Words of Warning

The 2024 election is over. And, I’ll admit, it did not go the way I expected. I doubted Donald Trump would win the White House and I certainly did not expect that Republicans would win the White House, Senate and House of Representatives. Turns out my predictions—or at least my expectations—were wrong. It is no secret that I do not like Donald Trump, but I do prefer the idea of four years of his policies over four years of Kamala Harris policies. That does not at all, however, change the fact that I do not like Donald Trump, that I think his rhetoric is inflammatory and dangerous and that I think it is repugnant that so many professing Christians—including many Christian “leaders”—have attached themselves so firmly to Trump that one could justifiably wonder whether or not they see Trump as a second Messiah.

I am not a prophet by any means and, as mentioned above, my most recent prediction about Mr. Trump proved erroneous. Nevertheless, there are three warnings I want to give as we look ahead to a second Trump administration.

First, I have a number of friends who have suggested—and I have seen it suggested by well-known evangelical figures—that we—America—deserved a Harris administration but God, in His grace, saved us from ourselves. Maybe. But maybe not. Don’t forget that there is another possibility and it is not nearly so exciting. Specifically, it may be that God allowed us what we wanted. Remember in 1 Samuel 8 when the people of Israel demanded a king? It displeased God that they did so. He instructed Samuel to warn them about what they were asking for. Samuel did do, but still the people insisted. “And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Obey their voice and make them a king,’” verse 22 says. God was not saving Israel from anything. Neither was He blessing them. He was giving them what they asked for, knowing full well that they would reap what they sowed. Pray that is not the case now with Mr. Trump.

Second, we must be very careful not to allow the thrill of victory and the apparent wide-spread support for the Republican party to lead us into that which we would never tolerate from the “other side.” We already know that Trump and the Republican party have zero compunction about pushing things through in order to get their way. (Remember the appointment of Justice Coney-Barrett, anyone?) During the one-term presidency of John Adams the country got whipped into a frenzy of anti-French sentiment following the XYZ Affair. As a result, Congress passed, and Adams signed, what came to be known as the Alien and Sedition Acts, many of which were patently unconstitutional. John Adams, one of the leading figures in the American fight for independence, set aside his commitment to constitutional principles when it benefitted him and his party to do so. Donald Trump has a mean streak and a passion for vengeance that is unseen in the history of the Oval Office—with the possible exception of Richard Nixon. The list of people he might seek to get back at once he is back in office is lengthy. Let’s not forget that what goes around, comes around, and it won’t be a Republican in the White House forever.

Third, now that Trump has won the election, we need to insist that our evangelical leaders get back on track—or step aside. Too many of them have devoted their time, energy and passion to getting Donald Trump back in the White House. They have done so as if their lives and the future of Christianity depended on it. They have lost focus. While voting is a privilege that should never be taken for granted and Christians should exercise that right, getting the right candidate in any office is not what God has called us to do. You can look as long and as hard as you want to, but you will not find anywhere in Scripture where we are instructed to devote our time to politics or winning elections. We are, however, instructed to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify God. Too many Christians, including a number of Christian leaders, have behaved in an un-Christian manner in their pursuit of a Trump comeback. We need to remember that leading souls to Christ is our calling, not leading voters to the ballot box. Winning spiritual battles is our calling, not winning elections. Yes, encouraging voters and electing godly candidates is commendable and even important. But not when it becomes our focus. Those are good things but not the best thing. Too many Christians and too many churches have lost their first love. They have become modern day examples of the church at Ephesus. If they are not careful, the Lord will come and remove their lampstand.