THE SPIRITUAL DANGER OF Donald Trump

That’s the title of a new book which I have edited. The subtitle tells you what the chapter writers are trying to do: 30 EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS ON JUSTICE TRUTH AND MORAL INTEGRITY. It will be available in about two weeks --on June 1.

The authors are Republicans, Independents and Democrats. But they all try to do what I seek in my two chapters. We strive to evaluate Donald Trump’s policies, style and personal life on the basis of biblical norms.

The book asks hard questions. Do biblical standards on truth, justice, life, freedom, care for creation, and personal integrity warrant or challenge the widespread support that Trump enjoys in white evangelical circles? How does that white evangelical support affect the image of Christianity in the larger culture?

Mark Galli, the former editor-in -chief of CHRISTIANITY TODAY (the most influential evangelical magazine in the US) says in his chapter: “In his tweets and comments, Mr. Trump habitually ridicules, describing his opponents as “unhinged”, “crazy”, “lying”, “disgraced”, “losers”. When our nation’s leader speaks with disdain and contempt about those with whom he disagrees, he’s making America worse. “

Peter Wehner has held important political positions in three Republican administrations: those of Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.  In his chapter,  Wehner says: “Evangelical Christians should acknowledge the profound damage that’s being done to their movement by … their love affair with a president who is an ethical and moral wreck. “

In my chapter on Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, I quote the assessment of the politically conservative NATIONAL REVIEW: “So far in this crisis, Donald Trump himself has obviously failed to rise to the challenge of leadership, and it does no one any favors to pretend otherwise. “

For a number of years, Napp Nazworth was the political editor for the politically conservative publication, the CHRISTIAN POST. Nazworth’s title bluntly states: “Evangelicals lost their way and elected a race-baiter, a misogynist and fool. “

Prominent historian Randall Balmer insists in his chapter that “evangelicalism died on November 8, 2016. “

In his chapter titled “God Hates a Lying Tongue,“ Chris Thurman notes that “after just three years in office, Trump has made over 16,000 false or misleading statements. “ As of mid-May, it is now over 18,000!

Vicky Courtney is widely known in evangelical circles as a prominent writer and speaker especially for evangelical women’s conferences. In her chapter on “Trump’s  Low View of Women,” she quotes  a long list of his outrageous  statements and concludes: “After reading the sampling above of Trump’s own words, even  the most objective of people would have to admit to a disturbing trend of chronic objectification and sexualization of women  (and girls). It is a damaging witness to the name of Christianity to defend Trump’s anti-Christian words and actions. Remaining silent will only further damage the witness of the church. “

In the chapter on “Voices From the Global Evangelical Community, prominent evangelical missiologist Samuel Escobar says: “Trump is a pagan, and this is demonstrated by a behavior in which wealth, sex and power were the dominant values in his life.”

I would sum it up this way: Trump lies constantly. He has repeatedly demonstrated adulterous sexual behavior. He fails to make justice for the poor a major agenda in his decisions. He consciously stokes white racism. He failed to work promptly and courageously to stem the coronavirus pandemic. Rather than acting to prevent devastating climate change, he has made things much worse with numerous harmful decisions. He constantly attacks the press as “fake media,“ thus threatening democracy.

I believe the 2020 presidential election is the most important one in over 150 years. This book, I hope, will help you apply biblical principles in this crucial year.

There are several ways you can spread the word about the book. You can tell your friends about it – – especially white evangelical friends who are uncertain how to think about the issues in 2020. (Give them a copy and run.  No, seriously, give them a copy and ask if they would be open to  conversation after they read it.) You can give a copy to family members who disagree with your thinking. You can give a copy to your pastor who is probably struggling to figure out how to think and talk with his or her congregation about this amazing moment.

I have arranged a special discount for people who want to help the ideas of this book get wide circulation. Contact the publisher, Wipf and Stock (use wipfandstock.com)  and use the code: DANGER50. That will get you a 50% discount on the price! Order as many copies as you hope to distribute. (Disclosure: I am not and none of the contributors  are making any money on this book.  All my royalties are given to charity.)

I will tell you more about this book and the exciting efforts to get it widely discussed in coming blogs. If you would like to make a donation to help with that promotion, write the check to Evangelicals for Social Action (include a note: “for distribution of the Trump book”) and mail it to Evangelicals for Social Action, 1300 Eagle Road, Saint Davids, Pennsylvania, 19087.

Finally, pray passionately and persistently. Pray for both the Christians who support Donald Trump and those who do not. (Many times each week in my daily prayers, I pray by name for a number of the very prominent evangelical supporters of Donald Trump.)  Above all, pray that all of us open our hearts and minds to God’s direction in this momentous year. 

Pass this offer on to your friends. Also invite them to to join my blog at ronsiderblog.substack.com