I try very hard to keep my political views to myself in terms of if I'm republican or democrat, liberal or conservative, and which presidential candidate I am supporting. With the election coming up this year and many evangelical leaders discussing politics, I felt it necessary to discuss something that has been weighing on my mind regarding this upcoming election. I fear that the presidential election has become more a popularity contest rather than a thoughtful process in which the people decided which leader will best reflect their values and fulfill the duty of doing what is right for the nation as a whole. This can be seen in who the front runners are of the two main parties. For the conservatives you have Trump, and for the progressives you have Sanders. Going off of the briefing with Albert Mohler both of these men while popular have kept the details of their beliefs and worldview close to the chest. They are in the lead more based on attitude and presentation rather than their actual stances on things. I wonder how many people actually know what Donald Trump's worldview is? How many people know what Bernie Sanders' worldview is? Does it even matter? The answer to this question reveals the sad truth of the current state of culture here in America which is that most people aren't interested in thinking, they are interested in feeling. I admit I am perhaps moving into the realm of speculation here, however I think that for many people the reason they like Trump is because he acts like a winner, and promises to make them feel like winner if elected. People in America have long been told by media, college, and many a blog that they are losers, and more often than not, they are losers because of things they have no control over. You're white? You're a loser because your race oppresses minority races, you shouldn't talk on issues because of your skin color. You're African American? You're a loser because you are oppressed by the white man. You won't amount to anything because whitey wants to keep you down. You're a man? You're a loser who is a rapist in waiting and oppressor of women. You're a woman? You're a loser who is oppressed by men everywhere and is helpless to defend herself. This claim has been made towards race, gender, sexuality, and any other characteristic that might be out of one's control.
This has been the mantra of the progressive left for decades, and for many people it has worked. By believing their failure is a result of color, sex, or anything but themselves they have been able to transfer the guilt they have onto that aspect that they cannot control. They have also believed the lie that they could create a utopia of sorts if they trust the highest power they are willing to believe in that being the state. This has been the dominant worldview in America for a while now. People are losers but its not their fault, but since it is not their fault they must be saved by the state. The state must regulate healthcare, the market, speech, income, etc... in order to save people from that which they cannot control because they are losers. While this can allow for the transfer of guilt letting people remain comfortable in their sin and depravity, it also removes things such as honor and dignity. This is where Trump comes in. Many people in America are tired of feeling like a loser. They are tired of being called loser over things which they cannot control or change, and they want to feel like a winner. Trump acts like a winner. Whether he is or not does not matter. When he speaks, he speaks with confidence, he doesn't care what others think, because he acts like he believes what he is saying is right, and true. Trump has charisma, and a natural magnetism that causes people to be drawn to him even if they don't agree with everything he says. To paraphrase a friend, Trump acts like an Alpha. Add this with his completely contrary stance from the left and people's desire to feel like a winner, and you have the reason why Trump is leading the polls. (At least in my humble opinion)
The trouble with both Trump and Sanders is that they are leading based on people's feelings rather than on people's reason. Now I do not wish to be patronizing and suggest that anyone who supports Sanders or Trump has given no thought to their stances and is placing their support through feeling alone, however I will suggest that feeling is the primary factor in their choice, as both candidates have not been all to clear in the details of their worldview and polices. At least when compared to other candidates such as Cruz or Clinton. It is from here that I wish to discuss this from a Biblical worldview. If we are to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ exercised through the scriptures then we must understand that it is the duty of every Christian to "Not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind" Romans 12:2, and to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5 then we must recognize the purpose of government as God has ordained it, and allow the scriptures to guide our choices in the voting booth. Before continuing I want to make it clear that I am not going to say that one should or should not vote for a particular candidate, but rather offer a worldview I feel is Biblical and then allow for the choice to be made between yourself and the Lord. Christians should understand that the government is an institution that was ordained by God much like marriage, and the family. It has a particular purpose. This purpose is clearly laid out in Romans 13, and so we should understand that when we elect leaders in government, we are electing them to fulfill a purpose that God has ordained and one day God will judge. For example God will judge the current administration for what it has done well, and for what it has done poorly. Every congressmen, judge, president, and so on will be judged by God one day. This revelation has a couple of implications for believers. First, that the leaders in government effect the cultural at large. While it is wrong for people to put their full trust in men, men in power still have the position to effect culture, and this effect can be God honoring or not. Unjust men can punish those who have broken no civil law, or could not to serve justice to those who have broken the law. Unjust men in power can create laws punishing those seeking to the will of God. The idea that a corrupt individual will not abuse the power given them is absurd. This is why the character of any person seeking to hold any office in government is important, just as character is important for any man seeking to be a bishop or deacon, as is made clear in 1 Timothy. The second implication is that we may share responsibility by putting someone in position to sin. If you put an alcoholic in charge of inventorying all the drinks in a bar, while he is guilty should he steal some of the drinks and consume them, you are also responsible for putting them into that situation knowing of their weakness. The same can be said if one votes for someone they know has a worldview counter to that laid out in scripture. Worldview matters for it is one's worldview that guides their actions. If one has a worldview counter to the scriptures then one will live out that worldview in office, and by voting for that person you will be putting them in a position to be judged by God knowing that they will not do what is right in the eyes of the Lord sharing in the responsibility for their actions.
