Is Donald Trump part of God’s judgment on America?
There is an interesting phenomenon happening within the American political scene right now. It’s called Donald Trump. Understandably, Republicans are starting to panic as they face the growing possibility of Trump becoming the GOP nominee in 2016 for President of the United States.Typically, as candidates gain a groundswell of popular support and delegates during the primaries, the party leaders coalesce around the frontrunner. Not this year. Last week, 2012 GOP Nominee Mitt Romney publicly denounced Donald Trump as unfit to lead. In a highly publicized speech, Romney described a Trump as dishonest, phony, greedy, a bully, and as a candidate who would destroy the modern conservative movement in America. Those are strong words for any candidate, but they are unbelievable coming from a candidate’s own party leaders!The Republicans are not the only politicians concerned about a possible Trump nomination. The Democrats are sitting on the sideline nervously watching the Trump campaign gain momentum. Why should Democrats be concerned? Because exit polling in primary states where Trump has won shows he is attracting a broad cross section of the American voters…not just the typical Republican primary voter.Donald Trump is reaching an entire block of the American electorate that has been disenfranchised by both parties over the last 15 years. These voters consist of white, older, mostly blue-collar Americans who have voted both Republican and Democrat in past elections. They are middle-of-the-road voters who are neither liberal or conservative.In short, politicians and pundits from both sides are starting to cautiously acknowledge that Trump’s base represents voters from both parties who are not ideologically tethered to the policy platforms of either the Democratic agenda or the Republican agenda. And these voters are angry.For many months, political observers considered Donald Trump an interesting aberration within the political landscape, one that would go away as quickly as it arose. This is no longer the case.Concerned Americans are coming to grips with what could be the harbinger of a new political reality in America, and they do not like what they see.Donald Trump has instinctively reached into the heart of America and he is openly and loudly channelling the anger of many Americans. He is described as crude, racist, hate filled, impractical, obscene, a misogynist. He has pulled the curtain back on the ugly side of the American public and is giving voice to the previously hidden thoughts of the silent majority.Observers are pointing to an unavoidable and unfathomable conclusion–Donald Trump is a reflection of us.There is always a danger of drawing historical comparisons with Germany of the 1920s. What’s important to note is that Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party did not grow to become the dominant party in Germany in a vacuum. Germans were angry and felt betrayed by the political leaders of the 1920s. In his political genius, Hitler grasped the depth of anger within the German people and gave voice to it. In his speeches, he talked of a new Germany that was strong and vibrant. He pointed his finger at the cause of the shame Germans felt, and the cause was the Jews and the Communists. Adolf Hitler was elected through a democratic process.Donald Trump is not Adolf Hitler. Trump is not a fascist, even though some of his detractors would like us to think he is. (One could argue, however, that Trump is authoritarian.) The danger with Donald Trump is that his political power is based in anger and bitterness, and this is the historic seedbed of revolutionary movements that can gain a life of their own and lead to unintended consequences.
The Judgement of Abandonment
As Christians, this is a time to be diligently praying for our country and for God’s mercy on our country. I believe Romans 1 teaches what is called the Judgment of Abandonment. When a people or nation who know God and have witnessed His grace, mercy, and blessing abandon God in favor of their own evil desires and preferences, God turns His back (or abandons) that nation. When God abandons a nation, He simply allows it to go its natural way, no longer restraining the natural forces of evil that rule within the heart of man.This could be happening to America. We may look back on June 26, 2015 as the date when America once and for all abandoned God, and as a result He abandoned America. What happened on June 26, 2015? This was the Friday the U.S. Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage as legal, moral, and as the law of the land. That night, in celebration of the decision (and open rebellion towards God), the White House was displayed with Rainbow Colors, the recognized symbol of the homosexual movement. Coincidentally, that same month (June 16, 2015) Donald Trump announced his candidacy.Donald Trump may not be what America wants, but in God’s eyes, Donald Trump may be what America deserves.God help us.