In June 2018, while traveling in Germany, a fellow tourist walked up to me while we were preparing to board a bus during an excursion and asked a provocative question. “I understand that you are a former Christian pastor.” “That is true,” I replied. “I also understand that you support Trump.” “Yes.” “How can you reconcile the two?”
I must confess that the tone of his inquiry, and the way his question was framed suggested to me that he was not a supporter of our president, nor did he approve of a Christian daring to embrace the policies of the present administration. I was immediately defensive, but willing to respond to his suspected tautology. It is because I am a Christian that I support President Donald J. Trump, and for several reasons.
First, as Candidate Trump, promises were made to the America people. Within the first 500 days of his presidency, according to the Heritage Foundation, 64% of his promises have been kept, and the others are in the process of being honored. Keeping one’s word is a Christian virtue. The Psalmist said, “I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips” (Psalm 89:34 ESV). “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn’” (Matt. 5:33 ESV). Promises Made, Promises Kept!
Second, the policies of President Trump have moved millions from welfare to work, and that is a Christian virtue. The Bible teaches that “if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thess. 3:10 KJV). A compassionate society will find a way to help those in need. However, those who are simply lazy are not to be enabled. The Creation Mandate is for man to work by subduing the earth and having dominion over it. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Gen. 1:26-28 KJV).
Doug Sherman and William Hendricks set forth a Christian view of work in their book, Your Work Matters to God. The authors suggest five major reasons why work is valuable. First, through work we serve other people. Second, through work we meet our own needs. Third, through work we meet the needs of our family. Fourth, through work we earn money to give back to God, and to help others. Fifth, through work we love God because we obey His known will.
There is another important reason why a Christian can support President Trump with a clear conscience, and that is his desire to protect the life of the unborn despite the official law of the land which is to slaughter the innocent right up to the moment of birth, and even after a partial birth. Perhaps that is about to change. By the grace of God, on June 30, 2018 Associate Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy will resign. Often providing the swing vote on critical issues, Justice Kennedy sided with four liberal justices to form a solid five vote pro-abortion majority. In deciding the 1992 case Pennsylvania v. Casey, the Court ruled that government cannot impose an “undue burden” on women seeking to end a pregnancy before a fetus is viable. This godless judicial philosophy is in conflict with the Christian value that life begins at the moment of conception, and that children are a gift of God (Psalm 127:3 KJV). President Trump has a God given opportunity to appoint to the Supreme Court a conservative associate justice who will protect the life of the unborn. Protecting the unborn is a Christian virtue, for each person, child growing in the mother’s womb is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14 KJV).
Yet a fourth reason to support President Trump is because he is determined to protect Americans by enforcing the boundaries of our nation against illegal aliens who would come into the land to devour our resources, and destroy every American institution that so many have bled and died for. Honoring national boundaries is a Christian virtue, for it is God who has appointed the boundaries of the earth (Acts 17:26 KJV).
Finally, President Trump is worthy of support, as a Christian, because he is stopping government from exploiting workers. It is the nature of government to regulate citizens, impose heavy taxation, and use individuals for personal advancement (1 Sam. 8:10-22 KJV). President Trump is deregulating the nation, reducing taxes, and protecting personal liberties.
Whatever faults the President might have, as a Christian I still want to support him, and show him as much grace and mercy in his areas of weakness as the Lord has shown me in mine. I want to honor the man who is honoring God. I respect the man whom God has ordained to lead the nation at this important moment in history. May God bless President Donald J. Trump, and may God bless, and have mercy, upon the United States of America.
