The Immoral Majority: Why Evangelicals Chose Political Power Over Christian Values

by Ben Howe

To expect that flow of philosophical influence to work in the reverse, with the government elected to mandate Christian values as law, would not serve to foster a Christian culture. It would incite rebellion and cultural decline. And I’d argue that in many ways it has.

The level of rationalizations and relativism that is constantly being preached and expressed in favor of this president’s support is strong evidence that there are plenty of people who struggle with whether or not they have been honest with themselves and, conversely, with God.

I reasoned that if he won and became the standard-bearer for what purported to be conservatism, any short-term policy gains from his presidency would be undone by a public who would associate it all with his person.

God would have accomplished (and will accomplish) His ends regardless of whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is president. His victory is not our victory. His victory is all Christians voting in accordance with their conscience and in obedience to His values.

The common theme here among Christians and their leaders is their lack of faith in the goals of God, favoring instead their personal goals. Some may surely believe they are approaching this with the intent of fulfilling God’s purposes. But they are clearly doing it in a way that they must on some level be aware God would caution against.

Short-term thinking is vital to the success of our modern political parties.

The cycle of short-term thinking affects everything. The politicians are thinking only about the short-term goals of acquiring votes and supporters. The voters are thinking only about the short-term goals that are being dangled in front of them. And the long-term health of the country declines because everyone everywhere is just buying Lunchables and telling themselves they’ll start making healthier food “tomorrow.”

What exactly would Christians’ “ends justify the means” strategy teach the nonbeliever? What would they learn from it about how the world operates according to God’s design?

We are actually called upon to judge others, especially those around us who also call themselves Christians. However, we are not to judge that over which God alone has dominion, such as a person’s soul, but to judge and operate in the context of our sphere of discernment: recognizing right and wrong and speaking loudly when confronted with either.

For the possibility of a bit of worldly influence, they surrendered their moral voice in the public sphere.

The evangelical Trump voters set aside their religiosity and their moral high ground in favor of winning elections, exacting vengeance, proving a point, defying a stereotype, and protecting the culture as they saw it.

You may choose to pity them, but better to mourn them, as I do, for what was lost was something that may have been of value and worthy of admiration.

If you wish to be all that Donald Trump and his ilk are not, then the greatest service you could do for the world is to love them despite themselves. Love doesn’t require agreement. It doesn’t require compromise. It doesn’t require surrender or the shedding of values. It only and ever required the simple truth that we are stuck together. And if things are going to get better, you cannot wait for others to do it first.