Unsettling Advent 2024, Day 4
“When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the Magi, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the Magi.” (Matthew 2:16)
“God Wins!” was written in bold black letters on a sign held up in joyous celebration amongst a crowd in Miami, Florida. People had gathered there to hear the “truth” from a select group of speakers who used Scripture to support their political positions and assure those in the crowd that God was on their side. Alongside tables hawking immune supplements, art depicting Trump as Superman, and Roger Stone selling autographed stones, self-proclaimed patriots cheered on speakers waging war against “woke ideologies,” the “LGBT agenda,” and immigrants.
Events held around the country, from revival tents to Sunday morning pulpits to international television broadcasts, share similar narratives. Modern-day apostles and prophets tell Christians that it is their “time to occupy,” persuading them to “be the head and not the tail” in all aspects of social life and ensuring that they understand that God wants Christians “to use their authority” to shape the nation and those within it. Often referred to as the “Seven Mountain Mandate,” this teaching reflects a theology of dominion (the right of Christians to rule over their neighbors), and it is growing at a rapid pace.
Apostles and prophets, as promoters of this mandate, often name immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community as enemies of the nation and of God’s divine plan. Only when the seven mountains are conquered and Christian enemies are defeated will America be great again. Many of these religious leaders served on Donald Trump’s National Faith Advisory Board during his first term, and many are sure to occupy these influential positions again soon. They’ve shown no sign of foregrounding inclusivity, love, or care of neighbor.
Historically, we know that the pursuit of power is often accompanied by significant collateral damage — harm imposed on the most vulnerable communities among us, like immigrants or those who identify or love differently than we do. When King Herod got word of the birth of the child who would become “King of the Jews,” he killed innocent children to maintain his power. Children, and grieving parents like Rachel among them, were the victims of this pursuit.
After the 2024 presidential election, when it was clear that Trump would again take office as the 47th President of the United States, the Trevor Project — an organization that runs a suicide prevention crisis hotline for LQBTQ+ youth — saw an increase in calls of over 700%. These kids have heard the hateful rhetoric and understand the message of exclusion touted by political and religious leaders alike. Children, and the adults who love them, are actively being harmed.
May we never mistake exclusion for compassion and may we always comfort and protect the most vulnerable among us.
Karrie Gaspard-Hogewood is a licensed social worker and doctoral student on the Sociology track of the City, Culture, and Community program at Tulane University.