Is President Donald Trump Enemy #1 for the Christian Faith?
On December 18, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 230-197 to charge Trump with abuse of power and 229-198 to charge him with obstruction of Congress, making him only the 3rd president of the United States in history to be impeached.
While the fight between the House and the Senate brews on impeachment trial rules in the Senate for presidential removal from office or not, a scathing editorial entitled, Trump Should Be Removed from Office, by retiring Christianity Today editor-in-chief, Mark Galli, hit the stands and caused a stir in both Christian and political arenas.
Why?
Well, it’s no secret that white evangelicals voted in mass for Donald Trump and continue to have overwhelming support of Trump in 2019. Given Trump’s undisputable anti-Christian character and behavior, evangelical support of Trump continues to baffle many – even beyond the 3-tiered talking points of abortion, religious freedom, and conservative judges.
Before Galli’s editorial in Christianity Today, a media ministry founded by Billy Graham, there were very few, prominent voices in Christian media holding Trump to task – as did smaller outlets like Team Jesus Magazine. What a difference the stand of one can make.
#ChristiansAgainstTrump Trends
What followed was an exhaling cry of frustrating relief that, finally, someone on a major Christian platform did more than applaud Trump’s acquiesce to the evangelical community – it spoke truth to power and called wrong, wrong.
On Twitter, the president’s favorite social media platform, the hashtag #ChristiansAgainstTrump trended as more followers of Christ and others chimed in with support for the Christianity Today editorial.
Yes, even we joined in the fray – but with possibly a very different context and message:
Yes, #ChristiansAgainstTrump, we cannot joyfully collude with #Trump's hateful bigotry, racism, lies, hypocrisy, and prideful behavior as true followers of #JesusChrist.
— TeamJesusMag.com (@TeamJesusMag) December 20, 2019
But, don't let this moment distract you. #DonaldTrump #IMPOTUS is not our true enemy. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:12
— TeamJesusMag.com (@TeamJesusMag) December 20, 2019
Let us unite together even stronger against the real "roaring lion", the devil, who seeks to kill, steal and destroy (1 Pet 5:8). @realDonaldTrump is just the banana 🍌in the tailpipe… don't fall for it, Teammates 🙏🏾! pic.twitter.com/4pCcEfHf3A
— TeamJesusMag.com (@TeamJesusMag) December 20, 2019
Don’t Let the Enemy Pick Your Enemy
As our vision implies, we exist as advocates of unity within the body of Christ AGAINST the enemy. Our real enemy was long ago defined as:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8
So while we also vehemently oppose the character, behavior, and words of President Donald Trump, we cannot allow ourselves to lose sight of who our true enemy is.
Sober up, Teammates! The enemy is attempting to deflect our attention off of him as our true enemy and onto Donald Trump – who is flesh and blood. The Bible has already informed us that we don’t wrestle against man:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12
So, while principalities, powers, and the rulers of darkness may influence Trump – and we believe they do – it is not wise to direct our attention to an asset of evil versus the source of evil. Would you let someone who wants to destroy you convince you that someone else is your true enemy – and not them?
Listen, our adversary has been in the game since his front-row seat at the creation of man. That’s why we can’t lean to our own flesh and blood – our own emotions and biases – but follow the teachings of Jesus in the Word of God when it comes to our true enemy.
We Wrestle Not Against Each Other
And, let’s not be deceived. The flesh and blood that we do not wrestle against include brothers and sisters in Christ.
But how can we not fight against each other in such a politically charged environment of discord and party lines?
One, we can accept the fact that earthly politics, while an important factor in our lives, is not the end-all-be-all of the Christian faith. Our great commission is to love and make disciples – God did not commission us to set up sub-kingdoms of power on earth until Jesus returns. So, being motivated by what motivates God must be our core motivation. We are here, like Jesus, to do the full and complete will of God – not the will of “majority rule”, votes, popular opinion, or self-serving missions.
Two, accept the fact that you will have teammates whose convictions and priorities differ from yours – and passionately so. We can still have loving, honest, and truthful discourse when sharing our positions. And when we can’t, pray for that brother or sister and allow space for God to take the reigns from there. Sometimes, the fight isn’t worth the fight.
Thirdly, don’t lose sight that an earthly nation’s constitution will never trump the Bible. There is but so much that we can pledge and defend within an earthly document that does not comport to all of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Save your strength, Teammates! Only the Word of God and our faith in Jesus Christ deserve our complete, undying loyalty.
So, What’s the Play Call?
Know your enemy. What would happen if those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ all joined together against the devil and his principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness?
If there’s any place for the unity of Christians around the world, THIS is where we must all stand united – against the devil – with God on our side.
