Hi First name / friend!
Let me start by telling you that this is NOT a political topic. While the events of last Saturday provide us with a good example to use, the principles themselves could be said of not only any political candidate/leader, but also any other issue that Christians could potentially support. While it is no secret that I am conservative, this content should not be seen as an endorsement of a presidential candidate.
Having a popular presidential candidate’s failed assassination attempt followed immediately by the rally where he was officially nominated created a perfect storm for those who worship him and those who hate him within Christian circles.
I will admit that I’m troubled on both sides of this issue: Those who seem to be worshiping Trump more than ever and calling him “God’s annointed” or “God’s chosen one,” and those on the opposite end of the pendulum swing claiming that simply wearing a MAGA hat or Trump 2024 t-shirt is idolatry.
Of course, most of what I’m seeing on this topic is confined to social media, so my first bit of advice is to stop letting strangers on the internet dictate your beliefs. But I am concerned about young or impressionable Christians who might be led astray by one side or the other of this argument.
This didn’t start with the assassination attempt on Saturday, July 13, 2024. It has been going on for quite a while with labels of Christian nationalist being applied to any believer who shows any kind of patriotism. Christian Americans have been bullied into silence for fear of being labeled something they don’t fully understand yet know must be bad. And let’s be clear, Christians are some of the most effective bullies in our society.
While there is no denying that there is a cult of Trump among the republican party, the question plaguing many Christians is whether it is possible to support Trump and not become part of the cult. My answer is a resounding “yes.”
As I reflect on the events of Saturday and the attempted assassination of former President Trump, I have no problem admitting that God spared his life. I've heard people say that it was divine intervention, that God turned Trump’s head at the right moment, that God was at that rally, and I honestly can get behind all of those statements.
I believe God is sovereign, and He is in control of everything that happens. Scripture tells us that even when a sparrow falls, God is in control of that. He cares about the details, and He orchestrates all of the events around us.
The problem arises when we start to admire Trump more because he survived the attempt on his life—when we begin to describe him with divine attributes or titles reserved for members of the Godhead. He had nothing to do with it. He didn't have special knowledge or know when to turn his head to avoid the bullet. So we should not be giving him credit for it. (I know there are those who claim he set this up to increase his support, but that is a whole other conversation.)
So I understand those who are troubled by the titles given to Trump. I heard and witnessed some odd behavior at the Republican National Convention that seemed to lend support to the idea of Trump worship. But it is important to remember what the purpose of a rally is and keep in perspective that emotionalism is the name of the game. It really isn't fair to judge all Christians who support Trump based on the RNC. After all, it is a political rally, not a church service, and as such, the goal is to get the supporters excited about the upcoming election.
I also don’t agree with the other extreme claiming that wearing a MAGA hat or a Trump 2024 t-shirt is idolatry. You can support something without worshiping it. Wearing a MAGA hat in and of itself is no more idolatry than wearing a Nike hat would be.
So how do we find the balance?
God did spare Trump for a purpose. In fact, He may have spared Trump for many purposes. And while I can't tell you what all of those purposes are, I can say for certain that He spared Trump for His (God's) own glory.
Everything He does is for His glory. So, as a Christian, the key is to make sure the glory lands where it belongs. Instead of placing undue admiration and reverence on Trump, we should be noticing that God is at work. Because He is at work. He is orchestrating everything for His glory—not just in the current events playing out in front of us, but also in the last four years, and the four years before that. Somehow, He will get the glory in all of it.
I can't wait to see how God uses this situation, and wherever He is working, that is where I want to be. Not for the glory of Trump or whoever fills the spot on the Democrat ticket, but for the glory of God!
