If you were an enthusiastic Trump supporter from the get-go, this article is not for you.
If you love that Trump says it like it is and at times let's it all hang out, this article is not for you.
If you love Trump's brashness, unpredictability, and even sometimes his crudeness, this article is not for you.
If you are not a Christian who struggles in conscience with whether you morally can vote for Trump, then this article isn't for you.
But if you are a Christian,
who looks to God's Word for guidance in right living,
who expected a higher standard of decorum than you are seeing,
who desires a candidate of quality character even above quality philosophy,
who seeks to please God in who you support,
who wants to vote in favor of someone God Himself would approve of,
who is measuring Trump and finding him wanting morally, philosophically, or both, and
who is wondering if you even can vote in the Presidential race in good conscience,
This article is for you.
The above list describes me, and I will be voting for Trump in this election. This is to explain why, and maybe in the explaining, you too will find yourself helped along in your decision-making process.
First off, I trust my support of Trump is not based on delusion. I expect to be embarrassed by him from time to time. I expect he will sometimes oppose views and policies precious to me. I hope I am wrong, and will give him the opportunity to prove me wrong. Many Christian leaders I trust that have had personal contact with him speak of a different Trump than what I have seen. Perhaps they are right. Perhaps they aren't. We shall see. I have nevertheless chosen to support him even if the worst version of him proves true.
Secondly, I, too, am offended at Trump's crude remarks that have recently been aired. I am aware that those who air those remarks are unoffended. Our political opposition proves time and again that there is no moral standard they require of their own candidates. Those remarks then are played for my benefit, to peel away my support, on the theory that I am an easily offended holier-than-thou who can be duped into inactivity if they can shock my morality. It is a ploy to neutralize me by exploiting the weakness of a flawed man.
I listend with interest to Trump's video on his web site addressing the issue and apologizing for his remarks. He made no excuses. He called the remarks wrong. He claims he has changed since those remarks were made ten years ago, especially through the course of this campaign. Certain Christian leaders claim he has actually had a conversion experience. I don't know whether that is true. He pledged not to let us down, seemingly underscoring that he understands that repeating such conduct would do so. I hope he is sincere, but I support him prepared to find that it was just words.
So why do I support Trump?
1. The Supreme Court
The enemy is at the gate, and Christians have the numerical power to swing this election. Basic, fundamental rights of our citizenry and protected by our Constitution have come to be upheld in recent Supreme Court decision by a 5-4 margin. A change of one vote, and we start seeing basic rights go away, such as right to bear arms, freedom of speech, freedom of religion. We have already seen the current administration target political dissent. And at the time this election is occuring, Justice Scalia's seat sits empty since his death - one of the 5 who has been faithfully upholding our rights.
Trump has pledged to consult with groups like the Heritage Foundation when making Supreme Court picks. He has already named a short-list of the kinds of people he would consider, and they are the type of people that we need. With Trump, it is possible to get it wrong, but we have a shot at getting it right. Under Clinton, we have no such shot. And the devastation that wreaks could last for generations.
2. Congress
Our Republican Congress has passed significant legislation repealing Obamacare, and approving job creation with the pipeline project. There is a longer list (
click here to see such a list), but these are a mere quick sample. These are things that President Obama has vetoed. Trump will sign them. Clinton will seek to take us further in reverse.
3. Allies vs. Enemies
I consider Trump an ally. He may not always have my personal interests as his top priority, but we are generally going the same direction. He believes in the greatness of our country, and will put its interests first. He believes in capitalism. He wants to restore us to greatness, whether or not he understands its true source. The issues he wants to tackle benefit my life should he be successful.
I consider Clinton an enemy. She is intentionally targeting both my philosophy and way of life. Regulation, socialism, communism, and loss of fundamental rights are her agenda, and criminality is not beneath her methodology. The issues she wants to tackle assaults my way of life should she be successful.
4. Inaction affects outcome
Like in the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-30), we have been entrusted by God with self-government. We have an opportunity and a duty to choose our leader. I particiapted in the primary election so that I would have what I believed to be a better option in November. But I was outvoted.
Our Presidential ballots in Texas will be limited to four options. As I review the candidates, Trump is the closest person on the ballot to my philosophy who will work to achieve more of what I would support. And if elected, his mere presence in the White House dis-empowers an identifiable enemy. He may embarass me. We may differ from time to time. But he won't be out to get me. I can't say the same of Clinton.
In this Presidential election, inaction of the Christian community has the capacity to throw the election by default to Clinton, a known enemy of our faith, Constitution and way of life. That I cannot permit. If she rises to power, it will be despite my best efforts to prevent it.
We have been given the talent of self-govenment by the Master. He expects a return for the advancement of His kingdom. The best return I can get in this vote, meager though it may be, is to vote for Trump. Even if it doesn't advance righteousness much, I will take some consolation in holding evil at bay for awhile longer. But if I bury that talent of self-government in the back yard, and refuse to participate, then I expect such inaction will be met with the same displeasure when we are held to account. The result was, the talent was taken away. If we do not participate in self-government, we will lose it. So when held accountable, we will be asked "What did you do with the vote I gave you?" And when asked, we should not blame the Master's high standards for our inaction, as the unfaithful servant did - "You expect so much, I couldn't vote for anybody." Remember, the Master has raised up pagans like Cyrus the Great of Persia and called him "My servant" simply because Cyrus was willing to cooperate with God's plan for God's people. He didn't get that title because he was flawless.
So if you are struggling in your conscience, that is a good thing. The country needs more conscientious voters. My vote for Trump is not an act of affirmation of everything he says, does, and thinks. Nor does it condone or ignore his flaws. My vote is a determination that he is both the best of four defined options, and the best chance to avoid the worst of the four. It is a realistic hiring decision among four options, one of which is unavoidably going to lead us into the next four years. And if Trump proves to be the worst version of himself, and acts on his crude comments of years ago, I will happily encourage my Representative to pursue impeachment. Accountability should not die after election day. But if he uses this opportunity to be the better man that some Christian leaders already claim him to be, then such a vote could yield a much larger return for the kingdom than I expect. Here's hoping!
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
