Trump and Martin Luther: How to live a Christian life in this current world

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/03/2025 (189 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When I look back at my sermons from 2015 to 2020, more of them subtly point to a certain American president than I care to admit. And now, with Donald Trump in the White House again, I have an opportunity to write about him again.

Since he took office on January 20, the psychological and emotional turmoil that was his first term in office has come back in full force—for the U.S., for Canada, for the world, and for me. At first, we all went into denial, hoping those awful days of his first term were just a nightmare that was over.

That isn’t the case. The psychological turmoil and chaos he has caused has landed on us like a ton of bricks.

This time around, I am trying to live my life differently. I am committed to not starting my mornings wondering what the president has done or said that is more outrageous than the day before. I am still following the news but in measured amounts. I am not reading every article of breathless analysis designed to keep my cortisol spiked. I am not falling for the trap that I need to read every article to stay apprised of things. I am trying to stay on top of what is happening rather than what might happen.

For a lot more of human history than not, the reality is that kings, rulers, emperors, presidents and heads of state have been more Trump-like than not. Perhaps not in his particularities, but in his appeal to popular moods and sentiments.

It is easier to see why his followers follow him with this perspective. It is the same reason why many societies long endured under cruel and exploitative rulers. The leaders offer the promise of not having to be accountable and responsible ourselves.

What they offer is an intoxicating brew for a cult to follow by projecting strength and promising to fix our problems. It feels oddly liberating. The leader is taking on our responsibility for the problems of our lives and world; he will fix them for us.

This kind of ruler is one that was common in the 16th century. In one of Martin Luther’s most important Reformation writings, The Freedom of Christian, he addresses what it means to live a Christian life in this kind of world. In the treatise, Luther asserts two basic theses.

First, that the Christian individual is a completely free lord of all, subject to none. And, second, that the Christian individual is a completely dutiful servant of all, subject to all.

In this frame, we are free “lords of all” because we confess that there is but one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Lord to whom we are accountable. There is no other human Lord that we fear or to whom we owe our allegiance.

At the same time, this allegiance frees us to show love and mercy for our neighbours—accountability to God means we are responsible for our neighbour.

This freedom is not easy. It is hard work. Looking out for our neighbour’s needs requires us to get past our own needs and concerns. It is the work of seeing and attending to the other. The freedom to love our neighbour means exactly what Jesus reminds us is the greatest commandment: To love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbour as ourselves.

This is the opposite of putting our trust in flawed human rulers and then absolving ourselves from having to be accountable to others.

For me, in these past months of turmoil and chaos, returning to Luther’s ideas about Christian freedom has been a way to keep my sanity. I remind myself often, “Who am I accountable to? God. Not to any human power,” and “Who am I responsible for? For loving and caring for my neighbour.” I am not responsible for God (to my neighbour), or propping up any other systems and structures of human power and control.

I hope that being reminded of this fundamental truth of faith can help you through the days, weeks, months, and—at least four more years—to come, too.

As part of our Religion in the News project, the Free Press invited faith leaders to share their reflections on the United States’ trade war with Canada.

Erik Reedman Parker is pastor of Sherwood Park Lutheran Church. He blogs at The Millennial Pastor.  

faith@freepress.mb.ca

 

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