on Roe, the Court's majority pointed to the lack of a "Constitutional" protection for abortion. Without getting into a deep philosophical legal discussion about the best interpretations of the Constitution, it should be noted that an "originalist" reading of the Constitution has its limitations because there are many things generally accepted today that are not mentioned in the Constitution. Just because something is or isn't in the Constitution doesn't make it morally acceptable (after all, the Constitution in its most "original" form allowed slavery).

For example, interracial marriage is not directly addressed in the Constitution. Neither is access to birth control by married couples. Yet, the freedom to choose both of these things has been enacted and protected by the court in the past. Does the decision concerning Roe v. Wade today open up the door to reverse countless decisions like this because they are not "constitutional"? Could a whole host of decisions be turned back to the states? If so, this could easily open up the door to many discriminatory practices returning in society. And in case you think this is far-fetched, consider that Justice Clarence Thomas has already hinted that these types of decisions could be on the table in the future in the aftermath of today's decision. Could our enthusiasm to end abortion open up other pitfalls for us and our neighbors?

This leads to a third concern over today--will Christians step up? Growing up, abortion was often presented as a sick practice sought by women and parents who didn't want their babies. Or, in cases where parents wanted to keep their babies, it was doctors who malevolently suggested abortion in difficult circumstances of malformations and disease. Feminists were also to blame because they placed working life above family life.

However, as I've grown older and listened to countless stories (and even faced an unplanned pregnancy myself), I've come to realize that the situation is more complex. Yes, there are women who simply don't want their babies for selfish reasons, but there's usually much more to it than that. Many women who seek abortions already have children, but might be in situations where they really would struggle to care for another child. Indeed, studies have shown that existing children whose mother is denied an abortion for a new child are more likely to experience developmental delays and poverty. Other women have been raped and either are not ready to have a child, fear the child will remind them of the rape, or live in a state that will give the rapist parental rights and continued access to the victim. 

Then, many others face the impossible choice of wanting a baby, but the baby develops a health condition which makes viability of the child nearly impossible. In these situations, we must remember that, despite our amazing advances in medicine, childbirth is still a risky process for the mother. Indeed, one friend of ours nearly died during the birth of her first child with an otherwise healthy pregnancy. In situations where giving birth becomes even riskier for the mother, how do you easily choose between your life and the life of a baby who will likely die even if everything else goes well? It's a difficult decision, and every couple and woman is different in how they will handle it. Some will accept the risk to their own life and pray their child also lives or will do so to hold their child for its few minutes of life. Others will look at the probabilities and not want to chance it. These are incredibly painful and difficult personal choices that are hard to legislate or create one-size-fits-all solutions for.

With all this complexity, though, one theme is consistent: tragedy. The hidden truth few want to acknowledge (because it doesn't fit our political mantras) is that no one really wants abortions to have to happen. An abortion always signals a tragedy or disappointment of some kind. No one is intentionally getting pregnant just so they can get an abortion (which is why comparing abortion to "murder" is problematic). Even someone pursuing abortion for selfish reasons to preserve their career is not particularly happy about having to actually get an abortion. An abortion represents a miscarriage, health problems, poverty, teen pregnancy, rape, career and family plans upended. There's always pain and disappointment in the background. Even for those who have no problem with an abortion and will get one without a second thought, the actual abortion is still likely an inconvenience they'd rather not have.

So, I return to my question--will Christians step up? We claim to be "pro-life," but will we step up and support the women and families of those we are now forbidding from getting an abortion? Now that Roe is overturned, will churches begin emphasizing adoption and foster care as a pressing concern for its members in the same way it emphasized voting against abortion? Will we be there to take the child as an alternative to abortion when a women cannot care for that child?

Will we aggressively seek to alleviate poverty and racial discrimination that create situations of disparity in society? If these forces drive people to seek abortions, let us walk alongside people to give them options besides abortion.

Will the church stand firmly against rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment, or will we continue to ignore these very issues among our own clergy and congregations, permitting the very culture that is one cause of abortion?

Will we advocate for better and more accessible medical care for everyone so that those facing impossible choices also have the best doctors and treatments at their disposal? Or will we be content with millions of uninsured women and turn a blind eye to their plight?

And perhaps toughest of all, are we ready to stand with families who have lost a mother to a pregnancy gone wrong that an abortion could have prevented? Are we ready to explain to the surviving children that their mother's life is a small sacrifice for saving thousands of other children like them?

