At first blush, it would appear that Donald Trump shares at least one attribute – and many would argue that it is only one – with God: Wrath. The fact is, however, that the wrath of God and the wrath of Trump are quite different phenomena.

The Wrath of God

God’s wrath is one of the most misunderstood attributes in Scripture. Frequently, it is imagined as violent and uncontrolled. Rather, His wrath is precise, consistent and morally grounded.

God is perfectly good. He will not and cannot ignore injustice, corruption or rebellion without compromising His own nature. Thus, God’s wrath is His holy and just response to sin and evil. As expressed by the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:18 (ESV):

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”

Certainly, wrath is not His default posture. Rather, He is…

“…a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 34:6-7

God’s anger reflects His opposition to everything that destroys what is good, true and just. His wrath is rooted in His holiness – His complete moral purity. Of course, none of us are pure, yet God provides a way for forgiveness. His wrath and mercy intersect in the person of Jesus Christ.

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36

In contrast to God’s holy wrath, consider the wrath of Donald Trump.

The Wrath of Trump

Although he may occasionally insinuate otherwise, Trump is only human. Like all humans, his anger is shaped by a limited perspective, emotion and, particularly in his case, self-adoration.

• God is “slow to anger.” His wrath builds over time and is consistently proportional. It is holy. Trump’s anger is altogether different. It is immediate and personal – driven entirely by his fragile ego and exercised against anyone – the Pope included – who does not bend the knee to his narcissism.
• Where God’s wrath ultimately manifests in love for His creation through His mercy and grace, the wrath of Trump manifests in hate and vengeance.
• God’s wrath is always directed toward genuine evil – toward injustice, corruption and sin. It is never about protecting His image or defending His status. Trump, on the other hand, will wield injustice, corruption and sin to seek personal pleasure, elevate his self-image, and avenge his perceived enemies. Tragically, he often does so with the endorsement of so-called “Christians.”
• God’s wrath, even when severe, ultimately serves a redemptive purpose. It upholds justice while making restoration possible. While the primary driver of Trump’s wrath is his self-love, the ultimate consequence is the polarization of both the constituency he is pledged to serve and the Church of God.

The Imperative to Love

If God was loving but without wrath, He would tolerate evil. If He was wrathful but without love, there would be no hope for any of us. Blessedly, scripture reveals a God who fully opposes evil while seeking to redeem people from it. His wrath is perfectly just, morally pure and purposeful.

The wrath of Trump is neither just or morally pure, but it is indeed quite purposeful. That purpose is singular: the elevation of his profoundly fragile, exceedingly flawed character. He is often aided in that purpose by hypocritical Christians who enable and encourage Trump’s rage.

In this age of polarization, Christians are called to a higher purpose – to be slow to anger, to pursue truth without distortion, to seek justice for all and, above all, to love.