I remember playing 42 with dominos as a kid. When I was old enough to play at the adult tables at family gatherings, I felt so grown up! Several of the actual grown ups were masters of bidding all in, or 84, without the trump double. In case you didn’t have my childhood 42 indoctrination, to bid you can choose a numeric trump suit and the double domino becomes unbeatable. If your partner doesn’t have it, and one of the other two players does… that hand is lost.
It’s called being trump set. And it reminds me of what has happened to American Christianity. We have been Trump set to lose.
I also grew up in a society and culture where racism was normal. And much of it was subliminal. We didn’t use the N-word. Didn’t have to. A clever, “rhymes with chigger” would suffice when needed. We didn’t talk about illegal immigrants. But there were jokes about the Mexicans down the street selling tamales made with dog meat, or the Asian restaurant that cooked cats.
None of this stuff is new. There has always been that crazy relative or friend who believed everything was out to get them. Every sports event was rigged if their team didn’t win. Every problem was the fault of someone not like us.
And in the 1970s, Archie Bunker from the sitcom All In The Family was the poster child for “that guy.” His character was an ignorant, racist man’s man. But it was all just jokes, right? Here are a few:
"No bum that can't speak poifect English oughta stay in this country—oughta be de-exported the hell outta here!"
"I ain't no bigot. I'm the first guy to say, 'It ain't your fault that youse are colored.'"
"Well, I’ll tell you one thing about President Nixon. He keeps Pat home. Which was where Roosevelt should have kept Eleanor. Instead, he let her run around loose until one day she discovered the colored. We never knew they were there. She told them they were gettin’ the short end of the stick and we been having trouble ever since." ```
"Jesus was a Jew, yes, but only on his mother's side."
"You didn't sound colored on the phone."
"All of 'em come in here, and they're all free to live in their own separate sections where they feel safe. And they'll bust your head if you go in there. That's what makes America great, buddy."
I remember all too well how much we laughed at Archie Bunker’s lines and other jokes like, why don’t Mexicans and Blacks marry? Their kids will be too lazy to steal!
It was discrete at times. Laughter with a “that’s awful but you know it’s true” smirk.
It was normal. It still is.
American Christianity has been Trumped. He has become our Archie Bunker. He says all the things. There are many laughs with a “that’s awful but you know it’s true” smirk.
I’ve said very little about Trump specifically in the past. A little context, I’m a lifelong Republican who voted for him twice as the “lesser” evil. I now regret how myopic that was.
Probably should also clarify that I’m not pro-abortion and believe that the Bible, from a New Testament perspective is the absolute truth. Though refusing to sip on the MAGA Koolaid has for many cast me into the progressive abyss.
Trump becoming the poster child of conservative Christianity makes me want to have nothing to do with it. There. I said it.
But I can hear it now, but this election is the difference between baby-killing socialism and God’s way! But is it really?
What if there were a voter’s guide, based on what the Bible says God hates? Here’s a list.
1. Pride and arrogance - Proverbs 8:13
2. Haughty eyes - Proverbs 6:16-19
3. A lying tongue - Proverbs 6:16-19
4. Hands that shed innocent blood - Proverbs 6:16-19
5. A heart that devises wicked schemes - Proverbs 6:16-19
6. Feet that are quick to run to evil - Proverbs 6:16-19
7. A false witness who pours out lies - Proverbs 6:16-19
8. A person who stirs up discord among family members - Proverbs 6:16-19
9. Idolatry - Deuteronomy 7:25, 16:22
10. Divorce - Malachi 2:16
11. Dishonest scales (deceptive fraud) - Proverbs 11:1, 20:23
12. Wicked arrogance - Psalm 5:4-5
13. Lovers of violence - Psalm 11:5
14. False worship (the festivals and feasts of rebellious people) - Amos 5:21-23
15. Vain worship (empty rituals) - Isaiah 1:13-14
16. Evil plans and false oaths - Zechariah 8:17
17. Robbery and injustice - Isaiah 61:8
18. Moral Hypocrisy in practice - Revelation 2:6
19. All evil - Psalm 97:10
Depending on your perspective, in this election, you may think one side or the other ranks higher or lower on this “God hates” list. I’m not suggesting Trump bad, Kamala good or Republican bad, Democrat good - or the opposite.
The truth is, any compromise to evil is no longer good. That’s scriptural too.
Romans 12:9 (NET)
Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.
James 4:4 (NET)
Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the worldʼs friend makes himself Godʼs enemy.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (NET)
But examine all things; hold fast to what is good. Stay away from every form of evil.
2 Corinthians 6:14 (NET)
Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
The problem is not what candidate or party you support, the problem is what evil do you have to overlook to say God supports them! Either side.
So many voices out there saying you can’t be a Christian unless you support Trump. Really?
Isaiah 5:20 (NET)
Those who call evil good and good evil are as good as dead, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter.
So, am I trying to insinuate that you can’t be a Christian and vote for Trump? Absolutely not. But you can’t be a Christian and call evil good.
