Essay: The biblical case against "right-wing populism"

This essay is an original work by LT. Please comment only on the talk page.

This ideology we nowadays call "right-wing populism"—also deemed "national populism" or "conservative populism," apparently is an outgrowth of Christian values, or so its purveyors would like us to believe. After all, those fantastic patriots are simply trying to restore countries to the glory of Christian morality from all the godless Communist neo-Marxists and their moral degeneracy! Sure, what could be wrong in their understanding of Christianity?

"Right-wing" populists should take a gander at these verses

“	And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.	”
—Mark 12:17

If "right-wing populists" understood this simple verse, they would realize just how idiotic their general ideological tenets are. The first case relates to their advocacy of theocracy, attempting to undo separation of church and state so clearly articulated by Jesus here. They are simply unable to accept the biblical truth that Christians are not to attempt mingling God into the civil power, instead foolishly assuming that the government can be a tool to compel a society from the top-down into Christian morality. Woe unto them! The biblical exhortation here by Jesus is so plain, so concise, so clear, so obvious, yet they deliberately choose to disregard it.

The second relates to tax protests and general anti-government agitations. This verse by Paul articulates the summarized point well:

“	Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.	”
—Romans 13:1

All the various populist and fringe libertarian movements protesting taxes as a whole and leading anti-government protests that turn towards a militant direction, if they even purport to believe in Christianity, should go back to the New Testament and recognize the idiocy of their cause. What is the point of trying to establish a paradise in this current realm? Anyone who believes that modern society can be miraculously transformed into a Christian utopia either forgets or deliberately ignores Jesus's words: "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the [Judeans]; but now My kingdom is not from here." (John 18:36)

The Old Testament's warning of populism

“	And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.	”
—2 Samuel 15:1–6

Absalom's behavior appears to the model for various populistic, socialistic demagogues of our time such as Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, Stacy Abrams, Kari Lake, Paul Gosar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Tim Ryan, Tucker Carlson, etc. etc. It's all the same form of propaganda, telling their audiences, "if only you proletariat comrades had a great leader like me in charge instead of the petty elitist bourgeoisie!" This is precise what socialist Trumpists ad hoc propagate, albeit in their style.

What happened to Absalom? He started a populist insurrection (remind you of the French Revolution or January 6?) against his own godly, generous father, King David, and ultimately was killed, dying lost and facing judgment. David didn't weep over the death of his newborn son by Bathsheba because the child slept in the grave before possibly having any chance to repent for sin; David wept over Absalom because he died lost, assuredly condemned to everlasting destruction.

This is what happens when one incites populism: death and destruction. Societies implode as one collective is pitted against another, all for the gain of the egos of a few leaders drunken by the lusts of their uncontrollable pride. Populism is an antibiblical abomination.