Why It Would Be Sinful of Me to Support Trump






Defining Sin







What Jesus was Super For and Super Against






Trump on Eye-for-an-Eye

Trump, Playboy, March 1990
Trump, How to Get Rich, 2004

My Takeaway


Passage 2: The Christ Hymn in Philippians 2


Trump on the Value of Humility and His Opinion of Himself

Trump, December 2013
Every successful person has a very large ego.
Trump, Playboy, 1990
Trump, Republican National Convention, June 2016 
Trump, May 2016
Nobody knows banking better than I do.
Trump, February 2016
Nobody knows more about debt.
Trump, May 2016
I know more about renewables than any human being on earth.
—Trump, April 2016
I understand money better than anybody.
—Trump, June 2016
Nobody knows more about trade than me.
—Trump, March 2016
—Trump, July 2016
There’s nobody bigger or better at the military than I am.
—Trump, June 2015
—Trump, November 2015
—Trump, January 2018
—Trump, MSNBC, 2016
—Trump, December, 2015

My Takeaway


Passage 3: The Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5


Trump on “Selfish Ambition”

—Trump, CNN, Aug. 10, 2015

My Main Takeaway


Passage 4: I Corinthians 13 “The Love Chapter”




Barack Obama is “Cheatin’ Obama”
Jeff Zucker is “Little Jeff”
Adam Schiff is “Little Adam”
Jeb Bush is “low-energy Jeb”
Chuck Schumer is “Cryin Chuck”
Maxine Waters and Robert Deniro are “low IQ persons”
Ted Cruz is “Lying Ted”
Hillary Clinton is “Crooked Hillary”
Eric Schniederman is “sleazy”
Tim Kaine is “a total stiff”
Clair McKaskil is “phony”
Jeff Flake is a “flake”
Samantha Bee is a “no talent”
Sam Nunberg is “a drunk/drugged up loser”
Nancy Pelosi is “absolutely crazy”
Joe Biden is “crazy Joe”
Maggie Haberman is “a flunky”
Alec Baldwin has a “dying mediocre career”
Oprah is “very insecure”
James Comey is a “slimeball” and “Lyin James”
Jim Acosta is “crazy”
Dianne Fienstien is “sneaky Dianne”

My Main Takeaway


The Point


How Does One Promote or Discredit Values like Humility and Pride?



What does Trump Represent?


—Trump, The United Nations General Assembly, September 2018


—John McCain’s last speech in the Senate, July 2017



Trump Tower: Donald Trump's Unofficial Headquarters




Two Philosophies







What about Abortion?



My only problem with it is that it’s not Christian.

How Much did Jesus Care About Abortion?











Southern Baptist Annual Convention1971
Christian Medical Society Symposium, 1968

Thanks for the History Lesson. What’s your Point?
















About Jer Clifton


11 responses to “Why It Would Be Sinful of Me to Support Trump

  • outsourcedguru

    Personally, I try to imagine Donald Trump in a room with Jesus at the same time. Would they get along? I’m reasonably certain that they would clash. Some would suggest that Trump would recognize Jesus and find some sort of humility or reverence. I don’t think so. I think his prejudices would immediately identify Jesus as not only a liberal but possibly next, a hippie or perhaps someone of Islamic faith given the garb worn. I don’t think it would go well.

