Why Conservative Christians Should Rethink Support for Trump

 

Over the past several days, I’ve been reflecting on the trucker convoy. I remember how thankful we were to hear they were on their way to Ottawa. After months of lockdowns and vaccine mandates, ordinary Canadians had had enough. We had seen pastors imprisoned for gathering their congregations for worship, we had been barred from restaurants and public spaces for refusing the vaccine, and we had witnessed the devastating effects of lockdowns on the sick, the elderly, and our children. So when we learned the convoy was coming, many of us took our flags and lined the 401 to cheer them on as they passed. Some of us went to Ottawa as well. And some of us were there when the police violently cleared the truckers out.

I will never forget that day. We had seen the female protester trampled by a mounted officer, and we felt compelled to go. We went peacefully, but we went to stand with the truckers. I saw no protesters acting violently that day - but I did see a great deal of gratuitous violence from the police, many of whom had removed their name tags. One moment stands out in particular: A trucker beside me had his hands on his head as he knelt in surrender. I had seen what the police were doing, so I knelt beside him so he wouldn’t be alone. I then watched as a group of officers took him to the ground and brutally beat him.  This wasn’t my only taste of police brutality that day, but it was one incident I will never forget.

So why did we go? We went because we saw a domestic threat to our nation. Our own government was stripping away our rights and freedoms, and we believed it was our duty as citizens to stand up.

I recently wrote about some of my regrets from that period. I wish I had used my blog more sparingly and been more charitable toward Christians on the other side of the debate. Though I still believe the closure of churches was wrong, I now believe that most who complied did so in faith, believing they were doing what was right. In hindsight, I see that some of my comments about those who advocated for compliance were harsh and unfair - I should have been more measured and gracious.  I also regret being so quick to believe anti-vax propaganda. While I still believe the vaccine mandates were unlawful and remain grateful that I did not take the vaccine myself, I am no longer convinced the COVID vaccine is as dangerous as I once thought.

That said, if I could go back, I would make many of the same choices. I would still gather for worship, I would not impose mask mandates on the congregation, I would reject social distancing measures, and I would encourage congregational singing. In short, I would stand by much of what I did in 2020 and 2021 - but, I trust, with less militancy and more humility and grace toward those who disagreed. And if faced with the same circumstances in 2022, I would take a Canadian flag and go to Ottawa again.  When I think back on the convoy and what I saw in Ottawa, I am grateful for the courage of those who stood against tyranny.  

It should be obvious that I am neither a fan of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nor a friend to leftist policies. As I reflect on what took place between 2020 and 2022, I can understand why American Christians were similarly frustrated with their government. I can understand why they could not, in good conscience, support the Democratic Party - I certainly couldn’t.

What I can’t understand is the unwavering support those same Christians have given to Donald Trump. When I consider the support the American president has received from Canadian Christians in particular, I am amazed that many of the same people who recognized tyranny in Trudeau fail to recognize it in Trump.  

I understand that he appears to be a friend to the pro-life movement, and I admit that I am not unhappy with everything he has said or done. When he stated there are only two genders, I agreed. When he pardoned anti-abortion activists, I was pleased. But just because a man does a few good things for his country does not mean he is qualified - or even safe.

Adolf Hitler may be an extreme example, but it is worth remembering that he, too, did a few good things for his country. He drew support from German Christians in part because he opposed Bolshevism, promoted moral conservatism, and promised economic stability and national security. In the same way, Trump has garnered support by standing against the perceived threat of a leftist, Marxist agenda, promoting moral conservatism, and promising economic stability and national security.

I have often wondered how so many Christians have allowed themselves to be taken in and deceived by a man who, in biblical terms, is so clearly unqualified. I believe part of the answer lies in the failure of Christians to think in terms of first principles. Far too many are pragmatic.  They are concerned with results. Trump promises them certain things they believe they must have, at almost any cost. Whether he follows the rule of law matters little, as long as he gives them what they want. Simply put, they have forgotten that the end does not justify the means.

Our forefathers used to speak about these first principles.   They often said, “duty is ours, events are God’s.”  Put another way, duty is ours and the consequences are with God.   Daniel operated on these principles when in the face of possible death he prayed as he had always done.  He didn’t adjust his habits to preserve his life.  He just obeyed.  As Christians we are not allowed to decide whether obedience to God is convenient or safe.  We are to obey regardless of the consequences.   In theory, we know better than to weigh the possible cost of obeying God’s commandments before deciding what to do.  We have been taught better than that.  But when it comes to politics many seem to set those principles aside.  Christians want a leader who will give them certain things.  They want an end to abortion, for example.  They also want that economic stability and financial security, and they want a man to stand up to the leftist agenda.  And so they take a man without integrity and make him their president.  

When Trump first ran for the presidency, I spoke out against him for the same reason I later continued gathering for worship. What motivated me to stand against lockdowns in 2020 motivates me now as I write against Trump. I am not primarily concerned with outcomes or consequences, though I do believe Trump poses a danger to his country and the world. Rather, I am concerned with those first principles. In short, what does the Bible say? What does it say, specifically, about the kind of civil ruler Christians ought to support?

