Like many followers of Christ, I was shocked in 2016 to see the overwhelming support Donald Trump received from Christians and people who claim to be Christians. The fact that this group again voted for him in 2020 and 2024 makes it very clear that Christianity has been corrupted.
Trump did not corrupt Christianity on his own. False teachers have been putting their desire for political power above the truths of the gospel for decades. Fox News and other far-right media spread disinformation and the fear of others that is central to the MAGA movement.
Today, as I walk through what feels like the valley of the shadow of death, I grieve the damage done to Christianity. There are four primary reasons for my grief.
1. The Church’s witness to unbelievers has been severely damaged.
This one hits close to home. Although my husband is agnostic, he used to come to church with me on Christmas Eve and Easter. He was beginning to soften his heart towards Christianity. Then, in 2016, 80% of Christians voted for a man who was and is the antithesis of Christ. When I started going to my current church in 2020, I made the mistake of telling my husband that I saw someone in church wearing a MAGA hat. Now, he absolutely refuses to attend services there. (Since then, we have seen one of the church elders wearing a MAGA hat at a local sports lounge).
Even people who do not believe in God know that Trump’s heart is far from God. He does not bear any of the fruits of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. To be fair, he is kind to sycophants.
Christ’s followers are supposed to be a light in this dark world (Matthew 5:13-16). We’re supposed to be the salt of the earth. Sadly, today, we are not.
2. Christians have been deceived and led astray.
Jesus warned that even the elect (chosen) will be deceived (Mark 16:22 and Matthew 24:24). Jesus warned his followers to watch out for false prophets. “They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.”
Jesus also warned the disciples to “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:6).” Pharisees were legalists, believing that a person can be saved by following the law. Yet, not one of us can obey God’s law perfectly. Legalism is not compatible with the gospel of grace. Ironically, even though Trump is a man of lawlessness, he has won the support of legalists.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
In his first letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul appealed to them to be “perfectly united in mind and thought.” But today, there is a deep division in mind and thought within Christianity that can not be bridged. You are either with Christ or you are against him. And Donald Trump is against everything Christ teaches his followers.
3. Believers are leaving the Church.
Many churches have been so damaged by the politicization of Christianity that faithful believers leave. If you leave your church, you lose your sense of fellowship and community.
Even if your church has not been politicized, chances are, many of the congregants have been discipled by people outside the church who have a political agenda. There may be an unspoken assumption that all Christians support Trump’s agenda. When the people sitting in the pew next to you support Trump and his antichrist agenda, you must keep silent to maintain the peace.
For now, I’ve chosen to stay in church because my pastor preaches the truth of the gospel. He does not get into politics other than to acknowledge the divisions. He tries to shepherd us in the right direction, in the way of Christ.
Before the election, my pastor preached a sermon from the book of Daniel about the Israelites living in exile in Babylon. The sermon was specifically about Daniel’s friends ignoring the sounds of horns, harps, lyres, and other instruments that signaled that it was time to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image. They refused to bow down and were thrown into a fiery furnace. After hearing that sermon, I now think of myself as an exile from American Evangelicalism.
4. The morality of the country has been damaged.
Trump empowers Christian nationalists and white supremacists. Christian nationalism is a perversion of the Christian faith. White supremacy is a perversion of humanity.
Donald Trump reminds me of the man of lawlessness mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. He lies constantly. He is unrepentant. He spreads hate and gives people permission to be vile and mean. He thinks he is above the law, and his supporters agree.
The fruit of Trump’s wickedness includes the dehumanization of immigrants and stripping the LGBTQ+ community of civil rights. His rotten fruit includes defaming his many enemies and seeking revenge against them. His economic policies that put corporations above individuals and the wealthy above the lower classes stink to high heaven. His betrayal of our allies and disregard for the environment are rotten.
He is corrupt to the core and many “Christians” don’t care.
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I remind myself that the Lord is with me. Jesus warned us about dark times so we would be prepared. He has a job for me to do: speak out and stand firm in his truth until the end. Be strong and courageous.
Innermost Being 