Responses to Trump’s social media announcement called the endorsement “
sacrilege,” “
heresy” and “
borderline offensive” and
cite lessons directly from the Bible that suggest taking advantage of people’s faith for money should be condemned.
However, the criticism doesn’t end with whether or not Trump’s endorsement is un-Christian or not. In fact, it’s just the beginning.
Historian and author
Jemar Tisby says the whole project echoes the values of
Christian nationalism — the idea that America was founded as a Christian nation and the government should work to sanction Christianity on a national scale.
“What has caused outrage with this Bible is that it includes the Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and even the lyrics to a Lee Greenwood song. So it’s adding to the Bible
“What’s so pernicious about this is it plays on people’s devotion to God and their love of country, either of which by themselves could be innocuous or even good,” he said.
“But in this effort, it is blending the two. And with Trump as the spokesperson, is conveying a very clear message about what kind of Christianity and what kind of love of nation (he is) promoting.”
When Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons,
communications director for the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation, saw Trump’s Bible endorsement, he said he saw a politician using fears rooted in racism and prejudice to promote a specific Christian ideology.
“When I hear ‘Make America Pray Again,’ I hear Christian nationalist promises that we are going to somehow ‘restore’ Christianity in this country. And if authoritarianism does come to the United States, it’s all but guaranteed it will be done in the name of Christianity, which is a very scary thought.”
