Believe it or not, this post is not actually about Donald Trump. In fact, it’s not about who you should vote for at all.
But, as has often been the case, Trump has verbalized what many have often thought and (in this case) what many Christians have felt. And it is wrong. Dangerously wrong. And regardless of your voting preference or the result of the election to come, this needs to be addressed.
If you want to hear the whole thing, you can watch the four-minute clip here.
The short synopsis, though, is that Trump will give Christians the power and influence that many long for. In doing so, he plays off of some commonly held fears and desires. The fears are overstated, while the desires are misplaced. Below is my assessment.
Persecution
“Christianity is being chipped away at and I’m not going to let it happen.”
Okay. We should first of all take note that the persecution of Christians in America is highly exaggerated (more on that in a bit). Secondly, we should also take note that the person who is directly responsible for the Christian faith – the very person that Christianity is named after who happens to be the second person of the Godhead – doesn’t say anything remotely like this. In fact, rather than saying, “I’m not going to let it happen”, Jesus promises that it will happen (Matt. 10) and you are considered blessed when it does (Matt. 5:11-12). Not only that, but the early believers rejoiced when they were persecuted (Acts 5:41), while Paul also says that we are destined for it (1 Thess. 3:3; 2 Tim. 3:12). So, to recap: Jesus says it will happen, but Trump’s not going to let it happen.
In fact, it is when we assume that Christians shouldn’t be persecuted that we fall into error. Assuming a lack of persecution is dangerous for Christians. Christianity has long enjoyed a privileged status in American culture. Now that other religious beliefs are being recognized and protected, Christians have begun to perceive this as persecution and cry “foul”. Not only is it a power grab by Christians, it is a detrimental witness to our faith. [When Ken Ham cries “persecution” because his Noah’s Ark amusement park isn’t tax exempt, it just comes across as whiny and privileged to non-Christians.]
He laments that if you say something against Muslims, people are up in arms, but if you speak out against Christians, people couldn’t care less (seemingly a sign of our persecution).
First of all, let’s point out the hypocrisy. He’s not saying that we should be up in arms when people say things about religious groups. He actually wants the reverse of his perception. He wants outcry on behalf of Christians, but not on behalf of Muslims (otherwise, he wouldn’t say the things he does about Muslims).
Secondly, (again) we will find no such sentiment in the New Testament. If we really, truly were a Christian nation, we would be more concerned with how others are treated (even when we perceive them as our enemy) than our own reputation. In Jesus’ view of Christianity, God will take care of his people, and his people will take care of others. In Jesus’ view of the church, God longs to resource the church that is doing his reconciling ministry. We don’t need Trump or any other politician to protect or give power to the church.
Power
He continues, though, with an even more dangerous desire. He imagines Christians “banding together and getting the kinds of things you want.”
Again, you will find no such sentiment anywhere in the New Testament. You will never find Jesus encouraging his believers to form what Trump calls a “stronger lobby” in order for them to get “the kinds of things you want.”
This is a classic case of political power grabbing, and it has no place in the church. For Saint Peter’s sake, it’s the very thing we hate about politics! One of the most corrupt aspects of the American political system today is that lobbyists are far too influential in the decision making process! Why would we want the church to play into the same broken system?
Trump laments that the “guy on the street” is more powerful than the evangelical leaders and that Christianity should have a “strong flavor”. “Think of the power we have over the Democrats, over the Republicans! I mean the power is, the power is incredible.”
No.
No, no, no, no no. Not one bit.
In Mark 10, James and John ask to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand in his coming Kingdom – places of prominence and authority. The other disciples become indignant (because that’s what happens when others make a power grab). Jesus teaches them that this kind of top-down power scheme is what Gentile rulers use. And instead, Jesus says “Not so with you. Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (Mark 10:43-44).
In other words, there may be nothing more un-Christian than to desire a “strong flavor” or “power over the Democrats, over the Republicans”.
Of course, good Christians can (and should) speak into the political landscape. But not for power. And especially not to give the church more power. And especially, especially not for trite things like saying “Merry Christmas”. [Honestly. I can’t think of anything more lame for Christians to fight for. When Jesus meets you at the pearly gates, he isn’t going to ask you why you didn’t get more people to say “Merry Christmas”.]
Christians can and should have a prophetic voice into the system in order to see justice lived out in our nation and world. Christians have an opportunity to speak up in order to empower the powerless; to speak against the corruption and greed and power that is inherent in the political systems. We have a duty to speak out against the fear and violence in our world.
And contrary to what Trump would like us to believe, tax exempt status does not handcuff Christian leaders from speaking out. Evangelical leaders have not risked tax exemption for endorsing him, and evangelical leaders have not risked tax exemption for speaking out against him. [Not to mention that if he does become president, I have a feeling that he wouldn’t mind suing a few pastors who speak out against him from the pulpit. Just sayin’]
Pastors can speak out about political issues. They just can’t use their church or their pulpit to bully people into their political persuasion. And that’s good. But to say that pastors don’t have influence is ridiculous.
Here’s the thing. It’s not necessarily Donald Trump that’s the problem (at least, not in this blog post). The problem is that too many Christians resonate with the message of power that he’s delivering. The problem is that he’s trying to appeal to Christians like he would appeal to any other group (with promises of power and influence). But Christians are not [supposed to be] like any other group. We do not require a political candidate in order to provide for us. We do not need political power. In fact, political power in our hands is historically dangerous.
And none of it has anything to do with the kind of enemy-loving, cross-taking, persecution-enduring, sacrificial Gospel that Christ brought when he laid down all heavenly power and authority in order to become a servant.
And if Trump were to become president, this is the very thing that Christians should fight and speak out against. Let me repeat: Christians should speak out against politicians that want to give us political power.
Even from the pulpit.
Because apparently, Trump would want that.
In the end, if Trump really wants Christianity to have a world-changing kind of influence (and more influence than it ever has before) he should be calling the church to give up their power, give up their greed, give up their materialism, and sacrifice and care for others like no one has ever seen. The immigrant, the incarcerated, the refugee, the war-torn, the poor, the minority, the lonely, the hurting, the powerless, the enemy. Because it is only in that vision of the Christian church that the church will have the kind of impact that Jesus knows is possible. Even the gates of hell cannot prevail over such a church.
More political power will not give the church more influence. Only looking like Jesus will.
Two Worlds 