I recently submitted a chapter for a book about the upcoming US election. My submission wasn’t ultimately included in the project so I’m posting it here. It is directed primarily towards Republican voters. Feel free to discuss.

On November 3rd 2020 I won’t be voting for Donald Trump or the Republican Party. In case you’re tempted to stop reading right about now, I won’t be voting for the Democratic Party nominee, either. As a citizen of both the United Kingdom and Sweden, I’ll be watching not participating. When it comes to choosing the next President of the United States, I have, as some of you say, no skin in the game. That raises the rather obvious question then, of why should you care about what I have to say? I’m neither Democrat nor Republican, I’m not an American and I don’t even live in America.

There are two reasons to consider. Firstly, America remains, for good or otherwise, the most powerful nation on earth. The choices the American electorate make affects the world that I and my children live in. The direction America chooses matters to the rest of the world.

Secondly, the church, unlike any country, has no borders. The church is a global family that through its faithful proclamation of the gospel brings the blessing and peace of Christ to all nations. What affects the church in one part of the world affects us all, we are one body.

There are members of my church who were imprisoned for their faith in Africa or fled Islamic persecution in Asia. They are a reminder to me how important it is that Christians, in countries that prize religious freedom speak up on their behalf. As followers of Jesus Christ, the bonds of our common faith crosses borders; we worship the same Lord. What happens to the church there matters to the church here. What happens to the church in America matters to your brothers and sisters around the world; we care.

This combination of church and America has come together at this moment in a powerful way but not necessarily a good way. It seems that most enthusiastic supporters of the 45^th President are also followers of Jesus. This enthusiasm has, it is fair to say, left many observers confused. Or rather, this unqualified enthusiasm has left many confused.

In a letter of support for President Trump, signed by over 200 evangelical Christian leaders the signatories wrote:

“We are Bible-believing Christians and patriotic Americans who are simply grateful that our President has sought our advice as his administration has advanced policies that protect the unborn, promote religious freedom, reform our criminal justice system, contribute to strong working families through paid family leave, protect the freedom of conscience, prioritize parental rights, and ensure that our foreign policy aligns with our values while making our world safer, including through our support of the State of Israel.”[i]

I might not agree with that perspective but I can appreciate it. Those are political policies about which reasonable debate should be had. In a democracy that values freedom of speech, ways must be found to discuss issues of national importance. As Christians, our convictions shape how we live and how we order our homes, marriages, families and communities. They shape the issues that we care about on a national level. Our faith is personal and not private. Those convictions inform our contribution to national and international debate.

Yet we all, each and every one of us, has a line that we hope we will not cross: a line of ethics and of conviction on which we will not yield. Working out where and why we should draw that line is a simple explanation for why people are so divided. We have all drawn our lines in different places. It is a good question though, for all politicians, all citizens, and all Christians to answer: ‘where, precisely, is your line?’

For many, many Christians in America, the line is often drawn on the issue of abortion. In a Presidential election American voters usually have only two options. If one of those is pro-choice then that leaves one option, assuming you exercise your democratic privilege and actually vote. I would never argue that this is a bad place to draw the line.

It’s understandable then to say ‘what choice do we have?’ You may feel that there is a bad choice and a worse choice, which is no choice. ‘This side might be bad but the other side, they’re worse!’ This was one of the arguments that Jentezen Franklin made in The Christian Post when explaining his support of President Trump.

“I would like to respectfully ask Christians who stand so vehemently against this president, what is your alternative? You have witnessed the policy achievements, the economy, the tax reforms and the stance opposing abortion and everything else. As you look at the choices on the other side of the ticket, what do you see that even remotely resembles the values your faith holds dearest?”[ii]

This one issue, above all others, means many faithful Christians will, come November, vote for Trump.

Mr Franklin goes further and argues for a courageous stand for what he sees as Christian values and by extension Christian policies.

“If you have the courage, you stand with the leader who stands for the very things you would hope a president would stand for—the sanctity of life, religious freedom for private citizens and business owners, conservative federal judges, standing with the nation of Israel, and a better tomorrow for those living in poverty, especially in our largest cities—the very values and policies you pray to God your president will push forward and stand on. And he has stood up for every single one. Those ARE Christian values.”[iii]

He’s right, to stand up for what you believe in is a worthy and noble act one that does need courage. We won’t always agree with what others choose to stand for, but we can respect the courage it took to stand at all.

As we would expect the Bible has much to teach us about the courage it takes to confront power. There are many stories of conflict between God’s people and powerful rulers. Moses confronting Pharaoh. Esther outwitting Haman. Daniel surviving plots in Babylon. Jesus in front of Pilate. These are stories of struggle against foreign powers and each, in different ways, called for immense courage. To stand up to your opponents requires real bravery.

I wonder, though, if standing up to your own rulers, to those who are on your side, doesn’t require even more courage.

