“These are the reasons I can’t believe in God. This type of shit here”
These are the words my friend uttered to me on Wednesday, 11/9. Last Tuesday, the American Electorate did the unthinkable: Donald J. Trump, the avowed xenophobe, is now the President-elect of the United States of America. How could I refute her unbelief when so many touted the win as God’s will?
How did We Get Here
Civil unrest erupted almost immediately. Protests seem to have no end in sight. Nonwhite, undocumented, disabled, and LGBTQIA have been irrevocably filled with healthy doses of both rage and fear. White Liberals finally experienced a shock and disappointment in their country that the marginalized have known practically since birth. And now, everyone is calling for unity and forward-thinking—even while Trump selects a known white nationalist leader as his Chief Strategist.
The media, after having given legitimacy to the most illegitimate candidate in history, now asks us to come together. Our understanding, even in the face of real terror, is demanded. They beg us to have sympathy for the plight of poor whites. Poor whites whose jobs were “taken” by the outsourcing of manufacturing work. Poor whites who blame minorities for their lack of employment rather than the policies crafted and passed by men and women who look just like them. Poor whites who choose to uphold whiteness instead of uniting with others to fight against poverty and socioeconomic disenfranchisement.
This is the Real America
It would be disingenuous to pretend that only poor whites elected Trump. A number of middle and wealthy class whites also cast votes in his favor. Many have, and continue to, justify this decision with the idea that they voted for his policies, not his social rhetoric. While a number of Whites voted for him because of his social rhetoric, there is still a significant portion who feign cognitive dissonance in voting for him in spite of his verbal assault against “the other.” They rallied behind, donated to, and voted for him despite his lacking integrity, experience, or maturity for the most powerful office in the world.
And it wasn’t just White folks, although they did the bulk of the labor. We’ve long since known that not all of the guardians of White Supremacy and Patriarchy are white males. Looking squarely at you, David A. Clarke Jr., Omarosa Manigault, and Clueless Dash. Don’t even get me started on the Black Clergy who salivated at the opportunity of political power via a soul-selling endorsement of Trump.
Perhaps what is most terrifying is that is many gave their support under the auspices of a Trump presidency being the will of God. Nearly 60 million people in this country deified Trump as a messenger of God, despite his campaign messages being the antithesis of everything Christ came to conquer.
God is Still in Control
“God is still in control. Jesus is still on the throne”
These were the echoed refrains of Black Christians across this country on last Wednesday morning. It was a phrase that dominated my social media timelines in the wake of Trump’s election. While I understand its sentiment, it is little more than attempted absolution masquerading as comfort.
After all, was God not still in control during the Maafa? Did God abscond the throne during Jim Crow? Did God fail to RSVP attendance while Her chosen people were gassed to death during the Holocaust? Certainly, Jesus is on the throne. But let’s not forget how He got there. Jesus was first on the cross—where he was sentenced to by the state. As Kyle Brooks stated, “the hope of divine security doesn’t negate material, deathly consequences.”
If white and Black Christians are praying to the same God, the outcomes of those prayers make it really questionable as to who God is listening to.
White Supremacy is Bigger than God
I truly believe that the pervasiveness of White Supremacy is bigger than the concept of God. I believe this is because we view faith and politics as mutually exclusive others rather than the bedfellows that they have always been.
Belief in God is a personal choice and impacts only the practitioner. Belief in white supremacy, and the institutionalization thereof, is profoundly more impactful in a real and visible way.
The belief that God is in control doesn’t establish political order. The belief that God is in control doesn’t elect a congress. It is a deeply personal act of faith that relies on God for the outcome of our individual lives. And I give special emphasis to “individual lives.” Meaning that people who say “Jesus is still King” or “God still rules” are truly saying “well I don’t believe that I am personally endangered. So I’ll invoke the God card.”
Yes, as people of faith, we believe God is in control of all facets of our lives. Somewhere along the way, we’ve excused ourselves from the mandate that faith without works is dead. We treat “God is in control” as a magic wand with the expectation that Jesus is coming to cape and save us from man-made obstacles. It is reductive, it is unfair, and it’s frankly not what God would have us to do.
When Faith Meets Action
When white evangelicals say “God is in control,” they back it up by being proactive through voting what they believe is God’s will. White evangelicals carry out the will and purpose of their evangelicalism: white nationalism. Evangelicalism is literally built on the idea of biblical inerrancy, a convenient tool to rationalize, nay, justify slavery among other ungodly oppressions. Bearing that in mind, it’s no wonder why 85% of White Evangelicals voted for Donald Trump, the philanderer and misogynist. By electing Donald J. Trump, they carried out God’s will according to their literalist interpretation of the inerrancy of scripture. (You can read more about that here: White evangelicalism is white nationalism.)
Yet, when Black Christians default to divine control, it is usually a reactionary tactic of consolation. Reactionary to the consequence of unbridled hatred that becomes institutionalized at the poll and policy levels.
If you believe that things will be okay because God is in control, I want to hear no complaints during the impending regression and recession of our socio-economic futures. We’re not even at the inauguration and we’re getting an undeniable picture of what Trump’s America will look like. One with free-flowing, vile hatred for any and everything that is nonwhite.
