An Appeal to Evangelical Leaders – Come Back from the Precipice!

As the election draws closer and the Trump campaign continues to fire bullets into its own feet, “the Donald” has turned to his only possible “salvation” – evangelical voters.

His pandering continues unabated and with the “coaching” of “Christian jargon” by Mike Huckabee and others, he is desperately attempting to speak to Christians as “one of us.”

But, his actions and rhetoric in all other areas of the campaign still don’t show any kind of consistent message that Christians can have any confidence in believing (or really any consistent message at all).

The latest “pivot” by Trump is the now going back on his word about being tough on illegal aliens – his signature hard-line position that garnered him much of his Primary support.

Apparently Mr. Trump believes his followers (cult member-like as they are) will ignore his latest flip flop and blame it on the dastardly media or the “treacherous” Ted Cruz.

Yet, Trump has reversed himself on what was his signature issue – remember how he was going to kick out all the illegals, build a wall at the border, and then have Mexico pay for it??

NOPE!  “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain” because that is not the Donald Trump of the last five minutes any more.

Once again, this goes to Trump’s untrustworthiness and willingness to sell what ever values he has to to be a “winner.” 

Lagging badly in the polls; especially the swing states, Trump is now desperately attempting to expand his base beyond angry, white seniors and “Faux” News commentators.  He’s seeking to reach out to minorities; especially Hispanics – hence the “pivot” (read – “flip flop”).

That turn around should give all evangelical Christians who have supported Trump reason to pause before it is too late.

If Trump is willing to “sell” his signature issue, how can we trust him to keep his word on anything at all?

One of the main arguments for supporting the admittedly flawed candidate – Trump – has been his promise to appoint conservative judges to the Supreme Court.

After the radical Obergefell decision last year, Christians are rightly scared that what’s left of our 1^st Amendment rights will go away should more liberal justices be appointed.

Trump is supposed to be our last “firewall” to stop the court from going “full oligarchy” with the Constitution.

But, can we trust him to keep his word?

Apparently not - a small story that’s gotten swallowed up amidst Trump’s flip flop on immigration is out of Florida.

It seems Trump's support of judges is “for sale” as well.

Newsmax reports: 

“Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has bragged about his influence with politicians, urged Gov. Rick Scott to give a judgeship to a Florida attorney whose work appears at odds with Trump's hard-line stance on immigration, newly released emails show.”

“‘Dear Rick: A friend of mine recommended this gentleman for a judgeship in Broward County. From what I understand, he is very well-respected in the legal community. Thank you. Sincerely, Donald,’ read the May 10 email, to which a two-page biography of Izquierdo was attached.

Thirteen days after Trump's recommendation, Scott appointed the attorney as a Broward County circuit judge.”

So, why would Trump recommend a judge who was at odds with his strongest position – immigration?  Of course, there is more to the story.

Newsmax continues:

“Trump has no apparent direct connection to Izquierdo and why he decided to back him isn't clear. The Trump campaign has not responded to questions from The Associated Press.

But Izquierdo worked with Fort Lauderdale attorney Bradford Cohen for several years. Cohen once appeared on Trump's reality show ‘The Apprentice’ and represented former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski during his arrest on battery charges for grabbing a female reporter last spring. A Palm Beach County prosecutor dropped the charges in early April.

Cohen, who said he talks to Trump and members of his organization regularly, said he couldn't remember if he asked Trump directly to help his former law partner become a judge. But he said that it ‘could very likely be me.’"

So there we have it – a Quid Pro Quo – Trump returned a favor for one that helped him out.  It didn’t matter if the lawyer in question held opposing views to his; “making the deal” was of paramount importance.

Trump desperately needed Lewandowski’s ruffianism to go away at that point in the campaign.  It played right into the notion that Trump degrades women.

After hiring a high-priced legal team to get his friend off the hook, Trump owed them a favor – which he returned.  His principles were “negotiable” at that point.

If this doesn’t scare the bejeepers out of those who have supported Trump on the hope he will appoint only conservative judges to the Supreme Court if elected President, then they have already jumped “off the precipice” and there is no help for them.

Since this was the only saving virtue Christians have touted for supporting Trump, there is now no reason left to believe he will care one wit about the Christian Church in America after the election, in the unlikelihood should he win.

Actually, all evangelical leaders who have endorsed, supported, and/or publically promised to vote for Trump are risking far more than they potentially stood to gain. 

They have become the orchestra on the deck of the Titanic – playing “Nearer My God to Thee” – as the ship is sinking.

But, there is still time to save integrity and credibility.  Anyone who has publicly supported Trump must do some serious soul searching at this point.

If repentance is necessary, then that must happen as well.

And, admitting one is wrong is never easy, but is cleansing for the soul.  Arrogant recriminations and projecting excuses onto others keep sin in control.

Confession and restoration “clear the books” and puts one on the right path once again.

For those who will cling to their arrogance and ignorance about who Trump really is; they will become caricatures of the left – “ignorant, gullible, ‘Christian’ hypocrites.”

Their ministries and organizations will suffer.  Their personal standing within the mature, thinking Church will be diminished.

They may continue to exist in the world of glitzy “televangelists” who constantly appeal for money and promise absurd miracles.   But, they will be hollow inside – their souls eaten away by their pride.

Trump was a slick salesman, that’s for sure.  Far too many Americans were taken in by his bluster and phony self-confidence.

The Church of Jesus Christ deserves better.

But, as God once told Elijah,

“Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him." (1 Kings 19:18 NASB).

So too, God has reserved many fine Christian leaders in America who have not been mesmerized by the gleam from Trump Tower.

These are men and women of conviction and integrity – conviction and integrity which go far beyond any one election.

Yes, we still face the very real danger of a radical President (read – Czarina) Clinton.  But, the time for that choice was lost after the disaster of the Republican Primaries.

Now, it’s “hold on” for four years and hope we have learned our lessons.

America is not done if the leaders of Christ’s Church will humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways (as 2 Chronicles 7:14 admonishes); then the listing American ship of state can be righted once again.

But, if the gaggle of Trump sycophants in the Church is insistent upon going over the cliff with Trump, then the nation is sure to follow.