How Can A Christian Vote For Donald Trump?

How can a Christian vote for Donald Trump? This is a legitimate question. I do not know anyone who believes President Trump to be the model of moral living. I do not know anyone who believes him to be a great example of what it means to be a Christian. So, how can a Bible believing Christian endorse such a man? It is not my intent to be sarcastic or flippant with any comment in this text. It is also not my intent to endorse Donald Trump for the 2020 election with this article. I am striving to give a legitimate and Biblical answer to this question. I also am not setting out to attack anyone or group, but rather to put forth facts that are generally supported by groups. If you read into this anything else, that is your perception and not my intention. With that disclaimer, if you choose to continue reading, let us consider this question.

Let me begin by saying that in 2016, I was not a Trump supporter. I preferred Ben Carson. Even at election time, I did not care for Trump. After he won the election, I wrote a Facebook post addressed to him that said I did not vote for him, but rather I voted against Hilary Clinton. It took time for me to come to my current position of supporting him in the 2020 election. Yes, I am voting for him in this election, but that does not mean that I will not be objective in my consideration of the aforementioned question.

From the beginning, I drew a parallel between President Trump and Nebuchadnezzar from the Book of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar was the Emperor of the Chaldean Empire. He reigned from 605 BC to 562 BC. The capital of the Chaldean Empire was the city of Babylon and most of the time the empire is called the Babylonian Empire. Nebuchadnezzar was NOT a Godly king. He was immoral, ruthless, and extremely proud. He was also highly intelligent, a real-estate developer, and a great leader. He built the city of Babylon to be one of the most fortified cities in history (because of its walls) and built the hanging gardens, which were one of the 7 wonders of the Ancient World.

In chapter 1 of Daniel, we read that Nebuchadnezzar gave the captives food to eat and wine to drink. It was the best of Babylon. However, much of what the captives were offered was against the Jewish law to be consumed. Their laws were not his concern. Also, we read that the eunuch who was taking care of the captives was afraid for his life if Daniel and the other Hebrews did not eat the king's food. This reveals how ruthless Nebuchadnezzar was.

In chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream and it troubles him. However, he forgets the dream when he wakes up but is still greatly troubled by it. He calls his wise men and tells them to not only interpret the dream, but to also tell him what his dream was. Nebuchadnezzar knew that he was surrounded by "Fake News" and did not want his wise men to tell him what he wanted to hear.

Further demonstrating his pride, in chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar had a statue of his own design built. Once completed, he had music played at certain times and when the music was heard by the people they were to bow down and worship the statue. If the people refused, they were to be burned in a furnace with fire. Some did refuse and Nebuchadnezzar was irate that anyone would disobey him, let alone to his face, as we read in the chapter.

In chapter 4, we again see the arrogance of Nebuchadnezzar on display. Though warned in a dream about his pride, Nebuchadnezzar did not humble himself. After his warning, Nebuchadnezzar was walking in his palace and said, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30) Three times in one sentence he referenced himself.

We also read in II Kings, II Chronicles, and many of the books of the prophets, that Nebuchadnezzar was a great military leader. He seldom lost a battle, except when God was protecting Judah. He was a great leader because he put great men in charge of his army. Yes, he knew how to lead the army, but when he became Emperor he surrounded himself with great leaders as well. This further led to his success.

If you at all follow politics and the news surrounding President Trump, you can draw parallels from my description of Nebuchadnezzar. I'm not going to innumerate them in this text. You may also make some connections that I have not made. There may be some we agree on and some we do not. Regardless, there are plenty to see. So, that brings us back to our question, "How can a Christian vote for Donald Trump?" If he is comparable to a man like Nebuchadnezzar, how can anyone support that? Well, the answer to that is found in the book of Daniel as well.

The first lesson we learn is that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were obedient to God over their obedience to the King. They did not compromise God's standard for what the King decreed. In chapter one, this pertained to food. If something is contrary to the Word of God, our allegiance is to God first. When they resolved to be obedient to God, the decrees were changed to allow them to freely worship and obey. The king did not become a believer (at this time) but he saw that Godly people benefited him and he permitted their religion. They did not compromise their faith!

The second lesson we learn is that Daniel displayed wisdom. He not only acted with wisdom, but he spoke wisdom as well. In the face of execution and confronted with an impossible task, Daniel portrayed Godly wisdom. He did not shy away from sharing that wisdom with the most powerful man in the world. Daniel knew that he answered to a higher authority than Nebuchadnezzar. As such, he spoke with the God given authority he had been received on issues. This was done humbly but faithfully. Daniel displayed his God given wisdom.

The third lesson we can see is from Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, or better known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Again, in chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar built a statue to be worshiped. These three men refused to bow to an idol, even under penalty of death. When Nebuchadnezzar questioned them, they responded:

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we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Daniel 3:16-18

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They did not compromise their faith and they stood firm even unto death. If you know this story, you know that God did deliver them and the fire did not kill them. However, the point is that they were obedient to God regardless of consequences. As Christians, ungodly leaders will make decisions that we simply cannot obey. During those times, we must be like Shadrach, Meshachm and Abednego. We must obey God, even if it means incarceration or execution.

