Christianity Today Exposed the Reality of Evangelical Division

Here’s why a single editorial ignited an online firestorm.

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This week, Christianity Today, a deeply respected Christian magazine (the analogy is imprecise, but think of it like an Evangelical version of National Review, but focused on theology and church life) ignited a days-long firestorm when it published an editorial declaring, “Trump Should Be Removed From Office.” The piece directly referred to the magazine’s stand against Bill Clinton in 1998, and then ended with these direct and unsparing words:

We have reserved judgment on Mr. Trump for years now. Some have criticized us for our reserve. But when it comes to condemning the behavior of another, patient charity must come first. So we have done our best to give evangelical Trump supporters their due, to try to understand their point of view, to see the prudential nature of so many political decisions they have made regarding Mr. Trump. To use an old cliché, it’s time to call a spade a spade, to say that no matter how many hands we win in this political poker game, we are playing with a stacked deck of gross immorality and ethical incompetence. And just when we think it’s time to push all our chips to the center of the table, that’s when the whole game will come crashing down. It will crash down on the reputation of evangelical religion and on the world’s understanding of the gospel. And it will come crashing down on a nation of men and women whose welfare is also our concern.

The president has responded, falsely calling it a “far left magazine” (it’s theologically orthodox and relatively centrist). Pro-Trump Christian leaders have responded. Christianity Today’s web servers were strained by the traffic. Think pieces are flooding Christian media, and all-out Twitter brawl is under way. 

But why? Hasn’t all this been litigated before? Didn’t the failure of the “Against Trump” issue of National Review show that magazines should stop telling people how to think? Hasn’t the Evangelical rank-and-file moved on from hand-wringing about Trump, and aren’t they all aboard the Trump train? And, if so, why did virtually all of Trump’s big Evangelical defenders train their fire on Christianity Today? That’s the conventional wisdom, at least.

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  1. Avatar photo
    Jlenhikes

    As a decades-long Evangelical Christian, I've never had a high opinion of Christian Today. I do agree with their opinion of Trump, but if their goal is to further the cause of Christ, they're on the wrong track.

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    WKDawson

    I had not subscribed to CT for a long time now. It wasn't entirely theological reasons, mostly that I am a scientist and struggle with issues of science and faith. CT doesn't have quite the caliber I need to address the issues I confront with that God's-eye-view and understanding that I sometimes desperately need in the modern age – especially because most of my peers are non-Christians. Nevertheless, because CT showed a real backbone and called this out, I subscribed.

    I think we should reflect on the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Co 12:7-9:
    [7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (ESV)]
    Indeed, nobody really repents in the face of power and coercion; it is by God lowering himself to reach down to us. His power is made perfect in our weakness, not in our strength.

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    J.D. Whitlock

    Great piece. Love the Solzhenitsyn quote. I used to go to church with a lot of evangelicals, now I am in a mainstream protestant congregation. Although I never agreed with evangelical theology I appreciated the passion and dedication and selflessness of your average evangelical church member. Which is why I am completely dumbfounded by the wholesale selling of their souls to support Trump at this stage of the game. Guess they are 90% fascists-at-heart after all.

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    1. Avatar photo
      WKDawson

      I understand that you are not a Christian, and I am not sure exactly to address you where you are. Therefore, I will just write this as a kind of confession and hope there are no misunderstandings.

      Perhaps many evangelicals began idolizing power. We are sinners, and more often than not, God doesn’t have to worry about his enemies, he has to worry about what his “friends” do. We drank from the bottle of political power and became inebriated with a rotten message. I suspect we have really sinned; some of us because we voted blindly without really asking questions, some us because we wanted to believe some narrative because it perhaps sometimes (or maybe often) is true, and some of us because we trusted in our institutions (our “chariots” and separation of powers) rather than recognizing that our institutions are also dependent on the Grace of God.

      Ross Douthat also raised the idea that maybe some of us were just cynical; we recently read that we were basically lied to about Afghanistan and of course Viet Nam. Of course, such people who have become cynical, they probably don’t know anyone who serves in the State Department and other institutions like that. The people I’ve met are very dedicated to their work and serve our country faithfully. It is also evident, however, that many people in the high place of decisions do not listen to their hard-earned advice. Unfortunately, the “news” may not exactly have helped matters either because selling “news” (typically bad or made bad because bad news sells) is best achieved by maximum outrage. We should seek the truth, but I can kind of understand why some people might just become cynical about that whole thing and not care anymore.

      I think the biggest problem is idolatry. Political power is seductive, and maybe when we get a taste of it, we just want more and more. History does not speak well for the church when it came to deeds done with power; the Spanish Inquisition, all the horrific dark sides of the Reformation, the rottenness of some religious zealots, and now even today to some extent. Remember that it is not unique to Christians; we see it all over the world in the history of religious and secular governments. Idolatry of power is the cup that brings on the madness of man.
      Amos 5:21-24
      21 “[God speaking through Amos] I hate, I despise your feasts,
      and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
      22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
      I will not accept them;
      and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,
      I will not look upon them.
      23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;
      to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
      24 But let justice roll down like waters,
      and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
      Psalm 51:17
      17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
      a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

      We Christians will always make mistakes. We are not better than the rest of the world. However, if we go back to following Jesus and seeking his council, we stand a better chance of bringing his message of salvation and hope to the world and, by such action, making everyone just a little better. It starts with each of us.

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      1. Ann G

        I have to admit that I am surprised you don't consider mainstream protestants Christians.

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          WKDawson

          Dear Stephanie, I'm not sure I understand what you mean. I was addressing someone who says he isn't a Christian... I am probably mainstream, or think I am, or used to think I was, or something like that. I see my own error in "trusting in chariots" and the "separation of powers" as an idol that I believed. Can you elaborate a little?

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            J.D. Whitlock

            Wayne: You replied to my post starting with "I understand that you are not a Christian" ... but in my post I mention being part of a mainstream Protestant congregation. That is why we are scratching our heads. Did you mean to reply to another post?

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    Kevin Durant?

    “The pressure is substantial. To make Trump’s election “worth it,” it’s necessary to secure policy victories. To keep securing policy victories, one may stay close to Trump. Staying close to Trump all too often forces Christians to defend the indefensible.”
    ————————————
    Yeah this sounds like a real dilemma for ‘Christian leaders’ seeking power and influence in government. Needing to maintain access to Trump and all.

    Not a problem for me. I’m not looking to stay close to Trump. I’m not seeking a meeting in the Oval Office.

    Trump is an immoral buffoon AND I will continue voting for him because of his ability to marginally disrupt communists who, as always, have disguised themselves as do-gooders.

    Not to minimize the extent to which this is a serious moral dilemma for an elite group of televangelists.

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    Byron Williamson

    Have recognized the problem. What’s the pragmatic solution beyond daydreams of a Trump resignation!

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      WKDawson

      Maybe
      5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
      and do not lean on your own understanding.
      6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
      and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

      God doesn't need our "help", God needs our faithfulness.

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      1. Ann G

        Yes, this. My faith doesn't say I need to vote for Trump, or even Republicans in general, or the world will fall apart for the faithful. It says not to lean on princes, but to put faith in God. But then my faith includes the idea that God is sovereign and still active in the events of this world.

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