Christianity Today blasts Donald Trump, but not for his racism
Is this the bare minimum we can hope for from white evangelicals?
On Friday December 20th, yea, on the very cusp of both Baby Jesus’ birthday and a whole new decade, Christianity Today threw a wrench into white evangelical culture.
Mark Galli, editor in chief of the largely conservative publication, published a critique against Donald Trump, supporting his impeachment and calling for his removal from office. The bold move will likely be the highlight of Galli’s tenure, as he steps down on January 3rd. It possibly marks a significant rift in Trump’s white evangelical base post-impeachment. The president and his die-hard supporters rushed to his defense on Twitter, and the media ran wild with speculation on whether other Christian entities might follow suit.
But the facts in this instance are unambiguous: The president of the United States attempted to use his political power to coerce a foreign leader to harass and discredit one of the president’s political opponents. That is not only a violation of the Constitution; more importantly, it is profoundly immoral.
Mark Galli, Christianity Today
While Christianity Today’s stance against Trump’s proven political corruption is commendable, their critique of his wrongdoings ignores one crucial element — his racism. From his advocacy of birtherism to his obsession with reversing Obama’s legacy, from the atrocities committed at the border to his silence on police brutality, Donald Trump built and sustained his entire campaign on white supremacist rhetoric. His white evangelical fan base either callously ignores or blatantly supports this rhetoric, evidence of their attitudes to racism in spite of their Christianity.
The impeachment itself was colorblind after all, making no mention of the power of Trump’s whiteness launching him into presidency or the harmfulness of his racist policies. During the impeachment, “by not specifying whiteness, Congress keeps whiteness invisible for whites”, as Sam McKenzie Jr puts it. Similarly, Christianity Today’s colorblind condemnation of Trump conveniently ignores the biggest weapon in Trump’s arsenal — his shameless appeal to whiteness.
While we applaud this article as a step in the right direction, we must also acknowledge that it is very much a baby step. Even in their continued description of his shoddy character, there is absolutely no mention of Trump’s unbridled racism.
The reason many are not shocked about this is that this president has dumbed down the idea of morality in his administration. He has hired and fired a number of people who are now convicted criminals. He himself has admitted to immoral actions in business and his relationship with women, about which he remains proud. His Twitter feed alone — with its habitual string of mischaracterizations, lies, and slanders — is a near perfect example of a human being who is morally lost and confused.
Mark Galli, Christianity Today
Should we be appeased that his racism could fall under the blanket term “morally lost and confused”? No. The black community is tired of being relegated to the sidelines with an exasperated sigh of “gosh, you know we mean that too.” Blatant ongoing disregard for humanity is a stand alone feature of his presidency. For many of us, it is the reason he should not have been there in the first place. It more than deserves an honorable mention in any critical analysis of his character. Not naming and shaming this glaring problem while highlighting other issues insinuates that it is a non factor.
The white church has historically been silent about racism, not simply complicit in its machinations, but avid fanatics of it. White supremacy may actually be an idol that the church reveres more than Christ himself. Dr King went so far as to say that the most segregated hour in America is 11 o clock on a Sunday morning. That sentiment rings true today, as Christians have been sharply divided across color lines by their support of Trump. It is time for the white saints to reckon with their internalized supremacy.
To use an old cliché, it’s time to call a spade a spade, to say that no matter how many hands we win in this political poker game, we are playing with a stacked deck of gross immorality and ethical incompetence.
Mark Galli, Christianity Today
Christianity Today, thank you, and next time, please also call a racist a racist. We understand that this may be considered a hot button issue and you seek to respect the political views of all your readers, but we need to draw the line in the sand. The problem of Trump’s racism is not inconsequential, a topic of partisan debate, or a distraction from other issues. It is emblematic of the hypocrisy that has energized white Christians for centuries, and a slight that we will no longer tolerate.