While I'd love to believe that the church will step up in the coming years and truly be "pro-life" for the lives of those who will be affected by today's decision, truth be told, I'm not holding my breath. Certainly, there are many Christians who volunteer or work at crisis-pregnancy centers, foster and adopt, or offer individual support to neighbors who are contemplating abortion. But I've also seen too often over the past years how the church has ignored offering these types of support and has marched on single-mindedly against legal abortion and LGBTQ rights. Rather than stepping up to actually make abortion unthinkable, I fear many Christians will be content with the legal win and will move on to the next legal battle (like overturning Obergefell v. Hodges).

All this may sound like I am pro-Roe or pro-abortion, but that is not necessarily true. Incidentally, today is my middle daughter's birthday. On a day we celebrate her birth, I do recognize that today's decision will result in some lives being saved and born. Some children will have the chance to live just like my daughter. That is a good thing.

However, the question remains--what kind of life will they live? Will it do any good to bring them into this world if they live a miserable life? Will it do any good for the church if our actions continue to alienate that child whose life we "saved"? Just as importantly, what harm are we doing to women when all we care about is a legal restriction and ignore complexities? I would love to see abortion rates drop. I don't think a child should be killed simply because their father is a rapist. I believe that a poor woman can have options besides abortion. However, I also know that withholding abortion in these situations without also giving support to the women affected or ignoring their concerns and wishes is to be complicit in their suffering.

At the end of the day, I'm hopeful that some good may come of this, but also fearful that unintended damage will also follow. My emotions are complex, much like the issue of abortion itself. But, at the end of the day, I will simply commit myself to the same task I had before today--loving my neighbor as myself. I will open up my home to foster children. I will work to fight poverty in my community. I will pray for those who are pregnant. I will speak out against laws that create unnecessary hardships for those in my community. I do these things because, at the end of the day, it's not good enough to be anti-abortion, I must be pro-life. I do these things because I am not called to merely care about the ends, but to ensure my means speak witness to the risen Christ and not merely a lust for political power.

Homo Narrans

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We are storytelling creatures. Think about it. In our everyday lives, nearly all of our conversations are structured as stories.

“Honey, how was your day?” “It was exhausting. First I had to respond to an email from an angry customer. Then, Johnny stopped by the office and wouldn’t stop talking. Finally, after skipping my lunch…”

Or, “You’ll never believe what just happened to me! I was driving down Springfield Ave when I saw the craziest thing out in someone’s yard!”

Take just about any conversation and you can find an element of storytelling. Communications theorist Walter Fisher coined the term Homo narrans (“storytelling human”) to describe this phenomenon. Fisher argued that it was our ability to tell stories, rather than our ability to use language or logic, that set humans apart from every other creature in the world.

Indeed, we certainly love stories. Not only are our conversations filled with narrative storylines, but we have made novels, tv shows, and motion pictures into multi-billion dollar industries. Even our Scriptures are primarily narratives rather than theological essays. Stories are powerful forces that can transform our thinking, inspire us to be better, and open up our imaginations.

However, any powerful tool can also be misused. The political and societal polarization we are facing in this country today is, ironically, also a product of storytelling. When groups of people create narratives while being isolated from those who are different from them, those narratives grow and form an echo chamber that reinforces our existing biases. Pretty soon, those stories change into myths we believe about outsiders that have little resemblance to reality.

In contrast, the primary pathway to empathy and human understanding is through hearing the stories of others. I suspect if we spent less time sharing memes on social media and more time sitting down with people we disagree with to listen to their experiences and testimonies, we would find ourselves becoming less angry and more humble. It is easy to dismiss words on a screen, but it is harder to dismiss a story when told by a human face.

As an example, the primary moment that changed my perspectives about racism was not a book or logical argument, but was a meal during a seminary retreat. During that meal, I listened to several of my black classmates recount their own personal stories of discrimination, some as recent as the day we left for the retreat. No longer was this an academic or political debate because now the issue had faces and names. I gained new understanding that day.

With that in mind, let’s get sharing. What's your story?

Praying for the President

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As news broke that the President has COVID, I began seeing some conservative friends post about the need to "pray" for his speedy recovery and condemning liberals who are supposedly wishing for Trump's death. I agree we should pray for the President, but how to pray is a deeper issue. 