Before I get to the Biblical evidence, let me quote from 19th century theologian William Symington.  He said, “It is a duty which nations owe to Messiah the Prince, to have respect to moral and religious qualifications in those whom they appoint over them.”  He said, “It is not every individual who is qualified to hold office in a nation.  Good natural talents, a cultivated mind, and a due share of acquaintance with the principles of government and with the constitution and laws of the country, seem indispensable (Ecclesiastes 10:16, Exodus 18:21, Deuteronomy 1:13)." He then added, "Not less essential are moral qualifications.  High and incorruptible integrity, well regulated mercy, strict veracity, and exemplary temperance, are all specified with approbation in the Word of God.”  

I will come back to some of the relevant passages, but do you begin to see the problem? Is it not clear that Trump is not only lacking in “high and incorruptible integrity, well-regulated mercy, strict veracity, and exemplary temperance” but is, in fact, known for the very opposite?

So how well exactly does Trump measure up to the biblical standard?  Exodus 18:21 says, “Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people men of truth, hating covetousness.”  2 Samuel 23:3 says, “He that ruleth over men must be just.”  Proverbs 20:28 says, “Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upholden by mercy.”  Exodus 18:21 and 2 Samuel 23:3 both add that rulers must fear God.  

A. Is he a man of truth?  No, of course not, and no one pretends he is.  Actually, Trump is a well-documented liar.  He lies so regularly and constantly it is nigh impossible to know when he is speaking the truth.  

B. Does he hate covetousness?  No, Trump does not hate covetousness.  He is known, rather, for a lifestyle marked by every kind of covetousness.  Whether it’s coveting his neighbour’s wife, coveting his neighbour’s home or property, coveting riches or power, coveting the property of sovereign nations, Trump’s history and speech are marked by that which the Bible condemns.  Worse, he has been found guilty of sexual abuse, faced multiple accusations of sexual assault, and has never apologized for openly boasting about grabbing women by the p**.

C. Is he just? Whatever may be said about his previous term, it has become clear in his second term that Trump has little regard for the law. In just a few weeks, he has ignored due process, violated international law, and signaled his willingness to disregard judicial injunctions - if he hasn't already. He once boasted that he could shoot someone and get away with it, and more recently claimed that it’s not illegal if it saves his country. I expect many readers will defend him for these actions (and statements) because they got what they wanted. He may have disregarded due process, "but he eliminated waste." His actions may not align with the constitution, "but they are good for the country and good for Christians." This is dangerous, even foolish reasoning. The ends do not justify the means. The man who will disregard the law for you today may very well disregard the law to spite you tomorrow.

D. Is he merciful?  There is no evidence to suggest that Trump is merciful, and to my knowledge, no one has tried to claim that he is. Setting aside his 2018 policy that separated immigrant children from their parents, Trump is known to be a bully who has repeatedly shown that he will do whatever it takes to get what he wants.

E. Does he fear God?  There is nothing in Trump’s life to suggest he fears God.

I expect many readers will admit that Trump isn’t a man of truth, isn’t a hater of covetousness, isn’t merciful and doesn’t fear God.   Nevertheless, they will support him as the more righteous option or the lesser of evils.  To reason in this fashion is to abandon first principles.  Christians are not permitted to choose between evils.  Should we choose between Biden and Harris? Are we permitted to choose a Stalin over a Hitler?  May we decide between violating the first commandment and violating the sixth?  No, we obey God.  Recognizing that the consequences are with God we find out our duty and we do it.  

What, then, is our duty here? Our duty is to stand for what is right and oppose what is evil. The prophet says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20). We must support leaders who measure up to the biblical standard and oppose all who do not. We must not call evil men good, nor hide behind the providence of God to excuse our silence. Yes, God raised up Trump - no one can deny that. But He also raised up Stalin and Hitler.  

Some are saying Trump is a modern-day Cyrus, as if this somehow lets Trump (and the evangelical Church) off the hook.  The truth is none of us knows God’s hidden purposes. We aren’t given to understand the secret things of God. What we can be sure of is this: the prophets who stood against the evils committed by kings did not wait to uncover the hidden purposes God had in raising them up. They did their duty. They were not respecters of men. Where they saw sin and evil, they confronted it.

It is time for the Church to return to first principles. The President of the United States is a man without integrity, ruling not for the glory of Christ or the good of the Church, but for his own personal gain. He must be opposed, if not by the unbelieving world, then by those who love Christ and His Word. I believe the Christians who have openly and publicly supported him have, through their support, brought a measure of shame upon the name of Christ. I don’t doubt they meant well, but their support of a man who is so utterly opposed to the character of Jesus Christ has brought reproach upon us.  Where we have adopted carnal policies in place of biblical principles, I pray that God would grant us the grace to repent.

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