Shock and Awe: Trump 2.0

If you're like me, these past weeks have been an emotional roller coaster. I find myself cycling through states of dissociation, moments of God-given peace, and bursts of raw, unfiltered expression that would make my grandmother blush. As Trump's presidency unfolds through a wave of executive orders, interviews, and confirmation hearings, we're witnessing the familiar theater of political "shock and awe." Every modern presidency creates these "day one" spectacles – Trump, Biden, and those before them – seeking early victories through executive action. While impressive or scary, their actual impact varies, contingent on congressional purse strings and approval, but this reality show remains constant.

How are we doing fam? I know that for me, I want to sleep. Other times I want to scream. But here's the truth we must face: disengagement is exactly what they're counting on. They're banking on our exhaustion, hoping our outrage will exhaust itself before we can build a lasting resistance. We cannot – must not – take that bait.

I've had my moments of unfiltered response, fingers flying across my keyboard in anger, only to quickly delete comments moments later. A loved one recently called, their voice heavy with concern: "Your words are damaging your witness for Christ." I listened, offered gentle disagreement, and ended the call. But that conversation has been echoing in my mind, demanding deeper thought.

Here's where I've landed:

1. Anger isn't just acceptable – it's necessary when properly directed. What ignites my deepest anger? It's watching fellow Christians weaponize God's name to sanctify bigotry, belittlement, and bullying. This perversion of Jesus's message isn't just troubling – it's a fundamental betrayal of scripture. Pick up any version – KJV to The Message – and you'll find zero divine blessing for such behavior.

2. I love Jesus, and yes, I sometimes cuss. I actually enjoy cussing when the moment is right. This isn't some attempt at Christian counter-culture or spiritual superiority. It's about having the vocabulary to match the moment. I've exhausted the sanitized words of "Christian-ese." When I say I'm "angry" instead of "frustrated," I'm choosing authenticity over acceptability.

3. Regarding my "witness" – it's fine, just different. That well-meaning caller misread my purpose. I'm not here to perform Christianity for the already-convinced. My witness speaks to those who've been wounded by the church, who've seen its corruption and cruelty. I'm reaching toward those who've rejected institutional Christianity but remain curious about Jesus. That's why I'm intentionally distinguishing myself from "those Christians." That identity no longer fits and I’m ok with that.

4. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde's response stands as a powerful testament to authentic Christian leadership. In one message, she demonstrated more Christ-like courage than countless American pastors in predominantly white churches. That's not hyperbole – it's evidenced by the 82% of white evangelical Christians who aligned themselves with forces that scripture find deeply troubling. Her approach – confronting power with humility, wielding truth with grace – offers a blueprint for addressing the "little trumps" sitting in American churches. (Watch her message)

These are my raw reflections. I claim no monopoly on truth, no perfect understanding. But I've watched too many Christians sacrifice their integrity on the altar of political power. I believe that if Paul were writing today, I imagine a series of letters to American churches, each more urgent than the last. Just think about “1st Americans,” “2nd Americans,” and so on.

To those riding this same emotional rollercoaster – be gentle with yourself. Though darkness seems to prevail, remember: we are not isolated voices. We are legion.

-Kenton

1  Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s Message: https://youtu.be/31ylIPemGlE