First, I am sure that a lot of these posts about liberals wanting Trump to die are somewhat driven by bots and algorithms because I have yet to see any of my liberal or progressive friends on social media say these things. They may critique the President's lack of precautions or see this result as a natural consequence of his actions, but I have not seen the wishes or prayers for him to die as these memes and posts would make us believe are widespread. Are there people who are hoping Trump dies? I'm sure. The comments sections anywhere on the internet are filled with both conservatives and liberals who make similar wishes of their opponents; this is not unique to a political side. For example, comments sections regarding Chrissy Teigens' miscarriage will show you conservatives and pro-lifers rejoicing in her suffering under claims of "God's judgment" and that "she deserved it." Desiring suffering and death for our enemies is a human condition, not a political one. My fear is that creating a straw man with posts that presume a majority of liberals want Trump to die from COVID is not helpful to our public discourse, when in reality many (perhaps most, including Biden) are wishing and even praying for a recovery. Bad apples are out there, but let's not create a boogeyman. 

However, when I first saw Trump supporters and evangelicals advocating for others to "pray for the President's quick recovery," there was something inside of me that initially recoiled. I've had the same reaction over the past few years whenever I see politically charged memes calling on Christians to "pray for the President" in various capacities. It's taken me a day or two to sort out why. 

After thinking about it, the reason for my apprehension was not because I believe we shouldn't pray for our President, but rather because the surrounding context makes such calls seem (even if unintentional) simplistic and shallow. 

What I mean is that, while I've seen both conservatives and liberals offer their prayers for a recovery, the strongest calls for prayers for the President's health have come from many of the same people who have consistently backed Trump and refused to criticize him or hold him accountable. Often these are the same people who feel it is their duty to frequently remind their political opponents (using 1 Timothy 2) that they should be praying for the President's success. At the same time, there was often silence about offering the same kinds of prayers for Obama, or at least with much less enthusiasm. 

This is the crucial context. When some Christians give enthusiastic support on a regular basis to a President the majority of Americans see as immoral, corrupt, and cruel, praise him as the "greatest President ever," and fail to EVER offer critiques, people begin to question the morality of your faith. As I've said before, I believe this uncritical and enthusiastic support for Trump from many evangelicals is driving the final nails into the coffin of the church's moral authority and integrity in the eyes of outsiders (and of many insiders). In that context, your calls to pray for Trump ring hollow and are heard by many as just another partisan ploy. I personally don't doubt the sincerity of my fellow believers, but without a prophetic denouncing of Trump's wrongs or equal calls for prayers for your own enemies, such words fall flat. 

Another reason for my reaction is that such calls to prayer seem simplistic and even a bit condescending. Again, given the context, someone who doesn't care for Trump or has been appalled by him over the past 5 years could easily read these posts as "If you don't pray for Trump to quickly recover and get back to his agenda then you are unChristian!" I know that is not likely the intent, but we also know that a big motivation for Trump supporters in praying for the President's recovery is so Trump's agenda or election chances are not ruined. That's simply not going to be a motivation for Trump critics. 

Indeed, if we oversimplify prayer for our leaders, I also think we do a disservice to Scripture. A holistic look a prayer in Scripture reveals a great diversity. 

At one extreme, you have the imprecatory Psalms--prayers for the downfall and destruction of one's enemies and oppressors. 

Psalm 137 reads "Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks." 

Psalm 109 says, "May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow."

Psalm 10 reads "Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none." 

Psalm 83 prays that cruel "nobles" and "princes" would be destroyed and "become like dung on the ground." That language doesn't square well with the typical insistence on 1 Tim 2:1-2. 

A concern I have with Trump-voting evangelicals who publicly call on people to pray for Trump's recovery is that they do not consider those who feel harmed and oppressed by this President. I have spoken to and listened to many over the past 4 years who are experiencing heightened fear because of the culture of anger and racism Trump has created against people who look like them. There is little question that the President's flip-flopping on the pandemic, ignoring of scientific advice, and contradiction of his own officials and advisors has likely resulted in several thousand additional deaths that could have been prevented. Others of us are simply disgusted by his lying, cruelty, bullying, and attraction to pride and rage that have real-world consequences. 

The fact is that this President has hurt many people, and many people in this country (including millions of Christians) are longing for the day when he will be out of office. If we take on a healthy view of biblical prayer, then we will not tell people to quickly ignore those feelings of anger and despair, but rather to take them to God. Maybe the first step of healthy prayer for those who oppose the President is being brutally honest with God, even if that honesty, like the imprecatory psalms, admits that they are hoping the virus will claim his life.

