Dear American Evangelicals,
We are following the run up to
your presidential election with concern and, at times, amazement. As
Donald Trump has gone on his way, turning being a rank outsider into
political currency, we have been stunned by the numbers of evangelicals
who are openly and even enthusiastically supporting him. I include dear
personal friends in this. As matters seem to have come to a head (or yet
another head?!) I thought I would put in my two pennyworth. You ought
to know that our pennies are not worth very much at the moment...
It was not surprising to read a very swift piece from Rachel Held Evans
regarding the latest Trumperies. Her reaction was strong, articulate,
and very predictable, given her stable. I find it more interesting when
conservatives speak out. This piece from Louis Kinsey,
Church of Scotland Minister, a strong evangelical voice, is just one
insight into how the rest of the Christian world views the tendency for
evangelicals in the USA to support Mr Trump. I find it particularly
powerful precisely because I have found myself on the opposite side to
Louis in some of our recent important domestic political questions!
(Please note, therefore, that I am not presuming or de facto coopting
his agreement to what follows...)
Most of us, long before this
latest revelation - which - let's face it - comes as no surprise at all,
does it? be honest now! - were already utterly appalled by the man, for
his attitude to women and his attitude to... people. Just the way he
speaks about his damned wall ought to be enough in and of itself.
We have no right to speak, of course. Let alone vote, or try to
interfere. But, as you guys are quite fond of saying, the USA is the
most powerful country in the world; that is true, and the whole world
will have to live with the consequences of your vote. Some of you even
regard the USA's place in the world as God-given - which at one level,
it is. But once you start to use the langauge of "God's man for the job"
and the like, you elevate the question beyond the bounds of normal
democracy. Once you use that kind of language, you make the question
global and ecclesiastical - anyone who truly knows God and loves his
word is just as entitled to an opinion about what He is doing in the
world today as the United Statesian voters who will decide your
election.
We may be able to understand some of your antipathy to
Clinton. We are not blind to the issues that trouble you about the
Democratic party, or your "Washington elite". We have similar feelings
of deep division and discontent here. But when some of you move from (at
most) grudging support for the "least worst" candidate in Trump, to
embracing him enthusiastically as God's choice, the right man for the
hour etc, we are absolutely gobsmacked. We are really left wondering if
we are on the same page spiritually at all. I guess we all have
blindspots, and the cultural gulf between British and American
conservative evangelicals has been a mighty chasm for years, but this
time the sense of unity and fellowship is getting very strained indeed.
We love you and are grateful for you. Personally, when I think of US
evangelicals I think first of world evangelisation: if the 19th century
was the great age of British missions, the 20th was the time of the
American missionary, and your commitment, giving, vision and zeal have
been amazing. I know many of you through friendships forged in Brazil.
But at so many other levels we share so much; preaching and publishing,
thinking and interacting - we owe you a great deal. We are family.
And as family, as brothers and sisters, we ask you: please think very
hard before you vote for this man. You are concerned about the future of
your country, and rightly so. Our nations would appear to be under the
judgement of God, and for so many reasons. Our concern is that a
President Trump would only add fuel to that particular fire - that he is
cause for judgement, not a Saviour from it. Or even that he IS an
aspect of the judgement.
We know you have a most unenviable
choice of candidates, we know it isn't easy. It is just that many, many
of us on the outside think that seeing Mrs Clinton as "least worst" is
not rocket science. It is unfortunate that the choice appears to be
binary - either Hillary or Donald, either unborn babies or Mexicans. But
as someone has put it, if Trump hates so many who are alive, why would
anyone think he really loves those who are unborn? He is appealing to
the politics of hate, and that cannot have good fruit.
As you
approach the election, please be assured of our prayers and love. I hope
we can at least hold the family together, even when the world is going
to hell in a handcart.
Our Father will, anyway! He knows those who are his. There I can rest!
God bless,
Andrew
