Why White Evangelical Christians Voted For Donald Trump — Again
By: Dr. Dion
Tags: Society, Christianity, Politics, Donald Trump, Evangelicals

The exit polls from the 2020 presidential election indicate that self-identified, White, evangelical Christians voted for Donald Trump at a rate of about 7.6 out of every 10. This is actually a reduction from 2016 when they voted for him at a rate of about 8.1 out of every 10.

White evangelical support for Donald Trump has been the target of much research, investigation, mockery, bewilderment, curiosity, and scorn. Millions of people who are not self-identified, White, evangelical Christians struggle to understand why and how people who profess to love and follow Jesus Christ also profess — sometimes more fervently — to love and follow Donald Trump.

The truth is actually pretty simple…and quite complicated.

First, a distinction must be drawn. I have written extensively on the difference between people who genuinely hold the religious views of evangelicalism and those who are really religious nationalists claiming the mantle of evangelical beliefs. It is important to understand this fundamental difference.

The rate of support for Donald Trump among those who sincerely adhere to the four tenets of evangelical Christianity is not 76%, but it is still an overwhelming majority. To understand why, one must understand several things about the experience of being an evangelical Christian:

Evangelicals believe that the bible is the ultimate authority for all areas of their lives — not just spiritual areas.

The simple:

In plain terms, evangelicals believe that — beyond just their Sunday responsibilities — the bible dictates how they think, speak, and act on Monday-Saturday as well. In truth, the bible does provide detailed instructions for how to live the “non-religious” aspects of one’s life. For example, the bible instructs Christians to:

Avoid trying to explain important things to foolish people

Settle disputes with other Christians between themselves without filing lawsuits

Give and receive “tough love” in friendships so that both friends mature and become better people

Pay taxes and obey laws imposed by the government.

These instructions do not directly relate to Christians’ relationship with Christ, rather to Christians’ relationships with other people. Evangelicals believe it is just as important to follow the bible’s non-religious instructions as it is to follow its religious instructions.

The complicated:

Observers often note (correctly) that White, evangelicals can be quite “selective” in which biblical instructions they follow and which they ignore. For instance, obeying “laws imposed by the government” would certainly include mask mandates and stay-at-home orders. Yet, these laws are often flouted, at times violently so.

Additionally, the bible instructs Christians how to treat foreigners and immigrants (the same way that you treat citizens and native born) and also how to treat poor people (the same way you treat rich people). These instructions do not seem to concern White, evangelical Christians as much as some others in scripture.

To be clear, there are no perfect Christians, evangelical or otherwise. In fact, were there a “perfect” Christian, that would throw into doubt the entire premise of Christianity (imperfect people needing the redemptive power of the savior, Jesus Christ).

However, when non-Christians see evangelical Christians inconsistently apply the bible’s instructions, it causes them to doubt the Christian’s passion and Christ’s power.