Let’s get this straight: if you believe the Bible and are genuinely a believing Christian, then you cannot support, vote for, or in any way endorse someone who has been found guilty of abuse of women or children. You cannot vote for, support or endorse anyone who has been heard on tape boasting about sexual harassment and abuse of women. A Christian who says that they believe someone to be guilty of such things, and yet is willing to carry on supporting them in any way, is guilty of idiolatry, heresy.
Donald Trump boasted of this kind of activity. Roy Moore has been accused of these things and most Republicans in the US believe the allegations. Still, the Governor of his state says she (yes, a woman) will vote for him anyway. Why? Because he is an evangelical Christian! What on earth is happening to American evangelicals? The answer is sad and simple.
Over the last few decades, a certain brand of Christian evangelical, traditional supporters of the Republican Party, have become so identified with right-wing politics, so far removed from the Gospel, that they have turned to a new god, or gods. The United States itself, the Republican Party, the Tea Party, the Moral Majority, all of these have been attempts to impose “Christian family values” on the rest of the population and have become more important than obedience to God. But the right-wing evangelicals have become so ideologically committed to those political ideas that they have not noticed how far they’ve departed from Christian ways.
To further their short term aims of opposing abortion, gay rights, “socialised” health care, and other causes, they have been prepared to compromise with the devil: they have used the world’s weapons and the world’s politics to ride roughshod over everything else. They have forgotten what Paul insisted upon: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”. [Ephesians 6:12] Spiritual warfare, not political hatreds and divisions.
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world”. [2 Corinthians 10:4] These evangelicals have forgotten that the spiritual state of a soul is more important than what party they support. But, by following the path they have taken for more than twenty years, all these evangelicals have done is to bring Christianity and the gospel into disrepute. They are seen to be hate-filled, narrow-minded, vicious and intolerant in ways that completely reverse the Good News of Jesus.
I have said for some time that this form of American evangelicalism is the greatest heresy in our time, the greatest enemy of the Gospel, and the reason why so many reject Christianity. They have a great deal to answer for. The Gospel, rightly proclaimed, brings freedom, release, respect, and has led to great benefits for society through the ages in education, health care, social programs and human rights. But these people seem to be completely opposed to any of these things. Christians have to stand up and say; “Not in my name!”, and certainly, not in His.
A Christian who voted for Donald Trump, or supports him in any way, is ignoring the dreadful things he has said and done, proven and documented, not “fake news”. By doing so, they have turned from the ways of the Gospel in order to promote a political ideology: which is idolatry.
Why does this matter in Canada, or in North Grenville? Because in an age of instant global communication, their example is known to all, and their betrayal of the Gospel in the name of right-wing political ideology is having an effect on how people here in Canada, and around the world, view evangelical Christianity.
Their attitudes, speech and actions are not in keeping with the Gospel. Paul tells the Christians in Rome, a place almost as bad as the U.S. these days:
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” [Romans 12.17-21]
Some Christians are very fond of fighting what they believe are the Lord’s battles for him. Be careful that we don’t end up like the people Jesus spoke of: “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” [Matthew 7.22-23]
