Robert Farley quotes extensively from a piece in The Atlantic by Peter Wehner. The Atlantic is paywalled so unless you have a subscription you'll need to settle for the excerpt. A major part of the MAGA base consists of Christian nationalists, who are also prominent among the current government leadership, including the Vice President. A major component of Christian nationalism, or dominionism, in turn, is called the Seven Mountains Mandate, which according to a recent poll is supported by 44% of Christians. The Seven Mountains are family, religion, education, media, arts and entertainment, business, and government. Once Christians gain control of all of these, it will bring about the End Times and Christ's Kingdom on earth. Among prominent adherents were the late Charlie Kirk, and the very much alive Lauren Boebert, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and Paula White, "spiritual adviser" to D.J. Trump.
Wehner argues that most Christians, when they go to church on Sunday, hear sermons about loving your enemy and being forgiving and kind, but:
Many of the leaders within the Christian-MAGA movement are autocratic, arrogant, and controlling; they lack accountability, demand unquestioned loyalty, and try to intimidate their critics, especially those within their church or denomination. The grievances and resentment they feel are impossible to overstate; they are suffering from a persecution complex. Fully MAGA-fied Christians view Trump as the “ultimate fighting machine,” in the words of the historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez, and they love him for it.
In short, as Farley expounds, Christians feel persecuted and
many Christians to believe that what they need is a warrior figure to defend the faith. It’s also worth noting that it has long been accepted in much Christian thought that those who defend the faith with the sword endure a special moral vulnerability; they must do things that are detestable in the eyes of God in order to maintain the security of the flock. In this sense a Trump is not such an unusual figure in his evident disdain for the actual teachings and trappings of Christianity, and indeed his lack of observance is ironically a strength; he is risking his immortal soul to fight a battle to save the rest of the flock.
I disagree with this. I don't think they feel persecuted, I think they want to rule the world. Christian dominionism is not defensive, it is militantly aggressive. The chapter we're about to read doesn't contain the money quotes for this, but it does contain a lengthy story about Jesus killing a fig tree because he was hungry and found that it wasn't currently bearing fruit. It also tells of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and violently attacking merchants who were operating in the Temple courtyard. So no, actual teaching about loving your enemy and forgiveness and all that evidently do not apply to Christ himself.
11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna![a]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’[c]? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[d]”
18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples[e] went out of the city.
20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[f] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” [26] [g]
The Authority of Jesus Questioned
27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”
29 Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”
31 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
Footnotes
- Mark 11:9 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 10
- Mark 11:9 Psalm 118:25,26
- Mark 11:17 Isaiah 56:7
- Mark 11:17 Jer. 7:11
- Mark 11:19 Some early manuscripts came, Jesus
- Mark 11:23 Some early manuscripts “If you have faith in God,” Jesus answered, 23 “truly
- Mark 11:26 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Matt. 6:15.
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