Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, I was able to livestream the Republican National Committee (RNC) convention last week. The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, the new Republican platform, the division in our country … any of it gives me reason to say history will be made in this election – with consequences, good or bad.
What I saw was partially expected — a fiery round of patriotic speeches highlighting the good in the United States, making me proud to be an American.
What I didn’t expect to see was the clear dividing line happening in the Republican party, a division between those who use profanity — even in the middle of a direct Bible quotation – and those who don’t. Those who are pro-life, and those who aren’t. Those who agree with the biblical definition of two genders, and those who want to bring unity to the platform and welcome everyone.
Perhaps the most telling was the music – patriotic favorites by iconic singer Lee Greenwood, rock music by Kid Rock, a beautiful rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” by an Italian opera singer, and an ad featuring rap and hip-hop music. An eclectic mix catering to everyone’s tastes and giving the message that “all are welcome here.”
The first evening of the convention featured Sikh prayer, dedicating the whole convention to a false god with no power. For the first time I can remember, a party that has always acknowledged the God of the Bible, even when the religion is non-existent in party members’ personal lives, offered a heretical prayer to a pagan god of wood and stone. The last night of the convention found a Catholic praying to St. Michael the Archangel. Clearly, the Republican Party has wandered far from its roots.
While claiming to pray — albeit superficially — and allowing pagan prayers to open the convention, these same people loudly praised God for saving Trump from an assassin’s bullet and proclaimed God’s grace on this nation. I firmly believe that God is sovereign over life and death, but it doesn’t follow that we are a Christian nation because God preserved Trump’s life. We are a nation subject to the same common grace God gives to all.
I hope and pray that this life-changing experience will, indeed, draw this man to the God of the Bible. I can’t judge his soul, nor do I want to.
I can say, however, that the speech he gave at the RNC was uncharacteristically humble, free from profanity, and contained few childlike insults thrown at the “other side.” It was one of the best speeches I have heard Trump give, and it encouraged me that this nation, could, indeed, return to the God of the Bible. Listening to him, you could almost imagine that the Republican Party was a united front on the issues we face today. But it’s not.
The division was to be expected after we saw the Republican Party platform compromise on the issue of life at the federal level. While stating that the 14th Amendment does protect all life, the platform only specifically mentions opposing late term abortion. This can be seen as a victory, but what about abortion in the case of rape or incest, or abortion caused through drugs mailed across state lines for a "do-it-yourself" approach to terminating life? Can Christians afford to compromise on these core issues? At the same time, can we afford not to?
The Republican Party is putting people like me, a Christian millennial, into a difficult place. As a Christian, I must vote as my conscience dictates. Does my conscience allow me to vote for a president with some good policies and some good promises, who agrees with abortion in some instances, and who has publicly welcomed the confused Bruce Jenner, alias Caitlyn, into whichever bathroom desired?
And yet, does my conscience allow me to not vote for this candidate, because of the evil policies of other ones? Can our nation survive another four years of inflation, wars, weakened military, illegal immigrants, gender ideologies, increased taxes, China balloons, and farmland sold to non-U.S. citizens? Can our nation survive another four years of the energy dependency, auto industry shutdowns, and food shortages created by the Green New Deal? I think not. And so, the conundrum remains: How do people like me vote?
Republican vice presidential candidate J. D. Vance said that we may not agree on how to accomplish our goals, but we can agree on core values. Can we? Can we make a “deal with the devil” for the sake of unity?
The Bible clearly says, “Woe to those who call peace, peace, when there is no peace,” and I wonder if that is what Republicans have done by changing the party platform and compromising traditional values for the sake of a man who, if elected, won’t be able to run again.
Can the Republican Party survive in the face of two ideologies? The Bible tells us that a house divided against itself will not stand. Consider Ezra 4, a passage my pastor is currently preaching on, where the Israelites are rebuilding their temple and are met with a detail of men from other lands and religions who want to help. They claim unity in the name of seeking the Israelite God – yet they are still pagan in thought and belief.
Rather than compromise, the Israelites say, “Ye have nothing to do with us to build a house to our God, but we alone will build to Jehovah the God of Israel.”
God honored Ezra, and He is still the same God today. We cannot compromise, even though it seems all hell is breaking loose. The assassination attempt on Trump changed things in a tangible way, but the ends don’t always justify the means.
Christians are the salt of the earth, and if the salt loses its flavor, what good is it for anything? Yes, we need to make America great again, but how do we go about doing that? Is it through unity and promises and a strong platform? Or should we rather seek to make America great again by humbling ourselves before a mighty God and seeking His face, repenting for our sins and apathy, and bringing our lives back into submission to His word?
Will the Republican Party split this year? In the here and now, Republicans have united around a common foe, outrage at the assassination attempt, and the policies coming out of the current White House. Yet they’re seemingly oblivious to the schism in the foundation of their party.
It seems only time will tell.
Kaitlyn Smith is a homeschool graduate, intent on pursuing every opportunity the good Lord puts before her. She’s blessed to live a simple life with her family of 11 on their small southern homestead, living for the glory of God alone and finding beauty and joy in the mundane, simple tasks of life.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
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