[guest post by Dana]

Just hilarious.

–Dana

[guest post by Dana]

I’ve been saying for a while, that whether a Trump supporter or a Cruz supporter, there is a common denominator the two groups share and that is our collective anger at elected officials repeatedly indulging their own quest for power and reward instead of doing the will of the people. As a result, we’re mobilized and actively supporting the candidates that we believe will work for us instead of against us. But this is where we part ways. As I’ve also said before, I believe one of the biggest differences between angry Trump and Cruz supporters is that only one side is actively seeking revenge. And, as I said last week, if taking that revenge requires thuggish tactics, then so be it. The candidate and his followers seem fine with that. Small price to pay.

If you couple that with the reasonable assumption that any comment Trump makes about Scripture influencing him has almost nothing to do with actual Christianity and everything to do with making a political calculation to please his supporters, it makes perfect sense that the verse he claims to have informed him most is one that he believes gives him a God-approved license for vengeance:

“Is there a favorite Bible verse or Bible story that has informed your thinking or your character through life, sir?” asked host Bob Lonsberry on WHAM 1180 AM.

Trump responded, “Well, I think many. I mean, when we get into the Bible, I think many, so many. And some people, look, an eye for an eye, you can almost say that. That’s not a particularly nice thing. But you know, if you look at what’s happening to our country, I mean, when you see what’s going on with our country, how people are taking advantage of us, and how they scoff at us and laugh at us. And they laugh at our face, and they’re taking our jobs, they’re taking our money, they’re taking the health of our country. And we have to be firm and have to be very strong. And we can learn a lot from the Bible, that I can tell you.”

Yep. A license for vengeance. It fits Trump like a glove. We’ve seen it in the campaign and in his business dealings. If he believes you’ve wronged him – even if the facts prove you didn’t – he’ll push back twice as hard, he’ll drag you (and your spouse) through the mud, and then it’s quite possible, he’ll sue you. In other words, he will make you pay.

Ultimately, Trump killed two birds with one stone yesterday: he reassured his evangelical supporters that he’s one of them (Look! I can quote the Bible!) and he reassured his angry supporters that God’s greatest influence on him just happens to happily coincide with what they are clamoring for him to do: take revenge. He also again conveyed that he alone will be their justice; give him your anger, he’s the willing receptacle.

Oh, and just for kicks: Matthew 5:38 – 48:

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

[Note: It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Given Trump’s comments were political, there didn’t seem to be any reason to go into the Mosaic law and Jesus fulfilling the law in the post. He clearly hasn’t studied scripture and probably doesn’t have a compelling interest in doing so. But please feel free to do so in the comments.]

–Dana