‘Any Real True Believer’ Will Support Trump in November, John MacArthur Says

Well, Trump labeled conservative non-Trumpers “human scum” a while back. Now I guess JMac is calling me an unbeliever.

Somehow, I’m not persuaded to revaluate my election ethics.

I watched the interview earlier this week. Very surprised at JMac. Not good.

Of course, this brings up the perennial question debated at SI for many, many months: If, because of personal beliefs, convictions, and principles (based on Biblical teaching of course) a Christian will not vote for Donald Trump and Mike Pence, then the options are not hard to see: Vote for Biden/Harris, Vote for a third-party candidate, or Not vote for anyone for President. So I would like to know: Those who will not vote for Trump/Pence, what are you going to do?

Between Biden and Trump, it’s a toss-up to me which is the lesser of two evils. I’ll either vote third party or not vote for president. I’m not really invested in the American political system anymore.

Ken: I can appreciate your position. I am not “invested” in American politics as a root solution to problems. The gospel of course is the answer. Nevertheless, no matter where we live, we live within political systems which have very real effects on our lives personally and the churches within which we serve the Lord. Voting is the cumulative and collective statement of choices and direction in a particular nation, state, or local area. If we do not vote, others will vote, perhaps choosing a direction which we will not like. Those who do not vote should think about whether they have a right to criticize what happens as a result of not voting and allowing into political office people who promote anti-Biblical values. If Christians wait for the candidate which fulfills all of their expectations, then Christians will never vote and will perhaps self-righteously feel good about themselves while the country they live in continues to deteriorate.

The idea that a Christian would vote for Biden/Harris is difficult to account for. The idea that a Christian would kill themselves is difficult to account for. But neither is, in my view, impossible for a true believer.

Our family has been reading through Chronicles for our devotions. The kings of Judah are constantly taken to task for thinking that they need the strength and numbers of outside alliances. I can’t see MacArthur’s heart, but I’m distressed whenever Christians hang too much support on any political figure.

Wally wrote, “So I would like to know: Those who will not vote for Trump/Pence, what are you going to do?”

Third party. I do believe I have a stewardship responsibility to vote. I part ways with other believers who think in terms of consequentialist ethics when it comes to voting (e.g., use your vote to obtain the best possible consequences, on the whole). I believe that candidates can disqualify themselves entirely on platform grounds and/or on character grounds. If I believe that the major candidates are disqualified, I have to find an alternative. I completely respect those who prefer to parse their vote in consequentialist terms, and frankly, I agree that the next four years would be better for Christians if Trump wins over Biden. But I’m not sure it’s my responsibility to get Trump into office. Feels too much like calling for the Egyptians to help fend off the Assyrians.

[WallyMorris]

Ken: I can appreciate your position. I am not “invested” in American politics as a root solution to problems. The gospel of course is the answer. Nevertheless, no matter where we live, we live within political systems which have very real effects on our lives personally and the churches within which we serve the Lord. Voting is the cumulative and collective statement of choices and direction in a particular nation, state, or local area. If we do not vote, others will vote, perhaps choosing a direction which we will not like. Those who do not vote should think about whether they have a right to criticize what happens as a result of not voting and allowing into political office people who promote anti-Biblical values. If Christians wait for the candidate which fulfills all of their expectations, then Christians will never vote and will perhaps self-righteously feel good about themselves while the country they live in continues to deteriorate.

Wally, I think I agree with almost everything you said. However, I don’t expect that every Christian needs to evaluate Trump in the same way. I’m fine with those Christians who vote for him if their conscience allows it (though I struggle with those Christians who think he is the best president ever). But not every Christian’s background is the same, and there are so many of those individual background factors that influence the opinions we hold, including our opinions on presidential candidates. My opinion of Trump was low before the first election and has gotten lower throughout his first term. I did vote for Trump grudgingly the first time, but will not the second time. I think there is also merit in not voting for a bad candidate and sending a message to the party: Give us a better candidate next time!

I like a lot of what Michael and Ken said. We may reach a point in American politics where neither major party candidate is clearly acceptable. I don’t think we are at that point yet with Trump/Pence. Note also that this week’s Republican Convention has been the most obviously pro-life Convention in a very long time, highlighting several pro-life speakers. There are other reasons to give the Republican ticket a closer look, but that is a big one. My conscience is completely clear about voting for Trump/Pence. If other Christians do not vote for them, that’s fine as long as they do not categorize those who do vote for Trump/Pence as morally and ethically challenged.

Pro-life must mean more than being against Roe v. Wade. If that law is overturned, abortions will still happen.

The Republican speakers said a lot more than just overturn Roe V Wade. Additionally, the difference between the 2 major American political parties concerning abortion is starkly and clearly different. I am not a one issue voter, but this issue is a big one. One political party officially believes murder of babies is acceptable, the other does not. Even if a Christian does not vote for Trump/Pence, perhaps voting for other Republicans and the few Democrats who are against abortion is worth considering.

[WallyMorris]

Those who will not vote for Trump/Pence, what are you going to do?

I will either vote 3rd Party or just not vote in the Presidential race. I have plenty of more palatable options down ticket. As for the stale argument that if I don’t vote for someone in a particular office race, I don’t have a voice to criticize or complain later. Nonsense. The 1st Amendment does not have an exception for refusing to vote for two fundamentally corrupt candidates. Political parties and candidates have a responsibility to earn my vote/support. Neither one running for President meets that mark, so I choose none of the above. It is futile for anyone to try and change my mind on this — many have tried.
FTR, Trump is NOT a conservative. He is a Populist who has embraced generally conservative positions in order to reach a political consensus of support that empowers him. There’s a big difference in a Principled Conservative and a Populist one. While I love and respect John MacArthur, I don’t seek nor desire his approval when I walk into the voting booth nor is he in any position to evaluate my spiritual condition when I do. He needs to stay in his lane.

I find Dr. MacArthur’s comments a bit distressing. He is effectively subordinating the Kingdom of God to the kingdoms on earth. Whether we vote for Trump or not, neither affirms or disaffirms our beliefs. We are first and foremost a member of the Kingdom of God, and not even the Gates of Hell can remove us from that fold. We are held accountable by our beliefs and actions. He goes down a very dangerous slippery slope here that I don’t believe is sustainable from within Scripture. Now if he said that we agreed with abortion or that we would vote for pro-abortion candidates that is one thing. But instead he equates that someone can only be considered saved if they voted for Trump. Trump mocks God, has a disdain for marriage, is fine having sexual relations outside of marriage, lies, puts down other people, is narcisstic…and the list goes on. He is not a God fearing honorable man, he is a man that focuses on telling his base what they want to hear, and a man that is more focused on himself than anything else. He, as president, has no control over abortion or the lifestyle of sinners. The United States is not a theocracy and we cannot legislate salvation. The United States does not have a covenant with God and has no future in the Kingdom of Heaven. We need to get off of this train of thought that is so pervasive within the evangelical world.

Telling me that if I don’t vote for Trump, I may not be saved is unscriptural at best and heretical at worse.

Read J.I. Packer’s thoughs about the Christian and elections. He presents a much more careful explanation than Pastor MacArthur’s. He explained, “We should be led in our voting by issues rather than personalities, and not by single issues viewed in isolation, but by our vision of total community welfare. This is one way, real if small, in which we may exert influence as the world’s salt and light (Matt. 5:13–16).”