Political
pundits and Christian leaders alike are bewildered by the fact that Donald
Trump is having such success with evangelical voters. After all, he does not
have a “born-again” sort of history and recently admitted that he had never
asked for forgiveness. What could it be that draws evangelicals to Trump?
The pundits are
befuddled because they do not understand the depth of frustration and anger evangelicals
feel towards the political establishment. Evangelicals feel “walked-on” by
Obama and the Democrats and betrayed by the Republicans whom they elected and sent to Congress. They feel that their voice is ignored by both
Democrats and Republicans and they are fed up with politics as usual.
I recently saw
this frustration and anger first-hand in a Bible study I was leading. I am a
non-political sort of person who seeks to present the gospel message free from
the taint of divisive, political wrangling. But as we prepared to pray for
America on this occasion, I asked those present for their thoughts on the
condition of the country. I was surprised at the depth of frustration and anger
that came forth toward both Democrats and Republicans. It was an eye-opening
experience.
Based on what I
heard that evening, here are 5 reasons many evangelicals are embracing Donald Trump.
1. Evangelicals feel betrayed by the Republican
majority whom they elected and sent to Washington D.C. to stop Obama’s
“fundamental transformation” of the nation. They see the Republican majority whom
they elected as being feckless, timid and ineffective. They find this very
frustrating and they see Trump as someone with the backbone to stand up to the
Democrats.
2. Evangelicals are appalled at this president’s
use of executive orders to by-pass Congress and further his liberal agenda, and
they are disheartened at the ineffectiveness of Congress to stand against this
misuse of power. One person in the Bible study asked with great intensity, “Why
doesn’t somebody stop him?” Many evangelicals see Trump as the one who will do
just that.
3. Evangelicals feel they have lost their
voice and that America is no longer a nation of “we the people,” but a nation
being run by a liberal president, a few black-robed, liberal justices and an
army of unelected, government bureaucrats. They felt this deeply when five, unelected, liberal justices struck down the state laws instituted by “we the
people” that had defined marriage as being between one man and one woman. They
are looking for a strong “voice” in Washington D.C. and, right or wrong, many
see Trump as providing that voice.
4. Evangelicals are dismayed to see this
administration’s hostility towards everything Christian in the public square, with attempts to ban public prayers and the display of Christian symbols on federal
and state property. They see this president ordering the removal of Christian
symbols from behind the podium when he speaks at a Catholic University and dispensing
with the traditional “Christmas tree” and calling it a “Holiday tree.” This trend
is very disturbing to evangelicals. In spite of Trump’s non-evangelical past, they
hear his bold promise to reverse this trend.
5. Evangelicals
are very concerned about national security and they see this president as being
naïve and in a state of denial by his refusal to use the words “Islamic
terrorist.” They see his tepid and flippant attitude toward ISIS, and they
realize this weak approach has left that terrorist organization free to
slaughter thousands of Christians in the Middle East. Because of this, they do
not trust him or his party to protect them from Islamic extremists.
When Trump,
therefore, says, “we have stupid leaders in Washington D.C.,” he is expressing
what many evangelicals deeply feel. When he says, “I will defend Christianity,”
evangelicals are grateful for they have seen and experienced the growing
hostility toward Christians during the Obama administration. When Trump emphatically
declares, “I will destroy ISIS,” evangelicals respond with enthusiasm for they
are very concerned about national security and frustrated by the Obama
administration’s tepid and flippant response to Islamic terrorism.
I have not been a
Trump supporter and did not vote for him in the recent Texas primary.
Nonetheless, it is obvious to even me that he is addressing with clarity and
force the deep frustration and anger being felt by evangelicals.
The Republican
establishment would, therefore, be wise to dispense with their scorched-earth
plan to destroy Trump and his candidacy. They will only hurt themselves and the
party and nation they claim to love. Why not, instead, seek to understand why these
millions of good, decent Americans are so frustrated and angry? Why not seek to
address those concerns with a bold, proactive vision and plan? Why not?
The Duty of Christian Citizens
In the midst of a particularly
nasty, political season, we as Christians must remember that we are also citizens
and representative of another and higher kingdom. As members of God’s family
and citizens of His kingdom, we are held to a higher standard, regardless of
which candidate we support. We must be salt and light in the midst of the nastiness,
crudeness, and political posturing, as Jesus commanded in Matthew 5:13-16.
Let us also remember
that when God visited this planet 2000 years ago in the person of Jesus of
Nazareth, He did not identify with any of the numerous political and religious
parties that were then existing in Israel. How could He? His purpose and
kingdom transcended all earthly politics. He had not come to take sides, but to
take over. He is Lord!
So during this
election season let’s not forget to pray the prayer that Jesus gave us to
pray—a prayer that expresses that transcendent vision He left us. My wife,
Dr. Susan Hyatt, is right. It is a prayer for revival and Spiritual awakening in the land.
OUR FATHER WHO ART
IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
THY
KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE;
ON
EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN . . .
Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt
is an author, teacher and ordained minister who has a vision for another Great
Awakening in America and around the world. His books on Biblical faith and Spiritual
awakening are available from Amazon and from his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.
