While many Christians have made no
secret of their support for Donald Trump,
comparisons to the Messiah proved a step
too far for several leaders this week.
They took objection when one conservative
radio host notched up his admiration for
the US President by comparing him to
Jesus Christ Himself.
Wayne Allyn Root, who describes himself
as a Jew turned evangelical Christian and
who has garnered a reputation as a
conspiracy theorist, showered Trump with
praise as the “greatest President for Jews”
who is loved “like he’s the King of Israel”
and “the second coming of God”
Trump didn’t shy away from the
comparison, retweeting Root’s
commendation.
“Thank you to Wayne Allyn Root for the
very nice words. ‘President Trump is the
greatest President for Jews and for Israel
in the history of the world, not just
America, he is the best President for Israel
in the history of the world…and the Jewish
people in Israel love him,” the President
tweeted on Wednesday.
“…like he’s the King of Israel. They love
him like he is the second coming of
God…But American Jews don’t know him
or like him. They don’t even know what
they’re doing or saying anymore. It makes
no sense! But that’s OK, if he keeps doing
what he’s doing, he’s good for … all Jews,
Blacks, Gays, everyone. And importantly,
he’s good for everyone in America who
wants a job.’ Wow!”
On Thursday, Trump appeared to continue
the biblical theme describing himself as
the “chosen one” to sort out trade relations
between the US and China.
Talking to reporters, he glanced
momentarily at the sky before saying: “I
am the chosen one. Somebody had to do
it, so I’m taking on China. I’m taking on
China on trade and you know what, we’re
winning.”
Harvest Ministries founder Jay Lowder was
among the Christian leaders to take issue
with the idea that Trump was like Jesus,
writing in the Washington Post that it was
“dangerous” to compare anyone to the
Messiah.
“In the evangelical community, we have
come to incorrectly believe that any critique
of Trump only serves to promote the party
on the left. But embracing critiques proves
we are objective, not blind to the flaws in
political par-ties or our presidents,” Lowder
wrote .
“Trump is neither the ‘Second Coming of
God’ nor the ‘Messiah.’ In repeating the
profane quote, he gave a narcissistic
endorsement and even thanked Root, a
well-known conspiracy theorist, for his
words.”
He added: “Messianic claims are
dangerous, because God does not share
glory with anyone.”
Christian activist Shane Claiborne said
such thinking needed to be rebuked.
“This is some straight up first-century-
Emperor-worship happening. Rebuke it, in
the name of Jesus! Jesus is Lord, Trump is
not,” he wrote on Twitter.
Southern Baptist minister Alan Cross said it
would be a “colossal sham” if US
evangelicals allowed their support for
Trump to get in the way of correcting him.
“If favoring a comparison [of] yourself to
the Messiah isn’t enough to get
evangelicals to correct this man, then they
are already gone and it is so sad. Then
there is no truth and all else you support is
a colossal sham,” Cross tweeted .
“My point is, if you support him, then speak
to this. Guide him. Tell him how this
doesn’t work. Help him understand … If he
is friendly to evangelicals, then let them
speak to him and tell him why this isn’t
appropriate. Use the influence rightly.”
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