Why Evangelicals Voted for Trump and How Our Nation Can Be Healed
Many evangelical leaders stood opposed the candidacy of Donald Trump this year. Despite this, evangelicals voted (whites in particular) for Trump in near record numbers. Why was there such a disconnect between evangelical leaders and their followers?
Most of the objections to Trump’s fitness for the White House had to do with his behavior. Trump did this. Trump said that. He’s obviously a sinner. How could anyone believe his claim to be a Christian, much less vote for him?
The objections point to Trump’s external behavior. His outward sins.
The church isn’t a safe place for sinners. Most of my friends have been kicked out of churches or they’ve suffered abuse from leaders because of their sinful behavior. Church leaders themselves risk being removed from leadership if it’s discovered that they’ve indulged in sin. It’s no surprise then, that Christian leaders gauge others who aspire to lead by the same standard.
For many church leaders, it’s all about external behavior. As long as nothing is being said about a politician’s outward sin, they can be supported. But as soon as a little dirt is found, support must be withdrawn. Lest they be forced to explain why they’re supporting an obvious sinner. Wayne Grudem’s indecisiveness over supporting Trump is an example of the kind of political gymnastics leaders put themselves through.
Religion is a cruel master.
When white evangelicals looked at Trump, they saw something different. They weren’t looking through the lens of religion. Or fear of what others might think. They felt like they were in the crosshairs of a gunman.
During the last eight years, Christianity and conservatism have been under attack by the left. Conservative taxpayers are fed up with paying for abortion. Every time a mass shooting occurred, President Obama used it as an opportunity to lecture Americans about stricter gun control. The IRS targeted churches and non-profits for harassment. The President insisted Christian beliefs on gender identity are wrong and Hillary stated that core beliefs of Christians will have to change. And then there’s Hillary’s view that we should impose a no-fly zone over Syria. That might seem like a harmless suggestion, but once you impose a no-fly zone on a nation, and they ignore it, you’ve committed yourself to a war against them. Combine that with the President’s threat to wage a cyber war against Russia and evangelicals saw World War III approaching.
Conservative evangelicals have felt not just marginalized, but threatened by their government. The agenda of the left has become an existential threat to the right. And when you threaten someone’s way of life, you should expect them to do whatever is necessary to save themselves. And that is exactly what they did.
Evangelicals on the right saw Trump as the only thing standing between them and four more years of oppression from the left. When someone is willing to protect you from a bully, you don’t ask about their theology. All you care about is that they might help you live to see another day. So ignoring their leaders, evangelicals voted into office a man they hoped would be their champion. Not a savior. More like a bodyguard. Trump, they reasoned, may not help us spread the gospel, but at least he doesn’t seem hostile to us.
According to exit polls, 81% of white evangelical men and 75% of white female evangelicals voted for Trump. That’s more support from these groups than a Republican candidate has seen in decades. In voting for Trump, white evangelicals turned the executive branch of government over to someone who is perceived by many to be a bigoted and dangerous man.
The Other Side
Liberals, minorities, and non-Christians it turns out, are also feeling threatened. They like the changes the Obama administration has made. Those changes make them feel safe. And they were looking forward to the same kind of treatment under Hillary.
But Hillary lost. Their champion was defeated. And now they feel like Trump is a threat to their existence.
Someone had to lose in this election and it wasn’t the one the media predicted. They seemed so certain of the outcome. No need to prepare anyone for the possibility that Trump would actually take office. And now people are shocked and afraid because Trump did win. And for the last year, the media has portrayed him as a monster.
If the media had any integrity, they would retract the campaign rhetoric they created that portrays Trump as a 21st-century Hitler. They created the hysteria we’re seeing. And they could undo the damage if they wanted to. But that’s not going to happen.
No, there’s only one path out of this pit. But it’s a path that will lead to peace and prosperity for everyone. Because that’s how God rolls.
Trump will have to demonstrate fairness and equality after he’s inaugurated. He’ll have to show that his agenda and his administration do not aim to disadvantage anyone. He’ll have to prove that he’s an honorable man and that the things that were said about him aren’t true. That’s the only way the fears (on both sides) will ever be calmed.
I believe Trump is up to the challenge. If there’s anything he enjoys, it’s proving his critics wrong. And he has a lot of critics. I think he’s going to make America safe for everyone. And I believe it will happen sooner than many of us expect.
You might pray into that.
Related:
Donald Trump—God’s Weapon Against Bigotry and Hatred
The Lavish Lifestyle God Wants for Us
Donald Trump – God’s Wrecking Ball
Why Are We Dreaming about Donald Trump?
