Anyone who has perused the pages of this blog knows that I am not a fan of a Donald Trump presidency. They will also know that I pray for his repentance and his salvation.

My concern with the return of DJT to the White House has little to do with democracy, policy or the direction of our country. I have put my trust in God, knowing that His ways are not my ways. And the Lord has warned us repeatedly that turbulent times are in front of us.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NIV)

Rather, my anxiety has far more to do with what Trump’s re-election says about the leadership and the integrity of the white evangelical Christian community in this country.

Donald Trump is, after all, the poster child for 2 Timothy 3:1-5. I confess that I do not know his heart. Only God does. But I can observe his behavior. What I witness is a narcissist, a lover of money, a proud, boastful and abusive man without love for his neighbor – unmerciful, slanderous, adulterous – well, you get the picture. This point cannot be argued; the evidence is prima facie. And let’s not forget that he is a twice-impeached convicted felon, has been found liable for sexual assault, faces four outstanding criminal indictments and has proudly boasted of how he impresses women by grabbing them by the p**sy.

Read that last paragraph one more time. This is the man white evangelical Christians were instrumental in returning to office. Instead of having “nothing to do with such people,” as instructed by the Apostle Paul, they have empowered, endorsed and encouraged the evil so forcefully illustrated and condemned in scripture. Wow.

I am ready for the turbulent times before us. Prayer and scripture have prepared me. I will strive to glorify God by living my faith. I will, of course, fall short and seek His mercy and grace – knowing that it is the only path to eternal life.

Unfortunately, however, many are unprepared, vulnerable to the disingenuous faith of those who seek righteousness not through God’s mercy and grace but through their noble morality. They seek to legislate their morality to coerce behavior they believe make them “good people” – removing the choice to be obedient to God out of love. In their moralism, like the Pharisees, they fail to see grace.

The vulnerable bear witness to the hypocrisy. Is it surprising that they build a wall around themselves and project an unwillingness to hear God’s word given that the messenger is so compromised? In these last days, we must encourage a willingness to hear and live the Gospel – not push those who have yet to accept Christ to the edge of the cliff through hypocrisy, selfishness and hate.

As Christians, our aspiration must never be to simply be a “good person.” Such a mindset puts the focus on our own conduct rather than on the saving grace of Lord Jesus. We are sinners in need of a savior. Our one and only goal must be to be more like Christ.