At The Table - Christianity Today
We are a part of the Church, the Bride of Christ—called to exude the image of God and be His witnesses in a world so broken. Nevertheless, we are also humans who are tainted with the sin of Adam. This is one crucial piece that we often forget when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. We forget that we are still sinful and are capable of evil if we just simply…let go.
So then why have we become so judgmental of the one who God has placed at the headship of the United States of America? Do we trust that God is still sovereign in who and what He commands creation to do? Even in President Trump’s divisive comments, we must trust that through his mouth and actions, God’s truth abounds to His glory (Romans 3:7). Like many people today, I had immense doubts for Trump when he was only a candidate. In fact, I voiced my opinion many times on social media during the tenure of the Presidential Race. My doubts had not changed about Trump when he became President, but my attitude and respect did change because He is the President. Whether we like it or not.
We create blind spots for ourselves when our doubts, attitude and respect for someone is on the adverse end of the spectrum. Unfortunately, that is exactly what America has done. It is indisputable that we ought to bring wisdom and beautiful storytelling both to the church and from the church to the world. It is certain that politics matter, yet will never bring the dead back to life. But I ask, how is the church bringing wisdom and telling stories in light of who God has placed as the head of America?
The Trump Administration has done more goodness to Christian witness than it has “wrought enormous damage”. Christians can again witness to children in welfare programs (WJS.com); persecuted Christians [and missionaries] are being sought out for by the Administration for protection around the world (americamagazine.org); VA facilities have access to religious freedoms again such as religious symbols, Bibles, and spiritual and pastoral care (VA.gov); and, these are just a few of many more Christian witness pursuits. We can witness because of the Trump’s pro-religious due diligence. So, I echo the words of Paul again from Romans 3:7, God’s truth abounds to His glory no matter an individual’s lie, hostile actions, or divisive comments. This is a call-to-action; let us not allow Trump’s past and present sin become a veil to God’s goodness in the Christian community.
If you are interested, I’ve included a few of my responses to the notions articulated in Christianity Today’s article, The Flag in the Whirlwind: An Update from CT’s President.
CT: It has harmed African American, Hispanic American, and Asian American brothers and sisters.
I’m not sure I see where the current Administration has harmed people of color. Unemployment for African American, Hispanic, and Asian American has decreased significantly, wherein the unemployment rate is at an all-time low. His support from people of color has doubled because of the new policies he has passed, and old policies he’s reformed. The media tells us the Administration has hurt people of color, but in reality, he has created opportunities that benefited both the private and public sector, and people of color. Just to name a few, First Step, HBCU, and Opportunity Zones.
On the contrary, the policies Obama’s Administration and previous Democrats have passed has hurt the minority population significantly. Just research how Asian-Americans and Black-Americans are being marginalized and failed by the policies; its details are staggering.
CT: And it has undercut the efforts of countless missionaries who labor in the far fields of the Lord.
I wished the President of CT provided data on how he came to the conclusion that missionaries were being undercut in their efforts. His statement may be coming from a stance that is only a collective, not factual. After Christianity Today posted their article, one author, Dr. Michael, came out with this data: 17% of missionaries working overseas have said supporting Trump hurts their witness, while the remainder 84% stated it did not. Even for missionaries in West Africa, their support for Trump impacted them at 0%–so on and so forth to Nigeria, New Zealand, all the way down to Australia (Askdrbrown.org). So, are American missionaries really hurt by Trump’s presidency? Overall, no. To use the lesser data and speak to it as a whole, is similar to Planned Parenthood’s method of using their low mammogram stat as their primary care.
The problem is that we as evangelicals are also associated with President Trump’s rampant immorality, greed, and corruption; his divisiveness and race-baiting; his cruelty and hostility to immigrants and refugees; and more. In other words, the problem is the wholeheartedness of the embrace. It is one thing to praise his accomplishments; it is another to excuse and deny his obvious misuses of power.
This is a great point, and though I do agree to some extent on this statement. However, I want to remind us that we are all sinners who are prone to immorality, greed, and corruption. “It is one thing to praise his accomplishments; it is another to excuse and deny his obvious misuses of power.” I want to see the evidence of his misuse of power. I am the type of person to listen to full hearings from the Senate, House, Court, and even press conferences. If there is any misuse of power, it is the mainstream media. With their greed, they create corrupt narratives to fit their propaganda—both the left and the right media.
In regard to cruelty and hostility to immigrants and refugees, there is no intentional cruelty or hostility. If there is, it is amongst the lower line of command. In Trump’s Administration there has been less inhumane treatment since Obama and his predecessors. Before Trump, immigrants were brutally deported at a rate 3 times higher. They were housed like chickens in a coop; not only that, tear gas and other aggressive methods were used to maintain the number of incoming immigrants. Cruelty and hostility will exist for as long as sin exists in this world.
Bottom line, there is no problem with evangelicals associating themselves with President Trump. We must ask ourselves if we are doing justice to God if we support the latter, or remain in silence as the Bride of Christ. How will our Christian witness be perceived if we supported someone who stood against all our Christian values? Should we stand idly by and watch our religious liberties be stripped away by remaining silent–how then will we witness? I want nothing more but for the church to exude Christ, in hopes that we may restore our country in the likeness of King Hezekiah and the many other faithful doers of justice.
CY