Trump’s Effect on Evangelical Churches Lingers. Good or Bad?

Here's a headline from Christianity Today: A Year After the Election, Trump’s Effect on Evangelical Churches Lingers. The subtitle says: Political tensions in the pews have calmed, and another survey shows leaders’ Trump support yielded more positives than negatives for evangelicals. That's all well and good for the feelings of the individuals from a political point of view. However, is it good for spreading the Word of God? You know, for fulfilling things like the Great Commission?

Trump’s Effect on Evangelical Churches Lingers. Good or Bad? is article #1 in the series: Evangelical Churches and Trump. Click button to view titles for entire series

Here's another way to put that question, based on the image to the right (or below). It's a question for the Evangelicals who see more positive than negatives from this "Trump effect". When you look at that image, is your hope placed in Trump or in Jesus?

It's an important question, for a variety of reasons. One of them comes from what we know of Jesus' involvement with the Roman government. Or should I say, His lack of involvement?

Where was Jesus' hope? Where is our hope? And where should we, as Christians, encourage others to put their hope? Or, since this article is in a Category titled Is your allegiance to God or country? - where should our allegiance be? To God? Or to our country / someone leading this country?

Where should Christians place our allegiance? Trump? Or Jesus?

So, as we go through some of what's in the Christianity Today article, we'll consider things from the viewpoints just expressed, rather than from what makes some people feel "warm and fuzzy" in our earthly lives. After all, the stated purpose for our lives as Christians isn't to support the government. Nor is it to support any one person in the government. Or recently in the government.

Jesus Prays for All Believers

Jn 17:20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Jn 17:24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.