It's politics season, and for someone like me who has a deep disdain for the conflicts which seem to arise every fourth year, that means it's time to retighten the seal on my lips and avoid the topic in any way I can.
However, this year seems to call for a different approach. Despite my insatiable desire to keep out of political conversations (for reasons which would take up the space of an entirely separate article), this year, I seem to find myself speaking up, frequently, during those moments in which I would normally walk away.
The reason for the shift is simple: Donald Trump.
What, to me, seemed to start out as a harmless and interesting publicity stunt has quickly boiled into a fiery cauldron of bigotry and deceit which has somehow convinced millions to support him under the promise that he will, "Make America Great Again."
Each morning I awake confused and sick whenever I see a new story about a rally-gone-violent or the promotion of a new policy or point of view which is, in reality (and these are words that I don't throw around or use lightly), racist, sexist or otherwise demeaning of specific people groups.
I wish I was exaggerating.
The truth is that I'm not even upset with those who support him. Trump preys on one of the most powerful natural influences to the human mind: fear. We live in a world that is terrifying. You don't have to be politically informed, or even interested, to see the terror. You need only look around you to see the tragic state of our world, so it's only natural for us to latch onto who or whatever can make us feel safe.
I'm not here to write some emotional appeal about the horrors of the world. In fact, as tempting as it is, I'm not here to present some argument about why it's "un-Christian" to support Trump.
No, I'm writing this because I think there's something that we've been forgetting as we take up our political flags and gear up for the war in November. In a world that is constantly providing us with new terrors to check under our beds for at night, we seem to forget who's in charge.
The sovereignty of God often goes unmentioned or forgotten in our culture. We're so used to pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps and working hard to receive everything we think we deserve that, when things are outside of our control, we are consumed by fear.
I used to keep this sentiment in mind for any Trump supporters that I may come across, but, interestingly enough, it's recently become clear that this message holds truth for both sides.
We're all afraid. We're afraid of what might happen to us and our world if things continue on the path that they are on. For those of us who are anti-Trump, we've added a new level of fear to it all. We're afraid of what could happen if he's elected.
We're afraid of losing any progress that we've made when it comes to issues of race. We're afraid that his lack of empathy and general callousness toward the political system indicates that he will cause more problems than he solves. We're afraid that his ego and way of doing business shows that he will likely disregard the checks and balances of government in order to do whatever he wants.
We're afraid of lots of things, but our fear does not lessen God's power.
In our frantic efforts to convince Trump supporters to see his potential for detriment, we forget that Donald Trump is not just a figure-head for what we're afraid of; he's also a person.
At most points in my life, I'm a dead-to-rights optimist. Part of that means I see the best in everyone, and I want to give them the benefit of the doubt.
I want to do the same for Donald Trump.
I want to believe that he doesn't actually hate entire groups of people. I want to believe that he doesn't want to isolate and attack those who have done nothing to hurt us. I want to believe that he desires the best for our country and all of its inhabitants. I want to believe that he's just as scared as we are.
If there's anything I know for sure, it's that my God is more powerful than Donald Trump ever could be.
What Paul explained to the church in Philippi desperately needs to be heard today. He wrote, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)
More times than not, when I think about the possibility of Donald Trump becoming the next President of the United States, I'm filled with something much more potent than anxiety. In times like this, the Bible is clear as to what our response should be.
Now, I'm not arguing for some sort of mass prayer against Donald Trump becoming President. In fact, we're called to something much more difficult. I'm praying that Donald Trump can know the love of Jesus.
As hard as it is to believe, Jesus came and died on that cross for Donald Trump just as much as he did for you and me.
On that same front, there is no argument that Donald Trump is a passionate and influential person. Imagine what our country, our world even, could look like if Donald Trump's heart is influenced by a radical encounter with Jesus. Imagine the role he could play in the Kingdom of God. Before you go on scoffing at my optimism, allow me to remind you of a certain Christian-murdering zealot in the Bible who was transformed by the power of Christ: He happens to be the author of the passage that I used earlier in this article.
I believe in the sovereignty of God. I believe my God is powerful enough to raise the dead to life, powerful enough to walk on water and yes, even powerful enough to transform the heart of Donald Trump.
I'm praying for Donald Trump. I'm praying that people can come into his life who know and love Jesus and that they could be able to extend that love to him. I'm praying that Donald Trump would recognize the error of his ways and see the pain and isolation that he's causing. I pray that he could radically encounter the redemptive and transformational power of the cross, and I pray that he could have the courage and strength to turn away from this life he's leading now to follow Jesus.
I suggest you do the same.
