Part 3 in a series examining why many Evangelical Christians are voting for Donald Trump for president.

The Presidency is 4 or maybe 8 Years; The Supreme Court is Forever

This is one of the top reasons Christian Trump supporters give for traditionally supporting the Republican Party and its presidential candidate in 2016. Currently, there is one vacancy and there could be three more in the next two presidential terms. Many Christians, including me, are concerned that the Supreme Court has gone too far in “legislating from the bench,” especially with regard to abortion and marriage. The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has undercut the states in regulating abortion and, recently, defining marriage. With a more liberal leaning court, there is the real danger that government would go farther in imposing gender confusion on our children and using hate speech laws to silence Christians.

So, the argument is that despite Trump’s immoral character, he is our best hope for preventing a further slide towards Sodom and Gomorrah.

I think the argument is best put forward by Eric Metaxes, a Christian author and historian. He wrote recently in the Wall Street Journal:

It’s a fact that if Hillary Clinton is elected, the country’s chance to have a Supreme Court that values the Constitution — and the genuine liberty and self-government for which millions have died — is gone. Not for four years, or eight, but forever. Many say Mr. Trump can’t be trusted to deliver on this score, but Mrs. Clinton certainly can be trusted in the opposite direction.

Here’s the logic:

1. If we elect Trump as president, he may appoint conservative, pro-life and pro-traditional marriage judges, as he has promised.
2. If the majority of SCOTUS judges are conservative, they might reverse Roe v. Wade and prevent the further slide.
3. If that happens, Americans will be more moral. Unborn babies will be saved.

All things being equal, I would encourage Christians to vote for the presidential candidate who is more likely to appoint conservative judges and that is clearly Trump.

But all things are not equal. Trump’s moral degeneracy is unprecedented. His lifelong, demonstrated lust for money, sex and power represents everything that is antithetical to the Christian gospel. I know Hillary Clinton has bungled projects, lied about it and she is married to Bill Clinton (more about Hillary Clinton’s flaws in the next post). But when it comes to moral depravity, she is a minor leaguer. Trump is Big League.

But let’s lay aside the question of who is the worse person. I still have problems with the logic that we need Trump in order to have a conservative Supreme Court in order to have a more moral nation.

1. I have little confidence that Trump will do what he has said (to evangelical audiences mainly) and appoint conservative judges to the Supreme Court. When it comes to politicians, I look for actions, not just words. In his seventy years on this earth, he has shown nothing to convince me that he is pro-life or pro-traditional marriage. Just the opposite. He is three-times married and has confessed, even bragged about cheating on his wives. There is no record of any donations to pro-life causes. There is no record of volunteering at pregnancy centers or pro-life events. Aside from recent professions that he has converted to pro-life politics, what do we have to assure us?
2. I am not convinced that a conservative Supreme Court would reverse Roe v. Wade. We had a conservative majority Supreme Court until the death of Justice Scalia this year and they did not reverse Roe v. Wade. Granted, the court was not decidedly conservative. That’s because two Republican appointed judges did not turn out to be as conservative as expected. David Souter (appointed by GHW Bush) turned out to vote liberal on social issues and Anthony Kennedy (appointed by Ronald Reagan) could not be counted on to vote conservatively. Recent GW Bush appointee Alito has shown that he respects precedent and so would not overturn Roe v. Wade. As for marriage equality, that ship has sailed. Gay and lesbian marriage has widespread support in the U.S. now and though the court should not take public opinion into account, clearly they do consider how disruptive their decisions might be.
3. I do not believe we should count on the Supreme Court to stem the tide of the sexual revolution and make us a more moral nation. They can’t change our hearts. Government sets the minimal expectations. Our government can penalize murder, but they can’t make us love one another. In this way, churches and schools have more power than the courts.

As for abortion, we have seen fewer abortions in each of the last eight years and that is without any help from the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, it’s not necessarily because we’re more moral either. The reduction of abortions is more likely attributed to the widespread availability and use of birth control. The point is abortions are down and it’s no thanks to the Supreme Court.

Eric Sapp wrote an article for the Christian Post saying if you want a reduction in abortions you should vote for Hillary Clinton. Yes, pro-choice Hillary Clinton. Here’s why:

Abortions rose steadily during the tenure of the first “pro-life” Republican President, Ronald Reagan. They reached their highest level under President H. W. Bush. Abortions then dropped dramatically under President Clinton, falling to 60% of the high under his pro-life Republican predecessor. That downward trend stalled during most of President W. Bush’s tenure, and remained basically flat until the final two years of his term when Democrats retook Congress. And then abortions plunged again under Obama, falling to their lowest point in 40 years.

Compelling data for sure, but Presidents often have to deal with Congress and the Supreme Court … which is why President George W. Bush’s tenure is so informative. Under Bush, Republicans controlled the House and Senate, and 2/3 of the Supreme Court. Bush had sky-high public approval following 9-11, and he and Congressional Republicans owed their 2004 re-election to the overwhelming support from church-going evangelicals and Catholics. And what did Republicans do to overturn Roe or in any meaningful way limit abortion? Nothing. (The Christian Post, Oct. 3, 2016)

Though the Supreme Court could conceivably reverse Obergefell v. Hodges, states could still allow lesbian and gay marriage and many states have done so and most others probably would. Besides, no matter what the Supreme Court or state courts decide, people are going to have sex with whomever they want.

But, for the sake of argument, what if we can believe that Trump can and will fulfill his promises to remake the Supreme Court in a conservative way? Is it worth sacrificing one branch of government to save another? I would say the Presidential branch is far more influential and important than the courts.

Previous Posts:

Why Trump? God can use anybody; he used a harlot and we’re not electing a Sunday School Teacher

Who better to fix our government than one who has taken advantage of it?

Next:

The Number One Reason Why Many Evangelicals Are Voting for Trump: Hillary Clinton

Note: The opinions expressed on this website are mine, informed by Scripture, reflection, discussion and prayer.
They may not be the views held by my church, which welcomes all, no matter how they vote, and takes no position on candidates or election issues.