Another lesson we see is that Daniel both loved and prayed for Nebuchadnezzar. This man was evil but Daniel cared about him. In chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar had another dream that Daniel was asked to interpret. We read this about Daniel, "Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him" (Daniel 4:19). If you read the book of Daniel, you know that Daniel only worshiped God. However, this did not stop him from loving and praying for his ruler. When he had bad news for Nebuchadnezzar, he was "astonied" which means to be troubled or appalled. This was not a message he wanted to deliver. Yet, he faithfully did.

Not only was Daniel troubled by the message he had to deliver, but he called Nebuchadnezzar to repent of his sins. We read, "Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity" (Daniel 4:27). Daniel did not pray for Nebuchadnezzar to be removed or assassinated. He called Nebuchadnezzar to repent of his sins and to turn from his wicked ways. He was concerned about the king's spiritual condition before God. Christians should pray for the salvation of our leaders as well!

Daniel and his friends supported a wicked man who was a great leader. They did not support bad ideas or platforms. A bad man can be redeemed, a bad idea cannot. You can change to a different idea, but you cannot redeem what God calls sin. You must repent or turn away from it.

This support of Nebuchadnezzar is contrasted by Daniel's lack of support of Nebuchadnezzar's grandson Belshazzar. Belshazzar was also unGodly and a foolish leader. He did not make wise decisions that benefited the kingdom and its citizens. So, when God pronounced judgment on Belshazzar, he shrugged it off. He went back to his wicked lifestyle and his life ended that night when the Medo-Persian Empire conquered Babylon. Daniel took a very different approach in how he spoke to Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4 and Belshazzar in chapter 5. This reveals that he did not support the king or even care for him. Where he took care in explaining Nebuchadnezzar's dream and revealed that he loved him as his king, he took no such care in telling Belshazzar about the meaning of the handwriting on the wall. Belshazzar was a fool and his choice brought destruction to the nation. There is a difference in supporting a man who is a sinner and supporting a platform that advocates for the murder of innocent babies. There is a difference in supporting a man who has made, and will continue to make mistakes, and endorsing those who support groups who engage in anarchy, destruction, and chaos. There is a difference in supporting a man who has violated God's law and supporting the violation of God's law. If we never support sinners, who will we support?

Hitler had not committed mass murder before he came into power. Some believed him to be a good man. Yet, he had bad ideas that people recognized would lead to greater problems. Some chose to speak out against them, but others went with the flow. They did not speak out against bad ideas and take a stand. Because of that, we had World War II and the Holocaust. I will say it again, a bad idea cannot be redeemed, only repented of.

I am not saying anyone that is not a Republican is like Hitler. However, there are some very bad and sinful things that "good people" support under the other platform. Things that are fought for viciously. Those Germans that did not support the killing of Jews, but remained loyal to the party that was killing the Jews, supported the killing of Jews. You may not agree with abortion, but if you support the party that is fighting to not only kill babies, but trying to expand the killing of babies, you support abortion. It is that simple. For the record, America has killed more innocent babies than Jews killed by the NAZIS.

Christians can support someone like Donald Trump because of his record. He is by far the most pro-life President ever. He has done more to fight for religious freedom than any President in my lifetime (maybe even ever). He has done more to fight human trafficking than any other President. He has done more for prison reform than most other Presidents. It is obvious that he knows how to build an economy. He is not perfect by any means. However, he does a good job at building the U.S.

I know some are disagreeing. CNN and MSNBC do not tell the good things that he does. They spew hate and have convinced people that there is nothing good about him. He could cure cancer and AIDS and they would find fault with it. Unfortunately, many believe what they are told by the evil media. It really is a shame. So, how can Christians vote for Donald Trump? They can vote for him because he is a good leader who has America's best interest at heart. You may not agree with how he goes about it. We can vote for him because he supports Godly values. We can voice wise Biblical wisdom on issues. We can stand against bad ideas. We can love him and pray for him. We do not worship him, or any other "god". We do not compromise our faith. We do not support bad ideas. Above all, we pray for him and our other leaders.

One final point, God told the Jewish captives to work and pray for the prosperity of Babylon.

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Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;

5  Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

6  Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

7  And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

Jeremiah 29:4-7

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By supporting and praying for Babylon, they were making their captivity and existence in this foreign land more bearable. As Christians, we know that this world is not our home. Our citizenship is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20). However, we pray for and advocate for Godly leaders because this makes our lives more peaceful. Paul told Timothy, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (I Timothy 2:1-2).

Whether you agree or disagree, you should pray for our leaders. This includes those we do not like. Actually, we should pray all the harder for the ones we do not like. We are not called to participate in insurrection! We are not called to talk bad about (backbite) them or slander them. We are told that these are sins. We may condemn actions and policies, but to hate a leader is sinful. That is one of the most disturbing things I see in our nation today.

I did not like the Presidency of Obama. I did not agree with him on policy and there were MANY unGodly and unbiblical positions that he took. However, I did not hate him. I did not wish that he was dead. I honestly did not pray for him enough. I still do not wish ill on him. I wish he would become a Bible believing Christian. There is no evidence that he knows Jesus as his Savior. I pray that he comes to know Christ before it is too late. That is the same position we should have for Donald Trump. After all, it is the view God has of him (John 3:16, II Peter 3:9).

I'm not trying to tell anyone who to vote for. However, the Bible should guide you. You should pray about who to vote for. If the media is influencing you to hate this President, or any other President, you should turn off the media. Seek God and He will guide you. However, be prepared, He just might lead us to vote against our conscience. We can influence our conscience for Godliness or evil. As Solomon wrote, we need to "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).