Posted Jul 28, 2020 by Michael L. Brown

As a Trump supporter, I’ve said repeatedly that four more years of Donald Trump will not solve America’s problems. Not even close. At the same time, according to a leader of the underground church of China who is now in America, Trump is the only thing holding back America from a fall into socialism. (This was shared with me privately this week.) What, then, are we to make of this?

To me, it’s a simple equation. The government has one role and the gospel has another role. And while those roles intersect, they are in many ways distinct.

The government can enact and enforce laws, but it cannot change people’s hearts.

As for the president, he can nominate judges who will uphold the Constitution. But, as John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

And that’s where the Church comes in. That’s where the gospel comes in. As we preach and live the gospel, we help create that “moral and religious people” of whom Adams spoke. And that people, in turn, will look to the government to uphold the values of the Constitution.

That’s the way our system works.

In my new book Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test?, I explain that the bottom line for me is simple.

I have the privilege of casting a vote for a presidential candidate every four years, so I evaluate who will best represent the issues that are important to me. And so, even when I consider Trump’s many obvious flaws, I would still rather see Trump in the White House than Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden or Mario Cuomo or any of the other major Democratic candidates.

It’s really not that complicated. And it’s only a vote. That’s it.

I am not selling my soul. I am not making a deal with the devil (or any other spiritual entity). I am not pledging my life to a party. I am not putting all my eggs in a political basket. I’m simply casting a vote.

If the person I vote for loses, so be it. Life goes on. Ministry goes on. Loving God and loving my neighbor goes on.

I will continue to pray and study the Scriptures. I will continue to care for my wife and family. I will continue to write books and articles. I will continue to travel and preach and teach and do radio broadcasts and debates and take a stand for what I believe is right. I will continue to speak up and speak out – at least, as long I have the freedom to do so.

But I am not looking to the president to save the soul of America. Or to transform the heart of America. I’m looking to the president to stand up for the life of the unborn. To stand for religious freedom. To stand against social anarchy. To stand against world tyranny and terrorism. To stand for peace in the Middle East.  (Just to mention a few of the items most important to me.)

Of course, I would love it if the president were also a moral icon. It would be terrific if he was a powerful unifier. I would be thrilled if he didn’t give his opponents so much fodder for their hatred. And it would be wonderful if he lifted up the national dialogue rather than helped drag it down.

But, given the choices that lie before us, I would much prefer a Trump presidency to a Biden presidency.

At the same time, while Trump functions as a wedge in the door to stop the encroaching flood of chaos, the Church must get busier than ever preaching and living the gospel, thereby changing hearts and attitudes of the masses. Otherwise, we are just forestalling the inevitable collapse of our nation.

That means that, should Trump be reelected, we cannot take our foot off the gas pedal. To the contrary, we need to put the pedal to the metal and accelerate our gospel efforts.

That means more prayer and fasting and spiritual desperation. That means more sharing of our faith and living our faith. That means more efforts to present our pro-family pro-morality case to the nation. That means working even harder while it is yet day before the night overtakes us.

And while we do our part, we encourage the president and our elected officials to do their part.

That means advocating for the best interests of our citizens. And enacting programs that will truly help those in greatest need. And standing for justice and equity. And populating the courts with worthy justices. And working with our allies to oppose injustice and tyranny worldwide.

But, to say it again, we cannot look to the president or the government to do what only the Church can do, as God’s people rise up in the fullness of the Spirit and without fear, proclaiming the truth without compromise.

And when a critic asks us, “How can you, a professing Christian, vote for a man like Trump?”

Our answer is simple (as I’ve said ad infinitum for years now): “Jesus is our Savior, and He gets our heart and soul and life. Trump is our president, and he gets our vote. And when we contrast where Trump or Joe Biden will take us when it comes to abortion and socialism and relations with China and religious freedoms and radical LGBTQ activism and Israel and more, Trump gets ourmy vote.”

It’s really not that complicated. I’m not looking to the president to do the work of the Church, and I’m not looking to the Church to do the work of the president.

That means I’m not confusing Donald Trump (or any president) with the Savior.

Not a chance.

