Like the Blind Leading the Blind: Donald Trump and Evangelicals

https://ptelliott.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/like-the-blind-leading-the-blind-donald-trump-and-evangelicals/ ^ | January 27, 2016 | Peter T. Elliott

[TurkeyLurkey]

Like the Blind Leading the Blind: Donald Trump and Evangelicals

This morning, like most mornings now, I found myself reading an article on Donald Trump’s candidacy. Everyday I ask myself the question, “How can so many American Evangelicals support such an openly narcissistic, power driven man?” Sarah Palin endorsed him, Jerry Falwell Jr., the president of Liberty University, endorsed him,[1] and not too long ago, a poll was released that showed that Evangelical Christians as a whole are gravitating to Trump.[2]

But, this article I read today gave me a much needed answer as to why Americans and specifically republican “anti-establishment” Evangelicals are gravitating toward Donald Trump. The author, Gina Dalfonzo, asserted, and rightfully so, that when fear is driving a certain people group, they will seek safety and power in the wrong places. The author then went on to make the connection that the American people, specifically “anti-establishment” republicans, are putting their faith in Donald Trump, because he projects an unwavering, albeit narcissistic, strength. She even takes a particular jab at American Evangelicals it seems, when she states, “Some who have professed faith in Jesus Christ are lured by a man who openly puts all his faith in power and money, the very things Christ warned us against prizing too highly.”[3]

Americans are scared. And, when humans fear they look for security. And, what appeals to humans seeking security? Strength. This is why Trump is so appealing; he exudes a certain unwavering cockiness that somehow appeals to people as “strength.” But, Evangelical Christians must remember that to exchange morality and virtue for strength and power is to reject an important Christian principle.

American Evangelicals, by voting for Trump, are rejecting a key principle from the message of Christ and his incarnation: personal power is not to be prized.

I could to try and sway Evangelical voters by pointing to Trump’s not so morally consistent business and personal history. I could easily point to Trump’s multiple divorces,[4] his business endeavors, the fact he owned the nation’s first-ever casino strip club,[5] the fact that he preys on the weak by using his power to take their land through eminent domain,[6] his previous support of abortion, his sexist[7] and racist remarks,[8] and much more.[9] But, more than all of these actions, the reason why Trump should cause Christians to cringe is what seems to be his deep, personal, one could say philosophical, love of power and not virtue.

Trump fails to realize that power is neither good nor evil in and of itself. Power can be a good, or it can be an evil. Power can be likened to a hammer. In the right hands it is a tool that builds up and strengthens a structure. In the wrong hands it can be a tool used for destruction or tearing apart a structure. It is the character of the man wielding the hammer that matters not the hammer itself. Power needs virtue in order to be good. But, Trump insists that because he is successful, because he is rich, because he is powerful, he deserves your vote. Remembering our illustration, it is as if Trump is saying, I’ll be a good builder cause I have a hammer. This, I believe, contradicts the virtue ethic of the Bible. And, the question every voter, not only Evangelical Christians, must ask is “How has he used his power? How has he used his tools?”

The Prophet Jeremiah writes, “Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.”[10] This is a summary of the Christian message. The Christian message and ethic is that man’s boasting whether it be in money, power, or wisdom, gains him nothing. It’s worthless. But, God delights in men of virtue, of love, justice, and righteousness. Trump does not live a life of virtue, rather he boasts of all his money, power, and accomplishments to gain your trust and vote. Trump is successful; Trump is rich; Trump is powerful. I am not denying this, but American Evangelicals must question how he uses his money, success, and power. And, I believe if one questions this, he will realize that Trump’s actions show that he consistently uses his money and power unethically.

The Apostle Paul states in his first epistle to the Corinthians (not One Corinthians), “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast.”[11] Jesus as our Leader, our Savior and King, did not rule this world with king-like power or with earthly riches. Jesus Christ lived a lowly life, a life of healing the sick, a life of serving the poor and the outcast. Christ lived a servant’s life, and he died a humiliating death to save mankind, even those who crucified him. Christ does not claim followers because of His mere power. Jesus Christ claims followers because of how he uses His infinite power. Christ’s life, death, burial, and resurrection show that true power comes from understanding virtue and enacting love, justice, and righteousness in our broken world. Virtue and morality is what builds and structures our communities, our cities, our states, and our union. This is what is called a Virtue-ethic. Man living for virtue’s sake not for personal gain.

That being said, there was a time when American Evangelicals voted from this Christian virtue ethic. Russell Moore says it well,

“One may say that Trump’s personal life and business dealings are irrelevant to his candidacy, but conservatives have argued for generations that virtue matters, in the citizenry and in the nation’s leaders. Can conservatives really believe that, if elected, Trump would care about protecting the family’s place in society when his own life is — unapologetically — what conservatives used to recognize as decadent?”

Some American Evangelicals want to elect a man who stands for the exact opposite of Christ’s message of virtue as true power. They want a leader who mocks, scoffs, and ridicules his competitors and dissenters. Some Evangelicals want to elect Trump as their political “savior,” but sadly they cannot see his blatant rejection of their very Savior’s virtue ethic. Like the blind leading the blind, so Trump leads scared and impressionable Evangelicals.

