Why don’t I criticize the other side like I do Donald Trump?

I’ve been asked this question many times. Here’s the gist of an answer.

First, because there’s already a traffic jam of Christian critiques of the other side. For instance, I am against abortion. But I seldom write about my views on it since every other pro-life Christian has already said it a thousand times. (Though I have written about the myopia of being simply “pro-birth” and nothing outside the labor room.) But by contrast, how many Christians realize the political, social, spiritual danger of Donald Trump? And if they do realize it, how many are willing to say something about it? Not that many, so somebody’s gotta.

Second, it’s my conviction that Trump is a much greater threat to the country and to the testimony of the Christian Church than those who have run and are running against him, for reasons I’ve written about repeatedly since 2015. Therefore, I post the things I do to influence anyone willing to listen, to think critically and biblically about these things.

To use an analogy, the house next to mine is on fire AND there’s a cat stuck in a tree across the street. Which do I choose to address? I obviously run to deal with the greater danger. Let someone else rescue the cat! (I know you might say, “The danger of the left is much worse than a cat in a tree!” No doubt. It’s just an analogy to make a point. Don’t dissected the cat.) Similarly…

Third, I seldom if ever have brought any public or even private critique of any of our former presidents or other former elected officials from either party. Of course, I’ve often disagreed with many of their policies and moral choices, but nothing they did rose to the level of peril to the country and the Church that Donald Trump and politicians like him do on a consistent basis. I only jumped into the fray when he descended on his gold escalator and inserted himself into the American psyche.

I’m not saying he’s the cause of all our problems, but that he has mainstreamed narcissism, indecency, persistent lying, and caustic revenge of anyone who crosses him. And what’s worse, many Christians applaud these anti-Christ behaviors and follow in his steps. And even more grievous to me is how unbelieving Americans now view Christ followers as guilty by association. I can’t tell you how many pre-Christians have told me that they assume Christian = Trumpian.

I talked to a newcomer to our church recently who told me he had been pursuing Christ for the last 5 years, but was afraid to go to church all that time lest he have to encounter the sort of bloviating evangelical Trumpian sycophants he’s seen in the news. Of course, we know that not all Christians or churches are like that, but how would they know it since over 80% of professed white evangelicals continue to avidly and adamantly support Donald Trump along with all his glaring personality liabilities and policies inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus? What are unbelievers to think when they see the flags and banners people carry to his rallies that say: “Jesus is my Savior and Trump is my President!”?

Another example from history makes my point as well. Years ago, I went to the hospital to visit a sick friend. As I typically do, I brought a book to read in case I had to wait to see him. It happened to be one by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor-theologian who was hung for his involvement in the anti-Hitler movement during WWII. My friend’s father is Jewish and not a believer in Christ. He and I stood in the hall waiting to see his son when he saw the book in my hand and asked me about it. I told him a piece of the Bonhoeffer story when he said, “Wait. There were Christians that opposed Hitler? All the Nazis were Christians!”

It’s true that the majority of the German Church at the time supported the Third Reich until it was too late to change course. Hitler often used Christian language and courted the Church similarly to Trump’s disingenuous attachment to evangelicals. (Don’t anyone accuse me of equating Trump with Hitler. I’m just making a point that this is what happens when Christians blindly follow a person like him. People on the outside looking in think we’re all a bunch of lemmings, and want nothing to do with us as a result. And if you’re a follower of Jesus, that should concern you.)

Is Kamala Harris a great candidate for president? In my opinion, not particularly. I disagree with her positions on a number of things. If someone better suited than her were running against her from either party, I’d be happy to vote for them. But the only choices available to us today are Harris or Trump. And from where I sit, there’s never been a more unqualified, incompetent, conscienceless, embarrassing candidate than Donald Trump.

So yes, this IS a “lesser of evils” comparison. I make no bones about that. And, in my opinion, Harris is by far (as in from here to Mars far) the lesser evil choice in this election.

I’ve never said I am voting for her or encouraged anyone to do so. Then again, there’s still time for me to change my mind on that. All I’ve ever said is, Donald Trump is a dreadful choice. Please don’t vote for him. Stay home, leave the presidential race blank, or write someone in. (I’m available.) Or, if you want, vote for Harris. But please, please, please don’t vote for Donald Trump!