I hate writing about politics. However, the upcoming Presidential election is one of the most important of our generation. The election is not only an important cultural event but could also serve as an important turning point for evangelicals. Evangelicals will have yet another opportunity to right the wrong of the previous two elections. But the question remains, will they?
I consider myself an Independent. In the past, I have voted for both parties. And, for the most part, I don’t care who people vote for. I have long held to the separation of Church and State. With that said, I have struggled with what to do with Donald Trump. I don’t mind saying that no one who follows Jesus Christ should put a man of such moral filth in the highest office in the land/world. I don’t think I need to rehash all of his proclivities here.
In my upcoming book, The Kingdom of Man, I trace evangelicalism and fundamentalism throughout modern history to demonstrate how both groups have become a sea of conformity. I show how their history led them to vote for Donald Trump in the first election and why they came out in greater numbers the second time. I also demonstrate how both groups have become almost indistinguishable in today’s day and age. But, there is an underlying question that I find interesting. Is there any hope for evangelicals to redeem themselves and if so, what would that look like?
It seems to me that the only way for evangelicals to turn the corner and start heading in a direction toward Christ is to reject him at the polls – either by not turning out or voting for his opponent.
Will Evangelicals Vote for Trump?
The answer to this question is not necessarily found in polling data. The answer lies in local elections. And, if the communities I live around are any indication, then yes evangelicals will come back out in support of Trump. White Christian Nationalists (and yes, that is a thing!) are filling up School Boards, Mayoral, and Gubernatorial offices around the nation. They are using the same tactics they promulgated in the 90s when evangelicals made youth their primary target for indoctrination. Those who survived the onslaught are now middle-aged parents implementing the same strategies.
Evangelicals are largely demonstrating that they are not learning from the past. They are showing those around them that they truly don’t get it. They have bought into the justification that the disdain culture has for them is brought about by the contempt that culture has for Jesus. This belief means that leaders can spin this disdain by arguing that one is being persecuted for Jesus by continuing these behaviors. As this message is recycled repeatedly, the proverbial wool that blinded them has become a brick wall. American culture does not hate Jesus, they hate bigotry that shrouds its intentions by using the authority of the Bible to justify its intolerance.
I said as much as a guest on a recent podcast by theologian Randal Rauser.
Evangelicals are loyal. They do not admit defeat because in doing so, it would require an admission that they were wrong. With a group so dedicated to “truth”, admitting they were wrong, especially on something like Donald Trump, would be catastrophic. Since the overarching issue of abortion and sexuality is so dominant in the evangelical worldview, any vote outside of a “pro-life” candidate would be an unforgivable sin (even though neither is a biblical issue). To vote for Donald Trump will always be the better of the two evils.
With that said, my concern is with those who don’t see any issue in voting for Trump. Unfortunately, I think that population is much greater. And no amount of education or information will ever change their mind.
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