Posted on 03/06/2020 5:32:02 PM PST by Salvation
Blaise Joseph's article comparing Donald Trump to the Roman Emperor Constantine was first published in MercatorNet on March 26, long before he clinched the Republican nomination and went on to defeat Hillary Clinton. At the time, it seemed audacious and improbable. Now it seems prophetic.
Christians are unable to speak freely. Religious freedom is under attack. Society is materialistic and immoral. Western civilisation is facing huge threats, from within and without. And apparently the one powerful emerging leader is no saint.
You’re thinking America 2016? No. Rome 312.
The leader is Constantine, who is vying to become the Roman Emperor. Constantine had many defects: he had multiple wives and even put one of them to death, was extremely ambitious, and was a ruthless general and politician. But the legend remains that he had a “Road to Damascus” moment, saw a vision, converted to Christianity, triumphed over his opponents, and became a great emperor of Rome.
Constantine would go on to not only save the Roman Empire, but also liberate Christianity. He signed the Edict of Milan in 313, giving Christians the right to practice their faith and speak freely. This was enough to allow Christians to engage in the public sphere with freedom, thereby enabling them to spread the Christian message to the ends of the empire and Christianise a pagan culture.
Constantine himself was no pillar of virtue, but he created the environment which gave Christians the freedom to influence society. The early Christians were perfectly capable of influencing society themselves; all they needed from the emperor was the freedom to do so.
Fast forward to 2016, and we can see many obvious similarities. Western society has many problems. Conservative Christians have the solutions to many of those problems, but cannot articulate them freely in the public square due to endemic political correctness and cultural Marxism.
Conservatives do not lack will, good arguments, or articulate defenders; what they lack is the freedom to speak bluntly about social issues without being shouted down by the vindictive hordes of secular progressivism for “offending” particular groups of people. Donald Trump is the only person who can give us that freedom.
But first, consider the following:
There are many more examples. The point is that making perfectly reasonable statements causes so much outrage that conservatives either give up or end up losing credibility and becoming impotent in influencing public opinion. Arguments are not considered on their merits but rather assessed based on the extent to which they offend particular groups of people. This makes the conservative Christian cause in the public sphere ultimately hopeless.
And this is where Trump comes in.
American doesn’t need a president to make arguments for us. America just needs a president to give us the freedom to make our arguments without fear of being shouted down by the politically correct brigade.
Whatever else you might say about Trump, he is definitely politically incorrect, and prides himself on that attribute. He refuses to back down after making controversial statements. He does not apologise for offending groups after making arguments. He stands up to the media. He is defiant in spite of being vilified by political elites, journalists, and academics.
Let’s consider the example of illegal immigration. Trump is tapping into the understandable tendency for ordinary citizens to be sceptical of high levels of immigration, especially when there is little or no order to the immigration program. For many years, this was a no-go-zone, as those who raised the issue were shouted down by calls of “racist” and allegations of offending immigrants, Mexicans, etc. Trump, however, in less than a year, has managed to kick-start a proper debate on the topic by refusing to be howled down and apologise for potentially offending minority groups. Regardless of your views on illegal immigration, it is clear that the tactics of the cultural Marxists, used in the immigration debate, simply do not work against Trump.
Or take the issue of terrorism. Unlike many other Christian leaders, Trump calls out the evil of Islamic terrorism and extremism for what it is; and seeks to sensibly scrutinise the policy of mass Islamic immigration in order to protect national security. In doing so, he has again overcome the slogans of “Islamophobia” and “racism to actually discuss an important, sensitive issue.
Christian conservatives need exactly the same thing to happen with other issues, like abortion and marriage. This is how Trump could be a great president for conservative Christians. Trump is the one presidential candidate who is capable of changing society to make it more tolerant of robust discussions on controversial issues. At last, with a leader who publicly holds the silencing tactics of the left with utter contempt, it would be possible to stand up to leftists on hot-button issues.
If Trump becomes president of the US and the most powerful leader in the West, he can fundamentally change Western culture. The effects of his presidency would go far beyond the shores, and walls, of America. People would speak more freely about a range of issues. Political correctness, after being denounced by Trump over and over again, would be severely weakened. Cultural Marxism and the politics of victimhood would be crippled. Progressives who seek to shut down debate would realise that their tactics no longer work. And following this fundamental transformation of the political scene, conservatives could finally be free to make their case in the public sphere.
