Replying in a Christ-like manner on social media

President Donald Trump has received a lot of backlash for his recent posts on TruthSocial of himself as a "Christ-like" figure and his criticism of Pope Leo's views on the Iran war. Most people on social media are familiar with the often belligerent nature of Trump's posts, and, for the most part, his devoted supporters defend him. This time, however, was different, as many conservatives thought Trump went too far in his war of words with the pope and his AI-generated image of himself laying his hand on a bedridden man with the American flag, the Statue of Liberty and the adoration of U.S. citizens in the background. Many people called the Christ image of Trump blasphemous, and Trump deleted the post but said its removal was not due to the vast reproach he received. He later followed up with a new photo of Jesus embracing him. While I was reading commentary on Trump's Jesus posts, my first reaction was not anger. As a Christian, this probably sounds like a surprising take, but my thoughts were more of how people who are not in church were viewing the back-and-forth squabbles on the internet. Through all this contention, I don't think anyone will be led to surrender their lives to the Lord, which is our most important commission as believers. Yes, we should speak up in the public sphere if we believe God is being mocked, but we also have a responsibility to exhibit His divine wisdom and discernment in our speech and actions. What if, for example, someone had said in a post that, although they disagreed with Trump's portrayal of himself as a Christ figure, they were praying for him? As followers of Christ, the Bible instructs us to pray "for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1 Timothy 2:2). In praying for those who are in authority and leadership, we are asking God to guide them in their governance, as they must make critical decisions affecting our lives. This is especially vital now with the war in Iran and other serious domestic issues we are facing. In further contemplation of the ongoing condemnation of Trump's Jesus posts, I believe the combative nature of our current political climate has led many to respond in a manner I call Peter-like. Peter was one of the disciples in Jesus' inner circle with James and John, and he often spoke and acted impulsively, driven by his emotions. Matthew 17:1-8 records when Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John on a mountain, and Peter, awestruck by Jesus' radiant glow and the appearance of Moses and Elijah, suggested that three tabernacles be built. God intervened and spoke from a cloud, telling Peter to listen to His "beloved Son." Another instance, which many are familiar with in Scripture, is when Peter drew his sword to cut off the ear of the high priest's servant, Malchus, when Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus did not condone Peter's violence and immediately healed Malchus' wound, telling Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?" (John 18:11). Jesus was referring to His place in God's plan as the Savior of the world, which required His obedience, humility and sacrifice leading to the Cross. As the feuding continues to rage around Trump's second post with Jesus' arms around him, one question I have weighed is whether we put the same zeal into witnessing about who Jesus really is as we do in our so-called defense of Him online. It's easy to get into heated arguments over images, comments and a host of other things people post on the internet, but none of this draws people to Christ. The ultimate calling of a Christian is to witness about Jesus, to fervently tell of His soul-saving deliverance, His unending love and His miraculous power to transform lives. Imagine the dialogue we could have on social media and in in-person interactions if we simply lifted Jesus up? Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer in the English department at Ohio State University's Lima campus. Email her at smojc.jj@gmail.com.