With all this in mind it is important for Christians to really look at each of the candidates as well as examine their own worldview, and the worldview of scripture. The first question should be does my worldview align with God's and the next question should be, does this candidate's worldview align with God's and mine? It is easy to simply like a candidate because he or she is popular, or you like one or two stances, but for the Christian, we are not afforded the easy way out. We must examine each person seeking leadership in this nation and with careful thought and reflection. Then vote for the candidate we feel will best bring honor to God. In this let us be diligent, let us be consistent, an let us be honest.
This has been the mantra of the progressive left for decades, and for many people it has worked. By believing their failure is a result of color, sex, or anything but themselves they have been able to transfer the guilt they have onto that aspect that they cannot control. They have also believed the lie that they could create a utopia of sorts if they trust the highest power they are willing to believe in that being the state. This has been the dominant worldview in America for a while now. People are losers but its not their fault, but since it is not their fault they must be saved by the state. The state must regulate healthcare, the market, speech, income, etc... in order to save people from that which they cannot control because they are losers. While this can allow for the transfer of guilt letting people remain comfortable in their sin and depravity, it also removes things such as honor and dignity. This is where Trump comes in. Many people in America are tired of feeling like a loser. They are tired of being called loser over things which they cannot control or change, and they want to feel like a winner. Trump acts like a winner. Whether he is or not does not matter. When he speaks, he speaks with confidence, he doesn't care what others think, because he acts like he believes what he is saying is right, and true. Trump has charisma, and a natural magnetism that causes people to be drawn to him even if they don't agree with everything he says. To paraphrase a friend, Trump acts like an Alpha. Add this with his completely contrary stance from the left and people's desire to feel like a winner, and you have the reason why Trump is leading the polls. (At least in my humble opinion)
The trouble with both Trump and Sanders is that they are leading based on people's feelings rather than on people's reason. Now I do not wish to be patronizing and suggest that anyone who supports Sanders or Trump has given no thought to their stances and is placing their support through feeling alone, however I will suggest that feeling is the primary factor in their choice, as both candidates have not been all to clear in the details of their worldview and polices. At least when compared to other candidates such as Cruz or Clinton. It is from here that I wish to discuss this from a Biblical worldview. If we are to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ exercised through the scriptures then we must understand that it is the duty of every Christian to "Not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind" Romans 12:2, and to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5 then we must recognize the purpose of government as God has ordained it, and allow the scriptures to guide our choices in the voting booth. Before continuing I want to make it clear that I am not going to say that one should or should not vote for a particular candidate, but rather offer a worldview I feel is Biblical and then allow for the choice to be made between yourself and the Lord. Christians should understand that the government is an institution that was ordained by God much like marriage, and the family. It has a particular purpose. This purpose is clearly laid out in Romans 13, and so we should understand that when we elect leaders in government, we are electing them to fulfill a purpose that God has ordained and one day God will judge. For example God will judge the current administration for what it has done well, and for what it has done poorly. Every congressmen, judge, president, and so on will be judged by God one day. This revelation has a couple of implications for believers. First, that the leaders in government effect the cultural at large. While it is wrong for people to put their full trust in men, men in power still have the position to effect culture, and this effect can be God honoring or not. Unjust men can punish those who have broken no civil law, or could not to serve justice to those who have broken the law. Unjust men in power can create laws punishing those seeking to the will of God. The idea that a corrupt individual will not abuse the power given them is absurd. This is why the character of any person seeking to hold any office in government is important, just as character is important for any man seeking to be a bishop or deacon, as is made clear in 1 Timothy. The second implication is that we may share responsibility by putting someone in position to sin. If you put an alcoholic in charge of inventorying all the drinks in a bar, while he is guilty should he steal some of the drinks and consume them, you are also responsible for putting them into that situation knowing of their weakness. The same can be said if one votes for someone they know has a worldview counter to that laid out in scripture. Worldview matters for it is one's worldview that guides their actions. If one has a worldview counter to the scriptures then one will live out that worldview in office, and by voting for that person you will be putting them in a position to be judged by God knowing that they will not do what is right in the eyes of the Lord sharing in the responsibility for their actions.
With all this in mind it is important for Christians to really look at each of the candidates as well as examine their own worldview, and the worldview of scripture. The first question should be does my worldview align with God's and the next question should be, does this candidate's worldview align with God's and mine? It is easy to simply like a candidate because he or she is popular, or you like one or two stances, but for the Christian, we are not afforded the easy way out. We must examine each person seeking leadership in this nation and with careful thought and reflection. Then vote for the candidate we feel will best bring honor to God. In this let us be diligent, let us be consistent, an let us be honest.