This week I’ve given some thought to a bit of a problem with professed “Christians” and the Republican Party. I was prompted by a couple of things, first of which being Donald Trump winning the Iowa caucus by over a two-to-one margin. The second thing of which I took note was a prominent Christian author (among others) who was taken to task for questioning Christian support for Trump in that caucus. I saw a lot of the old “it’s not Christlike to judge” trope being tossed around. “Reasons” poured in, the most notable being that “We must hold our noses and vote for the lesser of two evils; and in that, Trump is so much better than Biden.”
But they’re forgetting one very important fact; and this is where the Christian author is right (even if she may not realize it at the moment). The strongest Christian argument for her position is this: Trump isn’t running against Biden right now. This isn’t about the differences between the left and right and whatever positions most closely align with the Christian worldview. It’s about choosing the person who best embodies the ideals of character that Christians should demand of their leaders. That person should be the candidate who will eventually present their position before the American people in November.
And that choice right now isn’t between Trump and Biden. It’s between Trump and his Republican challengers.
So for Christians, the choice is quite simple. They still have the opportunity to choose a person who most closely aligns with Christian values and standards of character, or they can choose someone who clearly does not. And if Trump still wins and goes on to the general election, so be it. That’s how the primaries are supposed to work. But let it not be because those who claimed the name of Christ gave him the victory.