Like lying.
Like fraud.
Like pride and arrogance.
Like adultery.
Like abusive and vulgar language.
Like slander and gossip.
Like divisiveness.
Like corruption.
Like greed and exploitation.
Like racism and injustice.
Like hatred and violence.
Like hypocrisy.
Like making fun of the vulnerable.
Like not loving your neighbor.
But they are worse! Nice try. That old trick goes all the way back to the garden. If you eat forbidden fruit, blaming the woman or the snake doesn’t get you off the hook.
But abortion! Nice try again. What’s the actual goal? To be against abortion or to actually lower the number of abortions. It’s easy to say you are against something and then do absolutely nothing about it but vote.
The overturning of Roe v. Wade is celebrated, but the statistics show that after 4 years of Trump, and the SCOTUS ruling, the abortion rate in America began to rise for the first time in more than 30 years.
Is it possible that if you try to fight evil with tactics unlike the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed you reap what you sow?
It’s hard to reconcile calling yourself pro-life while also dismissing mass gun violence against children and other innocent people with “guns aren’t the problem” when America uniquely leads the world in both the gun violence and gun availability categories.
And so… here’s the point that is likely to get me social media crucified.
In my opinion, another Trump victory is the worst thing that could happen to American Christianity.
Why? Because the moral compromise and those wolves in sheep disguises prophesying lies will thrive.
But if the Democrats win, they will destroy Christianity! Tell that to Rome in the First Century. Tell that to the countries in our world today where under fascist governments and real threats of abuse, death, and imprisonment Disciple Making Movements are thriving.
Yet in America, church growth is now an oxymoron. We are in such a steep decline that we aren’t even keeping up with population growth. And guess what happened when we had four years of the most evangelical-friendly administration in history? The decline rate increased.
What should be a Jesus follower’s goal? To fill heaven, not hell. To make disciples, not enemies. And to think a loud-mouthed reality star who has never repented of his lurid past is somehow going to improve that is like saying the problem is the solution. It’s misguided and dangerous. Paul didn’t say, Follow me as I follow Ceasar.
Honestly, I don’t care who you vote for. Politics is not my agenda. Following Jesus and making disciples is. And that’s how I’m deciding to vote.
I’ve known for a while that I couldn’t vote for Trump. I can’t vote for a false Christianity.
I also can’t endorse a radical progressive agenda. And so I had decided that simply not voting was the best course of action. Yet now, that seems to be shirking my responsibility.
Prepare the tar and feathers, but after months of prayerful consideration, for the first time ever, I will be voting for a Democrat for President.
Why? Because this is an earthly system and not the Kingdom of God. Kamala Harris isn’t trying to masquerade as some conservative savior. I’m opposed to much of their agenda. But at least they are honest about it.
On the other hand, ignoring the never-ending trail of lies, fraud, convictions and decadence that follows Trump around in the name of Jesus is pure evil. But she is worse! Maybe. But not in the name of Jesus.
My hope is that after another four years, Republican Christians will realize they have been duped and will offer a sensible platform and candidate that will win easily.
But either way, my goal is the same. Love God. Love people. Make disciples.
A new or old Ceasar isn’t our hope. Jesus is. I can no longer stand by and let hypocritical liars drag His name and character through the mud of hate and hypocrisy.
The American Church is in crisis. We aren’t making disciples. There is an epidemic of moral failure among celebrity preachers who said one thing while doing another.
Trump won’t make that better. Harris won’t make that better. Can I?
I am now convinced that Trump in power will only make things worse. Words matter. Character matters. Morals matter. Calling something Christian that isn’t should be a line that no Jesus follower even gets close to.
The world needs to know we are Jesus’ disciples by our love for one another, and our good works, not our vile words about our enemies.
Vote your conscience. Do what you believe is right. But if you are a Jesus follower, don’t get trumped into winning by any means necessary at the cost of Kingdom principles.
Power and control at the expense of true worship is one thing the adversary tempted Jesus with face to face. In Luke 4, he offered Jesus all the Kingdoms and glory in the world just for a moment of false worship. Jesus refused.
Luke 4:8 (NET)
Jesus answered him, “It is written, ʻYou are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.ʼ”
The enemy tempted the humanity of Jesus with earthly power. Jesus didn’t want or need it. Neither do His followers. His Kingdom is not of this world.
No matter who wins this election, Jesus doesn’t need our help to overthrow anything. His Kingdom, here and now, is all that matters. You can either seek first the Kingdom of Heaven, or earthly power. Not both.
Whose reign are you really under? Whether or not you agree with my voting logic, can we at least agree that what America needs most is for the church to be The Church, not a political movement?
No matter who is in the White House, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father - on our side! And He is calling you to follow Him and seek that Kingdom Way.
Ephesians 1:17-23 (NET)
17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him,
18 - since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened - so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength.
20 This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms
21 far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And God put all things under Christʼs feet, and he gave him to the church as head over all things.
23 Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.