Shalom ~ You have framed the divide well. The great majority of Americans, on all the multiple sides beyond a left-right or progressive-conservative or secularists-evangelicals side, rejected (not openly in polls but at the voting polls) leaders, pundits and media mavens pronouncements. The divide is between Trust-Fear. And you demonstrate great wisdom that our ultimate source is not in Trump’s Administration, entirely. This is a Spiritual Battle. Prayer is certainly preparation for the war. Believers will have to get up off their knees and strap on the weapons that are not carnal and enter into the local political battles of reclaiming for The Kingdom of ADONAI. Not in slaughter, but by LOVING GOD. LOVING OTHERS. ON PURPOSE. The territory is at the precinct-county level and requires our wise presence. Don’t go to the central committee meetings, initially as a quiet observer, alone. Take 2 or 3 committed Believers with you. Prepare to lead in Wisdom and Love over the next two years to further restructure the leadership of the local political parties. Learn what it means to reinvigorate our Constitutional Republic. Listen to those whose views are not grounded in a Constitutional Republic. Then Lead by recruiting a simple majority (it takes fewer than 50 people in your county to rule with a majority of precinct committee men and women) within your county-precinct central committee’s political party to elect Constitutional Republic leadership. Learn. Listen. Then Lead.
maybe trump is upto the challenge but its a sad day when christians are wholly supportive of a filthy fouled mouth sexual predator ,its only locker room talk .praying medic do you think its ok as a christian to say nothing about this behaviour and endorse trump ,do you think its ok to be encouraging people to be like donald trump .he incites violence ,this is bad behaviour he is a poor role model and there are such a lot of his supporters jumping on the band wagon of racial hate ,saying and acting horribly towards mexicans and latinos and blacks , how can a christian condone such behaviour ,he is such a poor example he is the leader of america for Gods sake .such people are to be role models for the kids , has USA scrapped the barrel to find that its best is donald trump ,how sad .behaviour counts for a lot ,you can tell a lot from the behaviour of a person ,
Well said. I voted against more than for. The potential for hope and change of the right kind is right before us.
Hi PM
I went to bible study on Friday of the election week and over half of my church was sad and whiny about Trump. I come from a very liberal state and have many social workers and teachers in my church. I was a bit disillusioned concerning their depression over the election when I considered how did the church benefit from the last 8 years of the DNC party. The church has been considered a fringe subculture and openly attacked in policy and society for the last 8 years. I know their fears are based on the media portrait of Trump. Thanks for writing boldly about your visions about Trump it helped me reconsidered him because I normally vote libertarian.
. I enjoyed your article.. and I agree. Sadly I do not expect the media are the far left 2 change. I expect them to rev up their attack.. in fact they already have; every move this man makes and every decision he makes comes under attack one way or the other. They are either pointing out how wrong we were about him because of his liberal decisions or they’re pointing out how fearful the rest of America should be because of his decisions so the truth is it does not matter what he does they are going to spend it to be divisive and Christians really need to be aware… it’s kind of odd that so many evangelicals began to recognize this game the media was playing but now that the election is over they seem to be forgetting. Did the game end with the election? Of course not.
I have to tell you that I love you.
Heaven loves you
God loves you
Jesus loves you
All of heaven love you.
They are watching you David! and they are very happy with what they are seeing!
I agree DAVID you are a light in this darkness. Than you.
So good.
I’m for a boycott of mainstream media. They have colluded and fully failed at presenting truth. I found other media sources that had their “ears to the people” and knew this movement wasn’t all about Trump, but it was about “we the people” who haven’t been represented in government for a long time. This was the American version of Brexit, but we were removing ourselves from control of a “go along to get along” government of outrageous spending and corruption.
It was also a movement against Hillary’s way. Hopefully the ongoing Clinton Foundation investigation will further prove what we already believe to be true.
And… Soros has been meddling in the affairs of nations for years. He is considered an economic terrorist in some countries. Hillary’s and DNC’s ties to him are another reason for a movement away from the left. Mr. Trump proved to be the strong one who had the guts to take all the slings and arrows they launched at him and to counter-attack for the victory. Hey, he’s from New York, right? New Yorkers do not put up with bull. They will turn it right back at you.
There is still much work to do. I believe the “new media” will expand and leave the old CNN, MSNBC (and the like) behind in the dust.
I stopped listening to them after the second election of President Obama… but you actually have an effect on them it would need to be a unified boycott that they would actually feel..
Moses was a murderer. King David compounded that with adultery and an unbelievable betrayal of a loyal General.
God STILL used them both.
God WILL use DJT.
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
Great post, good clarity, thank you.
You’re the best David. I have felt all of this so strongly in my heart. What the media has accomplished is such a work of injustice. A work of modern day tyranny if you will. Thanks for putting into words what I have been feeling and Im sure COUNTLESS others too. God bless you!
=)…We have a pretty great system of democracy, regardless of what some people feel it is or is not at the present moment.
The truth is Christians have been taught for so long that you must defame people. Instead of aligning with the heart of the prophetic–to declare God’s Love to the world–we have aligned with the spirit of divination and degradation. We say, “Because of this sign, such and such will happen!”, and “This person’s worth is of no importance, they have sinnnnedah!”
The Father declared, in Isaiah chapters 42-48, “I will do something that you do not expect, that you have neither heard nor seen! So that you can not say, “My wooden idol has done this”…I will do away with your idols, for I was the First, and when they are gone–I shall be the last!” God is not going to work for Hillary or Trump, or for the expectations of man, but for the goodness in his heart towards humanity.
