Thoughts from “Donald Trump’s Bible”

Shalom, greetings, grace and blessings to you,

I am the Bible Donald Trump displayed last night in front of St. John’s Church in Washington, D.C. To anyone who truly opens a Bible’s pages and studies God’s Word, taking its teachings to heart, the Bible speaks to that person and changes them into the person that God wants them to be so they can live a God-pleasing life to live and work with their fellow man in humble service.

If you would allow me, I’d like to speak to something else, to the feelings I had about last night. It felt very odd and different, and frankly, I say this sincerely that it didn’t feel right to me. I am used to sitting in a church pew rack or on a nightstand or in a classroom or smaller versions of me are carried in readers’ pockets or purses so they can hold me close to their heart and refer to me when they need to and read me as often as possible for enlightenment. By and large I am an intimate part of my owner’s life or of a congregation’s worship and education or of a religious school’s main sources.

Last night, however, I was held by Donald Trump and I felt manhandled and used and I want to tell you it was wrong. He brandished me like a product, like he was on a home-shopping network selling me. (Hey, did you know I’m already the most published book in history? No brag, just a proud fact!) How else would you explain some of his poses for the cameras…showing my spine so people could read “Holy Bible” on me, hoisting me in the air as he stood alone in front of a church, looking down ponderously each time giving the camera that stern clenched jaw look like he’s one tough hombre, like he’s the marshal in High Noon waiting for Frank Miller. It was like the scene he orchestrates when he signs an agreement in the White House and holds it up like a student showing his handwriting to a teacher. That’s not right. I’m not to be “used” for someone’s personal agenda, but used for reading, teaching, learning and increasing faith in God.

I don’t even know how I got to be in that scenario in the first place because I fully realize the United States is in a national crisis, the likes we haven’t seen in many years. I sense the sadness and hurt. Being outdoors at night is not a smart thing to do in recent days all across this great country, and I prefer not being out in the smoky air. It’s hard to get the smell out, you know. But I understand the air would have been fine if peaceful protesters hadn’t been hit with unnecessary tear gas. I suspect that was to set a scene to show how Donald Trump would handle demonstrators. But I also feel it was done so he could have the way safely cleared so he could walk to church and make it look like all was under control. But it was all a charade, and religion is no charade. Anyone who encouraged Trump to do this should be ashamed because they are misusing me. And any person or news network that doesn’t point out the heresy of this is not serving the public good but their own narrow agenda and supporting ineptitude and deceit.

I wouldn’t have minded being in his meaty fingers outdoors in the smoke if he had actually paused and opened me up and read from my verses. Then there would have been beauty in the air and the word of God would have been spoken and been a focal point and had an impact in this crisis. But from what I understand, last night was another example of Donald Trump as a missed opportunity in U.S. politics. Just as to this point he’s been the biggest missed opportunity in political history, not elected as a regular Republican or Democrat but an outsider who could have changed things in a positive way, he’s done nothing but made things worse. And just as no one last night came to my defense to stop the misuse of me, no one in his party is willing to tell him he’s wrong and stand up to him. I hear of how John McCain did, but sadly that American patriot is gone.

Perhaps Donald Trump didn’t stop to open my pages last night because he was unsure of where to go. That is a distinct possibility. He doesn’t inspire a belief that he is sincere about being religious when he can’t even talk like a spiritual man. Who can forget, before he even became president, when he tried to quote 2 Corinthians 3:17 and called it Two Corinthians instead of Second Corinthians? Readers of me learn how to say that correctly in Sunday School! And he said that at Liberty University of all places, where my fellow Bibles are used in abundance.

All Donald Trump would have needed to do last night to be safe would have been to go to the first chapters of Matthew in the New Testament. In Chapter 5 the beautiful Beatitudes would have been very appropriate—Verse 9 says, Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God—and in Chapter 6:5-8 he would have known God’s people are to be humble and not boastful about their spiritual life. But had he gone into my pages, knowing how his presidency has gone, he would have opened to Numbers in the Old Testament and been completely flummoxed.

Today in the light of day, I now sit back in repose. I hope to never be used like that again, by Donald Trump or anyone. I am a proud Revised Standard Version, after all, arguably one of the best translations of the Bible, and I want to keep my integrity. I don’t want to be used like a campaign sign again, and if I am used in photos in the fall for the next election, more great harm will be done to what I stand for. I would hope Mr. Trump would keep picking me up, but in private, and open up to read about real leaders, such as Moses, Abraham, the Apostle Paul, and of course, Jesus. If he took leadership traits from them all, he could be more effective. He would also learn about how effective supporters can be of great help and seek out people who could serve him as Aaron and Hur did Moses, holding up his arms when he felt weak.

Last night Donald Trump didn’t feel strong to me, he felt weak.