As a Christian, how does billionaire Trump feel about Jesus' statement that it would be easier for a rich man to pass through the eye of a needle than to get into the Kingdom of Heaven?
By Dave Schraeger
One of the founding principles of the USA is the separation of church and state. It is one of the reasons that churches are tax-exempt and it promotes freedom of - or even from - religion but, for some reason, politicians seem to feel duty-bound to express their love of religion when seeking office, especially the highest office in the land. Among "officially secular" nations, as opposed to theocracies, this appears to be a particularly "American" thing.
This brings us to Donald Trump who declared on August 11, 2015 that he was "a proud Presbyterian," that the Bible was his favorite book and added that The Art of the Deal, his first book, was a distant second. Yet, when he was interviewed on August 26, 2015 by Bloomberg Politics reporters Mark Halperin and John Heileman and asked to name a favorite verse, he declined to answer.
A couple of disclaimers before continuing: 1.) I am far more comfortable making political commentary than religious ones because it is more familiar territory for me and 2.) I have just started reading the Bible for the first time in my life within the last year.
That said, I could make a suggestion to Mr. Trump, even with my limited knowledge of the Bible. For starters, how about the Book of Malachi, Chapter 3, Verse 5? It reads: "(Mal 3:5 NIV) 'So, I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,' says the LORD Almighty."
During Trump's first marriage to Ivana Trump he cheated on her with Marla Maples who would become his second wife. What does Trump think about about being judged as an adulterer? Why are workers at one or more of his hotels organizing a union? Has he defrauded any of them of their wages or not paid them a fair wage for their labors? As to depriving "aliens of justice," Trump should know that, in this context, "aliens" means "immigrants" or "foreign born" and his proposal to deport 11 million undocumented would certainly split families and "deprive (these) aliens of justice."
How about something less controversial such as Book One of Corinthians, Chapter 13, Verses 4 and 5 which describe what "love" is? Chapter 13, Verse 4 reads: "(1 Cor 13:4 NIV) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." Chapter 13, Verse 5 reads: "(1 Cor 13:5 NIV) It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."
Whoa! Where to begin? The Donald did not seem very patient when he threw Jorge Ramos out of his press conference on August 25, 2015 and he was clearly very easily angered, not to mention rude with his comment to Ramos to go back to Univision. He has boasted with great pride about the size of his personal fortune that it is $10 billion, not $3 or $4 billion. Is there a biblical exception for this type of boasting and pride? As to keeping "no record of wrongs," what about his comment to Megyn Kelly in the first debate that he had been nice to her, but maybe he should not be based upon the way she had treated him? Does that not qualify as keeping a "record of wrongs?"
One could also ask about the Commandment to love one's neighbor, noting that a Commandment is an order, not a recommendation. It does not say "next door neighbor" and seems to be generally understood as all human beings regardless of race, nationality or gender. One's neighbor could be an immigrant such as his grandfather Friedrick Drumpf (Germany), his mother Mary Anne MacLeod Trump (Scotland) and his first wife Ivana (the former Czechoslovakia). This does not seem to square with Trump's appeals to racism and his overt hostility toward women.
As a Christian, how does billionaire Trump feel about Jesus' statement that it would be easier for a rich man to pass through the eye of a needle than to get into the Kingdom of Heaven?
Trump seems oblivious to all of this and apparently could not care less. One might respect a politician campaigning on sincerely held beliefs, but such pandering to the Christian Right pretending to be a godly man while running an ungodly campaign is unforgivable.
Dave Schraeger is a longtime labor, peace, and immigrant-rights activist.
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