POLITICAL NOTEBOOK/OPINION

Trump Says He’s A Christian

But do his actions tell us otherwise?

cindee D Renee

Published in

Write A Catalyst

6 min readAug 2, 2024

“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”-Matthew 7:16 (KJV)

Do we know Trump by the fruit he bears? The signs of bad fruit are there:

He said Two Corinthians.
He held up a Bible after teargassing his fellow Americans.
He said he will never need forgiveness from God.
He made recent statements about wanting to lock up beautiful babies in cages and mass deport their mothers.
He said women should go to jail if they have abortions.
He wanted millions of Christians to go to church during the early stages of COVID on Easter Sunday 2020.
He allowed thousands to lose their lives during his mishandling of COVID.

Does Trump’s latest statement about being a Christian or not prove he’s a bad apple? Trump recently told a group of Nationalist Evangelicals at the Turning Point USA’’s Believers Summit: “You won’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians. I love you, Christians. I’m a Christian.” Some have interpreted him as saying, “I’m not Christian.” It is hard to hear what he said. If you play it back, it can be heard either way. I have listened to the video again and again and I do believe he said, “I’m not Christian.” If he is a Christian, wouldn’t his fruits bear that out anyway?

“Even so, every tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.”-Matthew 7:17

Christianity follows the teachings of Jesus Christ

The core of Christianity follows the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule spoken by Jesus Christ teaches that men should treat others the way they want to be treated, and love your neighbor as yourself. So, is wanting to lock people up and implementing the mass deportation of natural-born citizens from the United States following the Golden Rule? Is wanting to harm your political opponents because you don’t agree with them following the Golden Rule? If you don’t treat your fellow man with loving kindness, can you say you’re a Christian, or a Golden Rule follower?

“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.”- Matthew 7:18

He said Two Corinthians

Trump mispronounced this book of the Bible at a speech a few years ago in front of a group of young Christians. Many in the audience chuckled at the statement. Why? Because most Christians know how to say the books of the Bible correctly. Would a man who says he is a Christian:

curse in front of his followers?
lie to others all the time?
Not pay businesses or cities for services rendered?
Sleep with porn stars?
Sell a Bible with references to the American Constitution for profit?
Know and not follow the 10 Commandments?

Trump knows he doesn’t have to be politically correct in society, or even a correct Christian follower, for that matter. Even the devil quoted scripture. The Bible is the blueprint for the life of a Christian. As a real estate developer, Trump understands how blueprints work. A new building cannot be built without a blueprint. And Christians cannot be Christians without following the Bible’s blueprint.

“Every tree that bringeth forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”-Matthew 7:19

He tear gassed fellow Americans and took a photo op with the Bible

In the middle of the protest for George Floyd on June 1st, 2020, in Washington D.C., President Trump had the area around Lafayette Square cleared. He then took a photo in front of St. John’s Church across the street with a Bible raised in his left hand. Why? What kind of statement was he making? Are Christians supposed to teargas fellow Americans? As a result of his actions, Trump didn’t get the positive reactions he was hoping he would. Many Americans didn’t approve. The church he stood in front of didn’t approve. And his military general, General Mark Miley, apologized for his own actions and for the participation of the military in the domestic protest. Where was his Christian love? Instead, his actions sparked political division and several people got hurt. So, was taking a defiant photo really worth it?

“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”-Ephesians 5:11

He doesn’t need the forgiveness of Jesus

Trump has said he doesn’t need the forgiveness of God. This belief is a flat denial of Christianity. The Bible says you need to be forgiven and confess your sins in order for salvation to take place. The core of a Christian’s life is the acceptance of salvation. And there is no salvation without Jesus. He died for our sins. He died that we might live eternally. A true Christian will confess his or her sins and willingly ask to be forgiven. A true Christian would never reject this principle. If they do, that person is not a Christian, but an unbeliever. Is Trump an unbeliever?

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (NIV)

He places people in hurt, harm, and danger

“First Do No Harm” is a quote by theologian John Wesley and is attributed to the Hippocratic Oath once pledged in medical schools. The Bible says if you love others, you will do them no harm. And as President, Trump harmed many. He:

separated thousands of immigrants who crossed the border from their families.
He brags about overturning Roe, hurting women’s access to medical care.
He wants women who have abortions thrown in jail.
His policies led to the deaths of many during COVID.
He wanted Christians to go to church on Easter Sunday 2020, while the pandemic was at its peak, despite social distancing and warnings by medical officials.

Trump placed many people in situations that would hurt, harm, or endanger them. Why? Would spreading more sickness across the land during COVID be beneficial? Was this an appropriate Christian Easter message? Most Christians know the importance of Easter. Easter represents Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Easter is a time of renewal. Easter is a time of rebirth. Easter is a time of life itself. And Easter Sunday is not the time to be political.

“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”- Romans 13:10 (ESV)

Conclusion: Is my Christianity Trump’s Christianity?

What is Christianity? Christianity is a religion based on Jesus Christ and his teachings. A true Christian is a follower of Christ. True Christianity comes from having a personal relationship with Christ. And Christianity shouldn’t mix politics and religion. White Nationalist Conservative Evangelical Christians have always mixed religion and politics since the Reagan administration in the 1980's. It was mainly because they wanted abortion banned, which occurred in 2022. Now, they want to dismantle the separation of church and state clause of the US Constitution, and turn our nation into a Christian theocracy. Did they all forget who’s in control? God created everyone in his own image. God doesn’t exclude any individuals because of race, gender, religious beliefs, or identity. God has no respect of persons. And Jesus loves everyone. How could Trump proclaim to be a Christian without serving Jesus? Trump reminds me of that old saying by Billy Sunday: “Going to church doesn’t make you any more of a Christian than being in a garage makes you a car.” Just telling others you are a Christian doesn’t make you a Christian. A Christian serves God with the fruit of his good works. A true Christian declares his faith by his words and his deeds.