Dear fellow Christians who still support Donald Trump,
You have a love affair with fear. I don’t know any other way to say it.
You’re scared, and your fear has become stronger than your faith. I’m sure you’ll say your faith is strong, but your own words, actions and social media memes have outed you many times over.
You’re scared of Hillary Clinton, scared of liberal court justices, scared of immigrants, scared of Muslims, scared of (fill in the blank).
Whether you realize it or not, whether you admit it or not, all your rationalizing is rooted in fear.
Fear is the only explanation, the only excuse, for why 65 percent of white evangelicals are still on the Trump Train. After all we’ve seen and heard from Trump — the insults, the profanity, the bragging about sexual assault — fear is the only thing strong enough to keep you loyal to someone who has shown over and over again that he’s the antithesis of Christian values.
I just don’t understand why you’re so afraid.
No matter who wins the election, fear shouldn’t be a factor for Christians. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. I know you know this, which is why the situation is so perplexing.
I don’t understand how you hear the dozens of “fear not” verses in the Bible and think, Nope. Doesn’t apply here.
I don’t understand how you read “be anxious about nothing” and think, Nope. Gotta be anxious about the Supreme Court.
I don’t understand how you acknowledge “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” but say, Nope. Can’t handle a Hillary presidency.
I don’t understand how you see, hear and read all that Trump is and still think, He’ll fight for my interests.
Yes, fear has to be the reason. (Otherwise, to support Trump would have to mean you agree with his sexist, prejudiced, anger-based, un-Christlike worldview. If that’s the case, to be blunt, it’s hard to believe your faith is genuine.)
But your fear can’t be justified Scripturally, so help me understand your thinking.
Why do you think fear-based motivation is acceptable for Christians?
Why don’t you trust in the sovereignty of God?
Why do you trust Trump more than you trust God?
Why do you trust Trump at all?
Why do you believe Trump will be a friend to Christians?
Why does your love of country seem greater than your love of Jesus?
Why do you put your hope in the Supreme Court?
Why you need comfort to live out your faith?
Why do these kinds of questions always put you on the defensive?
Why?
For Christians, fear has been defeated. God won’t be taken aback by what happens Nov. 8. Nothing about God will change whether Trump or Clinton is elected. Nothing about us should change, either.
We live with hope, no matter what.
This is usually when the question comes up: So what are we supposed to do?
As I’ve written before, we vote based on our convictions, which should be based on the totality of Scripture. We remain faithful to what we believe — all of it — and let God handle the rest.
To paraphrase a recent sermon I heard: No matter the outcome of any situation, for believers, faithfulness is never failure.
Fear is a powerful thing, but faith overcomes fear.
Yes, we’ll have troubles in this world. Thankfully, Christ has overcome the world.
Rest in this peace — and fear not.
Follow Jason Foster on Twitter: @ByJasonFoster
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