The evangelical election audit: What about others?

An assessment of how evangelical Christians have handled this presidential election campaign should include this observation:

Some of us have not looked out for the interests of one another.

Considering others and their interests is addressed directly -- not uniquely -- by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Christians of Philippi. He urges these brothers and sisters to act with humility not only to "regard one another as more important than yourselves" but to "not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others" (Phil. 2:3-4)

As in all elections, there are those whose interests we should look out for in 2016. The unborn are certainly among them. So are children who have been born. So are future citizens. So are the poor, orphans, disabled, enslaved and other vulnerable members of our society.

In the evangelical church, however, too many seemingly have failed to look out "for the interests of others" in their own blood-bought family.

Just this year, one of the candidates for the White House has retweeted messages from white supremacist groups. The same candidate has charged he could not receive a fair trial from a federal judge because the judge is of Mexican descent. These and other actions and rhetoric have elicited support for his campaign from white nationalists.

All of this has produced concern and opposition from African Americans and other minorities, including many who count themselves evangelicals. But it does not appear to have produced the kind of concern or empathy from some white evangelicals who are commanded to look out "for the interests of others."

It appears to me too many white evangelicals -- and any is too many -- have failed to consider the perspectives of their black and Hispanic fellow saints. Too many have failed to enter into the pain experienced by their minority brothers and sisters in response to Donald Trump's campaign. Too many have failed to express solidarity with their African-American and other minority partners in the gospel.

Instead, these white evangelicals, and their leaders, have announced and -- at least in some cases -- promoted support for Trump without expressing public disapproval of the racial insensitivity or animosity of his words and behavior. They have shown a tone deafness to the anguished cries of those to whom they are united eternally by the blood of Jesus.

Like my previous email in this blog series on the election, this is not primarily about whom you and I will vote for. This is about the name of Christ and the health, unity and witness of His church. Will we love and serve our brothers and sisters whose skin color and ethnicity is different by looking out for their interests and not just our own? Because in looking out for their interests, we also are looking out for the interests of the Lord Jesus and His church.

Photo by DonkeyHotey.