The upcoming election is NOT a referendum on Christianity

"This November 6 election is very much a referendum on not only me, it's a referendum on your religion, it's a referendum on free speech and the First Amendment. It's a referendum on so much," - President Donald Trump, speaking to an invited group of pastors and Christian leaders.

"You have to hopefully get out and get people to support us," Trump said. "If you don't, that will be the beginning of ending everything that you've gotten."

Trump warns evangelicals of 'violence' if GOP loses in the midterms - CNN

Here's the thing: No election will ever be a referendum on the Christian faith because no amount of earthly power (or lack thereof) has anything to do with the truth and power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  "Christian" kingdoms/countries/leaders could rule the world and it wouldn't make the claims of Christianity any more/less true, Christians could be a persecuted minority, bereft of power as they were before the conversion of Constantine in AD 312, and the truth of the Gospel would not be affected one iota by the powerlessness, in this world, of those who believe in what God has done for humanity in Jesus Christ.

Set aside the issue, thorny as it is, of the role of religion in politics in America (I've written about the danger of a cozy relationship may times already), and set aside one's opinion regarding the presidency of Donald Trump, and instead look at what is implied about Christianity, the Church, and the Gospel when a politician, any politician in any type of government, warns the Church that their legitimacy and/or survival depends upon victory in the pursuit of power in this world.  How weak, how fragile, how vulnerable, must Christianity be in the view of those who agree that the future of the entire religion hinges upon such a transitory and temporary allotment of earthly power?

There are major theological problems with viewing the success or failure of Christianity in political terms, not the least of which is the amazingly egocentric view that sees American Christianity as the harbinger of the health of the worldwide Church of Jesus Christ.  Should Christianity in America crumble and become a sad shell of what it once was, it would not call into question the truth of the Gospel or the power of God, for there are no political boundaries in the kingdom of God, if one portion of his Church struggles to fulfill its role in this world, for whatever reason, God will raise up another to take its place.  We have seen this phenomenon in action in our lifetimes, as the Church has lost adherents in Europe, and to a lesser extent in America, the Church has grown by leaps and bounds in Africa and Asia.  If the "center" of worldwide Christianity shifts from the West to the South and East, is that any concern of ours?  "Thy will be done," is something we've been taught to pray, do we really mean it, or are we adding silently, "as long as your will lines up with my preferences?"

Along similar lines, even if Christianity in America loses all semblance of political power, becomes a pariah in this culture, and perhaps even persecuted, who is to say that the Church itself will be unhealthier as a result?  Who is to say that the will of God is not for the people of God to experience hardship instead of generations of plenty?  Much of this false equivalence can be tied to the rise of the Prosperity Gospel, a false perversion of Christ's Gospel of servant-hood, but not all.  The bulk of Christianity in America deserves to shoulder a portion of the blame for our willingness to view success and failure through the eyes of man instead of the Word of God.  Perhaps we need a reminder of what the Word says regarding the power of the Gospel...

Matthew 16:18 New International Version (NIV)

18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Romans 1:16 New International Version (NIV)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

Philippians 2:10-11 New International Version (NIV)

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

1 John 5:4-5 New International Version (NIV)

4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Revelation 21:6-7 New International Version (NIV)

6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

Is more needed?  Are we going to accept the testimony of the Word of God and stop depending upon the power of man?  If you are a Christian, do you really believe in the final victory of God through Jesus Christ over everything?  Is the Lord your shepherd?  Are you allowing him to lead you to quiet waters and green pastures, or has your devotion been split, do you follow the lead of another?

It doesn't matter which politician or political party we, as Christians and as a Church, choose to put our trust in, it doesn't matter what he/she/they advocate and stand for, if that allegiance receives our hope and trust, instead of the unalterable Word of God, instead of promises from God himself, we have become fools.  No election, in any country, in any year, no political power struggle, no control of earthly power, has anything to do with the validity of the Gospel.  Either it is the power of God to save the souls of mankind, and it will be victorious according to the Will of God, and for the glory of God, or it isn't, that's not something that hinges in any way upon a ballot box.