MAGA.
MAGA. MAGA. MAGA.
I’ve been tailing the US Election since Biden nominated Harris as leader of the Democrats. So much so that my younger brother jokingly calls me a Senator. I take the tag lightly because I know that I am far from a politician, yet I have always understood the politics of being- and this awareness, reader, is inescapable. But so is the 47th President of the United States, Donald J Trump.
I have tried so hard to give MAGA Republicans the benefit of the doubt. I spent so long avoiding adding yet another layer onto the already rampant discussions because I wanted to first observe and then understand them. I see the hurt the new governmental policies and beliefs are causing people, not just in America but globally and yet I still am trying to find a “middle ground” with them. Many will say I am absurd for attempting to do so but everyone is human and even I—most especially I—as a believer of Christ, cannot acquit them of this right.
Christianity is a long contested subject. Who is right? Who is God? Who is good? Who is bad? All and every question is aimed at this religion and more so at the people collecting themselves under this branch of reasoning. And equally like, people see it as one branch shooting from the tree of divinity and mysticism. Resultingly they think why not inspect the others saying roughly the same thing and producing roughly the same fruit? This is not villainous thinking. However, Jesus Himself talks of us, His children, being the branch off of the true vine; one which cannot live without Him. Notably, not religion or a system of beliefs but He bravely puts His life, His teaching and His Father as the tree. That’s way He will always bear responsibility for the fruit produced and we can check ourselves through inspecting the vine, which we already know is perfect.
This is all to say that yes, the followers are the face of the group. They are representatives of Christ and it is a big bloody deal. Again I tell you if you want to find a good tree, look at the fruit!
I love doing what I do here- writing about the God who saves. But I know the risk it poses not only to the kingdom of darkness but now also to the public and political world. Christianity is overtly political. Always has been and will continue to be.
It is unsettling to be public about anything in this world these days. The brevity of our social spaces both cement and politicise our activity as soon as we press ‘post’. The cyber space we now live in detests change; the algorithms are unforgiving. So, when you make a public declaration of anything be prepared to die for it because the internet won’t let you live without reminding you of it. Talk less of going on the web to declare the Lord Jesus Christ as your saviour. That takes some thick skin and commitment. I commend all my fellow sisters and brothers in Christ making daily declarations of faith on a global scale- but when does this become a problem? How do we know when a servant is speaking without listening? The internet is deceitful and we shall never actually know. But then again there is always fruit to tell us…
Girls Gone Bible praying at Trump’s pre-inauguration rally is what actually got me to writing this essay. I had planned a similar one for a while premised upon Christian Content Creators/Influencers which would’ve been a lot more analytical nevertheless I am grateful for the segue because this allows me to exercise my mind in a much more discursive manner-which I hope you can follow along with.
If you don’t know, Girls Gone Bible is a popular Christian podcast hosted by two lovely American ladies, Angela and Ariella, which discusses the beauty of Jesus, His word and His reformatory power. When I saw them pray for Trump, through gritted teeth I smiled and scrolled on thinking everyone needs prayer so no big deal there. The pair then appeared at the rally and my heart twinged a little. On a public, global, HIGHLY politicised, RED WHITE AND BLUE stage the duo were praying and calling the name of Jesus to a room full of MAGA individuals. In my recoiling it was then I realised to myself this can’t have been what we were called to do.
What most of all frightens me about progressing into the public sphere with a distinct voice, opinion or look is the potential of being hailed and—God forbid—idolised beyond reason (cough cough Trump). The current Influencer era has only proved that we as human beings truly need something to worship.
Now, this topic is too big for one post and so if necessary I will do a part 2 but presently I will introduce it through the case study of GGB. Christian content creation, MAGA as an organisation of religious performativity and other Trump/Republican related ideals will be reserved for the wider discussion.
Jesus knew what was up. We cannot and should not be taking our eyes off from Him for a SECOND. It’s hitting me now more than it used to before. In John 6, John’s account of the famous episode of Jesus feeding the five thousand inserts an enlightening perspective to the scene which ultimately catapulted Jesus to “Influencer status” and beyond. After providing miraculously for the 5000 from a mere 2 loaves of bread and five fish, expectantly the crowd were amazed and wanted to cement Jesus in all His glory. But John writes:
Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
The other accounts in the gospel pick up from the point of departure writing that Jesus went up to the mountains to pray and possibly seek the face/ intervention of the Father. John’s disclosure always stuck out to me because not only does it highlight Jesus’ remarkable level of humility it demonstrates to us that there is no good which emerges from the fashion of raising individuals to god-like status. Demonstrated by God Himself, might I add!
I cannot blame Girls Gone Bible for being catapulted into the limelight but I can critique them for how they use it. One thing I’ve always had pressed into my heart by the Spirit is to relentlessly emphasise that I am not special because I preach the gospel, but in fact you are because you hear it. I think it’s a trait I get from my father. As soon as someone wants to herald or oftentimes unnecessarily endow him, I watch him almost squirm with discomfort, or also run away too like Jesus to the mountains (for my father replace it with his office, his family or his beloved church), and totally give God the glory and the crown because he knows only He can carry the weight.
Humans cannot carry the weight of the crown. Isn’t that why Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Because it is not until after this life, through death (to self, carnality, sin etc) and therefore in resurrection that we can finally bear the crown because we have shed the weight of the flesh and seen the Father in the purest form. Influencers, and even their predecessor celebrities, have only ever been tactics of Satan to get us to prematurely obtain the crown. I urge you to hide when you can see the light is morphing into your name and not the Lord’s, even when it looks as though it is for the sake of the Lord. It still isn’t right.
Claiming to be for the only Man to walk the earth who completely detested status whilst seemingly pining for it and accepting centre stage roles for huge figures doesn’t seem to be adding up. Just because you say in Jesus name doesn’t mean His name is really there.
-Sarah J.
We shall be back to regular programming tomorrow, welcome to February…!
This is really really good. Thank you for doing the "labour" of posting it and sharing it with us--I know not for your glory, but His.