Cass

I’ve been thinking about these elections and all the talk about Trump being the reason Republicans lost so many races. But I think there’s something bigger going on here. I’ve never defended Trump’s mouth or some of his behavior. Frankly, I think some of the things he says are downright disgusting. But as I wrote in a blog a few years ago, I didn’t need Donald Trump to tuck me into bed at night. I voted for his policies, not his personality. And I’m speaking primarily from a Christian perspective here. I realize not everyone shares my biblical convictions, and even Christians disagree about politics. But my faith is the foundation for how I evaluate candidates and their policies. Look at Trump’s record. He was the first sitting president to attend the March for Life. He appointed three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade. He fought for stronger border security and enforcement of immigration laws, and he took steps to protect religious liberty. Those things mattered to me because of my biblical convictions. I believe Christians should examine policies through Scripture rather than simply voting based on how they feel about a candidate. I also believe God used Trump to slow some of our country’s movement away from biblical principles. That doesn’t mean I excuse his sins or claim to know God’s specific purposes. Every politician is a sinner, just like the rest of us. And I think Trump changed something else. I remember years ago sitting quietly in social situations while liberals openly expressed their political opinions. I watched other conservatives do the same. Trump helped change that. He showed conservatives they didn’t have to be afraid to speak up. But here’s what really concerns me. I think Americans have become more concerned about political personalities than actual policies. I see it constantly. People go on and on about how much they hate Trump or some other politician, but rarely do I hear anyone discussing the policies themselves. Some people seem so consumed with hatred for Trump that they can’t acknowledge anything positive he’s done. Others defend him so blindly that they won’t acknowledge anything wrong with his behavior. Neither makes sense to me. We have to learn to separate our emotions about a person from our evaluation of their policies. That doesn’t mean character doesn’t matter. Of course it does. But we can’t let our personal feelings keep us from looking honestly at what someone actually stands for. James 1:20 reminds us that human anger does not produce the righteousness of God. That’s something worth remembering right now. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me about Trump. But I wish we’d spend less time attacking personalities and more time discussing the direction our country is heading. Because ultimately, no politician is going to save America. Our hope isn’t in Washington. It’s in Jesus Christ. And that’s something I refuse to lose sight of.