Everything else would follow from this. Our universities would become places of learning and free thinking again. Better judges, lawyers, and politicians would result. The population would be far better informed because public debates would take place with fewer impediments. This would lead to long-term successes on social political issues, like abortion and marriage, and also allow Christians to make Western society truly Christian once again.
Now, many conservative Christian commentators and academics have spoken out against Trump. For example, a large group of Catholic academics and public intellectuals, including Professor Robert George from Princeton, came out recently with many criticisms of Trump: all of them understandable, many of them justifiable, and some of them indisputable. It is perfectly legitimate to be concerned about Trump’s sudden change of heart on abortion, his past comments on marriage and family, his attitude towards Muslims, his support for torture, and so on.
People such as Professor George are intellectual giants who have been great warriors for conservatism, but they appear to be missing the bigger picture this election. They want to elect candidates who have a record of defending conservative positions, as a way of mitigating the control that progressives have over social debates, a reality that they just accept. But why do we just have to accept it? Why can’t we think outside the square and elect someone who might be able to deal a fatal blow to political correctness and cultural Marxism?
Having a consistent conservative president of the US would without a doubt be a welcome event. Publicly making the case for a number of Christian causes and nominating sound judges, for instance, would be good results in and of themselves. However, there is a very limited amount of good this would do when there is still a culture that severely restricts public debate particularly on a number of vital social issues. Conservative politicians, commentators, and academics would still have to tread carefully, dilute their arguments, and apologise for offending people, as long as cultural Marxists have a hold on public debate. No long-term victories are possible while this is the case.
Just look at the minimal sustainable benefits from eight years of George W. Bush, a conservative Christian, in power. He was everything a conservative Christian could ask for. He even had a Republican congress for a period of time. But what do we have to show for the eight years he was president? Is America in any conceivable way more hospitable to Christianity and to conservative principles than it was in 2000? Even if you blame Obama for rolling back the good things that Bush did, then you have to accept that Bush's achievements were so unsustainable as to be virtually useless. So what exactly is the point of electing another mainstream conservative Christian President?
Coming from a commerce background, Trump is the “high risk/high return” option. He could end up achieving little for conservatism and embarrass conservatives in the short-term. But it is also quite possible that he drives cultural Marxism out of the public sphere, allowing Christians to make their case freely for many generations to come.
Maybe it is just those of us in our impetuous youth, but we have had enough of the culture of political correctness and should be willing to take almost any risk to grasp the once-in-a-generation opportunity of eradicating this culture from Western countries. If we push back against cultural Marxism, and there is no better way of doing this than by making Trump president, then political correctness will be significantly weakened, and after four or eight years of Trump, would be crippled beyond healing.
There are also legitimate questions about Trump’s character, temperance and ego. Trump is certainly no saint. But do we really need a saint as President of the United States right now? Or do we just need someone to free up the public sphere to allow Christians to help make everyone saints?
In any case, does anyone seriously believe that Trump has a bigger ego than any other politician? He just refuses to display the fake humility that politicians have come to perfect and the population have come to despise.
Here again is a similarity with Constantine: as emperor, he was such an egotistical individual that he even named the capital of the empire, Constantinople, after himself (even Trump wouldn’t go this far, probably).
Like Constantine, Trump is an imperfect human and a flawed leader. But just as Constantine is now widely referred to as ‘Constantine the Great’ for his achievements as Roman Emperor and giving freedom to Christians, is it possible that one day Trump may be remembered as the man who ‘Made America Great Again’ and revered by Christians as ‘the Great’?
Trump could be exactly what conservative Christians need right now. We are currently constrained by a cultural Marxist environment of political correctness. Working within this constraint, it is possible that Ted Cruz or “anyone but Trump” is the best Republican candidate. But if we want to take away this constraint once and for all, then Trump is the best candidate – in fact, he is the only candidate.
Comments?
WTF! This unretouched image from movie "Patton" about 16mins in seems apropos.
