I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral persons--not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since you would then need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral, or greedy, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard or robber. Do not even eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging those outside? Is it not those who are inside that you need to judge? God will judge those outside. "Drive out the wicked person from among you". I Corinthians 5:9-13, NRSV
The political attraction of Donald Trump to conservative, Evangelical Christians is not all that hard to understand. He tells them what they want to hear from him politically. They have narrowed down their political interests to getting enough government favor to do their work for them when it comes to ending abortion and overturning the Roe v. Wade decision. More recently, white supremacy has blended itself into the mix, along with opposition to equal rights for lesbian, gay and transgendered persons but all of their political eggs fall into the same basket.
Trump's political interest is much different. He pursued a clear path to reducing or eliminating altogether any tax obligation for the wealthiest Americans and laid the groundwork to stuff his own pockets, along with those of some of his billionaire buddies, with the resulting cash from our pockets. In exchange for the votes he needed to get into office, he decided that he could change his position on a few social issues that he found personally meaningless.
Support for Trump is Inconsistent with Biblical Doctrine
There is no basis in Christian theology for trading off support for a politician in exchange for political benefits. The church, according to the Apostolic writers of the New Testament, neither needs nor desires political power to achieve its purpose. The problem that is created when a political deal is made is that it changes the focus of the church from its spiritual mission, which is to glorify God and testify to the gospel message of Jesus, to one of having to support secular political positions that drain its resources and strangle its credibility.
It is inconceivable that a group of Christians in the United States who claim their faith is closer to the genuine Christian church that Christ established because they belief in the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible as the written word of God would turn to one of the most worldly, corrupt public figures in the world as the candidate they would support for President of the United States. For most white Evangelicals--pardon the pun--political influence trumps Biblical doctrine and theology and they are willing to set aside their strict hermeneutical principles to twist a few select scripture references out of their context to justify the unjustifiable practice of endorsing a secular politician.
Trump built his public reputation on the kind of worldly debauchery and immorality that the Apostle Paul was condemning in the passage I cited at the beginning from his first letter to the Christian church at Corinth. Trump went to great lengths to make sure the world knew about his marital unfaithfulness, including who some of his famous partners were. The dishonesty of his financial business is off the charts, and he made a lot of his money on casinos and strip clubs, and still does.
There are those who say that this passage doesn't apply to their support for Trump, because it is a condemnation of those who are sexually immoral inside the church, not of outsiders. But that argument doesn't hold water here. Trump was brought inside, accepted and endorsed by many self-proclaimed Evangelical "leaders." Some of them have been his most ardent apologists and defenders, even though he has never claimed to have had a conversion experience. Evangelicals have made him theirs. Now, they have to own him. And if they have endorse him, and encouraged their followers to vote for him, then they are guilty of disobedience to this Biblical directive.
They Have Much in Common
For such boasters are false prophets, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. Their end will match their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, NRSV
Right smack in the middle of the Trump administration, one of his most ardent and loyal supporters, Jerry Falwell, Jr., the heir to the Falwell empire that included the presidency of Liberty University, was caught in a major sex scandal that came to light after some questionable photos of Falwell, with another woman not his wife, turned up. That led to revelations of an adulterous affair involving one of their younger employees and Falwell's wife. Falwell himself made the arrangements, and apparently took photographs.
The list of prominent, well-known Evangelical pastors and evangelists who have had to step down and admit to adulterous affairs over the past four years is an indication that these scripture passages not only apply to the church in Corinth, but to Evangelical Christians in 21st century America. This includes very prominent individuals like Ravi Zacharias, Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Church in metro Chicago, and Frank Page, former executive director of the Southern Baptist Convention, along with Falwell. There is also a long list of financial misdeeds, mishandling of abuse and rape accusations in churches and ministries. There's a link on the side of the blog to Julie Roys, who regularly reports on such scandals and issues among Evangelicals, and you can read plenty.
Birds of a feather, hey?
Trump Junior Claims the Bible is a Manual for Suckers and Losers
Bush Speechwriter Slams Trump Jr. for Saying the Bible is a "Manual for Suckers and Losers"
When they go on the record, it is very hard to deny that the "left wing media" is doing this to them.
Trump Junior told a group gathered at a Turning Point USA rally in Arizona that following the teachings of Jesus, when it comes to loving your enemies or turning the other cheek, causes Christians to be excluded from positions of power in social and cultural institutions.
"We've turned the other cheek and I understand, sort of, the biblical reference, I understand the mentality," he said. "But it's gotten us nothing. OK?"
Sorry to let reality break in on the fantasy world that Trumpies generally live in, but denying a core teaching of Jesus, and replacing it with a worldly principle learned by aggressive, vengeful politics, is not Christian. It is what the Bible refers to as "anti-Christ."
Spiritual Questions Are Not Answered by Politics
Am I now seeking human approval , or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10, NRSV
There are many sincere Christian believers who have been deceived by this whole charade. It is to those people that I am writing. The church does not need political affiliations to accomplish its mission and purpose. Jesus put this in simple terms, saying that Christians are to be like salt and light (Matthew 5:13-14). They are to be an influence and a presence. Christian practice cannot be mandated by law, it must be accepted and practiced by belief and conviction.
Salt enhances the flavor of food, especially when it is used in cooking or baking. Light makes it possible to see, driving away the darkness and illuminating the surroundings. That's how Christian faith is supposed to work. Those who are sincere believers, who practice its ethics and morals and believe in the abundant fulfillment of this life that it brings, in addition to eternity, become encouragers and influencers. I believe that one of the reasons Evangelical Christianity is in a steep decline in terms of membership and participation in this country is that it has depended on its political influence and the influence of its numbers, and it has failed to show itself as a faith that brings about abundant fulfillment because of the relationship it creates between God and human beings.
Most of these church scandals happened during the previous four-year administration when the relationship between white Evangelicals and the Republican religious right wing tightened up. Well, why turn to God and to Christian ethics and morals when turning to the world gets you all the influence and power than you've been craving? It's not an accident, either, that membership and attendance in white, Evangelical congregations in the United States has dropped by 18% during the same period of time.
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