Reflections on the 2016 Election

It’s finally over. After weeks of mudslinging during a very divisive election, Donald Trump will be the 45th U. S. President on January 20th. At 70 years old, Trump is the oldest person ever elected to a first term (surpassing 69-year-old Ronald Reagan in 1980). Many reporters have called Trump’s victory “an upset” despite huge crowds that showed up at his campaign rallies.

On Election Day I went evangelizing at a mall having already voted for Donald Trump using an absentee ballot. Then I watched the election returns on TV. Because the results were a bit close and a few networks stalled in declaring Trump the projected winner of selected states, I stayed up past 2:30 a.m. praying until he made his acceptance speech. It was also gratifying to hear the Republicans still have control of Congress. This will hopefully result in Trump repealing (as he calls it) “the disaster known as Obamacare.”

It’s sad how this election caused some Christians to be ensnared by a political spirit. Last weekend I received a Facebook friend request from a revivalist who previously unfriended me because of differences we had regarding the Second Amendment. She friended me from a second page set up to promote Hillary Clinton for president. This revivalist stated on her wall this page would be taken down in a few days. So I sent a private message explaining I already voted for Trump but she was welcome to add me after the election. My friend responded with a bunch of negative comments about Trump and claimed I “lost my heart” for evangelism. Really? It appears someone else had became more passionate about politics than getting the gospel out.

Donald Trump has set up an evangelical advisory board that includes James Dobson, Jerry Falwell Jr., Ralph Reed, Jentezen Franklin, and Kenneth & Gloria Copeland. Another reason believers should be glad Trump won the election is because of his vice-president. Mike Pence has repeatedly stated, “I’m a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican in that order.” A Trump Administration will protect religious freedoms that some liberal leaders have attempted to suppress. Hillary Clinton’s running mate Tim Kaine was the Virginia governor who supported a superintendent’s order to stop police chaplains from praying in Jesus’ name.

A question many are now asking is “What will happen to Hillary?” Trump had talked of prosecuting and imprisoning his Democratic rival for mishandling classified information while she was Secretary of State. I’d rather see Hillary repent and fess up to all wrong doing that would be considered treasonous if done by anyone else.

Hillary Clinton actually has a slight lead in the popular vote like what happened in the 2000 election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. I’m thankful the electoral college is still in place. Our founding fathers devised it to prevent voter fraud. There have been reports of voting machines automatically changing Trump votes to Clinton votes, dead people registered to vote, and walk-ins without IDs. Current Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (a long-time friend of Hillary) allowed as many as 60,000 felons to vote by an executive order.

It’s unfortunate many Americans who put their hope in Hillary are acting like a bunch of whiny babies. Colleges offered therapy to students “traumatized” over the election outcome. One held a “Cry In” with tissues handed out by school staff. Teachers cancelled classes so students could “recover.” Some disgruntled voters are rioting and blocking highways. A few Hollywood celebrities threatened to leave the country if Trump got elected (I’m curious how many of them will follow through on that). It’s time for these sore losers to grow up so the United States can be united again.

Regardless of who’s president, God is on the throne and will heal our land if we seek Him first and continue praying for our political leaders. Only then will America become great again.

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” - Psalm 118:8

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