I am not saying that Christians can only vote for verified Christians, there is no religious test for office; I am not saying that Christians cannot vote for rich men; I am not saying that Christians cannot vote for powerful men. The point I am wishing to make is that Christians cannot vote for rich, powerful men who reject virtue and have both a flawed character and ethic. As previously stated, I do not care if Trump is rich; I do not care if Trump is successful; I do not care if Trump is powerful. But, I do care how Trump uses his money, success, and power. Therefore, I care that Trump is immoral; I care that Trump is arrogant; I care that Trump is narcissistic. And, all of these characteristics paired with his personal and business actions show his blatant opposition to Christ’s message of true power as virtue. Thus, to vote for Trump is to accept the message of this world: that the powerful, the rich, the successful deserve power and leadership. And, if that is true, then Jesus Christ would not have been a good leader according to modern standards.

Evangelical Christians must understand that to seriously support Trump is to politically forget that morality is to be prized over earthly power; that divine virtue is greater than human strength.

[Springfield Reformer]

The sermon contains doctrine that is more Pentecostal than Southern Baptist, to be sure, and some points with which I strongly disagree (I am an historic premillennialist, not a postmillennialist), but nothing which suggests Rafael Cruz is either NOT trusting in Jesus or that he IS trusting in his own works.

And other than the eschatology and the wealth theology, this is nothing new. As I have said before, all the way back to the reformers and before it has been taught that believers are given their life work, whether secular or ecclesiastical, by appointment and purpose of God, to work out God's plan in the world.

So we should have great scientists and great economists and great presidents and great musicians and writers and lawyers and brick layers and bus drivers and whatever else there is, who do all they do for the glory of God and for the spread of the Gospel and of god-honoring life in every way. There is nothing unusual in believers believing what Christ and the apostles taught on these matters. I dissent from the dominionists in that I do not think we will be in charge until after the fully visible Second Coming of Jesus, but while we wait, we are still to be salt and light.

As for salvation itself, what Rafael Cruz presents at the end of his talk is just a standard evangelical alter call, in which the hearer is invited to trust in Jesus for the washing away of all their sin in the blood of Jesus. Admission of the need of forgiveness is a recognition that we cannot save ourselves. It is the man who doesn't know he needs to be forgiven has no understanding of his very dangerous position before God.

So I ask you again: Do you have evidence you can direct me to that Rafael Cruz does not trust Jesus? You are the one making this charge. You ought to be able to back it up.

Peace,

SR

[Springfield Reformer]

Yes, that’s the rub with dominionism. It is a form of postmillennialism, which has roots in most mainline denominations, that the Church brings about utopia before Christ returns. Modern dominionism takes that theology and adds an extra layer of charismatic energy to it. But it does not have a sound basis in Scripture. In it’s most extreme forms, supernatural conquest of apocalyptic proportions is involved. But it has a Scripturally sound aspect to it which is believed by nearly all Christians of all denominations, that we should be salt and light in a sinful world by living godly lives and glorifying God in all we do.

This is why discussing it is sometimes confusing. Which end of the spectrum are we talking about? I have seen secularist articles disparaging it that make no such fine distinctions. To the unbeliever, it’s all dangerous theocracy. The Christian rejection of gay marriage has even been used as an example of dominionist thought, which is ludicrous, of course, but the ordinary secularist does not seem to get the distinction.

Peace,

SR

[Sam Gamgee]

I agree with but I wasn’t really talking about spiritual conversion. I was talking about a political stance. Most people at that age don’t generally change their politics.

[Albion Wilde]

I agree with but I wasn't really talking about spiritual conversion. I was talking about a political stance. Most people at that age don't generally change their politics.

I see, and thank you for the clarification. In his case, I think because he was operating in a deep blue state, he was "in the closet" for a long time and now can be more open about his conservative leanings and instincts. I say instincts because he is not an idealogue with a shelf full of Hayek and Buckley. He really is centrist on a lot of things -- but for me, he's conservative on the most pressing issues now -- immigration, borders, economy, trade deals, sovreignty, political correctness, ditch obamacare, cut waste and spending, pay down the debt, strengthen military, take no crap from ISIS. If a few thousand more gay marriages happen before he gets around to social issues, I'm not bothered.

[Sam Gamgee]

He seems to support bank bail outs though, no?

[Albion Wilde]

I have not researched this area closely. Nevertheless, I repeat he is not an idealogue. So to expect him to support one bank bailout (TARP) in one set of conditions during which he was not in office means that he will support every other bank bailout in every other set of possible conditions post-2016 is an ideologically-framed question that no one can answer.

I believe his entire first four years would be taken up with repairing life-or-death damage to our system in multiple venues. The time for a robust return to various schools of politcal thought will be after we are out of the political-economic Emergency Room, so to speak. Right now we are on life support and not expected to live if a Democrat is elected. He may not be an elegant surgeon; but he is a capable emergency crash interventionist, if you will.

[Svartalfiar]

A lot of people on this board blindly support him no matter what he says or does. Sadly, that’s the same Kool-Aid that the dimmos drink for their leaders. It’s a form of idolatry. They worship him, and anytime anything is said against their idol, they react as if a blasphemy has been committed. That’s why they get so upset.

I can understand how Trump appeals to the masses, to the silent majority that isn't generally well-informed. Trump doesn't have positions, he says what he thinks is best for him when he needs it. People know him from TV. But what surprised me the most about him is the number of so-called conservatives here on FR who not just blindly follow him, but rabidly attack any perceived threat to him. On a conservative website. Sigh.