The Conservative Party and the election, or does God want Christians to get ahead, make more money and neglect the poor?

Imagine your minister got up into the pulpit one Sunday and said the topic of the sermon was how you can get ahead in life and make more money.   

And to help you get more money, the minister said you should stop donating so much to international relief and development organizations so you could keep more money your own use.

You know, for things like going to Timmies or Starbucks more often, to treat yourself to more meals out at restaurants, or for other personal indulgences.

If you heard your minister say something like that, what would you think?

First, you might check to make sure you hadn’t wandered into the wrong church, one that preaches the prosperity gospel.

Second, you might ask yourself: “Get ahead of who? The person beside me in the pew? My neighbour? And whatever happened to the Bible’s command to put others first?”

Third, you would check the Bible to see if the verses about the dangers of money, helping the poor and sacrificial love had been removed while you weren’t looking. 

Did the parable of the Good Samaritan get cut out, or was it changed to the “Man who looked after his own first and got rewarded for it"?

If none of that happened—you were in the right church, and the Bible hadn’t been changed—the next thing to happen might be a call to vote about the future of the pastor.

After all, how could someone so obviously out of touch with the Bible, and the basis tenents of Christian faith, be allowed to keep his or her job? 

What’s true for Christian ministers is also true for the Conservative Party and for leader Andrew Scheer in this election. 

The platform this time around has been framed as “it’s time for you to get ahead.”

Scheer speaks in ads and speeches about his goal to put “more money in your pocket.”

One way he has proposed to do that is by cutting foreign aid by 25%.

He would take the money diverted from programs that help the needy to provide tax cuts and tax credits for Canadians—people who live in one of the wealthiest countries on the planet.

This platform should be troubling for anyone who believes the Bible teaches Christians to put others first, help the needy, and to store up riches in heaven (not on earth).

Yes, but some will argue: What about abortion? All the other parties are pro-choice. What's a certain kind of Christian to do?

It's true. But the problem with this argument is it overlooks the fact the Conservatives have promised they won’t reopen that debate, either—something Scheer has made clear multiple times when asked.

And as John Stackhouse, a professor at Crandall University in Moncton has noted in a post titled "Should we vote pro-life in this election," being anti-abortion is a weak way to decide who to vote for.

“I see no reason to believe that a vote determined by anti-abortion hopes is anything other than wasted,” he said.

“Yes, electing a few more prolife candidates will make a little more noise, but without political will, there’s no way they’ll make a difference. And without a political sea change there won’t be that will.”

Of course, being pro-life in all areas is important. But that includes seeking the welfare of others, inside and outside the womb, and inside and outside of Canada. 

I'm not suggesting the Conservatives worse for Christians than other parties. They all have flaws, failures, and skeletons in their closets. Each party presents problems for Christians when it comes to voting, one way or the other.

All I'm saying is this time around, conservative Christians—who, as research shows, tend to vote Conservative—have a new challenge this election when it comes to casting a ballot. 

What do they do with a party that challenges the very bedrock of their Christian faith? 

One that says the opposite of what the Bible says about Christians needing to put others first, about not making money the goal of life, and not neglecting the needs of the poor? 

It's going to be an interesting election for some people. 

Trump and God, or Why do so many American Christians Support this President?

Why do so many American Christians—especially evangelicals—support President Trump? That’s a question that has puzzled me for some time.

One common answer is hatred of Hillary Clinton. Some evangelicals say they didn’t vote for Trump; they voted against Clinton. However, this doesn’t explain the high level of support he continues to receive (about 70%) now that the election is over.

Another answer is abortion, and a chance for a Republican president to swing the Supreme Court to the right—and perhaps overturn Roe vs. Wade. There is truth in that.

Other suggestions include the belief that God ordained for Trump to win. In this view, he’s a modern King Cyrus, a non-believing and deeply-flawed king who, according to the book of Isaiah, was used by God for his purposes.

Then there’s the fact that Trump promised to stand up for them—no small thing for a group of people (evangelicals) who feel they are a persecuted minority in the U.S. today.

There is a ring of truth to all these things. But I’d like to suggest another: For many of these more right-wing Christians, Trump is like the God they believe in.

For fundamentalist Christians in particular, and for some evangelicals, God is not some wishy-washy progressive liberal who changes his mind, accepts and loves everyone—even if they are gay—and unequivocally extends the hand of peace and forgiveness to any and all. (Like Obama.)

Instead, for many of them God is a fierce warrior king who fights. He has power, and he isn’t afraid to use it.

He’s a God of right and wrong, black and white, with me or against me—no middle ground. There is only one right way, and everyone needs to follow it.

He’s a God of rules. There are commandments and laws that must be followed. Unless he breaks his own rules; he can do that. After all, he’s God.

He’s a God who can’t be contained or restrained. Human reasoning, ideas and rules don’t apply to him. He will do what he wants, when he wants, and how he wants.

He’s a God who judges. Yes, he extends mercy—but only to those who accept him and his ways. Those who don’t are cast away.

He’s a God who punishes and isn’t afraid to do it. He doesn’t want to, but what choice does he have if people won’t accept his truth and ways?

He’s a God of absolutes. There is no equivocation in him. 

He’s a God who brooks no dissent or doubts. Dissenters and doubters are not allowed. Only true believers will gain the inner sanctum and blessing.

He’s a God with a temper; don’t anger him!

He’s a God who chooses and takes sides. He isn’t afraid to make enemies. He knows he is right.

He’s a God who demands obedience and true faith. No doubts allowed!

He’s a God who is mysterious and unfathomable. The things he says and does can seem incongruous and inconsistent, but that’s just because as mere mortals we can’t understand or comprehend his ways. He has a plan; we just don’t see it. We need to trust in his divine providence. He knows what he is doing, and ultimately it is for our best. (Even if it sometimes seems crazy.)

He’s a God like Trump, in other words. Or, better put, Trump is a president like this kind of God. Don’t believe me? Put the word “president” in the lines above where it says “God” and see what it looks like. 

Scary, isn’t it?

Of course, this is a bit of a stretch. And if you posed this to Christian Trump supporters, they would discount it. But there seems to be a kernel of truth in it. Or, at least, a sense of theological familiarity and resonance.

(By-the-way, this was the kind of God I grew up with. I'm just sharing the way God was presented to me.)