Published November 26, 2024
A new game is unfolding on social media among the evangelical commentariat.
It goes something like this: If you, as an evangelical, did not vote for Donald Trump, your job is to gloatingly berate Trump-voting evangelicals for each of the president-elect’s Cabinet picks that run counter to the values of evangelicals, like one of his appointees who is pro-abortion or gay. “We told you so,” will come the voices. “He will embarrass you, and you will have nowhere else to turn because Donald Trump knows he has your vote. Cheap dates, you are.” This group is also prone to criticize D.C. social conservatives as a bunch of craven sellouts for not boldly opposing each appointee who violates evangelical convictions.
Group two is the evangelicals who feel it necessary to stay silent or exuberantly defend and justify each of the president-elect’s appointees. “Trump’s picks will not be perfect,” they will say, “but the alternative in a President Harris would be so much worse.” Group two will offer throat-clearing defenses to distract from the offensiveness of a flawed nominee by noting that while the nominee may be gay or pro-abortion, the area they will oversee has nothing to do with those issues.
May I humbly suggest that the latest imbroglio over evangelicals and Trump is going the wrong way? It’s going to be a long four years if this is how things are going to play out. May I also try to carve out a path forward that some may not have considered?
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EPPC Fellow Andrew T. Walker, Ph.D., researches and writes about the intersection of Christian ethics, public theology, and the moral principles that support civil society and sound government. A sought-after speaker and cultural commentator, Dr. Walker’s academic research interests and areas of expertise include natural law, human dignity, family stability, social conservatism, and church-state studies. The author or editor of more than ten books, he is passionate about helping Christians understand the moral demands of the gospel and their contributions to human flourishing and the common good. His most recent book, out in May 2021 from Brazos Press, is titled Liberty for All: Defending Everyone’s Religious Freedom in a Secular Age.
