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In recent years, the phrase “What would Jesus do?” served as an ethical guide for many Christians, encouraging them to reflect on their behavior toward others. However, following Donald Trump’s rise in the political arena, some religious leaders have begun looking to less popular biblical figures for examples of leadership.
Lance Wallnau, a Dallas-based conservative evangelical preacher, has drawn parallels between Trump and Cyrus the Great, the Persian king from the 6th Century BCE. In his sermons, Wallnau asserts that Trump possesses a divine anointing, much like Cyrus, stating, “Thus says the Lord to Cyrus, whom I’ve anointed.” He suggests that despite any shortcomings in Trump’s character, his presidency has yielded favorable outcomes for evangelical Christians, highlighting significant Supreme Court appointments that contributed to the reversal of Roe v. Wade.
Another historical figure often compared to Trump is Jehu, a warrior king from the 9th Century BCE. Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, a Messianic Jewish leader, passionately likened Trump to Jehu during a National Faith Advisory Board meeting, proclaiming that Trump was destined to be a “trumpet of God” and achieve greatness for the nation in a manner reminiscent of Jehu’s rule.
These comparisons have influenced some conservative Christians to support Trump, but they also raise concerns among scholars regarding evangelicals’ expectations for a potential second Trump term.
Cyrus: A Kind Conqueror
The comparison to Cyrus is seen as justified from certain perspectives. Kristine Henriksen Garroway, a biblical scholar at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles, explains that Cyrus is recognized for his benevolence toward the Jewish people, allowing their return from exile without imposing his own religious practices on them. This mirrors historical references to President Harry Truman as a Cyrus-like figure during the establishment of Israel, with Trump being similarly likened for moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Garroway suggests that the analogy between Trump and Cyrus makes more sense than that with Jehu, highlighting that Jehu’s ascent to power was marked by violence and bloodshed, raising ethical questions about such comparisons.
Jehu: A Reign of Violence
Jehu’s rise involved a violent coup against the lineage of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, figures that evangelical supporters have also likened to Trump’s political rivals. The narrative details Jehu’s execution of Ahab, Jezebel, and their descendants, prompting concerns from evangelical scholars about the grave implications of equating any modern leader with a biblical figure known for such brutality. Peter Altmann, from Fuller Theological Seminary, cautions that the story of Jehu reflects a lack of tolerance for diverse religious beliefs, which raises questions about its relevance to contemporary democratic values.
He emphasizes that many of these comparisons misrepresent the current political landscape in which Americans do not live under an imperial regime but engage in a democracy with significant religious plurality. Altmann observes that applying these biblical analogies without careful consideration can lead to dangerous interpretations that serve specific political agendas.
Biblical Monarchy vs. Modern Democracy
In her biblical interpretation class, Professor Wil Gafney of Brite Divinity School prompts students to critically assess the application of ancient monarchy narratives to contemporary political leaders. She asserts that the United States operates as a democracy, not a theocracy, cautioning against the oversimplification of complex biblical texts. Gafney argues that rather than serving as a guide for governance, these stories may actually illustrate what constitutes poor leadership and flawed moral conduct.
It is notable that some evangelical leaders have chosen to draw inspiration from kings known for their violent reigns while neglecting the teachings of Jesus, whose social policies and principles have seemingly fallen out of favor as models for national leadership. Gafney reflects on this trend, highlighting that the focus has shifted away from Jesus as an ethical compass in favor of figures associated with war and bloodshed.
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