Liturgies

Sunday, April 10th 2016

Is Donald Trump a Christian? Was the Pope Wrong?

By Bob Aldred

This not a prescriptive homily, giving answers to the questions raised. It is raising issues for a discussion we need to have.

Recently during the Republican Primaries campaign Pope Francis responded to Donald Trump's proposal to build a wall to keep out the Mexican migrants entering the US illegally, by saying to journalists

"Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian."

Trump's response was swift. "For a religious leader to question a person's faith is disgraceful. I am proud to be a Christian, and as President I will not allow Christianity to be consistently attacked and weakened."

The wearing of the badge of Christianity is held so strongly in countries that claim to be Christian, that to question a person's claim to Christianity by questioning their actions is bound to bring an aggressive response.

This is despite the barriers the Church puts up for becoming a Christian.

Recently I attended two orthodox Christian services, one an Anglican, the other Catholic. At the Catholic service we were invited to come forward to partake of the Eucharist, but if we were not Catholic we were asked to cross our arms in front of us and would be given a “Blessing”. The Anglican rector declared that only those who were baptised would make it to heaven. Bad luck for the Salvation Army.

So is Donald Trump a Christian? It depends on how you answer the question,
What does it mean to be a Christian?

The answer to this question has many implications. It determines what we teach our children and grandchildren about faith, religion, relationships, work, investment, and facing life's challenges generally.

The Danish existentialist theologian, Soren Kierkegaard, brought the wrath of the Danes upon himself by asking this very question,”What does it mean to be Christian?”

Kierkegaard argued, that the greatest enemy of Christianity was "Christendom"—the cultured and respectable Christianity of his day. The tragedy of easy Christianity is that existence has ceased to be an adventure and a constant risk in the presence of God, but has become a form of morality and a doctrinal system. Its purpose is to simplify the matter of becoming a Christian. This is just paganism, "cheap" Christianity, with neither cost nor pain, Kierkegaard argued.

For us at SMX, this question is very relevant given our un-orthodox stance, multi-faith and no faith membership, and our ongoing commitment to explore the Christian mystery.

Generally, the common answers range from the orthodox ”someone who is baptised”, or “born again”, or attends church, is “religious”, or grew up in a Christian family, or simply believes in Jesus. Or the nominal religious answers of “Obeying the 10 Commandments”; Love one another”, “being a good person”.

The answer is not so simple. This is a much more complex issue.

Obviously, many see themselves as Christian who do not meet the orthodox criteria of most churches.

Even the notion of loving one another can be complex and perplexing. It was Bernard Shaw who said, “Do not do unto others as you expect they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same”. Loving others at times means wanting the best for others when it is not what they want to hear. Those trying to get a loved one to stop smoking, or who have or are bringing up adolescents, will tell you how hard loving one another can be at times..

What differentiates a Christian from a non-Christian? Can a Christian claim to be more loving and compassionate than others? More generous and less selfish, more sacrificial and devoted to serving others? Is being Christian a matter of belief or of actions?

Well “love one another” is not the monopoly of Christians, and philanthropy is not confined to the religious.

In the 2011 census, 68% of people reported a religious affiliation, 61% identified themselves as Christian. According to Ian Harper, renowned Australian economist, in his paper published in Really Dangerous Ideas, that although Australians tend to treat religion as a private affair, it is clear that religious sentiment is important to many Australians. “Even if they consider it intensely private and personal, religion nevertheless shapens their outlook and aspirations”.

Why is religion important? Harper says,”Religion directs people beyond themselves to ultimate ends that transcend their selfish needs and desires ... Religion matters because it inspires people to think beyond the narrow confines of their own lives and daily tribulations to encompass a wider perspective. Indeed, public life itself, including respect for basic human rights, freedom of speech and the rule of law, has deep roots in Judeo-Christian religion”.

Harper again:”Religion matters because it is a well-spring of faith that there is more to this life than material comfort; of hope for a better future for oneself, one's children and grandchildren in this world, not just the next; and love for one's fellow human beings.”

If we embrace Harper's view, defining what it means to be a Christian is vitally important. It defines our identity in our our secular and sacred existence.

Despite this view, Prof John Carroll, Professor of Sociology, argues in his book, Ego and Soul, that people in this age have sought to find meaning away from religion.
“Old certainties have gone, including belief in a God who rules benevolently;
optimism that material progress will make people happier; and humanist confidence about a virtue in individuals inclining them to make better societies.” (Page 7)

Carroll argues that Modern society sees people seeking meaning through their careers and the Calvinistic work ethic, in sport with its rituals for the exhibition of such values as skill, courage, and fair play; or seek life's fulfilment through love relationships, and satisfaction through shopping (retail therapy), to name but a few.

Carroll proposes, that despite the disillusionment with religion, “Unconsciously, all humans know the true and the good, and are inwardly compelled to find what they know, through their lives and what they see. They sense there is some higher order framing their existence.”

So when we ask the question, “What does it mean to be Christian?” we are doing so in the framework of the majority of people perceiving themselves as Christian, although unsure of what that means when seeking the meaning of life.

As a Christian community here at SMX, what is our answer to “What does it mean to be Christian?”

Do we wish to claim to be Christian?

We call ourselves a “Faith Community”. But faith in who or what?

In the liturgy of the Eucharist, we come to Christ's table, declaring our discipleship and that we are following Christ. We make the claim to be Christian by our words and participation.

Being Christian is complex. The simple answers are incomplete. Being Christian is more than reciting the words of a creed, being initiated through the rites of baptism, being still, or obeying the rules and doctrines of the church, fighting for justice, or of loving one another. All or some of these have some meaning or place in our lives. We need a deep understanding and awareness of the underlying spirit of our lives.

So I leave you with these questions:
What does being Christian mean as we go into the unjust world?

What makes us unique, that we have a special place and purpose in today's multi-cultural, multi-faith society.

How does being a Christian help us face life and death issues, whatever they may be?

What is the something special we have to offer to our children and grandchildren because we are Christians?

Whatever your answer, the embracing of Christianity has to make a difference in all aspects of our living by inspiring us to make the most of the opportunities that come our way, instilling faith and hope in family and friends, connecting us to the sacred by awakening us to all that is around us, including saving our amazing environment, and motivate us to join with others to correct the wrongs and injustices of this world.
References:
Really Dangerous Ideas. 2013 Edited by Gary Johns
Ego and Soul. 2008 by Prof John Carroll