Popular Christian Protestant evangelical theologian Wayne Grudem just endorsed voting for Donald Trump. Grudem is an important figure in the evangelical world, not least because he is the author of perhaps the most popular systematic theology published in the last twenty+ years. (Grudem’s Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine has over 660 reviews at Amazon.com averaging 4 1/2 stars. What is more, his book, published 21 years ago, is currently listed as a “bestseller.” A nobody like myself can only dream of such enduring publishing success.)
Despite his status as a conservative evangelical spokesperson, and “a professor who has taught Christian ethics for 39 years…” Grudem has squandered it all in his article “Why Voting for Donald Trump Is a Morally Good Choice” by endorsing a psychopathic demagogue/despot-in-the-making.
Why?
Grudem explains: “there is nothing morally wrong with voting for a flawed candidate if you think he will do more good for the nation than his opponent. In fact, it is the morally right thing to do.”
Oh really? Without belaboring the point, I’ll simply note that by this analysis a person who believed Adolf Hitler was the man for the job would be doing the right thing by voting for him. Objective moral facts be damned, subjective perception is apparently all that matters.
Grudem’s article is a luminously clear example of a conservative that sold his soul to the GOP. Trump’s psychopathic behavior, no matter how debased, can all be forgiven so long as we don’t elect Hillary Clinton, a candidate who would surely nominate a “liberal” justice to the Supreme Court.
Grudem then goes on to explain how important it is to avoid a “liberal” justice. For example, he has the gall to suggest that a vote for Trump would protect “religious freedom.” That, of course, is code for evangelical Christian religious freedom. Grudem clearly cares nothing for the religious freedom of Muslims or any other minority group outside his own tribe. Shame on you Wayne Grudem.
Grudem’s self-centered concern is even clearer on his next point, the desire to protect “Christian business owners.” Yes, let’s protect the business owners, so long as they’re Christian. Who gives a fig about Muslim, Sikh, or atheist business owners? It’s the Christians that we should care about.
Grudem then adds that Trump would also protect Christian schools and churches. Again, it’s clear the man cares nothing about non-Christians schools and non-Christian places of worship.
Grudem prattles on, listing several other points he believes Trump can secure, all while neglecting to note that Trump is a debased, narcissistic brute who is probably a clinical psychopath.
Along the way, it is extraordinarily revealing to note that Grudem never once considers a single modicum of goodness which may come from a Hillary Clinton presidency. This is an example of a man who has sold his soul to a political party such that he is simply unable of thinking beyond the confines of his own idolatry.
If you want an example of why people walk away in disgust from the evangelical church, you need look no farther than this farcical defense of a demagogue simply because he promises to grant some special favors to your community. Here you have a theologian who, after teaching “Christian ethics for 39 years,” can only provide a defense of a demagogue that would work equally well in Germany circa 1932.