  • Bigbrotheriswatching

    My heart resonates with much of this. However, there are a couple of soft-spots that I think would merit discussion. The definition of “support” is important. If voting for someone means to support them, than I think we are all in serious trouble. Trump is fascinating because he actually wears his morality on his sleeve. He says that he is the greatest but truthfully, what person running for POTUS thinks that they are not the best? Trumps flaws are fully visible while other politicians are much more careful to hide their skeletons. Does that make them better? Its a slippery slope to say that trump is super immoral so it is wrong to vote for him while politician B is semi-immoral, making it better to vote for them. I would say that simply voting for someone does not mean supporting them in a way that condones their morality. I would say that many christian voters sincerely wish that Trump was anybody but actually Donald Trump. If his policies and skill set could be transferred to somebody else with a less embarrassing history, I think most would prefer that. So, the question is, “why do so many people regular say, print, post, create positive content about such a morally villanous person? I think the answer is not because they support Trump but because Trump is the champion of Christendom. I am making a historically legitimized distinction between Christianity (what Jer summarizes) and Christendom (the economic, political, cultural conditions which allows Christianity to be powerful within its scope). Christendom happens when Christians become powerful, this was first seen with Constantine transitioning Christianity from the catacombs to the courts of Rome. When this happened, the church gained power quickly and transformed the culture of Rome. Even when Rome fell, Christendom overtook Europe. During this time, there were frequently Champions of Christendom who, while being morally repugnant in their personal life, had the blessing of the church to spread Christendom through political, military and economic means. Christendom is alive and well in American culture. The church is powerful, law and morality are “biblically based.” However, Christendom is under attack. There are excellent reasons to attack Christendom, the formost of which is that it is not Christianity or the Kingdom of God. Jer, you used the term “folk religion,” but I think this concept fits better. Christendom can easily be a surrogate for Christianity and might represent one of turn Christianity’s greatest threats. When Christendom is attacked, people feel like Christianity is attacked (which makes no sense). The Kingdom of God has no regard for the condition of the Supreme Court. Trump has become our Champion of Christendom. He is the pagan king with a cross on his shield whose personal life is exonerated by the battles he is perceived to win for the preservation of culture, politics and economics. He is supported because people feel like they have a lot to lose…which they do. People are fighting for their culture…and it is a fight. It is a fight because their is another side who is also fighting a war. How can anyone expect proponents of Christendom to say anything bad about their champion? He confounds the enemy at every turn, leaving them sputtering ineffectually about morality (infidelity, racism, sexism). As long as Trump is winning, he will be supported because he represents the culture of Christendom.

    The other point that I have to say something about is Abortion. I think Jer added much to the topic for the edification of many, but I think your exegesis is could be tweaked. First, theology cannot be built only on what Jesus said or addressed. Jesus endorsed scripture as God’s word, he came to fulfill it, not replace it. The bar for theological truth is not simply the words of Jesus. Taking all of scripture, several truths are quite clear. Life is precious. God has designs and plans for babies unborn. True religion should be extremely concerned about the marginalized (orphans…unwanted babies). Its also worth noting that personal humility does not extend to others. Turning the other cheek was not transferable to turning the cheek of others. In other words, there is an expectation that if one has the power to stop evil from happening to others, they should practice it. Jesus hated religious powerful people that did nothing to help the defenseless. I do not think that it is prideful or misguided for someone to believe that life should be protected from inception and to use what power they have (democratic process) to protect those lives. On the other hand…voting for political bans on abortion, does not necessarily lead to fewer abortions. Voting for political bans on abortion without showing compassion for individuals who are in dire situations because of unwanted pregnancies…well that is wrong. However, I think the same engine of war which ratchets up the rhetoric with Trump, drives the Abortion debate as well. Those against abortion are sometimes over-the-top and ridiculous, full of self righteousness and pride but they are fighting what they perceive to be an evil enemy that seems to take joy in embryonic destruction. There can be no dialogue in that state of mind. The only pathway is obstinacy and vilification of the other side.

    Having made this little nitpicks, I guess the question I want to ask is. Can a Christian support anybody? It seems like you are saying Christians can only support righteous people and that they cannot support people in any way that makes it seem like they know better than anybody else. Let me ask a positive question. Would Jesus vote? How would he engage? Should true Christians go to their cloisters?

