Trumpism Rightly Denounced as a Heretical Cult

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/cult-christian-trumpism/

Finally, there is a strong voice emanating from the Reformed community that is willing to call a spade a spade. But because the voice is that of Michael Horton and associated with Westminster California, it will be dismissed and decried by many as yet another manifestation of 'Radical' Two Kingdoms (R2K) thinking.

Some at Westminster may hold to a Two Kingdoms view but there's nothing radical about their version of it. At best it's a Calvinist-Kuyperian re-casting of Luther's doctrine which upon examination is revealed to be little more than One Kingdom (in two aspects) – a nuanced position that was mildly 'radical' when juxtaposed with the Papal-Roman monistic concept of Catholic Christendom. And yet it can hardly be described as radical when compared with five hundred years of Protestant heritage – let alone when compared to what the New Testament actually teaches.

Horton seems eager to utilise uses Rod Dreher's comments as a means to buttress his framework. Dreher's comments are interesting but I must confess I'm not terribly interested in him. I found myself far more appreciative of Horton's voice, though I wish he had spoken in stronger terms. He wasn't nearly forceful enough. In Christian terms Trumpism is a heretical cult and if one understands the implications of that – then we have a real crisis on our hands in the larger American Church. We're witnessing something close to a takeover. In spiritual terms it's not that different than the political actions we witnessed at the US Capitol on 6 January.

Horton is also right to observe the umbrella-encompassing effect that Trumpism seems to have. It's as if various (even opposing) religious elements are finding ecumenical unity in Trump and Trumpism. And for the more extreme sections of the cult – the sects within the sect – Trump is literally a messianic figure.

Horton also raises an important point and something that needs to be said – 'Woke' Leftism (which is rarely all that Left) gets all the negative and sensationalist attention but Trumpism is at least just as bad and off base. They are both errors that need to be condemned. And they are related errors. Which is the pendulum swing to the other is not so easy to say. These are both manifestations of a dynamic at work in the larger culture. And once again the ever so acculturated Church is subject to these ebbs and flows, these winds of change because the leaders of the Church have abandoned any notion of Biblical antithesis or New Covenant identity.

This is precisely why the heresy of Christian Americanism has gained so much traction. And it is just that – a heresy, for it combines American social and political theories and traditions (mostly from the Enlightenment) with Christian theology. It corrupts not only theology but ethics and in many cases completely overturns New Testament teaching. In truth, it's a rival religion that has been blended and made indistinguishable from Christianity. The Constitution is all but confused with the Bible – and ironically (or perhaps not) those Christians who seem to quote it incessantly and authoritatively seem to know the least about it and the history of its jurisprudence. Biblical ignorance or at least hermeneutical ignorance seems to go hand in hand with this tendency.

Christian Trumpism is but Christian Americanism on steroids – taken into the Libertarian stratosphere. Or perhaps it could be viewed as the triumph of the Americanism aspect and the subjugation of Christianity – though its followers would be the last to see this or admit it.

And yes, the name of Christ has been slandered among the heathen for their deeds – the whole movement has been an occasion for the enemies of Christ to blaspheme. The gospel is offensive and yet what they're doing, the stands they make, and the ethos of the movement have nothing to do with the gospel. Horton wrote this in December 2020 – things have only gotten worse in the month since.

Though the article provides some excellent comments regarding Christian Americanism – it is still too restrained. Not only was America not some outpouring of God's blessing, a setting apart of an exceptional nation – it was born of bloody rebellion and sin and has deified the sword and coin ever since. Biblically minded Christians had nothing to do with its founding and if faithful, have never had any standing in its society.

Sadly many 18^th century Christians had been affected by bad theology and preaching – largely out of the Calvinist tradition (something Horton, Scott Clark and others at Westminster try to ignore), and not a few Cultural Christians of the day were just as affected by the ideas of Paine and others as they were the teachings of Peter and Paul.

The separation Horton calls for is right but as a Kuyperian he doesn't go near far enough and the fact that this article appeared at The Gospel Coalition is both disheartening and discrediting – but also a sign of hope. And yet were the Dominionist-driven Gospel Coalition to ever get the New Testament message regarding Dominionism, the Kingdom and their project – the organisation would necessarily disband.

I resonate well enough with his personal End Times narrative. Hal Lindsey also overshadowed my upbringing and I read his books at an early age. And I also appreciated his mentioning of the John Birch Society for its detestable ideology often has gone hand in hand with the Dispensationalism of the Christian Right – but it hasn't always been so. And yet since the Obama administration that unfortunate organisation has experienced a revival of sorts and having dovetailed with Trumpism it has further enhanced and empowered both entities.

And as far as the Prosperity Gospel, that is simply the Charismatic over-the-top tacky manifestation and application of Dominion Theology which celebrates wealth and power, sanctifies Capitalism and usury, and believes the utilisation of these tools and the acquisition of influence (by means of sword and coin) are Kingdom-oriented goals and the fruit of gospel obedience. It's but an overripe expression of a theology born of the Magisterial Reformation and Protestant Scholasticism.

Horton criticises the Charismatic errors and sensationalism regarding their alliance with Trump and epistemology in general, but he avoids a categorical condemnation of the whole approach and ethic – something warranted and even demanded by a read of the New Testament. Why? Because to some extent he still retains it and is very much 'plugged in' to the mainstream culture, its ethos and expectations. He would probably take offense at this but I see little evidence otherwise – either with him or his supposedly 'radical separatist' colleagues.

It was a refreshing read and yet I wish there was a chorus of such voices speaking in stronger terms. Horton sounds the alarm. He says what needs to be said and in strong terms but somehow there's still something tepid about his approach – things are still a bit out of focus. It is the fog of Kuyperianism which seems to consistently overshadow his work and that of his colleagues.

But given the present hour, his message shines as a ray of light in the darkness.