One More Reason to Vote for Trump

I’ve just returned from a trip to Asia which I’ll share about in future posts. But center stage this week is the Republican National Convention which demands some attention.

Why is choosing our government leaders so important? Because the Church and the State cast the greatest influence on culture and civilizations.

The Church is meant to be the salvific and prophetic voice in the world. When we lead people to Christ and teach people His ways, then nations experience the blessings of justice and freedom. When we “turn out the lights,” evil takes its place.

Governments are designed to protect God-given rights and punish evil. Good governments bring peace and stability to society. Bad governments make the people “mourn” (Proverbs 29:2).

This week I’ll share some thoughts on the Republican Convention and next week, the Democrats.

I now have one more reason to vote for Donald Trump.

I’ve made it clear in the past that of my list of potential presidents of the United States–three primary candidates in the Democrat Party and seventeen on the Republican side–Donald Trump was low. In fact of the seventeen original Republican aspirants, I would place Mr. Trump in the bottom third.

This is because I highly value biblical faith (Trump’s faith is, at the best, weak)–good character (he can be quite childish and bullying)–competence (he does have great business experience)–and good policies (the jury is out as Mr Trump was a lifetime moderate/liberal who’s now running as a conservative).

I look forward to his acceptance speech tonight and seeing if he follows through with his conservative plans to Make America Great Again (which can only be done through God’s truth and blessing). 

I’ve also said that there was one primary reason I will vote for Donald Trump: the future of the United States Supreme Court. If Hillary Clinton becomes our next president, then possibly one-to-four liberal justices will be appointed to the Court in the next few years which would curse this nation for a generation. Their decisions would lead to the persecution of Christians, overturning the 2nd Amendment (right to bear arms), and many pernicious policies which would hurt many Americans.

Though Mr. Trump is not my first choice for POTUS, he has made it clear that he would appoint strict constitutionalists to the Supreme Court and lower courts. Those choices would be a blessing to America for the next generation–possibly undoing the evil of abortion, and protecting many God-given rights of the populace.

The courts shouldn’t be this powerful, but they are. To vote for Hillary Clinton is to vote for SCOTUS tyranny and mischief.  To vote for Donald Trump will at least plug the hole in the dike for a period of time.

Of course, national renewal in Christ is our only real hope of lasting change–courts or no courts.

Before I share the other reason for voting for Donald Trump, let me first  make some other observations about the convention in Cleveland.

The Trump Kids

Though Donald Trump had two failed marriages, three wives, and numerous adulterous liaisons, it’s incredible how poised and articulate are his four older children–Don Jr., Eric, Ivanka, and Tiffany. All four of them spoke at the convention and pretty much brought down the house.

I don’t know of their personal faith though a couple of them used the phrase “God bless you” after their speeches (which their father rarely does). Don Jr. gave a powerful address, letting everyone know that he is be an up-and-coming star either in business or politics. Eric and Ivanka shined also. They all seem to cherish family, hard work, honest, integrity and many other great qualities.

Of course, they were born with a silver spoon into a multi-millionaire’s house who become a billionaire, but often pampered kids of the wealthy don’t turn out well. Instead, all three of them, from Trump’s first wife Ivana,  got good grades in school, worked extremely hard and serve in the family business.

As one speaker quipped last night, “You can’t fake good kids.”

Recent college graduate Tiffany, born to second wife, Marla Maples, also gave a warm speech that spoke of the good fatherly qualities of the Donald. In fact, all of them talked about his honesty, humor, warmth, candor, and the great relationships he shared with them and their friends.

That inside look at Donald Trump was very encouraging. Interestingly enough, a man weak at being faithful in marriage has done a pretty good job of fathering and keeping his family together. In fact, have you ever seen a more impressive spread of children, in-laws and grandchildren than those of Donald J. Trump?

Oh yes–I just remembered Mitt and Ann Romney. What a clan!–and missed opportunity.

Ted Cruz

I have followed the writings of the #NeverTrump folks for months and agree with many of their positions about the compromise the R’s have made by allowing Trump to become the nominee. I understand where the naysayers are coming from and I am sympathetic with some of their concerns. They are the “fightin’ fundies” of the Republican Party.

Many of them were rooting for Ted Cruz–even to prevail against all odds in Cleveland.

Ted Cruz was my first choice for president of the United States due to his faith, character, policy positions, youthfulness, and vast grassroots organization. In fact, I even attended a meeting in my home county to go door-to-door for him in our state. Unfortunately, a week later he was beaten by Mr. Trump in Indiana and the race was over.

I didn’t get to knock on any doors.

Last night, Ted Cruz disappointed by not being gracious to Donald Trump. He had been fairly beaten in the the primary process, and there were some deep personal wounds. But Trump had generously given him a prime time spot at the convention, and it should have been the moment for Cruz to leave behind the sour grapes and at least tepidly endorse the Republican nominee. There is a time for “team” and “loyalty.” If you can never cooperate when majorities go against you, then there’s too much self in your heart.

It pained me to see Ted Cruz booed off the stage last night. His message was enlightening and inspiring–a major speech on the power of freedom. But in the end, he failed to be Reagan-like by endorsing the victor (as Ronald Reagan had in 1976 when he lost to Gerald Ford).

Trump came across as the bigger man. He let Cruz speak without limitations. Ted Cruz did not return the favor by least telling the crowd that Trump was a better choice than Hillary Clinton. 

I believe that will hurt him in the future. I applaud his commitment to principles. But two of those principles are humility and teamwork.

Vice Presidential Nominee Mike Pence

Which brings me to the second big reason I will vote for Donald Trump:  Indiana Governor Mike Pence. He was the main speaker last evening, accepting his party’s nomination for vice president of the United States. He did not disappoint. If you didn’t see it, you can watch his speech here.

It is often said that the first big decision that defines a presidential nominee is the choice they make for a running mate. If they show bad judgment there, they will likely make the same mistake in office. If that’s true, then Donald Trump, in my book, hit a home run by choosing Mike Pence.

Here’s why.

I’ve known of Mike Pence for years. He served in Congress rather quietly for a decade before becoming the governor of Indiana. He was always known as a man of faith, good character, conservative principles, a gracious spirit, and a sound leader. He’s one of the best that we’ve had in Washington, D.C. during the past decade.

Then he became governor of Indiana and turned that state around. Indiana currently has the highest credit rating of all fifty states.

In his speech last night, Governor Pence said two things that resonated:

• “First I am a Christian, then a conservative, then a Republican.”  That shows proper priorities.
• “My parents taught me to build three important things: a family, a business and a good name.” His down-to-earth humility was so apparent in all that he said.

Mike Pence is the kind of person you want by Donald Trump’s side. In this era, VP’s have a lot of clout.

For Trump to pick him says something–regardless of the motivations. And if something should happen to Donald Trump, Governor Mike Pence of Indiana would make a humble, godly, intelligent, principled, gracious and courageous president of the United States.

That’s one more reason to vote for Trump.

And continue to pray for revival in America.