I feel compelled once again to let my sentiments known regarding the recent turn of events. Apparently there’s a recording going around now about some pretty lewd stuff that Trump said over ten years ago. The media is all ablaze about it, and the #NeverTrumpers are told you soing. And the Trumpsters are deflecting and defending. I personally have not listened to this recording. One does not have to hear it to understand what was said. There’s enough in the comments and articles to piece together what was said. There are some things that trouble me through this; and it’s not Trump. This doesn’t change my views on Trump one iota. This does not make him a more crude, lewd, bad dude than he was forty-eight hours ago. Honestly, I’m not sure what everyone is up and arms about. None of this is a surprise. There was enough about the guy out there that most people know that this is how a person of his character normally conducts himself. So there is no new revelation here about Mr. Trump. There are a few things that do bother me.
#1 Here we go again, for nought
There was a point in the primaries that Ted Cruz could have won the nomination out right. If he could have pulled off certain states, there was a possibility that he could have overtaken Trump in the delegate count before the convention, but he didn’t. I don’t remember when exactly, but it was clear at one point that he could not win this outright.
Then it was believed that it was possible that if we could just stop Trump from getting to the magic number, Cruz could take it at the convention on the 2nd or 3rd ballot. Once Indiana rolled around. It was clear that Trump could not be stopped and this would never happen.
Then there was the free the delegates discussions and everybody got there hopes up again. Once the rules committee met at the convention, it was clear that none of anything was going to take place. On the floor, once again, nothing happened. It was 2012 all over again, drowned out and shut out.
Then Cruz told the convention to vote their conscience. And the true blue #NeverTrumpers said YEAH and dug in. Then it was maybe French, maybe Libertarian, maybe Sasse, maybe, maybe, maybe… Nothing happened. Then Cruz told the world what his conscience was, and some were okay with it, and some were not. The Deaces, Becks, and Ericksons threw their friend under the bus and doubled down on their NeverTrumpness.
Now, we must again play the fool. The media does exactly what most people knew they were going to do, and here we go again! “Step down, Trump!” Mike Lee, Sasse, and others are now calling for him to step down. One month away from the election, and we’re gonna do this again. Blah Blah Blah and nothing is going to happen different. This is very tiring.
#2 Self fulfilling prophets
What we’re witnessing is exactly what was predicted by the #NeverTrumpers. They said the media has got the soft gloves on. After the primary they’re going to take the gloves off and bring out the swords and they’re going to completely slice and dice Trump. So everybody knew this was going to happen. So now that it happens, what do the #NeverTrumpers do? They do exactly what they predicted the media would try to accomplish. They throw up their arms and say “Aaahhh man, listen to this guy! You see, he’s not fit for office! He’s a reprobate! He’s horrible! He ought to stand aside!” They are accomplishing what they predicted the media would try to accomplish. Way to go. They are fulfilling their own prophecies.
#3 Incessant Complaining
It’s amazing that someone that is not going to make a choice between the two can have so much to say and complain about. I’ve heard it many times in my life, “If you’re not going to vote, then shut up!” Those who have made it their duty to shame everybody that will make a choice obviously don’t see any difference between the two candidates. They’ve stated so. “Hillary or Hillary’s donor?” Their denial of the choice at hand, though it be littered with convictions, is truly no different that the clown at the water fountain that boasts, “I don’t ever vote! They’re all the same.” Those clowns, of course, a year later when they start complaining about the person that made it into office, they deserve that sharp rebuke, “Wait a second, you didn’t vote? Then shut up!” Oh, but not the #NeverTrumpers. They’re principled. They’re credible. They can not vote (or vote for nothing that can win) yet complain and complain and complain and complain.
#4 So-Called Christian Behavior
Since when has it been standard practice for Christians to rail on a sinner? Sure Trump is not a god-fearing moral man, that is clear. But there is something wrong when all you can do is bad mouth him all day long, bring up all his faults over and over, try as hard as you can to paint him in the worst possible light. There’s nothing Christian about that. And I’m not saying judge not. Use your discernment. Make a righteous judgment. But this constant vomiting of bitterness and loathing of this sinful man is not right. I’ve had my problems with Trump and still do, but I refuse to live in such a perverted state of reality that I would call out another man’s sins all day everyday and forget my desperate need of forgiveness; reveal other’s sins and forget that Jesus has covered mine. Shall I emulate Jesus and advocate the forgiveness of this man’s sin, or play the part of the Devil and accuse him before the Father? There is nothing Christian about this constant railing on this sinner.
