Christianity + Donald Trump | A Sacred Dive Into God & Controversial Leaders
This election has impacts. Regardless of your views, who you voted for, and your background, we must admit to ourselves there are always good, and bad, joyful and painful consequences to the leaders we elect in the Western World. American politics and the policies that follow have different life changing effects on different people, based on their background, their race, and their economic positioning. We live in a country that does strive towards the goals of equality and fair opportunity, but that also has a scarred past of crimes against humanity and inner identity struggles that we have carried as a nation to this day.
This election carried dire choices and consequences for Americans. For the wealthy and the blue collar, this election affirmed their grievances that we have tolerated a society of hand outs and complacency for far too long. That we have lost the values of a nuclear family structure, hard work, and exceptionalism. For the poor, the immigrant, and the LGBTQIA member of society, this election reminded them that America and the elites who have their hands on the steering wheel, is not as safe of a place for some. For some Christians, this election affirmed their right to worship and free expression, while for members of other religious affiliations, it made them wonder if religious expression is really as tolerated as we thought…
Maybe I lost you at this point in this article. You may have already made up your mind regarding my position and deemed me to be a “woke” and close-minded individual. But if you truly know me and read the entire article I am presenting to you, you will know that is far from the truth. I voted for Donald Trump. Andddddd boom. Here is where I lose the other half of you who are reading this…Now, you too, have your assumptions about my character and my feelings towards different sectors or demographics of humanity. But see, this is the danger. This is the reason America finds itself to be at the volatile and emotionally intense state that it is in. Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump did not divide America. You voted for those people. Their broken personalities or controversial policies are not to blame for the feelings you’ve felt the previous few days.
If Christians are going to dissect the character of our American leaders, while refusing to look at the positioning and values of our American Church, then we will merely be addressing open wounds without the wisdom, courage or tenacity to fix our gaze on the deeper decay that started it all. Pride. It’s pride. Pride is at the root of the division in America. You may shrug your shoulders or shake your head in disagreement as you read this. But the social causes of America, the division we tolerate and the policies we find ourselves implementing are all the side effects of a fall from grace. A fall from being a people who are wholly and passionately surrendered to the Lordship and Supremacy of a good God. Politics are not as cookie cutter as we wish. Politics are complicated and painful, because policies always, always have an effect on our lives and on the lives of those we care about and love.
A Christian does not have the right to take one, cold, clear-cut position on issues. On wealth management. On national security. It is not that simple, and you do not have the right before God to make it simple. Immigration, it’s complicated. This topic involves the lives and well-being of human beings. It is not good enough to merely think that walls should be built and people who have questionable legal status should be deported. On the same scale, it is wrong to suggest people can break the laws of a domestic land and be granted immunity for their crime. The “what would Jesus do” question cannot possibly leave you with a clear answer. You want to know the truth? Scripture and its mandates on how to treat people and how to follow the rules does not support Trump’s policies on immigration. And it does not support what Kamal Harris’s agenda would have been, either…
It does not work that way. Scripture does not defend many of the decisions that both sides of our political spectrum make. But what Scripture does do, does give permission for and actually mandates you and me to take part in, is the wellbeing and welfare of our world. Scripture has mandated you to put your heart and ear to the matters of God. And asks you to let your relationship with Jesus and His scriptures be what formulates your views, and how you vote on key issues and candidates. If Jesus was alive, I do not think He would openly endorse either of the two candidates we had in this previous election. Jesus was not a conservative, nor was He a socialist. THAT is why this is intense, complicated and emotional. Because Jesus has left the decisions of our land, in much part, to the conviction of our hearts and the wisdom of our minds. Trusting that we would be a people who desire to bring salt and light to our neighbors, our cities and our communities. That we would be a people who love and uphold righteousness, holiness, and the sanctity of life and the preservation of the living.
That we would see those who we disagree with or perceive as a threat to our way of life as image bearers of the king. Worthy, always of our prayer, pursuit, and love. So, where does this leave us? Right back where we started at the beginning of this article. With questions. Concerns. Convictions. And the courage to extend to one another grace. The courage to speak truth to power. The courage to obey the law. The courage to love the widows, orphans, and immigrants.
The conviction to vote, and to then be okay with the results. Trusting that God will forever be at work through His people to bring forth His good and gracious plans for His world until He returns.