One Nation, Under the God of White Supremacy
When they implement a taxation and health care plan that takes more than it gives, remember that God, in Her imminent domain, said through Jesus “Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” (Mark 12:17)
When they introduce federal legislation to protect police brutality and continued modern-day slavery through the prison industrial complex, remember that God, in Her control, said through Paul “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” (Romans 13)
It is time out for your bible study to solely consist of your Pastor’s abridged version of God’s word. There are very real and imminent dangers ahead and your shared faith with your oppressor will not save you.
We cannot continue to pacify ourselves with the promise of divine security as an excuse to avoid the work. I, for one, do not believe God has called marginalized people to remain crushed under the heel of oppression at every turn. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Yet, many of us are content to simply ‘survive’ within the confounds of whatever crumbs remain after hegemony has trounced all over the strides we’ve made towards freedom.
We can no longer consciously choose to evoke apathy in response to crisis. The next time you or someone you love utters these words in response to real and material danger, ask ’em “Is God really in control or is your fear of challenging White Supremacy greater than your fear of the Lord?”
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I had to say thank you. very profound and TIMELY for me.
Thanks!
“Is God really in control or is your fear of challenging White Supremacy greater than your fear of the Lord?”
This is where the iconography and symbolism of Christianity is most effective and insidious. Challenging white supremacy is challenging the Lord (and his father in heaven) who is white. It may be subliminal but has real life consequences. It isn’t easy to challenge your savior or his kind.
All my disjointed thoughts and musings in one coherent piece. My new bible.
I’m confused are you opposed to all christian beliefs? I am legitimately asking because I first read your article “hoes ain’t won” I thought the use of the word hoes was pretty unchristian but as an open minded individual I read it. I agreed with much of what you said, as for myself I have been in a rocky relationship for 5yrs and we are intimate still sometimes I feel unvalued and articles such as that one I feel give an intelligent insight and refreshing perspective. Next I read “The cult of Heather lindsey” and I can definitely see where you’re coming from in reference to her, healthy skepticism of anyone with a seemingly perfect life I would say is a wise move; all fall short of the glory. This article here confuses me though. I was a protester in the first protest following Trumps election in NY; we marched from union square to Trump tower where we protested for hours throughout the night. I am extremely angry that this man has been elected and am doing what I can to help my communities in the aftermath of him being elected, fearing and trying to prepare for when he actually takes office. However to say that anything is bigger than God, IDK where you’re coming from now. I am confused are you a christian, or are you a proponent that we abandon our beliefs of christianity all together and take a more pragmatic approach? Please I am not judging just looking for clarity on what your perspective actually is???
No, not in the slightest am I opposed to Christianity as a whole.
The blog is literally called The UNFIT Christian. The articulation (the way in which I understand, believe, and practice) my faith does not fit within conservative evangelical Christianity. Specifically, my faith is practiced through the lens of womanist liberation theology. More technically, my voice is based in socio-theological pragmatism. You can read more about the concept here.
Frankly, the basic sentiment is this: James 2:17 is very clear about what faith without works is. Getting beyond the headline, my point was clear: white supremacy is bigger than the CONCEPT of God. Just because someone says that they are a Christian and a believer doesn’t mean their actions align with God’s scriptural instructions. We have been called to do justice, which means we should be doing work to dismantle white supremacy, not passively saying “God is in control” as a lazy response. We should rely on God for strength to fight for what is right, not for God to wave a magic wand and fix problems that we ourselves created through inaction.
I don’t know how to make it any more plain than I have here or in the post itself.
Amazing read. Wow! BTW Black women writing is LIT.
Ayeeee lol thank you <3
Girl……….this is EXACTLY what I was saying to myself the day after election and was seeing a timeline full of “God is my Commander”, “God is my President”, “God has the last word”. My response: Uhm excuse me but can you connect the dots because I’m lost here???? What are you trying to say???? Keep writing. Don’t stop. Keep being the Unfit Christian because you have a new reader. I agree w/ Keisha how you explain perfectly that politics is bigger than Christianity but you can’t say that because people will look at you like your an atheist. I love me some God, but get Him out of politics please. #BLM
We outchea. We will continue speaking out! Intellect and faith won’t continue to be mutually exclusive ideas if we continue to speak up. Thanks for reading and especially for the feedback. Keeps me going.
Danyelle, you ought to run for president!
Maybe I’ll win #bigly LOL I’ll be outchea quoting Two Corinthians and all, amen & ashe LOL
You have written a lot of wonderful, insightful pieces but this? THIS HERE? THIS? This just might be thee BEST thing you’ve ever done. I have struggled to find the words to articulate how I feel about this power system being bigger than God, without resorting to anger and bitterness, even flat out rejecting God. THIS spoke to my soul and said everything I’ve been feeling for YEARS. SO MANY quotables here. I see why there’s a “war” on so called intellectuals within the church. Your voice is NECESSARY. Please continue doing what you do!
Thank you, this means sooooooo much more than you know!