 
Likewise, I have spent a lot of time recently reading through both the Psalms and the prophets. The prophets, like in many psalms, call out kings and leaders for idolatry and injustice and warn of consequences for kings who do not heed those calls. For example, in 2 Kings 1, when the wicked King Ahaziah has an accident and lies in his bed dying, he sends messengers to the prophet Elijah to ask God if he'll recover. Elijah's response (multiple times) is "you shall not leave your bed; you will surely die." Elijah offers no prayers for recovery (at least that are reported) because the king has long proven his lack of allegiance to God. 

Similarly, in countless oracles issued by nearly all of the prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Amos, etc.) oppressive rulers of other nations are promised downfall as a result of their actions. Perhaps the prophets prayed for wisdom for these leaders and peace for their nation first, but after years of consistent injustice and idolatry there was also an understanding in their prayers that God will deal with unrepentant sin. As citizens of God's Kingdom before any other, the US President should get the same treatment and accountability as any other world leader. 

For those of us who do not line up to support the President, we see years of unrepentant sin and idolatry. Just because he throws out phrases and causes that we evangelicals like doesn't mean the man should be emulated or even has our best interests in mind. He has famously bragged about never having repented, and I can't remember a single time in the past 4 years he has issued an apology for any of his countless scandals or sinful words (if I'm wrong I'll apologize for that assumption). 

 
Even though idols of wood and stone may not exist, Trump is no less ruled by idolatry. His idols are pride, wealth, vanity, anger, revenge, and power. He may not have an Asherah pole at his house, but I suspect he's worshipped before a stripper pole before. And these are not all just past faults; many continue daily. Those that are in the past are ones he has never repented of and sees no reason to. Individuals who are more than happy to offer praise and prayer for the President should consider the depth of frustration among the rest of us. Have empathy; put yourself in our shoes. 

Now, if you think I'm going to say after all this that we should pray for Trump's death, you'd be wrong. As I said above, we should come to prayer with an honesty about how we are feeling, and that includes space for those who hope he dies as well. However, for those of us who claim to follow Jesus, we are living on this side of the cross and resurrection. That means we also follow a King (a true "President" if you will) who calls us to "turn the other cheek," put aside anger, "love our enemies," and "pray for those who persecute us." After we've been honest with God and wrestled with our feelings, we should also strive to pray for our opponent's well-being as hard as it may be. 

 
Indeed, the call of Jesus pulls us toward embrace and empathy. This is especially true with COVID. In the past few days I’ve been reminded of the horrors of this disease. Just today, I received a call from a friend whose father was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance because of his oxygen levels due to COVID. I also saw on Facebook today that a community member I knew just passed away from the disease. As I consider the frightening prospect of a diagnosis for families and the pain of loss thousands have already experienced, I lean on these stories to gain empathy for our flawed President whose own family is likely experiencing their own fears and concerns. 

But one final note is also important (Thanks to Chris Dodson for your recent Facebook post that helped me put my thoughts together here). Throughout Scripture there is also a refrain in prayers and songs asking God to "reverse" the world. Kings and oppressive powers should be brought low, and the humble should be raised up. 

You see is in Miriam's and Moses' Song of the Sea (Exo 15): "In the greatness of Your majesty You threw down those who opposed You. You unleashed Your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble....But You will bring your people in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance." 

You see it in the Beatitudes, especially in Luke's version (Luke 6):
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh....
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. But Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets."

You see it in Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1): 

"He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty." 

All of these Scriptural pleadings for the mighty to fall are not simply vindictive wishes, but, especially on this side of the cross, they should also carry a hope of justice for the hurting and redemption for the proud and mighty. Like Moses pleading with Pharaoh to soften his heart and avoid destruction, we should hope that the downfall of our own opponents and those who act immorally and unjustly should lead to humility. Adversity and downfall should open their eyes to their complicity in pain and help them see God for the first time. 

Two nights ago I read the story of Manasseh, one of the final evil kings of Judah. He completely reversed the spiritual reforms of his father, Hezekiah, and brought the nation back into idolatry and injustice. And after God spoke to him through prophets calling him to repent, he refused and God allowed the king of Assyria to attack Jerusalem and to capture Manasseh, dragging him away with "hooks" and chains. 

However, there is a part of Manasseh's story I had forgotten about until reading it again. In 2 Chronicles 33:10-16 it details how, while in captivity, Manasseh "humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers." God then allowed the humbled king to return to Jerusalem, at which point "Manasseh knew that the LORD was God." And it seems to have stuck. In the final years of his reign, Manasseh removed the idols from his house, destroyed false altars, and began offering sacrifices to the true God once again. 

