In The World of Donald Trump, Don't Be A Judas

If you haven't noticed yet, Donald Trump's name is on the lips of people around the world. The news plays his latest declaration on a loop with the reactions of people in America and other countries. The WORLD knows Donald Trump and it appears he has the world by the tail.

For most, being internationally known is a good thing. Everyone wants their ten minutes of fame. But President Trump doesn't care whether his infamy is of adulation. Favorability is not his inspiration or motivation. He leans more towards shock and awe in his approach to governing. The ENDS to his MEANS justifies his actions. The world is a little afraid of his means (intentions), believing they center around him acquiring more power and wealth. Am I insinuating the president may be a little corrupt? Only time will tell.

So where does the analogy of Judas figure into the Trump presidency? Christians and non-Christians have a general knowledge of the biblical character named Judas Iscariot from the the Christian Bible. He is the one who betrayed Jesus causing Jesus' death. Judas is known as a betrayer of good. But if Donald Trump is not out to do GOOD, then many would advocate for a Judas (betrayer) to enter into the picture. That is because they don't understand Judas or Jesus.

Judas Iscariot, born in Judea and son of Simon and Cyborea Iscariot, was one of Jesus' twelve disciples. He played a role in the apostlic ministry alongside the other disciples. However, in the Gospel of John, Judas's outlook was differentiated—many of Jesus's disciples abandoned him because of the difficulty of accepting his teachings, and Jesus asked the twelve if they would also leave him. Simon Peter spoke for the twelve: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life," but Jesus observed then that although he himself had chosen the twelve, one of them (unnamed by Jesus, but identified by the narrator) was "a devil" who would betray him.

According to the account in the Gospel of John, Judas carried the disciples' money bag or box (γλωσσόκομον, glōssokomon). Matthew directly states that Judas betrayed Jesus for a bribe of "thirty pieces of silver" by identifying him with a kiss—"the kiss of Judas"—to arresting soldiers of the High Priest Caiaphas, who then turned Jesus over to Pontius Pilate's's soldiers. Judas aided in Jesus' demise and not the demise of political corruption and injustices.

What is IMPORTANT to know is WHY Judas BETRAYED Jesus. One suggestion has been that Judas expected Jesus to overthrow Roman rule of Judea. In this view, Judas is a disillusioned disciple betraying Jesus not so much because he loved money, but because he loved his country and thought Jesus had failed it. Judas cared to a FAULT about his country it seems.

The political climate in Judea during Jesus' time was dangerous and volatile. Judea was part of the Roman Empire, which was an occupying force. The Jewish people were subject to Roman law and customs. There were at least five major political groups with different views on how to deal with the Roman occupation. The Zealots, which Judas has been linked to, wanted to KILL the Romans and take back Judea for the Jews. Judas wanted to remove those in charge by any means including violence and Jesus was teaching LOVE. Judas DEMANDED revolution. Jesus COMMANDED love.

Our political atmosphere is contintious. REVOLT is in the air. There are calls for protests for varying causes people feel President Trump is ignoring or damaging. Various individuals are calling for Trump's removal from office due to his overreach of power. 

It is not only Americans voicing their disapproval of Trump's use of power. Other countries are wary of his intentions. Donald Trump has shocked the world by suggesting that the US could "take over" and "own" Gaza, resettling its population in the process. The proposal has drawn condemnation, including from across the Middle East, close US allies and the United Nations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, welcomed the "revolutionary vision" for Gaza. Despite fierce pushback from regional leaders, Trump has pressured Jordan and Egypt to accept Gaza's 2.2 million residents - threatening to withhold aid if they refuse. Both nations have rejected the idea, warning it could destabilise the region. Trump has said that Palestinians would have no right to return to Gaza under his plan.

During a time of poilitcal corruption and overreach of power, Judas wanted an immediate resolution. He wanted ACTION! He would become labled as a ZEALOT, which is defined as a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals. His feelings and actions went against Jesus' teaching. Of course, a person should want CHANGE where change is necessary, but it is HOW you go about change that matters.

Dr. Martin Luther King is a better example of how to address those who are in power not doing the will of the people. Both “morally and practically” committed to nonviolence, King believed that “the Christian doctrine of love operating through the Gandhian method of nonviolence was one of the most potent weapons available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom.” Christians must remember to act Christlike no matter what is going on around them. Judas' suffering of oppression made him forget about the command to love.

What would become of the man who felt throughout his being that governmental corruption and oppression was wrong and should be stopped by any means? Many different accounts of Judas's death have survived from antiquity, both within and outside the New Testament. Matthew 27:1-10 states that after learning that Jesus was to be crucified, Judas was overcome by remorse and attempted to return the 30 pieces of silver to the priests, but they would not accept them because they were blood money, so he threw them on the ground and left. Afterwards, he committed suicide by hanging himself in accordance with Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). The guilt of his actions became too much of a weight for him to carry.

In the world of Donald Trump, don't become a Judas seeking justice by UNJUST methods. Advocate for change using lawful methods and voice your opposition in love and with votes. Educate yourself on ways to have the outcomes you want to occur. Never give up. But violence, lawlessness, vitriole, and other actions which cause more harm are not acceptable. In advocating for change, be a Jesus instead of a Judas.