2 Chronicles chapter 26 tells the story of King Uzziah, one of Judah’s most successful kings. Seven generations from King David, Uzziah reigned for more than half a century. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and God gave him success.

Uzziah invested in his nation’s infrastructure and agriculture. He was a man of the earth and a man of the people. Under his rule Judah prospered as Uzziah created jobs and grew the nation’s wealth. His military was well-trained, well-organized and well-equipped. He invested in the nation’s defences and made Jerusalem safe. He defeated his enemies militarily and economically. Yet Uzziah not only protected and prospered his nation but under his rule enjoyed religious freedom. It was during his reign that the ministries of the prophets Isaiah, Hosea, Amos and Jonah all occurred. Successful, rich, powerful, famous and godly Uzziah stands in the line of David and of Jesus. He was a leader who commanded respect. What more could you want?

Unfortunately, Uzziah also fulfilled the phrase, ‘pride comes before a fall’. What was Uzziah’s mistake? He didn’t lead Judah to worship false gods, he didn’t hunt down God’s prophets and he didn’t have adulterous affairs. He lit some incense. It hardly seems like something we should get all that worked up about. But Uzziah was not a priest and he did not have the right to stand in the temple at the altar of God. He presumed too much.

As the king strode into the temple a priest called Azariah and 80 of his fellow priests followed him. And there in the sanctuary, they confronted him. It’s hard to imagine the courage this required. This king had done so much for Judah, so much for the worship of God. He was a good and fair king. He had given Judah security, prosperity and liberty. Yet when he crossed the line, men of faith and courage stood up to him.

Uzziah could have had Azariah and his band of 80 killed. Uzziah could get rid of them but they were stuck with him. He was their king. There was no recourse to the ballot box. They were risking their lives. Yet risk them they did.

Now, I’m not sure that President Trump is in quite the same league as King Uzziah. But if you are convinced that he is the right, best or indeed only choice to lead America in the next four years my question to you is this: ‘where is the line?’

The line was not drawn at personal character and faithfulness. The line was not drawn at truth and honesty. The line was not drawn at sexism or racism. The line was not drawn at malice, or insults, or spiteful, demeaning behaviour. The line was not drawn at corruption or even abuse of power. If the line wasn’t drawn at any of those places, then, if you don’t mind me asking, ‘where is the line?’

It is not the speaking out in support of policies that you agree with that should trouble anyone. It is the silence in the face of clear wrongdoing that disturbs. It is the voices that defend what seems indefensible that trouble. When those voices come from leaders within the church it is deeply worrying. When our voice of support shifts from policies to personalities we need to be careful. I fear many leaders of the church in America have walked a very long way out on very thin ice.

Is it possible to both support a leader’s policies and yet when rebuke is necessary, bring that rebuke? I suspect, though, that those who dare to take that courageous stand will face what Azariah faced: furious anger and rage. Time and time again when challenged by one of his own Mr Trump has responded as King Uzziah did. And so far, each time, that has worked. It seems that the fear of that furious reaction and the consequences that follow has silenced too many critics from his own side. How can he get away with it? Because he knows that, to many of his Christian voters, the other side is still worse.

The hard choice, it seems for Christians in America at this moment in history, is not whether to stand up and oppose your enemies be they political, cultural or spiritual, but will you have the courage to stand up to your own leaders? In the moments when lines are crossed, will you have the courage to speak up?

As followers of Jesus Christ, before we have a president or a prime minister we have a King. It is the rule and reign of his government that will have no end. It is before him, that we will be called to account. Should we, as Christians, ever defend the indefensible?

If your convictions are such that you feel you can only vote for a Republican and you have exhausted all the options for selecting the best Republican, then the only choice you have is to stand up to, and sometimes against, the Republican you have.

When a leader makes a poor decision or choice they can resist their opposition. They were never going to listen to them in the first place. The only people Donald Trump may listen to, to be a better President, to be a better leader and to be a better man are the ones on his side. The only voices that have a chance will be the ones on his side who are unafraid to stand up to him.

That may sound naïve because of the President’s track record. So far anyone who has criticized him has lost their job, lost their access and faced the furious rage of the most powerful man in the country. I’m realistic enough not to have great hopes that this strategy is likely to bring success. But I happen to think it’s the only course of action left if you both vote Republican and claim to follow Christ.

In Europe pro-life, pro-Israel, pro-religious liberty policies are always going to generate opposition. That American Christians vote for and support some or all these positions is not what surprises people. That they are silent when a Republican President is racist, sexist, vengeful and vile has also, sadly, become unsurprising. So we, your Christian brothers and sisters in Europe can wonder not ‘where is the line?’ but ‘is there even a line at all?’

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[i] https://www.christianpost.com/news/nearly-200-evangelical-leaders-slam-christianity-today-for-questioning-their-christian-witness.html

[ii] https://www.christianpost.com/voice/why-i-still-stand-by-45-president-trump.html

[iii] ibid