The story of Manasseh illustrates how I think those of us who cannot abide Trump should pray. Yes, we should pray for a recovery because Donald Trump is also made in the image of God, even as marred as that image may be. As such, his life is also precious in God's eyes. However, we also cannot turn a blind eye to his idolatries, lies, pride, vanity, cruelty, lusts, greed, anger, and words and policies that continue to oppress our neighbors. So, I also pray that this sickness would bring him low, that it would humble him. 

Because if when you say "Pray for the President's recovery," you mean "pray he recovers so things can get back to normal," I want no part of those prayers. I, and a majority of Americans, are sick of his behavior and lack of integrity. Christians like myself are frustrated with his immorality and amazed by our fellow evangelicals who seem to excuse and give passes for it. We don’t want a return to “normal” Trump. Something has got to give. 

I have prayed for years that Trump would show maturity, wisdom, prudence, and peace. I have prayed he would stand up for all vulnerable people in this country, not just the unborn ones when it’s politically convenient. It has not happened. And in the face of no behavior change, no repentance, and no signs of changing course, the only thing I have left is that God would do something drastic in his life to open his eyes. I pray he would be humbled like Manasseh so that he knows God is King. I pray that in the middle of distress and suffering that he would learn the empathy for his fellow Americans he has often seemed to ignore. I pray that being brought low by a virus which does not care whether you are rich or poor, powerful or weak, conservative or liberal, would teach him humility, patience, gratitude, and compassion. 

Now, if you want to simply pray for the President to recover quickly, that is fine, and you should pray as your conscience and the Holy Spirit leads. But realize that many of your fellow Christians already find it difficult to pray for this man and are struggling for the right way to pray for him. So don't guilt them for not praying your way or be offended when they don't pray exactly like you. 

Yes, pray for the President at this time, but don't expect the prayers of others to match yours. Don't reduce prayer to a political spectacle or weapon. My allegiance is to another King, and the prayers of that Kingdom are deeper than most of us tend to imagine.

 

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Quarantine and Lent

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The word "quarantine" has been thrown around quite a bit in recent weeks as the novel Coronavirus has continued to spread across the globe. Here in Missouri, we topped 1,000 confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, and it seems the worst is still coming. In the face of this pandemic, the public is being advised to self-isolate and those who potentially have been exposed to the virus are being placed in "quarantine."

I came across some interesting articles earlier this week about the history of the word "quarantine." Although versions of the quarantine concept have been practiced throughout human history for a variety of reasons, the word itself seems to have originated in 14th century Italy. In the mid-1300's, another pandemic, the bubonic plague, was sweeping across Europe. Around 1377, the Venetian-controlled port of Ragusa implemented a policy of trentino, a 30-day waiting period for ships coming from areas affected by the plague. Over the next few years, this waiting period was extended to 40 days, thus becoming a quaratino. This Italian word for "about 40" is the basis for our English word of "quarantine."

No one is entirely sure why the waiting period was shifted from 30 to 40 days, but most scholars suspect it was related to religious reasons and the deep symbolism within Judaism and Christianity for the number 40. Indeed, it was not uncommon to find the number 40 used in other medical practices of the time. For example, mothers were often required to rest for "40 days" after giving birth to a child.

In the Bible, the number 40 carries significance and can be found in numerous stories. Noah rides out the flood for 40 days and nights. Moses intercedes with God for forty days after Israel makes the Golden calf. The people of Israel wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Saul’s Army cowers one fear for 40 days before Goliath until David arrives. Elijah lives off divinely provides food for 40 days as he fights depression while on the run from Jezebel. Ezekiel lays on his side for 40 days to symbolically bear Israel's sin. Jesus is fasts and is tempted by Satan in the desert for 40 days.

Now, what's interesting about the number 40 in Scripture is that it almost always seems to represent a time of isolation and testing. Look at the settings of these stories. A cataclysmic flood that destroys nearly all of humanity. Several stories of tempting in the desert. A prophet proclaiming the destruction of Jerusalem.

These were not happy times. They were times of temptation and failure. They were times of destruction and death. They were times of waiting, wondering if hope could be found. They were lonely times.

