Donald Trump might offend our British sensibilities, but Christians in the UK should be careful when criticising their brothers and sisters across the pond, says former MP, Miriam Cates. He may not be the man you want leading your church, but the new President-elect has much to offer the USA
In a remarkable political comeback that took many by surprise, Donald Trump won a convincing victory in last week’s US presidential election. The Republican former-president increased his support across a wide range of voters including Evangelical Christians, 82 per cent of whom voted for him.
To many Christians in the UK, Trump may seem an odd choice for President. With his colourful private life, extra-marital affairs and criminal charges, he is certainly no model of Christian virtue. Yet he has much to offer American believers.
The economy, law and order
Firstly, Trump and his campaign demonstrated concern for economically disadvantaged Americans whose post-industrial communities have been devastated by globalisation. Decades of manufacturing off shoring and unprecedented levels of illegal immigration have driven down wages, and rocketing inflation under President Biden have caused millions to lose hope.
The Bible is full of stories of flawed leaders who were used by God
With his promise to cut taxes, control immigration and revive American industry, it is unsurprising that Trump won handsomely among lower income voters. As Christians, we should care about the plight of the forgotten poor; Trump’s commitment to build a just economy where all citizens can find dignified work has much to commend it.
Many American Christians have been appalled by the decline in law and order in cities like San Francisco. Both the New York Post and The Week reported on failed experiments to ‘defund’ the police, with many districts descending into drug-fueled lawlessness. As Christians, we should not fall into the trap of believing that being soft on crime is somehow kind. Clear laws - based on the principles of the Ten Commandments - and consistent enforcement are the foundation of a peaceful and safe society. Trump’s promise to crack down on crime will be a relief to many.
Sexual ethics
The President-elect’s view on the transgender debate also appeals to many American Christians. The Bible tells us that God made two sexes of human beings, male and female (Genesis 1:27) yet transgender ideology has been allowed to rip through schools and other US institutions, enthusiastically endorsed by the Democrats.
Christian parents - and countless others - are appalled that their offspring are being indoctrinated, and that thousands of children have been given life-destroying drugs. Between 2019 and 2023, 5,700 under 18s underwent irreversible mutilating surgery in the USA. Jesus teaches that anyone who leads little children astray will face the harshest judgement (Matthew 18:6). Trump’s promise to ban gender transition for minors gained strong support.
Another topic of concern to Christians is abortion. Trump has been less clear on this issue but, in contrast, Kamala Harris’s only consistent policy was to increase the availability of what The Guardian referred to as “reproductive healthcare”, a sinister euphemism for ending the lives of the unborn. In the US, over one million abortions took place in 2023. For many Christians, the idea that we should celebrate the loss of so many lives created in the image of God is deeply disturbing. Trump’s ambivalence towards abortion is preferable to Harris’s unconcealed enthusiasm.
Team Trump
An important factor in the Christian vote for Trump was his choice of running mate. Vice President-elect JD Vance is a thoughtful, intelligent and sincerely religious man with a compelling conversion story. At the age of 40, Vance is already one of the most promising politicians of our generation.
A liberal worldview has the appearance of kindness but has eroded the essential, societal guardrails that protect the vulnerable
He is outspoken on the issue of pornography, is pro-marriage and cares deeply about economic inequality, having been born into a poor and broken home. Many Christians will have voted for Trump just to put Vance in the White House alongside him.
British sensibilities
It seems unlikely that Trump would be as popular with British Christians as he is among our American brothers and sisters. There may be sound reasons for this, but we should humbly ask ourselves if our opinion of Trump has more to do with being British than being Christian.
Trump is brash, ostentatious and vulgar, a combination that offends our British sense of propriety. But, as believers, we are called to look beyond the superficial and consider the spiritual reality. Trump may be an unsavoury man, but the Bible is full of stories of corrupt and flawed leaders who were, nevertheless, used by God to advance his purposes.
In the ballot box, we are not choosing our next church pastor, or someone who would be a good spouse or a faithful friend. Instead, we are making a sober judgment about who is best placed to uphold justice, defend the vulnerable and allow the gospel to flourish.
Standing up to liberalism
The greatest contemporary threat to Western Christianity - and the West itself - is a liberal, progressive worldview that has the appearance of kindness but has eroded the essential, biblical truths and societal guardrails that protect children and the vulnerable.
Liberal progressivism is a wolf in sheep’s clothing; it preaches a message of freedom and equality yet seeks to overthrow every single one of the boundaries God has given us for human flourishing.
Unlike so many other Western politicians, the new US President has not been fooled. Trump, for all his faults, may be America’s best hope for restoration.
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