One of the most controversial concepts of Christianity – difficult for many Christians and non-believers alike to reconcile – is the idea of salvation being available only by grace. Even after setting aside what one may think of the very idea of salvation (“Saved from what, exactly?” some may ask), one might still be disturbed, perplexed or offended by the notion that what one does in seeking salvation is nothing in comparison to what one believes. If this foundational teaching of the Apostles is true, what hope do we have of saving ourselves from the specter of a President Trump? Certainly, simply believing it can’t happen won’t be enough.

Nearly a year-and-a-half ago (“…and on the third day…”, November 1, 2014), I wrote about the first time I heard the expression “every nation has the government it deserves.” How can we know all that we know about this country and not consider the idea we might deserve Trump? Yes, we know our lofty ideals. We know also to what degree we adhere to them. This, alone, ought to cause us some concern.

Let’s, for the moment, say our nation’s future has nothing to do with anything ecclesiastical, that works – not faith – will save us from such an unimaginable fate as a Trump presidency. What, then, would that work entail? It would have to be more than you or I voting against him. Not even encouraging everyone we know to do the same would do much to help; you and I just don’t know that many people, and we may not have that kind of sway. We would be working against the mindset of a celebrity-obsessed populace that sent former Hollywood actor-turned-governor Ronald Reagan to the White House twice. Voters probably would have done the same for Hollywood actor-turned-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had he not been Austrian by birth. Reagan, unlike Trump, had much to offer beside his appeal as a former movie star, but it is doubtful most voters saw much beyond his silver-screen history. Americans go ga-ga for celebrities in much the way the British seem to swoon over their royals. (Of course, Americans being starstruck doesn’t explain how someone like George W. Bush got a second term in office after being shamefully foisted upon us the first time. See how things aren’t looking very promising?)

The truth is we who despair a President Trump find ourselves once again tied to the whim of compatriots we find difficult to understand and whose political behavior we are unable to predict. If presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont sincerely believes we are in need of the political revolution he calls for, he should understand such a revolution will not come about by only running for office – or winning it. What he hopes to accomplish with Congress requires an overhaul of that body, a massive Democratic re-alignment brought about by a tidal wave of voters washing recalcitrant Republicans out of their seats. Tell me, have you heard or seen Sanders call for or work towards that goal? Does he know of some other way? Do you?

The famous letter to the Christians living in the city of Ephesus sought to help them understand one of the basic tenets of their new belief system, that “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” That last part – the part about no one being able to boast about being saved – has an air of egalitarianism about it that someone like Senator Sanders might find attractive. It is doubtful someone like Trump would be enamored of the idea.

If “what is past is prologue,” we may have some unpleasant developments ahead. If we are unable to work to prevent it, if our faith in what Abraham Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature” is not enough, we’d better hope we are worthy of that aforementioned grace.