A Pro-Trump Billboard with a Bible Verse Didn’t Even Get the Bible Verse Right

Last week, a mysterious pro-Trump billboard went up in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, comparing the former president to Jesus, only to come down days later.

Unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders

Joint Heirs
Romans 8:17

Romans 8:17, however, doesn’t say that. It says “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Hence the “Joint Heirs” reference.)

The verse on the billboard? That’s Isaiah 9:6. (The verse right before that one? “For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.” Very pleasant.)

But that apparent confusion isn’t nearly as offensive to some Christians as the idea that Trump can be compared to Jesus, as discussed at Religion News Service:

… There were calls of blasphemy and accusations of violations of church and state.

Retired Chattanooga pastor and hospital chaplain Bill Bond tweeted, “People just over the border in Georgia seeking to redefine blasphemy. And doing an excellent job at it.” Bond was the first to post a photo of the billboard on Twitter.

Dr. Jeffrey L. Scott, an educator in nearby Dade County, Georgia, tweeted, “As a Christian and proud American I find this very disturbing, I would be troubled no matter the president.”

It’s unclear who put up the sign or for what reason. The billboard doesn’t include any identifying information or call to action. It’s just an endorsement of Christian Nationalism, tying Trump to their faith. And it would be foolish to think most Christians who see that billboard would recognize the verse error or the underlying problems comparing anyone (especially Trump) to Jesus.