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A._catholic posted a comment · Aug 01, 2020
Pres. Trump is given to untruths (Jn 8:44- for examples of Trump's untruths and his attempts to prevent people from calling him on them see the video https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2019/08/30/cavuto_to_trump_i_dont_work_for_you_my_job_is_to_cover_you_not_fawn_over_you.html ). Not only is he given to untruths, he is a servant of mammon/wealth/money who has been found guilty of fraud (Mat 6:24 - https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2019/donald-j-trump-pays-court-ordered-2-million-illegally-using-trump-foundation). His vision for America is one of greed (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOF03ZAuemE). All modern western societies are a mix of socialism (government programs and regulation) and free market capitalism- the Democratic party doesn't advocate straight socialism- government ownership of means of production. Republicans have voted for government assistance for the COVID crisis (socialism); assistance that has been made necessary by Pres. Trump's failing to adequately address the pandemic, calling it a "hoax". Free market capitalism also is condemned by Jesus and the New Testament- you can't serve God and mammon- wealth beyond need - profit (Mat 6:24); love of money is the root of evil (1 Tim 6:10); gather not into barns were thieves can break in (or accounts that can be electronically stolen- Mat 6:19-20). Christ and the apostles had a common purse (Jn 13:29) and the early Christian community held all goods in common and received according to need. (Acts 4:32-35)
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Truthneverchanges posted a comment · Aug 01, 2020
I notice how the Left likes to say the Christian block has lost all credibility. Lost credibility with who on the Left? The fornicators, liars, baby killers, dead beats, socialists, communist and traitors to America? Thank you! I am so happy I have lost credibility with that cesspool of humanity or otherwise I would have no hope for True Justice which comes from only the God who created the universe. The ONLY universe by the way...
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Truthneverchanges posted a comment · Aug 01, 2020
Also! All the people who send you their opinions as I have done, must understand Revelation in the direct translation, not butchered by stylist writers. It is crystal clear! When it is not understood, it is because they do not have the Holy Spirit to interpret is in it’s True Word.
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Truthneverchanges posted a comment · Aug 01, 2020
Also! All the people who send you their opinions as I have done, must understand Revelation in the direct translation, not butchered by stylist writers. It is crystal clear! When it is not understood, it is because they do not have the Holy Spirit to interpret is in it’s True Word.
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Truthneverchanges posted a comment · Aug 01, 2020
Also! Proverbs 3:5,6. Man cannot have a right thought! Only through God must there be understanding of thinking! Man is prideful and manipulates the Word of God, which is Hersey! Everything that is said must be backed by Holy Scripture! I warn you, degreed Theologian at my house. Human opinions mean nothing. Dr. Brown, you need to do what Twitter does and screen your commenters, evil and stupidity is rampant...
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Truthneverchanges posted a comment · Aug 01, 2020
Also! Proverbs 3:5,6. Man cannot have a right thought! Only through God must there be understanding of thinking! Man is prideful and manipulates the Word of God, which is Hersey! Everything that is said must be backed by Holy Scripture! I warn you, degreed Theologian at my house. Human opinions mean nothing. Dr. Brown, you need to do what Twitter does and screen your commenters, evil and stupidity is rampant...
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Truthneverchanges posted a comment · Aug 01, 2020
Dr. Brown, I must tell the Truth. We have a movement of the Enemy Within in America and it must be addressed and not ignored. The Constitution is being ignored to fit an agenda by the left that is Godless! There is no religion in Heaven, only the Word of God.
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Truthneverchanges posted a comment · Aug 01, 2020
The Correct WORD of God is in Hebrew and Greek. The same 10 Commandments He gave Moses is the same as Today! God is immutable! God is Lord, NOT a man who dies and then someone else takes their place.
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Truthneverchanges posted a comment · Aug 01, 2020
I want to make it plain, Roman Catholic’s are NOT Christians and wrought with filth throughout the Religion. Pastor Michael Brown is a Christian. If a R.C. Had the correct Word if God, they would know God used King David to fulfill His promises.
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A._catholic posted a comment · Aug 01, 2020
Dr. Brown, you quote a Chinese Christian as saying that Trump is the only thing holding America back from a slide into socialism and seem to agree with it. In truth, it is Trump's dishonesty, lust for power, his need to attack others, his downplaying and failing to deal with the COVID 19 pandemic that is pushing American into socialism. His failing to take the pandemic seriously, failing to provide an example of responsible behavior (and pushing unproven "cures" and even harmful ones), failing to take any responsibility and blaming others, failing to effectively marshal and lead Federal and state resources - has lead to the need for massive government assistance ("socialism") that has had general Republican support. And while Trump is pushing us into socialism, his egotism, lust for power, and belief he is above the law is a far greater threat to the Constitution, the rule of law, democracy than any Democratic "socialist" tendencies.
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A._catholic posted a comment · Aug 01, 2020
You are right to start off by saying that you are a "Trump supporter" and not "a Christian who supports Trump"- because you believe in Trump and *conservative* politics/economics and not *Christ* alone. All liberal/conservative political/economic thought is human created, finite and flawed. It is *of the world*. Only individuals, communities and institutions surrendered to Christ who act in/from the Holy Spirit- and not from *belief* in conservative nor liberal thought systems are *Christian*. You quote a Chinese Christian as saying Trump is the only thing keeping America from "socialism"- yet you ignore that capitalism and its enshrinement of greed and servitude to mammon/money/material gain beyond need is not of God, either. You ignore a free market healthcare system where people lose their ability to afford healthcare, when they lose their jobs- as is happening in this pandemic.
Swkh310 posted a comment · Jul 28, 2020
Just another feeble (almost pathetic) attempt by Dr. B. to justify the empirical fact that he and others from the so-called “ChristIan” voting block have destroyed what little credibility they ever had by supporting and continuing to excuse the creature—no matter how heinous its behavior.