I’m shocked to be writing this. Truly. I don’t do Twitter/X, Snapchat, or any number of other social media platforms. So, when I hear something outrageous, I start checking sources. Real sources. Monday night, I received a note about a social media post that I just couldn’t believe was real. Then I saw it on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, and then in various re-posts. There, I saw an AI-created picture of the president, in a “Jesus-like” self-depiction. A healing picture that any Christian could not mistake as an image equating our president with Christ. The image wasn’t a political pundit’s attempt at slander. It was posted by the president himself.

I keep my politics to myself on most days. I do not use the pulpit of our church for that purpose. I have bigger fish to fry than wading into politics. One of my mentors, Jim Denison, noted this in his daily blog, and I agree with a non-partisan approach to spiritual leadership. Politics is not my expertise, and on most days, the daily banter of politics is not worthy of my time.

That said, theology, culture, ethics, and Christian conduct are my areas of expertise. I need no expertise other than that of any believer who has an open Bible to recognize blasphemous behavior when I see it. I have been offended by political stances that crossed theological or moral lines before. It is my responsibility to call them out. I have never seen a more direct assault than what I witnessed in the news this week. Jesus called us to be like Him in our conduct, attitude, and countenance. But to claim to BE Him, or to equate yourself with Christ–even in jest–is not jesting, funny, appropriate, or tolerable. It’s offensive. It reveals character. According to the Bible, it’s the most heinous of sins.

Using Easter Sunday to spew profane and vulgar vitriol is an offensive insult on the holiest day of the year to Jesus’ followers. Threatening to vaporize an entire nation as if he were the ultimate judge of humanity is disturbing. Using a prayer breakfast to slander people you don’t like is an offense to the purpose of prayer. But this image, this ploy of depicting himself as a Christ, goes so far beyond any of these that I cannot be silent. It is a direct insult to my Savior. I’m appalled.

I would not tolerate that from anyone. Nor should any of you who are reading this. It’s blasphemous behavior.

Blasphemy–not politics, not humor, not cultural meme, not promotion–this is what we have now witnessed. If our mayor, police chief, or school board member did something like this, our community would be enraged, calling for resignations. If an employer did this, lawsuits would quickly follow. It’s that serious, that shocking.

This sin is without excuse.