CAN CHRISTIANS REALLY VOTE FOR TRUMP?

Spoiler alert: don’t be shocked when pagans do pagan things.

The 2024 Republican National Convention took place this week and, for some reason, many Christians were under the impression that a Christian worship service was the order of the day. But instead of Chris Tomlin coming out and singing “How Great is Our God,” delegates and other attendees got a steady influx of the likes of reality TV stars such as Amber Rose - also equally known for her coarse language when advocating for abortion - showing their support for Trump.

A quick check of the internet reveals stunning naivety, with some apparently anticipating a near-death experience version of Trump entering the convention hall to exegete his mysterious favorite Bible passage. Instead, they watched as President Trump listened to Rose talk through his bandaged ear about the party being “all love” whether gay or straight. Not only did he listen, but he clapped in agreement.

For anyone paying attention, this isn’t a shock to the system. During an interview with Savannah Sellers of NBC, Eric Trump was confronted with the fact that the GOP platform no longer calls for a federal abortion ban, and no longer defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Eric made it abundantly clear when he said, “He’s [Donald Trump] always been there on those issues.” He would go on to compare those issues to a little bit of water in the basement while issues like immigration are akin to holes in the roof that need to be addressed first. 

Now if that position bothers you, you may want to try to forget the fact that there were also prayers offered up to the demonic false god Waheguru to wrap up the opening night of the convention. Perhaps this is your first political rodeo and this was eye opening, but the same political party put forth a Mormon as its nominee just 12 years ago. 

The GOP is doing its best this year to embody the coexist bumper sticker, and while I’m no political expert, I’m very certain of this truth: pagans gonna pagan. My contention is that no mature believer should be the least surprised by this. The Apostle Paul wrote as much to the Corinthians:

“I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. I did not mean the immoral people of this world or the greedy and swindlers or idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world. But actually, I wrote you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Don’t you judge those who are inside? God judges outsiders. Remove the evil person from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)

Make no mistake, I’m not excusing the worship of any false gods, which are no gods, nor the spread of any other gospel, which is no gospel God WILL judge. I just don’t think Christians should expect non-Christians to do our messaging for us, and that surprise at this is a sign that we need a better theological framework for effectively navigating culture in general, and politics specifically. 

So can Christians really vote for Trump in light of these events? Here are two reasons why my answer is “YES” but with a third caveat as to HOW we should do this. :

BECAUSE WE TRUST JESUS, NOT POLITICIANS

We should not be surprised when pagan princes do what pagan princes are prone to do, but rather look to Christ, who alone can work even through such men:

“Do not put your trust in princes,
    in human beings, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
    on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.
He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
    and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,”
(Psalm 146:3-7)

Does this mean we ought to remove ourselves from political discourse? Absolutely not, since the gospel ought to be proclaimed to all people, at all times and in all places, even to kings and rulers and with all boldness. If trusting in princes is one ditch along the political path, then withdrawing from engagement entirely is the other. 

Countless times throughout redemptive history, God has leveraged pagan rulers to advance His agenda in the world, particularly pagan rulers sympathetic to God’s people (think Artaxerxes and Nehemiah). It is precisely because we trust God that we Christians can make a choice for the leader who most sympathizes with us, despite their sinfulness.

Christians on the right are often accused of placing their trust in politics, and particularly in Donald Trump. Naturally, this is something we must not do. But we can vote for him as the best available option because we trust in God’s ability to establish his rule even through someone like him.

BECAUSE GOD IS SOVEREIGN (even over imperfect people like Trump)

There is hope for our participation in culture, not because of the temporal power and influence the politicians hold but because God is sovereign over all of them without exception. Proverbs 21:1 tells us, “A king’s heart is like channeled water in the Lord’s hand: He directs it wherever he chooses.” God has seen fit to place us in this nation at this time and Romans 13:1 is still true: “there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

God’s sovereignty is not put on hold if a leader doesn’t exemplify God’s righteousness as we’d prefer them to. David ruled over God’s earthly nation (Israel) yet was a murderous adulterer. Solomon was the wisest man to ever live, yet allowed his impulse toward riches and debauchery to rule over him throughout much of his life. At times, rulers like Asa (2 Chronicles 14) smashed idolatrous altars but also failed to trust God at others, leading his nation into a freefall of horrible wars. God used each of them to accomplish his purposes in the world and for its ultimate blessing.

Under God’s sovereignty we pursue the support of those who most closely represents those ideals and who are willing to remove as many obstacles to the most free expression of the Christian faith possible, even when they themselves do not embody it in their own lives as we would expect of those in leadership inside the church; even if they themselves are not Christian.

Does this excuse immorality on Trump’s behalf? God forbid. He’s no more to be excused than you or I for violating the law of God. Make no mistake, the choice in front of us this November will be between two candidates whose parties are both pagan but that’s not the point because it’s not a game of who is less sinful but which is the better strategy as we apply wisdom.

We Should Witness To Trump

More concerning than a pagan presence at the convention was the number of people in the room who bowed their heads in prayers offered to a false god.  Shouldn’t at least some folks on the stage have been given a surprise by the numerous professing Christians in attendance objecting to false worship and refusing to participate in it? 

1 Peter says the following: “For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you…The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” (1 Peter 4:3-4,7)

I think Christians should be at the RNC. The U.S.A. is, after all, one of the nations that must be discipled, and the Republican Party is a door that is far more open than many others. I just think that we ought to do so with eyes wide open and in such a way that it should open some eyes. 

Christians need to enter such situations as Peter says, alert and sober minded, ready for evils and godless stunts, and prepared to stand against them. They should stand up against it, vote in primaries for candidates that reflect their values, and ensure that moments like that are a national scandal because the believers in the room would not compromise. But after that, they can still vote for the better option between the two. 

Conclusion

In the end, all things are working together for the good of those who love HIM (Jesus) and are called according to his purpose. “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Let us pray for our leaders, that they would turn from sin and come to Christ.