Incidentally, those of us who pay attention to the liturgical calendar know that we Christians also find ourselves embedded within another period of 40--Lent. For those who are less familiar with the lectionary or liturgical calendar, Lent is the 40-day season (minus Sundays) that begins with Ash Wednesday and culminates with Holy Week (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday). Whereas Easter is the supreme day of rejoicing for Christians--a celebration of resurrection--Lent is a period of solemn reflection and lament.

During Lent, we take an honest look at our lives and our world and come face to face with their ugliness. We confront our own sins and attempt to grasp their full weight. We look toward the needy in our communities and dedicate ourselves to addresses the brokenness in our world. And ultimate, we stare into our own mortality and remind ourselves that death comes for us all.

This year, Lent began on February 26 (Ash Wednesday). Coincidentally, this was the exact same say that US officials announced the first confirmed case of community spread of the Coronavirus in the United States, a benchmark that moved us into the current crisis. And in the 30 days that followed, our news feeds have been consumed with nothing else and this tiny, invisible threat has completely and devastatingly turned our world upside-down.

The irony of this does not escape me. Literally as soon as those of us in Ash Wednesday services received the ashes on our foreheads with the charge to "Remember that you are dust, and to the dust you shall return," our nation was seized by fear of a virus that has been killing thousands worldwide. The message of Lent that we are mortal and are not truly in control could never be more clear.

And so, as I sit here, all of these threads begin weaving themselves together. A severe pandemic centuries ago created the concept of quarantine with a connection the the Biblical number of 40. Christians today are travelling through our own period of 40 days. In the midst of those 40 days another pandemic attacks us pushing us back into quarantine. It all comes full circle.

But this is why I appreciate the liturgical calendar. It gives me a framework of meaning and always seems timely--inspired by the Spirit if you will. At the moment, the world does not know how to respond. The ugliness of a period of testing, as all biblical periods of 40 were, is that they expose the darker sides of ourselves. We have seen fear and panic consume people because they feel a lack of control. In order to try regaining control, people have also resorted to hoarding and greed. Gun sales have also surged, not because a bullet can stop a virus, but because people are preparing for a fight or are willing to kill others who might threaten their property. The worst sides of humanity can come out in times like this.

Then there are also feelings of hopelessness and desperation. As a result of social distancing, everyone (both introvert and extrovert) are realizing just how important community is and how painful it can be to live with it. Couples are getting married without their families present. Mothers are giving birth without their husbands at their sides. Children are unable to visit their aging parents. Churches are unable to gather in person. School children are unable to see their friends. And stay-at-home parents are feeling depression settling in as their are locked inside their homes without adult interaction.

But the message of Lent also speaks most powerfully in times like this. Lent reminds us that grief and lament are ok in the sight of loss. The New Testament text in the lectionary for this past Sunday was about Jesus raising up Lazarus from the dead. Yet in that passage comes the shortest verse in Scripture--"Jesus wept." It is a reminder that even God Himself cries and grieves about the pain of this life.

Lent reminds us that the isolation and depression many of us temporarily face because of the virus is also the daily reality for so many of our neighbors. While we may be able to go back to work and our normal lives with friends, co-workers, and family in a few weeks or months, countless Americans do not have that luxury. There are senior citizens stuck in nursing homes with no one to visit them. There are adults and children who struggle with depression as a normal part of life. There are women who live in abusive relationships who have been isolated from every loved one by their abuser and for whom every day feels like a prison. As we experience similar emotions as them in this time of self-imposed isolation, we find solidarity with them and are hopefully motivated to live our lives in compassion towards those who see no end in sight.

And finally, Lent reminds us that we are not in control. That is the American myth. We crave control and can even do a decent job most days of creating some facade of it. But in the end, crises like this one rip back the curtain and expose our complete lac of control. But if we are paying attention to the message of Lent, we would not be so blindsided by this reality because we would know that it was a mirage all along. No matter how hard we try, the wilderness will always come. No matter how much we pull up our bootstraps, sometimes the whole rug of the economy gets pulled out from under us and knocks us down anyways. No matter how much we exercise, eat healthily, or medicate, death will always come for us. And sometimes, as some are finding out now, death comes much earlier than we might hope.

But the hope of Lent is that we need to let go of control in order to find a greater treasure. In the words of Jesus, those who lose their lives for His sake will find life. Those who grieve will be comforted. Those who lowly are those who are blessed. It's backwards. It's painful. But at moments like this, it's what we need.

So may our quarantine (both of the virus and of Lent) be a time of reflection of what truly matters in life and thus become a transforming period leading us into the resurrection of Easter.

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