Steve Anderson is a fourth year journalism major and opinion editor for The Point. Anderson grew up in the christian church and is a self proclaimed follower of Christ.
Similarly to just about half of Americans, I was disappointed in the results of the 2024 presidential election. I found it hard to believe that the country thought Donald Trump was the more qualified leader. I don’t write this as a rebuke or to convince you that I’m right and you’re wrong but rather, I’d invite you to simply hear me out.
Given our Christ-centered education at Point Loma Nazarene University, I would like to focus on how I feel, as a follower of Christ, about Donald Trump. I have never felt that Trump has represented what I want for this country as a Christian. On top of that, Trump clearly lacks the qualities of a Christian man.
I don’t even feel like I need to point out what qualities I’m speaking about but for our purposes I will. For one, his lack of respect for women is not something I would desire in a presidential candidate. Especially, as the 27th woman came forward accusing President-elect Trump of sexual misconduct just before the election.
Then, there are the 34 felonies in his hush money case surrounding adult film star, Stormy Daniels. Essentially, Trump falsified business records in order to conceal hush money he paid to Daniels. I feel like we’re forgetting one of the 10 commandments (Hint: it’s number nine: do not bear false witness). He didn’t stop there though, because he went around flaunting his mugshot and selling merchandise with the words “never surrender” below it.
It’s almost impossible to forget about the denial of the results of the 2020 presidential election. The intense spread of misinformation by President Trump led to the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack by his supporters. The encouragement of violence by Trump was disturbing and should not be tolerated in any society, especially if we live in a society like America that is supposed to have a desire to be the best it can be. Failing to accept the results of a democratic election pushes us away from democracy and societal order, so how on earth could Trump ever represent freedom to someone?
The complete denial of our withering planet due to climate change is another disturbing scar of his first term. During his first term, Trump reversed over 100 environmental policies and rules. Most of the rules that Trump reversed under the Environmental Protection Agency were related to carbon emissions and air pollution, a major cause of climate change. Environmental stewardship is a major component of the Christian faith, God instructs Adam to take care of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2:15. Destruction of our environment through an excess of carbon emissions is not what God instructed Christians to do, so why would we elect a leader that works against God’s creation?
Then of course, there are all of the little things; the name calling, the belittling of fellow candidates and disregard of marginalized communities. Christians are called to support the needy and underprivileged, this was a main component of Jesus’ teachings. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus directly addresses the neglect of the poor: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Service to the poor is aligned with service to God, thus it’s difficult to come to terms with Trump’s neglect for the needy and the migrant with his mass deportation plan.
I feel like I’m only scraping the surface on all the glaring red flags in Donald Trump. I’m at a loss that over half of Americans didn’t see them or just chose to ignore them. Moreso, how could a person who has dedicated their life to discipleship in Jesus Christ, the most humble man to ever live, choose Donald Trump as their leader?
Naturally growing up in the Christian church, there were always differing opinions, with people on both sides of the aisle. Although there were disagreements, both parties were respectable; just look at the difference between the 2012 presidential debate compared to the 2024 one between Biden and Trump. Trump has created a political toxicity that has infected our culture, and as Christians it has shaken our devotions.
I think that’s what disturbs me the most, the fact that Christianity has been weaponized by the Republican party. I believe above all else, as Christians, we are called to love and stand up for marginalized communities. Jesus does this a number of times throughout the gospels, but I’m always reminded of the woman at the well, when he treats a woman, who was somewhat of an outcast, as an equal. That’s not what Trump stands for. He is an agent of chaos and someone who seeks power at the cost of marginalized communities. That’s not to say I don’t believe in the redemptive power of Jesus Christ, I think Trump can be redeemed. But when someone is weaponizing the peaceful words of Christ to manipulate his followers, we must reassess their intentions.
Kamala Harris may not have been the perfect candidate for you, but at least her party prioritized the marginalized, the environment and didn’t stand for petty name calling and childlike politics. There comes a time when party affiliations must be weighed against religious devotions. This election was one of those moments. Trump has failed to demonstrate that he has basic upstanding morals, not with his policy or his actions.
Grace Gaines