    • Whit

      Dear Bigbrotheriswatching,
      You may be sincere, but I can’t help but interpret your reply as a brazen attempt to obfuscate Jer’s point.
      Supporting Trump is sinful because he actively promotes selfishness. Perhaps the average politician is just as prideful as Trump, but they at least try to hide it, and in the very act of “trying” to hide their selfishness they signal that selfishness is a wrong. So when Trump wears his sin on his sleeve it is demonstrably different then your average politician – Trump signals that there is nothing wrong with egomaniacal pride. Jer made that point quite clearly, yet you seem to not be listening, why?
      Let me return the favor, and not listen; I know the reason why. Evangelicals have been bathing in rickety apologetics for decades, performing imposing mental gymnastics to prove ‘young earth;’ executing death defying neurological contortion to explain Noah’s Arch as a historical event, and so when Trump came along American Evangelicalism was all too ready to say, “hold my beer,” and justify their allegiance. Evangelicals have been swimming in fake news for the better part of a century, so when Trump came along they didn’t miss a beat.

      • Bigbrotheriswatching*wink

        See, I disagree that politicians hide their egos and secret sins because they think it is wrong. They do it because their careers are at stake. It is a kind of serpentine cunning that breeds mistrust. Trump is a Jerk…and he acts like a jerk. No digging is required. I kind of find that transparency refreshing if it were not so frightening.

        Your reponse falls right into my argument about combativeness though. I questioned trump throughout my (too long) post. I called him a pagan king. Looking back I did mistype when I said that trump is “our” champion of Christendom. I used the term to say that he is America’s Christendom champion (not mine personally). I did call Christendom a threat to Christianity though…and then you go a bit ad hominem in saying that I am not listening to Jer’s point. I listened…I listened and responded basically saying 1. That the notion of support is a tricky concept if voting for somebody means that you think they embody the totality of your values 2. that that concept of Christendom makes great sense to me 3. I think Jer makes some sweeping comments about what the Bible says about abortion that I am not sure are warranted. Nothing about my comments says that I think supporting Trump is righteous but you just started hammering at evangelicals.

        What I would like to see would be discussion where the person and the policy/philosophy can be separated from each other. I wish Christian leaders would publically point out that Trump’s arrogance and words are dishonoring to Christ (especially since he plays to the Christian crowd). I wish Republican leaders would begin drawing a distinction between his buffoonish zero-sum-game tactics and a compassionate implementation of Republican policy. At the same time. I wish everybody would just stop attacking people for their opinions. Federal programs for the poor is not socialism, controlling immigration is not racist. Both sides seem to think there is something inherently defective in members of the other side.

        So Whit, what’s your solution to these idiot evangelicals? How will you smash them into submission or eliminate them or bring them to see the light? Looking forward to your brazen reply.

        • Whit

          Oh Bigbotheriswatching*wink,
          First, I take nothing back. But secondly, I believe you to be a good sport, and I think we would quite probably enjoy a few pints together, but I’m here to hammer. You said “I wish Christian leaders would publicly point out that Trump’s arrogance and words are dishonoring to Christ.” But they won’t – why? – because they are captive to their congregation birthed in cold-war American exceptionalism, baptized in Left Behind eminent pre-rapture gibberish, and reared in pseudoscience, with no loyalty to truth, science, or pastors, so those “leaders” never will point that out because their too cowardly to shit where they eat. You and I could probably tussle around in the weeds and discover we agree about more things then not, and yet not address the fundamental elephant in the room: that American evangelicalism has been fundamentally infected and adulterated by, not earnest “Christendom,” but by wicked, ignorant, old-as-time, heretical bullshit.
          You said your found Trump’s transparent sin refreshing and frightening. Which would you find more disconcerting: your child committing a sin but being bashful for it, or your child sinning and saying… you know what, never mind, go fuck yourself.

          • BIGbrotherstillwatching

            STRAW MAN STRAW MAN!!! Politicians are not bashful about their sins! Nobody is saying, “aww shucks I had an affair with an intern, I feel like such a stinker.” They hide it deep, becoming incredible liars to themselves and others. I would much rather have a kid that did something sinful and put it out there for people to see than one who managed to keep it secret for years and then gave a carefully worded script about its unfortunateness. I did not say that I find Trumps sin refreshing…what is refreshing is the surface level of his deficiencies. I don’t have to guess, they are right there.

