Published on January 22, 2024, 2:16 am

Image source: Fox News

The 2024 election season is now officially underway, drawing the attention of individuals eager for real news and trusted insights into the exciting world of politics. While much focus remains on Republican frontrunners like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Donald Trump, a circulating viral video offers an intriguing point of discussion for anyone invested in the intersection of Christianity and politics.

Over recent years, there have been numerous interpretations by academics and members of the press about “Christian Nationalism”. There are many depictions highlighting outlined threats it allegedly poses. Critics suggest that its proponents impose extremist views related to topics such as abortion rights and gender ideology. While devoutly Christian individuals comprise a conservative faction susceptible to integrating their faith with their American identities, most believers do not crave an enforcement of a religious order on people who may follow different beliefs.

A compelling instance of this fusion surfaced via a video shared by former President Donald Trump in early January leading up to the Iowa caucus. This piece, entitled ‘God Made Trump’, was relayed through Trump’s Truth Social platform, then amplified by other influential figures including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Pastor Paula White.

Essentially, this widely-consumed digital content mixes biblical themes and quotations with campaign promises from Trump’s political rallies throughout Iowa. The result casts Mr.Trump in an almost spiritual light associating him with divine attributes found in scripture passages from Isaiah 40:11 and Matthew 12:34 among others. However provocative it may be within any Christian worldview mix essentially making a political leader seem akin to those who serve communities as religious guides raises profound questions about spirituality being used for political ends.

There is unwavering disapproval towards idolatry within Christian teachings (referencing Exodus 20:3-6; 1 John 5:21). The explicit transference of characteristics singularly reserved for divinity onto a political figure can be perceived as sacrilegious. In fact, the video ‘God Made Trump’ has been depicted not as controversial for emphasizing Trump’s accomplishments while in office, but rather its intended usage of biblical language for nonreligious aims.

This fusion of politics and faith referred to by some as Christian nationalism often leads to imbuing any political agenda with aspects of spirituality. Elections and campaigns are undeniably valuable human activities. Yet, it is incumbent upon the faithful to exercise their political interests without succumbing to idolizing any human candidate—a fact already condemned in Psalm 146:3-5.

As we head further into the 2024 election season, those espousing a Christian worldview have an opportunity to display a healthy balance between religious belief and political engagement. Politics must be recognized for what it is—utterly important yet ultimately fallible in terms of characters involved, unlike the unwavering and eternally dependable divine authority revealed in Scripture.