The Folly of Christian Cover for the Trump Regime

There is currently a narrative among many, many, Christians that suggests that while Donald Trump and his regime exhibit many distasteful characteristics, these should be overlooked for greater purpose, and that God has appointed Trump – a convicted felon, a relentless liar, and a despot....... for God's specific purposes. The narrative concludes that often God has used undesirables for His purposes.

To be clear, as a Christian myself and a pastor, I believe unreservedly in the sovereignty of God and His control over the affairs of the world. I understand that sometimes His ways may not be fully revealed to us  or understood by us [Isa.55:8] and that, in spite of this, we need to trust Him and be secure in the fact that God always has the perfect long view of His purposes being realized.

However, I wish to propose that it is dangerous when Christians use this narrative as an excuse or cover for despicable behavior without carefully exegeting Scripture and the context thereof. It is my belief that where this claim could be made of God, it needs to be considered in time and context. For that reason, comparisons being made to justify the current waywardness of the US President by many Christians are, in fact, wrong and deeply troubling. It is doubly troubling when prominent Christian leaders such as Franklin Graham seem to have embraced bad theology when, in fact, they should know better.

 

What are some Biblical examples of God’s using instruments of His will?

      There is no question that perhaps one of the most compelling narratives of God using blunt force to bring change in attitude is in the Book of Isaiah. To be fair, this is or should be well known among Christians. From the earliest verses, God makes it very clear that He is abundantly unhappy with Judah’s behavior and that something needs to be done [Isa.1:1-5:30]. While the narrative in Isaiah is long and extensive, it perhaps can be best summarized when God declares that He will use a tool at His disposal in the person and regime of Cyrus who He describes as his “shepherd and he will fulfill my purpose” [Isa. 44:28]. As one of the overseers of the exile and suppression of the people of Judah, Cyrus could hardly be seen as a “goodie”. Nevertheless, God had a purpose for him. But do not forget that Cyrus, the blunt instrument used during the exile, was eventually harnessed. While not specific to Cyrus, Babylon was not left untouched, even though it had once been used of God: “You felt secure in your wickedness; you said, “No one sees me”; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray and you said in your heart, ‘I am and there is no one besides me’. But evil shall come upon you, which you will not know how to charm away; disaster will fall upon you for which you will not be able to atone” [Isa.47:10-11]. A blunt tool used by God does not escape His ultimate judgement. Both God’s initial purpose and His instrument are ultimately under His control, and both are subject to his wrath and discipline.

     Of course, we cannot forget Nebuchadnezzar. The king of the neo-Babylonian empire was front and center in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and exile to Babylon. The prophet Jeramiah does not mince words: “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured us, he has thrown us into confusion, he has made us an empty jar. Like a serpent he has swallowed us and filled his stomach with our delicacies and then has spewed us out [Jer.54:34].” Nebuchadnezzar could only be characterized as a ruthless and detestable leader, and yet he was used by God because God’s chosen people had strayed: “ For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said I will not serve. Yes, on every hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore [Jer.2:20].”

Can we apply these situations to making a similar claim in this day?

     I propose that the parallels proposed by Christians in the current world order and the behavior of the United States does not hold up to scrutiny. On what basis do I make this argument?

• The purposes of God in the Old Testament were very specific to God’s chosen people who had flagrantly disobeyed Him. Actually, on this point there is a parallel – that the US and the world at large have largely disobeyed God. But in the early Biblical times of the OT, God had a very specific purpose in wielding His discipline to bring the chosen people of God into line, because the Messiah had not yet arrived.
• The reason for God’s wrath in the Old Testament was not so much political as it was moral. The Hebrew people were wayward. God’s sole purpose was to alert His people to His will. It was not to promote a political ideology, boundaries, subjection, or nationality. It was to reign in immoral behavior, idolatry and complacency. It also had nothing to do with self-centeredness of leaders and their self-importance. It was all about God. To be clear – there are some parallels in the moral case in the United States and the world in general. There needs to be change. But once again this is not a political issue. There is no evidence in my mind that the current administration in the USA has any concept of the moral need, but rather they are only focused on dominance, power, wealth, and self-aggrandisement at the expense of other nations and other peoples. I do not see that God in His wisdom and integrity is supportive of this.
• Also striking is the fact that while God used blunt force to bring His people back into line – He always ultimately punished His instruments as I have already mentioned. Cyrus miraculously let the Hebrew people return to their homeland after the exile. Nebuchadnezzar was reduced to a pauper: “King Nebuchadnezzar, you will be forced to go away from people. You will live among the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle, and you will become wet with dew. Seven seasons will pass, and then you will learn this lesson. You will learn God Most High rules over human kingdoms and gives them to whoever he wants [Dan.4:25-26].

Alas, we must acknowledge that now is not the same as then. Everything changed with God sending His Son Jesus. The argument that evil behavior and policy can be used for the good of God’s purposes is dangerous indeed if taken out of context and time. What happened in the OT is not, in this case at least, a valid argument for today. The OT context was limited to the people of Israel, was in a very specific time and circumstance, and was before the arrival of our God-man Savior. With Him everything is different.

Rather than blunt force, God Jehovah calls us through his Son to not only do things differently but to manifest the Christian life in the actual ways that we act, talk, and interact with other people. There is no end to biblical evidence to support this fact. Perhaps one of the simplest and yet most profound is Jesus’ summary of the Ten Commandments:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself [Lk.10:27].”

In all things we are called to imitate Christ [Eph. 5:1-2]. I see no evidence of imitation of Christ is the current leadership of the United States. Christians cannot cover for this.

To suggest that God is pleased or satisfied or complicit in allowing the travesty of conduct presently evident in the United States executive branch solely for advancing His purposes lacks true theological and biblical understanding in a profound and reckless way.