            I think you are missing the point about Christendom. It’s archaic I know. Christendom said that it was ok for a morally bankrupt king to sack a town crucify pagans in the name of Jesus. Christendom allowed for bishops to become as powerful and wealthy as lords. Christendom defended slavery, kept the lower classes in the mud and ordered morality by edict. It is selfish and prideful and believes the end justifies the means. I am not defending American Evangelicalism (although that term is not fair to all)…I am saying that it is a new expression of what afflicted Europe. Give Christians power and the ability to control culture by force and you end up with a system that preserves itself before it considers what is actually right and wrong. My problem is that you are just saying people are idiots and believe idiot things. I want to know why people believe idiot things so that the root cause can be addressed. Christendom is cultural. It’s an inherited set of values and assumptions about life. You cannot change a culture by calling it stupid, you actually entrench the culture. One way to change culture is by showing how different behavior is more in line with their actual core values. But sure…just keep calling their beliefs bullshit, that might work too!! Also a couple of pints sounds good.

            • Whit

              Your decency shines though, sir. Whatever. I believe you make a caricature of politicians (something many thoughtful Christians do in order to wash their hands of thinking too hard about the responsibilities of Christians in democracies) Bush, Obama, heck Cheney and Biden, these men at times were deceitful, and made mistakes, but to equate them as being potentially as slimy as Trump is intellectual laziness.
              And I admit, I have, and still am, missing your point about Christendom. You seem quite earnest in describing this run-of-the-mill human evil with that particular label. All of history’s greatest wickednesses are framed by cultural valences and extenuating historical context, so what? Christians don’t get separate nuanced categories for their brand of bullshit. Call this strand ‘Christendom’ till the cows come home, but it is trafficking in the same vapid neurological tonics that brought us Jihad and kamikaze pilots. Perhaps your point is bringing that next level shit, but I’m not writing a thesis paper, I’m writing mean comments in the comment section of a blog declaring that what I believe to be bad is fucking bad.
              To quote the great philosopher DC Talk, who quoted Brenna Manning, “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle, this is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”
              Pastors use to say “amen,” to quotes like that, knowing that it was was relevant to many in their church. It’s not that hard to make the argument that defending Trump is a denial of Christ, but now suddenly pastors are soft-pending as an unbelieving world watches, and this betrayal has shook me to my core.

              • BIGbrotherstillwatching

                Ouch…and well said. My weakness is DC talk quotes and vulnerability. Your words have struck a chord. I am going to think about this for a while.

  • Whit

    I’d like to give a less thoughtful reply later, but I think it’s important that I get this out while I’m still drunkk: the conservative fridge gives the game away when they 1) mention George Soros, 2) reference tax as theft, and 3) equate King David to Trump. The Bible is lousy with shoddy personalities who get used by God to accomplish things. Why not compare Trump to Rahab the Harlot? (personally I think that’s an insult to Rehab, and harlots, but certainly more apropos) Or if you insist on comparing Trump with a King, maybe go with King Ahaz, who was used by God to the extent he was even listed in the genealogy of Christ, yet still was inexplicably nice to Vladimir Putin because some grainy video tape may or may not exists of him watching two harlots pee on a bed. King David picked out 5 stones to kill a giant and, if need be, his punk-ass brothers. Trump has 5 draft deferments because bone spurs.
    To all the bata-males of the world, on behalf of combat veterans: Keep King David’s name out of your mouth when making comparisons to Trump.

  • alipnicki



  • Anonymous

    You hit a lot of interesting areas, Jer! You present a number of thought provoking issues in the area of love, hate, humility, politicians, and the centrality of Christian teachings, to just name a few. And it is obvious that you spent some time in research, like the scholar that you are.
    I will have to give what you said some thought, O sir, and get back to you on what I think. Thank you for sharing!


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