Considering that Donald Trump is running as a Republican, it’s pretty much expected that he’s also running as a Christian. But, is Trump a Christian? While Religion News Service says he’s called himself a “Presbyterian and Protestant” and a “Sunday church person,” Christianity Today reports that Trump is actually a “baby Christian,” as described by Focus on the Family founder James Dobson. “He did accept a relationship with Christ. I know the person who led him to Christ, and that’s fairly recent … I believe he really made a commitment, but he’s a baby Christian.” But WTF does this mean? Is he a Christian, or isn’t he?
In 2011, in an interview about religion with CBN News, Trump said, “I believe in God. I am Christian. I think the Bible is certainly, it is THE book. It is the thing.” And according to Religion News Service, a year later, Trump told the Christian Broadcasting Network, “I’m a Protestant; I’m a Presbyterian. And you know I’ve had a good relationship with the church over the years. I think religion is a wonderful thing. I think my religion is a wonderful religion.”
So he digs it. At least the collecting Bibles part of Christianity, that is.
But some Christians remain doubtful and point to that time how Christian someone like Trump could actually be. It’s bizarre to hear someone say Mexicans are rapists and then imagine their inner monologue including vulnerable, soft-hearted prayers.
Basically, if you think that all it takes for someone to be a Christian is for them to profess that they are a Christian, then Trump is a Christian. But isn’t it supposed to be about a little bit more than that? If your understanding of Christianity is that you’re meant to seek to be Christ-like and all that jazz, and, like, work to be a good, understanding, loving person, that’s where it gets messy. Because between racist condemnation of entire groups of people, and his refusal to be open and honest, it’s hard to see Trump as someone who spends much time idolizing Jesus and apologizing for his sins.
And, well, it’s probably because he doesn’t. Trump said he doesn’t seek forgiveness for the un-Christian things he does. “I am not sure I have. I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and make it right. I don’t bring God into that picture. I don’t.”
Original by: Rachel Charlene Lewis