So as through a glass, and darkly
The age long strife I see
Where I fought in many guises,
Many names, but always me. (Patton)
Not much to argue with in this piece. The fact that it was written before Trump won the election is remarkable. The fact that it was written by a man from the University of New South Wales makes it even more remarkable. Prophetic even.
I will say this, ego and arrogance are terms often used to describe Trump. I disagree with those terms in reference to Trump.
Self-confidence and a firm commitment to one’s beliefs are very often criticized as being arrogant and egotistical by those who have neither self-confidence or a firm belief system. But, especially so by those who dislike your convictions and cannot force you to change your views.
Constantine had defects: he had many wives and put one to death...
but what were his defects
In Trumps case his extremely high opinion of himself is fully warranted. In all honesty I think he is way too humble. ;-)
Yes, Trump is a dead ringer for Patton. He was my favorite general as well.
I worked in NYC for a LONG time. The Donald was hardly a paragon of virtue but he was a fixture in Manhattan. People on the right liked his business views and loathed his leftish social stance. People on the left haaaaaaated him.
Right after Trump was elected I read this interesting story about Kellyanne Conway:
And there's more: Kellyanne Conway reportedly took Donald Trump to meet Father George Rutler, the Anglican convert priest and pastor of the Church of St. Michael in Mahattan, who blessed the future president just days before his election.
I've met Fr Rutler...he is an old-school Catholic priest and one of the best in the clergy. He is often on EWTN and, since the election, he has written a few pieces in Crisis Magazine that are very pro-Trump.
Did Trump's meeting with Fr Rutler spawn some conversion? Had the two known of each other (Fr Rutler is a "heavy" in NY - his homilies are worth missing several lunch breaks) much like how Jesus knew tax collectors?
It wouldn't surprise me at all, if Trump got some religion directly through Fr Rutler from the Holy Spirit during that blessing.
I would like to see results of a professional artist/photoshopped replacing the helmet with Trump’s hair.
Plus Trump’s wife, Melania, is a Catholic. I fully believe one of these days he will convert to Catholicism.
The Macedonian Call.
From this writer’s pen to God’s ears!
Trump has been God’s gift to America.
The resemblance to Patton is striking.
I believe that Trump is divinely guided. I don’t know exactly from where it came. Trump is also surrounded by Evangelicals from numerous denominations who pray for and over him on a continual basis.
There is also a man who claims divine inspiration who wrote many many years ago a prophecy he claims came to him that one day Trump would become president and be God’s reprieve for the USA. God’s champion. This article has been published numerous times and during the primaries, this man was interviewed about his prophecy.
Regardless, it is enough for me that this President fearlessly proclaims the Glory of God, Loud and Proud and champions and seeks to protect Godly men and women from those who hate God and wish to drive God from our lives.
And, for this, no matter your denomination we should all Thank God Almighty for President Donald Trump.
My opinion, as a Greek Orthodox man married to a Catholic woman.
That is so interesting! I would like to read that prophecy.
https://www.trunews.com/article/gods-man-firefighter-shares-2011-vision-of-president-trump
This is an excepted interview that I found. There are many available. The man that speaks of the prophecy of Donald Trump is a Firefighter. Not a pastor or priest. I’ve read more detailed interviews with this man years ago but, it’s late I’m getting ready to retire for the night. But, I thought this would interest you and give you something to springboard your own research.
We can hope for that -— and keep praying for him. Trump certainly seems sincere when he talks about God and about prolife. And he hardly seems the type who would fake it. If he thought it was bull^&%$ he would call it bull^&%$.
Trump has many shortcomings but he was the only Republican who could defeat the Clinton Crime Family. Any Republican who wants to win in 2024 needs to “apprentice” under Trump.
I didn't believe you. I thought they were shopped, so I did a web search. This is downright scary (scary in a super cool, that's awesome way.)
It's uncanny.
Troof. He defeated the Clinton AND Bush crime families, the Muslim Brotherhood, Paul F'n Ryan, the CIA, FBI, and "Principled Conservatives, Inc."
Remember when Bill Krystol went to the CIA and got one of their Mormon agents to run for president, hoping to peel enough votes away from Trump to swing Utah to Hillary?
NOBODY else could have done what Trump's done.
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