The U.S. government should fight, and fight hard, against radical Islamic jihadism. The government should close the borders to anyone suspected of even a passing involvement with any radical cell or terrorist network. But the government should not penalize law-abiding people, especially those who are U.S. citizens, for holding their religious convictions.
Muslims are an unpopular group these days. And I would argue that nonviolent Muslim leaders have a responsibility to call out terror and violence and jihad. At the same time, those of us who are Christians ought to stand up for religious liberty not just when our rights are violated but on behalf of others, too.
Make no mistake. A government that can shut down mosques simply because they are mosques can shut down Bible studies because they are Bible studies. A government that can close the borders to all Muslims simply on the basis of their religious belief can do the same thing for evangelical Christians.
Read it all from the Washington Post.
I am appalled at the thought of the Trumpet as president. However, I think that this piece is fundamentally mistaken in its assessment. Russell Moore tries to convince us that an anti-Islam agenda could easily be used against Christians. But what he is failing to take into account is this:
Donald Trump finds strong support among evangelical Christians.
Why?
We have read again and again that his support tends to be older, white, more religiously conservative. These are the very people who feel left behind – indeed sometimes trashed – in the whole post-modern, multi-cultural world of rainbow progressivism. When Trump speaks there is a sense of him articulating things that would be asked by people who feel that they never get a hearing.
I think that Trump is wrong. Moreover, he does not have the leadership skills necessary to lead the world’s most powerful and influential nation. But I do think that he has tapped into a deep current of Christian feeling that has been marginalised and trivialised. There is much complaint on this website about mainstream churches and their liberal drift. Rather than simply rise and condemn Trump with righteous indignation, might it not be more helpful for such leaders to try to see through the eyes of those who are tempted to think that Trump speaks for them?