International Evangelical Organization Says It Is Time For Trump To Go

by Mark Bear

While training for the ministry I was required to read quite a bit of theological work authored by what many in evangelical circles considered heroes.  One such hero was and continues to be Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian, pastor, anti-Nazi dissident, philosopher, and founder of The Confessing Church.

In addition, Bonhoeffer wrote what was then considered – and continues to this day – The Cost Of Discipleship, a modern-classic. His main argument is salient, and evangelical leaders from today’s movement ought to take notice: Bonhoeffer argued that it was one thing to “say” one was a Christian, and quite another to act like a Christian. The theologian believed, as I have always held, that the best way to get someone to notice the faith I personally believe in, is to actually live my life in accordance with scriptures. I try.

Bonhoeffer lived what he preached because in the end he was hung thanks to Hitler’s rage at the young theologian’s resistance, but also his alleged observance of a thwarted plot to take Hitler out of power. And, of course, it did not assist that Bonhoeffer made the argument that one needed to live their faith, either.

Oh, that we lived in the days where those of us calling ourselves evangelical leaders lived like Bonhoeffer, setting the example for those who will come after us, leading people to what true spirituality is. And you know what folks? Bonhoeffer was not one to go around telling others about his faith, either. He lived it. And because he lived it, there remains a society called The International Bonhoeffer Society.

Two years ago, The Sojourners Magazine—a faith publication—published a cover story asking readers whether we were at a “Bonhoeffer moment.” And, after reflection, the theologian’s society has answered with an unequivocal yes. According to that society:

“A hallmark of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s legacy is his insistence that we see the great events of world history from “the view from below” (1942). That is, he urges us to see from the perspective of those who suffer. The policies of the Trump administration both threaten and disempower the most vulnerable members of our society, including people of color, members of the LGBTQ communities, Muslims and other religious minorities, immigrants, refugees, the poor, the marginally employed, and the unemployed. Moreover, Donald Trump has now taken ill-advised military action that raises the specter of war. One of the greatest lessons learned from the history of the Christian churches during Germany’s Third Reich is that it is crucial to respond to threats to human life, integrity, and community when they first appear, and to continue to challenge them.”

Which is precisely why I find it interesting that the far-right evangelicals in this nation – I speak of Jeffress, Franklin Graham, the mega-church leaders like Kenneth Copeland, and of course, Jim Bakker who was a fraud back in the nineties, have chosen a path for their followers which is in direct contradiction of the very gospel we should be living. Take Jim Bakker, for example, he is now engaging in the same propaganda that Trump has engaged in, by now arguing that should Republicans lose the White House and governance in Washington, that people of faith “are going to lose their lives.” Of course, he provides no evidence but reminds one of a patient that is dying and taking his or her last gasps of air.

And is this not how our evangelical community has reacted to Trump? Instead of confronting, they not only remain silent but then argue how “he was sent to us by God.” Or my favorite? “He is no altar boy, but that is precisely why we elected him.” Really? Show me in the scriptures one example where the God of the Bible endorsed the people’s support of an immoral man. I will save you the time. While it is true that within the pages of the Bible, one can find any number of men who were immoral (aren’t we all) leaders. What really mattered according to the scriptures is whether that person ended up living their respective lives according to the very Word they expected others to live by.

Lest any of you think this trivial, I should point out how Bonhoeffer’s Society points out the similarities between our modern-day evangelical movement and those living under Hitler as Protestants. From the Society and taken from the Book, A Church Undone: Documents From The German Christian Faith Movement, authored by Mary Solberg.

“God fashioned for himself a man … and gave him the greatest mission in our history: to pull the German people up out of despair and to restore their faith in life” (147); “… Adolf Hitler, with his faith in Germany, as the instrument of our God became the framer of German destiny and the liberator of our people from their spiritual misery and division” (197) …“in the person of the Führer we see the one God has sent, who sets Germany before the Lord Binhof history …” (346); “… in the pitch-black night of Christian church history, Hitler became like a wonderful transparency for our time, a window through which light fell upon the history of Christianity” (347); “…the Third Reich has grasped the German mission that God has set before us” (373).”

And here we are in 2020 with history repeating itself. Franklin Graham suggests Trump’s election is the “handiwork of God.” Evangelical leader and organizer of pastors, David Lane tells the Washington Post;“For whatever reason, in my opinion, God raised Donald Trump. Everything he said he’s going to do, he’s done from an evangelical standpoint. None of the other candidates in 2016 would have done what Donald Trump has done.”Ralph Reed, who used to head up The Family Coalition has a book ready to publish titled For God and Country: The Christian Case for Trump. The book’s original title was reportedly Render to God and Trump.” And there are many more examples of these supposed evangelical leaders making such idiotic statements.

Now many of you have seen me address these issues with scriptures, right? It has not really worked though, has it? That is because people of faith have replaced politics as being more important than their own obedience to Christ. So, let’s see what Dietrich Bonhoeffer has to say about these things, okay? I provide four basic comments which may be located in the Society’s declaration that Trump must be removed from office. The Society offers several lessons:

First, Bonhoeffer spoke of God’s freedom and human freedom as “freedom for others,” not “freedom from others.

Second, Bonhoeffer warned that “leaders become ‘misleaders’ when they are interested only in their own power and neglect their responsibilities to serve those whom they govern. (1933)

Third, Bonhoeffer reminded “Christians” that the church “has an “unconditional obligation toward the victims of any societal order, even if they do not belong to the Christian community.” (1933)

There are several other lessons provided by Bonhoeffer’s society, and it is my hope those in power evangelically – embrace Bonhoeffer once again – as those in the past have done. Doing so will require evangelicals to give up their thirst for political power, focus on ourselves versus others who do not believe as we do, and provide a spirit of humility once again in the Church. It may require us to become disciples once again, but is that not what Christ called us to be in the first place?

“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings” (John 8:31)

In case you missed it: Are Conservative Evangelicals Removing Christ From Scriptures

Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook

Happy

0 0 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %