Posted on 04/12/2018 8:49:59 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Since President Trump was elected in 2016 with the help of white evangelicals, we have been told that in voting for him, we compromised our ethics and can no longer be taken seriously. The latest alleged evidence for this is found in reports that black evangelicals are leaving white evangelical churches because of the latter's support of Trump. What are we to make of this?
The charge of white evangelical hypocrisy has been leveled most recently by Michael Gerson, writing in the Atlantic's April edition. The title and subtitle of his major, nearly 7,000 word article read: "The Last Temptation: How evangelicals, once culturally confident, became an anxious minority seeking political protection from the least traditionally religious president in living memory."
According to Gerson, who speaks positively of his own experience growing up as an evangelical Christian and who claims to be jealous of our tradition, "One of the most extraordinary things about our current politics—really, one of the most extraordinary developments of recent political history—is the loyal adherence of religious conservatives to Donald Trump. The president won four-fifths of the votes of white evangelical Christians. This was a higher level of support than either Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush, an outspoken evangelical himself, ever received."
He notes that, "Trump's background and beliefs could hardly be more incompatible with traditional Christian models of life and leadership. . . . Trump's strength-worship and contempt for 'losers' smack more of Nietzsche than of Christ. Blessed are the proud. Blessed are the ruthless. Blessed are the shameless. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after fame."
In spite of this, "According to Jerry Falwell Jr., evangelicals have 'found their dream president,' which says something about the current quality of evangelical dreams."
To be sure, I share some of Gerson's concerns, and I have raised them frequently myself. See here, here, and here, for relevant examples.
But what Gerson seems to have missed – quite glaringly so – is that many of us who voted for Donald Trump did so because a vote for him was a vote against Hillary Clinton. In other words, we were not so much voting for Trump as against Hillary. Yet, in a 7,000 word article, the name Hillary Clinton does not occur once. How can this be?
I'm currently conducting polls on my Facebook and Twitter pages, asking if those who voted for Trump did so primarily because they were voting for him or against Hillary. Of the votes which have come in so far (about 2,000 on Facebook and 500 on Twitter), the Facebook vote is 56 percent for Trump and 44 percent against Hillary, while the Twitter vote is 40 percent for Trump and 60 percent against Hillary.
Now, go back to the last two elections and ask Democrats who voted for Barack Obama: Were you primarily voting for him or against his candidate. I'm confident the numbers would be overwhelmingly in the for Obama column, in stark contrast with the Trump numbers. This makes Gerson's omission of Hillary Clinton all the more surprising.
It also underscores a major blind spot in his article, namely, his failure to recognize how deeply many white evangelicals feel that our nation has lurched in a very dangerous direction, which calls for some extraordinary measures. That means that when we see a candidate (now, a president) who has the potential of changing the makeup of the Supreme Court (and perhaps helping to overturn Roe v. Wade), who is genuinely concerned about our religious liberties, who is in the process of relocating our embassy to Jerusalem, we say: That man will have our support, despite his many flaws and failings. What is so hypocritical about that?
As Roman Catholic columnist Monica Showalter noted, "Evangelicals (and most Catholics – something [Gerson] forgets to notice) voted for Trump because not only does he not hate them, but he is willing to defend their values."
In the confused and troubled days in which we live, that goes a long way.
As David French, himself a Never Trumper, pointed out, "While Gerson ably explains that Evangelicals feel as if they're under siege, he doesn't give an adequate explanation as to why. He communicates the reality that Evangelicals feel embattled without providing sufficient explanation for that belief, belittling their concerns as hysterical and self-pitying. The effect is to make Evangelicals appear irrational when, in fact, Evangelicals made their political choice in response to actual, ominous cultural and legal developments that jeopardized their religious liberty and threatened some of their most precious religious and cultural institutions."
I ask again, against this backdrop, what makes our vote for Trump an act of hypocrisy? And isn't it the height of hypocrisy to accuse us of betraying our values when Gerson, according to Showalter, voted for Hillary? Is this not a classic example of the pot calling the kettle black?
This brings us back to the question of black Christians allegedly leaving white evangelical churches because of the latter's support of Trump. According to African American pastor Van Moody, "The exodus of blacks from white evangelical churches is real and understandable. People tend to gravitate towards communities that they can identify with and that they believe identifies with them. Unfortunately, the political positions many white evangelical pastors and churches have taken have eroded that sense of identification for many black people."
Now, I'm not aware of any major studies that back up the anecdotal evidence supplied by the New York Times, and to my knowledge, most white evangelical pastors do not get into politics that much from the pulpit.
But even if these reports are true, doesn't the sword cut both ways? Haven't black evangelicals consistently voted for pro-abortion, pro-LGBT candidates like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton? Haven't some African-American mega-churches even prayed by name for the election of candidates like Obama and Al Gore? Why then weren't they called on the carpet for hypocrisy? Why aren't they guilty of tarnishing the evangelical tradition?
Personally, I believe we all have blind spots and there's more than enough hypocrisy to go around. And I think leaders like Van Moody and Franklin Graham would profit greatly by spending time with each other, if they haven't already. Let us hear one another out, let us share our respective perspectives, and let us commit to being holistic in our ethics and concerns, with the help of God.
But I'm a little suspicious whenever left-leaning Christians (and/or the leftist secular media) raise charges against white evangelicals, people who just happen to be strong social conservatives.
Perhaps the bigger issue is not our alleged hypocrisy but rather our counter-cultural convictions? Could this be where the conflict really lies?
It wasn’t a difficult choice, between Trump or Clinton.
Clinton was the advocate for abortions. So Christians are hyprocties for standing up for LIFE?
RE: Clinton was the advocate for abortions.
And the legalization of Gay Marriage.
And should we overlook her using her position to install a personal e-mail server to send classified information and endanger our country’s secrets?
The Leftist be they “Christian” or not lives to condemn ALL who don’t think the thoughts the “collective” demands. There was Mike Pence (who my wife said she voted “for”)... but at the top of the ticket there was no Eagle Scout or Mother Teresa.
So we had “crooked” abortion loving Hillary and crude Donald Trump. In spite of his personal shortcomings, and certainly NOT a great example to Evangelicals, President Trump was the only candidate not openly HOSTILE to the Judeo-Christian traditions of our country and culture.
So bottom line... it was a no-brainer.
In the Primaries, Trump was not my first (or, frankly, second or third) choice. But once he was nominated, I knew he was the strongest thing --- the only thing --- we could throw across the trail to block the Clinton Crime Family's advance. He may be a gnarly and pest-infected old tree trunk, but he's the tree trunk we rolled into Hilary's legs.
I've winced a few times, but I haven't had any serious regrets. And every once in a while, I enjoy a whoopin' hilarious holler.
Just say the word "Hilary" and I'll vote for Trump five times in a minute.
In the general, the vote was against the hard line destroyer of life in the womb, Hillary!
"The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time. The hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them."- Thomas Jefferson
What vivid imaginations writers have.
Because they can't handle the truth! I think it would have been more hypocritical for Evangelicals to have voted for Hilliary.
Amen! My thoughts to the tee.
This article by Wayne Allyn Root was forwarded by many Evangelicals to many Evangelicals...entire prayer lists ... entire church membership, etc. This article, and the many like it, explains what Evangelicals should, and did, vote for Trump. ... and not just Evangelicals ... but many Catholics also. Ralph Reed’s operation got them to the polls. But Root’s thinking is what made Reed’s GOTV possible. Copied below.
I am a Jew turned evangelical Christian. I am also a passionate supporter of Donald Trump.
I have a message for Christians who don’t like Donald Trump: “YOU’RE MISSING THE BOAT.”
Christians have Trump all wrong. God sends messages in many forms. You’re just not listening. God is talking, but you’re eyes and ears are closed.
Here’s a famous joke about God and how he talks to us.
“A deeply faithful Christian man is stuck on roof of home with massive flooding up to 2nd floor. Rowboat comes. He says “No, I’m waiting for God. I’ve prayed and I know he’s coming.” 2ndrowboat. “No, I’m waiting for God.” 3rd rowboat. “No, I’m waiting for God.”
Water rises. The man drowns. Now he’s meeting God in heaven. The religious man says “Where were you God? I prayed. I was faithful. I asked you to save me. Why would you abandon me?”
God says, “Hey dummy, I sent you 3 rowboats. Are you blind?”
Did you ever consider Trump is our rowboat?
Maybe God is trying to tell us something important- that now is not the time for a “nice Christian guy” or a “gentleman” or a typical Republican powder puff. Maybe now is the time for a natural born killer, a ruthless fighter, a warrior.
Because right about now we need a miracle, or America is finished.
Maybe the rules of gentleman don’t apply here. Maybe a gentleman and “all-around nice Christian” would lead us to slaughter.
CARTOONS | Steve Breen
View Cartoon
Or do you want another Mitt Romney, Bob Dole, John McCain, Gerald Ford or Paul Ryan? Did any of them win? Did they lead the GOP to “the promised land?” Did they change the direction of America? No, because if you don’t win, you have no say.
Paul Ryan couldn’t even deliver his own state Wisconsin!
And as leader of the House, Paul Ryan rolls over to Obama like my dog rolls over for a scrap of food, or a steak bone. He’s a useful idiot. Nice, but obedient. I mean Paul Ryan…not my dog. My dog is actually a pretty good defender and loyal.
Maybe God is knocking on your door so loud, but you’re not listening. Maybe God understands we need a “war leader” at this moment in time. Maybe God understands if we don’t win this election, America is dead. It’s over. The greatest nation in world history will be gone. Finished. Kaput. Adios.
And with one last breath, maybe what we need to save us at the last second, is someone different. Someone you haven’t ever experienced before- because you weren’t raised in rough and tumble New York where nothing good gets accomplished unless you’re combative, aggressive, outrageous, on offense at all times, and maybe just a tad arrogant too.
Someone with a personality you’ve never seen on stage at your church.
Maybe, just maybe, being a nice gentlemanly Christian would not beat Hillary, and her billion dollars, and her best friends in the media who will unleash the dogs of hell upon the GOP nominee.
I guess you think God is only nice and gentlemanly. Really? Then you’ve missed the whole point of the Bible. When necessary God is a pretty tough guy. When necessary, God strikes with pain, death and destruction. When necessary, God inflicts vengeance.
Maybe you think God couldn’t possibly be associated with someone like Trump. Trump is too vicious, rude and crude.
When we won WWII, was God “nice?” Were we gentlemanly when defeating Hitler? Were we gentlemanly when firebombing Germany? Were we gentlemanly when dropping atomic bombs on Japan? Is God ever “nice” on the battlefield? Or does he send us vicious SOB’s like General George S. Patton, so the good guys can defeat evil?
It’s pretty clear to me God sends unique people to be “war leaders.” That’s a different role than a pastor or church leader. God understands that.
Maybe God purposely sent Trump instead of the nice Republican powder puffs like Paul Ryan, or Mitt Romney, or John Kasich because he wants us to win.
And maybe it’s time to re-define “nice.” Maybe Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan aren’t nice at all- because they led us to defeat. And losing again would mean the end of America. And God can’t allow that.
Maybe Romney and Ryan mean well, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Or maybe they’re just jealous they had their chance and blew it. Maybe they’d rather help elect Hillary than allow a Trump victory that would make them look weak, feckless and incompetent.
I was reading the Bible this morning and I found the perfect verse that explains the success of Donald Trump…
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength;They shall mount up with wings like eagles,They shall run and not be weary,They shall walk and not faint.” (Isiah 40:30-31)
It’s almost like God created this verse for Donald Trump and this moment in history.
Trump is our energy. More energy than any candidate EVER. He took on the 16 best candidates in GOP history...all younger than him...all with better political credentials...and destroyed them with his energy. You mean that kind of energy in a 70-year old isn’t inspired by God?
Trump renews our strength. Or does the all-time record turnout and all-time record votes for a GOP presidential primary candidate not define “strength?”
With Trump we mount up with wings like eagles. With Trump as our leader there is nothing we can’t do. Any man that can build skyscrapers in Manhattan and vanquish 16 presidential opponents, while spending almost nothing…can lead us to the heights of eagles.
With Trump we run, we are not weary. Just when we get tired of the fight against Obama, Hillary, big government, big business, big media, big unions...just when it all seems impossible to overcome the powerful forces of evil... along comes Trump to re-energize us.
Trump inspires us. Trump gives us hope. Trump gives us confidence in victory. Trump gives us just a touch of arrogance. Maybe God understands that’s exactly what we need right at this late stage to save America.
So let me repeat my message to Christians: “YOU’RE MISSING THE BOAT.”
God is about miracles. We don’t need a “nice guy” or a “gentleman” right now. It’s the 4th quarter and we’re losing 14-0. We need a miracle.
I believe Trump is our miracle. I believe Trump is our rowboat.
Except he’s more like a battleship!
No one is saying Trump is perfect. No one is saying Trump is a perfect conservative. But he is a patriot. He is a warrior. He is a capitalist. He is the right man, at the right time.
Yes, he’s a bit rude and crude and offensive. But that may make him the perfect warrior to save America, American exceptionalism, capitalism and Judeo-Christian values.
The choice should be easy for Christians.It’s Trump…or it’s the end of the America.
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