The Father is exactly that. The Father. He loves Hillary, He loves Trump. He calls them by name. We can not be afraid on either side of the political arena–because god has made us all one. I did not vote for the candidate that I believed would not have lead this nation in the right direction, but it hasn’t split me from loving people. I do not think PM is choosing sides by supporting trump, as much as aligning with God’s will to love people, and on a personal level exercise his right to vote and have a piece of say in this nation just as much as anyone else…what makes a vote for someone besides Trump more Holy?
Does Mercy not triumph over judgment? Does he not desire mercy? Did he not say that, “They believed his message, therefore THEY justified GOD. Trump Train, or Clinton, God is justified by our belief that he sent his son not to bring death–but that we might have life. You watch, Trump will be used to bring healing, not because of any of his promises, but because God is going to answer his people, and he sees the oppression on the minorities. Even though trump often came across as mean, he will in the end do what is right, and I think you will see respect gain on both “sides”(…wait, arent we all americans?)
I think what boggles me is that somehow, we have equated the person we elect with our moral standard. We set ourselves up as judges of God’s righteousness. We believe that because we endorse a person that we endorse sin. NO. Even David wouldn’t touch Saul, and they definitely had differences. We forget that one (more actually) apostle in particular was a ZEALOT. He believed exactly the opposite of what Jesus believed. Yet, Jesus believed in him, and no one has complained about the Apostles performance.
I digress. I believe Trump was the right choice for our nation, but certainly not because of his polished appearance of morality. I wouldn’t want to encourage people to follow many of Hillary’s examples of morality either. I do not agree 100% with either side, and that is the key I believe. You have to love before you can have any authority to pray and speak into the lives of anyone. We have lost that somewhere in america, but we will get it back, and I believe trump is going to be a helping factor in that. Because Trump is going to cause soul searching, and I think in the end he will most likely do a good job of it.
Hi Dave,
I’m new to your blog having discovered you last night by watching Sid Roth.
I’ve been devouring many of your posts this evening and your thoughts are speaking very impactfully into my life.
The posts on spiritual travel and God’s healing are particularly of interest as I believe these are abilities that He intends me to operate in down the track.
And thank you for your courage in publicly supporting Trump.
I’ve never seen God get so overtly involved in an election like he did this time with the number of prophets speaking out and the many reports of people having dreams which swayed them in Trump’s direction.
I’m very optimistic about the future because I know that his leadership will positively impact the world (I live in Australia).
I believe my discovering your ministry last night was not a coincidence.
Today we were advised by my father Ray’s doctor that his Parkinson’s Disease that he was diagnosed with five years ago is now borderline Alzheimer’s Disease.
I have been praying for him, and my mum, however the slow decline in his mental faculties has not abated.
If you would be so kind to pray for his healing it would be much appreciated.
He is an 83-year-old farmer who does not have a personal relationship with the Lord, so praying for the Holy Spirit to remove his spiritual blindness would also be appreciated.
I have signed up to receive your blogs and I look forward to following your ministry.
Warm regards
Sue
Hi, Sue. Thanks for dropping by. Glad to hear my articles & books have helped you. I’m happy to pray for Ray’s healing.
Thanks Dave. Much appreciated. I’ve since read a post about your visit to Australia.
I’m glad we showed you a good time!
I think this is the best explanation I’ve heard as to why Trump won. It seems to me that both political parties have moved way over the the sides – and there’s nobody representing those of us that are moderate. I want freedom for all but, as a Christian, I can not condone some things, and don’t like the current spirit of disrespect for Christians. If I’m forced to choose sides, I must stick with Christians.
I would love your prayers for my healing – hearing and weight which is now affecting my health in other ways. I am proud to be an ex-smoker but it seems I became a sugar “addict” since giving up my cigarettes. so frustrating! My “profound” hearing loss has put me out of the job market and I have almost no social life left and it’s been severely depressing so that I’m not sure I care if I even live or not. I just watched my mom pass away at 87 and she was 90% deaf and had no life. I do not want to walk in her footsteps living a long reclusive life.
I have one good friend now and although our friendship started by dog walking dates we are a lot alike in our Christian goals (although not always in agreement about details of things). I have been interested in being a healer for a number of years and felt like I was at a good place to begin doing that – but without my hearing I’m very timid around people. People tend to think you’re either crazy or retarded when you can’t hear – and some actually accuse me of faking it and others say I obviously did something horrible for God to curse me with this hearing loss. (It is hereditary – my mom and her younger sister both had the same thing as me, hearing loss that started in our 20’s and continues to get worse with age.) Well, I’ve just become something resembling a hermit and it is so not who I am!
God bless you and all your healing efforts. I hope to join you as a healer! And I hope to get healed myself!
Bev
Hey, Bev. I’m praying for your healing. Thanks for dropping by!
Endorsed by the KKK’ Sure let’s vote for him 😉 Grab my beautiful daughters private area… go ahead…Great fruit… Keep praying Medic…. good luck with that when the deportations start. You may want to review history.