A Greater Plan and a Better Promise
- Raymond Melendez
- Jun 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 9
The hope for a brighter future is rooted in American history and personal beliefs, as evidenced in everything from campaign speeches to religious texts. The slogan “Make America Great Again,” introduced by Donald J. Trump in 2015, tapped into a deep national desire to restore a perceived past glory. It became more than a campaign phrase—it sparked a movement, polarizing opinions and defining an era in American politics.
Yet long before MAGA, the Bible spoke of a different kind of greatness—a reversal of expectations where the older serve the younger. This points not to a restored past but to a future secured in Christ: a promise of a future not rooted in past traditions but in a coming kingdom. Both movements, political and spiritual, offer hope. Only one, however, makes a pledge that goes beyond greatness.
From Political Slogans to a Greater Promise
The phrase “Make America Great Again” carries a legacy deeper than Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. First used by Ronald Reagan in 1980, it emerged in times of national uncertainty as a call to restore the former glory. Over time, especially under Trump, it evolved into a cultural and political brand—one that sparked loyalty, controversy, and national identity. But long before political slogans shaped nations, the Holy Scripture revealed a different kind of slogan (Rasmussen 24).
“The older shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25).
Jacob was chosen over Esau. Joseph was favored over his brothers. David was selected over his siblings. Ephraim was preferred over Manasseh. Jesus, who redefined the concept of greatness through his works, is the climax of this grand plan. Where MAGA longs for a return to the past, the Holy Scripture points to a greater plan. One that doesn't restore what was great but introduces what is even greater.
Redefining Greatness
“Make America Great Again” stirs powerful emotions because it touches on a universal longing—for strength, stability, and national identity. For some, it brings to mind a period of prosperity and stability; for others, it reflects a history characterized by exclusion and injustice. The slogan’s ambiguity lies in its central question: Great for whom? As historian Dr. Karen Mendez notes, what was “great” for some Americans was deeply painful for others (Mendez 78).
In contrast to this contested vision of greatness stands Jesus Christ, who redefined what it means to be great. Rather than seizing power, he laid it down. Rather than demanding service, he gave it. Philippians tells us he “emptied himself” to become a servant for both the young and old. He touched the untouchable, honored the overlooked, and led with humility.
While political movements often seek to recover a past ideal, Christ calls us into a better future. One pursues greatness by looking to the past, while the other promises even greater by embracing the future.
MAGA’s Results and Christ’s Promise
The Trump presidency, under the banner of “Make America Great Again,” promised an era of economic strength and national pride. Early gains—low unemployment, a surging stock market, and corporate tax cuts—were hailed by supporters as signs of a nation on the rise. Yet, beneath the surface, inequality endured, political tensions deepened, and the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in crisis response and leadership (Sargent 154).
While MAGA sought to restore a version of past greatness, Jesus pointed to something greater—not restoration, but transformation. Jesus' sacrifice did not recover what was lost but instead promised a greater kingdom built on the foundations of change.
From Great Greater
What began as a campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,” has evolved into a lasting political identity. Long after Donald Trump left office, the MAGA movement continues to influence American politics, redefining the Republican Party and fueling debates at every level—from Congress to local school boards. For some, it signifies a desire to return to an idealized past; for others, it indicates exclusion and opposition to change (Ball 203).
While MAGA looks backward to restore the past, Jesus calls his followers to embrace God's greater plan.
“Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9).
The gospel invites us not to relive the past but to build a future upon the foundations already laid. Both MAGA and the message of Christ speak to the deep desire for greatness. Yet one clings to what was, while the other presses on towards God's greater promise. Greatness lies not in restoring the past but in creating a brighter future with Christ as the foundation.
The Greater Plan
The legacy of “Make America Great Again” remains one of the most polarizing in modern political history. For some, it sparked hope and patriotism; for others, it symbolized decline and division. As Trump campaigns once again under the MAGA banner, the slogan still stirs proof of its enduring impact on the American political landscape.
Yet while MAGA seeks to restore a version of the past, the gospel calls us to embrace God's greater plan. Jesus, a servant of both young and old, invites us not to restore what was but to move into what will be. The Bible's stories of the older serving the younger point to Christ’s mission. America: Beyond Greatness.
Works Cited
Ball, Molly. The Resistance: The Dawn of the Anti-Trump Opposition Movement. St. Martin’s Press, 2020.
Mendez, Karen. Contested Pasts: Memory, Identity, and the American Political Imagination. Beacon Press, 2019.
Rasmussen, Morten. Slogans and Politics: The Power of Words in Political Discourse. Cambridge University Press, 2018.
Sergeant Greg. An Uncivil War: Taking Back Our Democracy in an Age of Trumpian Disinformation and Thunderdome Politics. HarperCollins, 2018.
