Meeting of the Minds

Steve Allen created a PBS television show in the late seventies called Meeting of the Minds. On the series Steve Allen would interview dramatized characters representing historical figures from different periods of history. An example was a March 6, 1978 offering that featured Florence Nightingale, Plato, Martin Luther and Voltaire. I have been thinking a great deal about Donald Trump's position in history. So how would a "meeting of the minds" go that would feature Jesus Christ, Martin Luther, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Donald Trump? What would we learn about faith and life?

Steve: I am happy to have three of my favorite religious leaders here today with me: Jesus Christ Himself, Martin Luther, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. And, yes, we are also joined by the newly elected President to be of the United States, Donald Trump. Donald, let me begin with you and then we will throw it open to the whole group. What drives you to want to be President of the United States?

Donald: My country has risen to greatness during the last couple of centuries of history. Recently we have lost the edge of greatness. I want America to be great again. And we can only do it if we take our rightful place as head of the free world.

Steve: Having my other guests here with us, Donald, it would seem that your greatness is our of step with the Judaeo-Christian tradition, and the ethic we are called to follow. What do you think about Donald's road to greatness, jesus?

Jesus: I am offended, Donald, by the way in which you treat people, particularly your enemies. You certainly seem to live out the lex talonis, "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." How do you defend your words and actions?

Donald: Well, I am humbled to be in your presence Jesus Christ. When you were on this earth, you sure brought about something huge, and I am just trying to bring about the same. And your language with the Pharisees was not always that restrained, Jesus.

Jesus: But I preached "love your enemies, do not resist those who are evil." You seem to be living by the Bible of the Hebrew people, what my followers call the Old Testament.

Donald: It is a tough world out there today, but I don't have to tell you about living in a tough world. I see Martin Luther is here today. Martin, you lived in the late Middle Ages. Man, would I have loved to clean up that neighborhood and built a new development in your Wittenberg, Germany.

Martin: Living conditions were rather tough in those days, Donald. But at least we tried to be true to our calling as children of God. I don't see any "vocation" in your desire to be president at all. You seem to be in it for yourself.

Donald: Someone has to look out for me-- besides Melania I mean. I am trying to work with the religious leaders of my time. You sure did not seem to do that!

Martin: I originally intended to work with everyone. I tried to reform the neighborhood in my day, and make the church great again! But the leaders wouldn't have it. And I did not always like everyone in my neighborhood either. But I would hardly have built a wall between Saxony and Rome!

Steve: What about that wall? Donald, what is the point of just having minds and bodies of people from the current United States doing what is best for the United States?

Donald: Have you heard of 9/11? Have you heard of Isis? You just can't trust anyone except your own nowadays.

Jesus: Now you are sounding like a Pharisee, Donald. I came to break down walls, not to build new ones. What is the point of just having your own people ruling each other? My people are vast and are not limited by race or creed or gender or anything else.

Dietrich: Jesus, with all due respect, I have a thing to say about this. Donald, you seem like a little Adolf Hitler to me. You want to take over the world and fill it with people just like you. Can you imagine what that would be like? I had to stand up to Hitler when he wanted to do it in Germany, and if i were one of the citizens of the U.S.A. today I would stand up to you.

Donald: With all due respect, Dietrich. What did you actually accomplish in your lifetime? you were just thirty-nine when you died. I'm not sure you were such a hero for putting your life on the line. If everyone in the U.S.A. would just trust me, everything will turn out great!

Steve: Trust you, huh? I think all three of these other guests know more about trust than you do, Mr. Trump. I don't know much about religion, but I know on our American money it says "In God, we trust."

Dietrich: When God and any other leader come into conflict, we must choose God rather than human beings!

Steve: We have run out of time. Thank you all for being here. Since we have not just the soon-to-be leader of the free world here, but the One many consider the Leader over all, I want to give jesus the last word today.

Jesus Christ: I am thankful that these two men, Martin Luther and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, were such faithful disciples of me. Your time is not up yet, Donald. If you really want to be bright, follow me. Trust in me, and not in yourself. In doing so, you will bring light to the world instead of the darkness. Shalom.