Nor is there anything Christian about this constant railing on those that have decided to choose between these two candidates. It was the greatest thing in the world when Cruz said, “Vote your conscience!” Different things weigh differently on different people’s conscience. Letting Hillary in office weighs far heavier on some people’s conscience than allowing Trump in office may weigh on yours. Can we not respect that? Must someone who’s conscience bears different burdens than yours be a idol-worshipping religious whoremonger? Must we question their devotion to Christ because they want to vote; because they want to do what all Americans have done for 250 years. I’ve never heard such ridiculousness! Christian vote shaming? Please.
#5 Wrong All the Time
Why was it okay to participate in this process 18 months ago? But now, it’s not? People were not being shamed for voting Republican 18 months ago. If it wasn’t wrong back then, why is it wrong now? What changed? Trump was one of the first, if not the first, person to put his hat in the ring. It was okay to participate in the process then. I’ve given much thought to all this. I’ve been in. I’ve been out. There’s two words that I just can’t get around however I slice and dice this: SORE LOSER. Look, we lost. Cruz lost. He almost got it. It could have gone his way, but it just didn’t happen. You can explain it anyway you want. You can justify yourself anyway you’d like. You can quote scripture. You can invoke your Christianity. But you can’t change the fact that if you don’t vote for the Republican nominee after you actively participated in the process to determine one, you’re just a sore loser. You want to take your little football and go home. Is this how you would have wanted the Trumpers to treat you if Cruz had won, Mr. Christian? If you have so much integrity, and credibility, and honor, and Christianity, why don’t you stick to what you of your own volition chose to be a part of? If all are wrong to vote R on the presidential ballot on November 8th, then you are wrong to ever have participated, even 18 months ago. Where you not a Christian 18 months ago? It is disingenuous to start something and not finish. This bitter practice is bad precedent.
#6 Bible Thumping
I’ve brought up 2 Samuel 24 to demonstrate that yes, God may reguire of us a difficult choice. This is the passage where David is taken to task for numbering Israel. He is asked of God between 3 judgments by the the prophet Gad.
For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. (11-13)
Why would God have David choose the judgement? I’m sure some parents have tried this on their kids. No doubt the intention would be to cause the perpetrator to own his sin. I guess you can say it is a teachable moment. I only offer this to demonstrate that it is within the character of God to place before his people a difficult choice. Some have insisted that God would never want us to vote for such a man as Trump, and would have us choose someone of integrity, one that fears God. For far too many years, we’ve chosen wrong. God may be past that and now he places before us not a choice of who will lead our country, but rather how our country will be judged. Ironically, it seems like David was of the #NeverJudgement crowd:
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. (14)
It seems like David refused to choose, but left it up to God. For a long time I thought David chose pestilence; but my son pointed out to me David didn’t choose. So I’m suprised I haven’t heard #NeverTrumpers declare “See, David didn’t choose!” They’d have a pretty good argument. But to that I must say a few things:
- I offer this passage to only demonstrate the character and ways of God in time of judgement.
- Judgement still came regardless of the fact that David refused to choose.
- Maybe if David would have said what he said in verse 17 instead of shirking the choice or coming to the reality of it, God may have stayed his hand. “Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.”
- David was willing to let the judgement of his sin be shared with all of Israel. Famine, defeat in battle, and pestilence all affect others, not just him. In his refusal to choose, he did not come to terms with truly owning his sin.
- The irony of his statement: Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, and let me not fall into the hand of man. Us? It wasn’t us that sinned. Me? He was more concerned of himself than those that would be judged for his sin.
If this passage teaches us anything. It speaks of our need to own our responsibility in this matter. We are not to lift ourselves above everybody as if we have no blame in the matter or no blood on our hands. Ezekiel the watchman, the one that would warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life said, “I came to them of the captivity of Tel-abib, that dwelt by the river Chebar, and I sat where they sat…”
I only bring this up to put to rest this arrogant notion that the Bible strictly forbids Christians to vote for Trump. I leave you with this last thought:
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. Two men went up into the court house to vote; the one a Pharisee, and the other a repubican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, compromisers, sell-outs, unprincipled, or even as this republican. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the republican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much his eyes unto heaven, but pulled the lever, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Leave a Reply