There is something happening in American politics today that ought to concern every sincere follower of Jesus Christ. Political leaders have learned that invoking the name of God can gain the confidence and support of Christian voters. They speak about faith, quote Scripture, attend prayer meetings, hold up Bibles, and promise to defend Christian values.
But invoking the name of God does not make a person a follower of Jesus Christ.
Putting a Christian label on a political movement does not make everything that movement does Christian. Calling an action righteous does not make it righteous. Quoting Scripture before doing wrong does not turn wrong into right.
I want to be very clear: I do not profess to know the heart of Donald Trump, anyone in his administration, or any other political leader. I do not know who is saved and who is not. Salvation is personal. It is between the individual and God.
The Bible tells us:
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.”
— 2 Timothy 2:19, KJV
The Lord knows those who belong to Him. I am neither qualified nor appointed to make that final judgment. However, while I cannot see a person’s heart, I can inspect the fruit produced by that person’s life and actions. Jesus did not tell us to ignore the fruit. He told us to examine it.
“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.”
— Matthew 7:17–18, KJV
Then our Lord concluded:
“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
— Matthew 7:20, KJV
I cannot see the root buried beneath the ground, but I can see what is hanging from the branches. I cannot judge the eternal destiny of another person, but I do not have to call bitter fruit sweet simply because someone has nailed a Christian sign to the tree.
The Name of God Is Not a Political Slogan
God’s holy name must never become a campaign slogan, political ornament, or stamp of approval placed upon everything a government does. There is a great difference between mentioning God and submitting to God.
Jesus warned:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
— Matthew 7:21, KJV
Those are sobering words. Jesus did not say that everyone who spoke His name belonged to Him. He said obedience to the will of the Father mattered.
Some have learned the language of Christianity without demonstrating the life of Christ. They know which words will move Christian audiences. They speak of God, faith, prayer, religious liberty, and biblical values. Yet when we examine their conduct, we may find cruelty, dishonesty, pride, revenge, oppression, personal attacks, and an absence of mercy.
The question is not merely, “Did they mention God?”
The question is, “Does their conduct resemble Jesus Christ?”
What Kind of Fruit Are We Seeing?
Paul described the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance.”
— Galatians 5:22–23, KJV
When a political leader professes Christianity, it is fair to ask whether these qualities can be seen in that leader’s public life.
Do we see love, or do we see hatred being stirred against opponents?
Do we see peace, or do we see division used as a political weapon?
Do we see longsuffering, or do we see angry retaliation against everyone who disagrees?
Do we see gentleness, or do we see the weak ridiculed and the suffering dismissed?
Do we see goodness, or do we see wrongdoing excused whenever it benefits our political side?
Do we see meekness, or do we see pride, boasting, and the constant glorification of self?
Do we see temperance, or do we see uncontrolled speech and reckless behavior?
These questions are not persecution. They are spiritual discernment.
If a preacher stood in the pulpit every Sunday quoting Scripture but spent the rest of the week lying, insulting people, seeking revenge, and taking advantage of others, the church would have every right to examine his testimony. Why, then, should a politician receive a lower standard simply because we approve of some of his policies?
Christianity must not become a coat that politicians put on during an election and hang back in the closet after they gain power.
Christians Still Fail
This does not mean a true Christian will never sin. Every Christian can fall, speak wrongly, make poor decisions, or act contrary to the Spirit of Christ. The difference is seen in what happens when that sin is exposed.
Is there conviction?
Is there confession?
Is there humility?
Is there repentance?
Is there an effort to make the wrong right?
David committed terrible sins, but when Nathan confronted him, David said:
“I have sinned against the Lord.”
— 2 Samuel 12:13, KJV
David did not call Nathan a traitor. He did not begin a campaign to destroy Nathan’s reputation. He did not claim that anyone who questioned him was an enemy of Israel. He confessed his sin.
Saul, on the other hand, repeatedly offered excuses and blamed other people. When Samuel confronted him, Saul said:
“But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed.”
— 1 Samuel 15:21, KJV
Saul’s first instinct was to defend himself and blame the people. That is an important difference. The evidence of faith is not sinless perfection, but genuine repentance is part of Christian fruit.
When someone can never admit wrongdoing, never ask forgiveness, and never accept correction, we have a biblical reason to be concerned about the fruit.
Political Loyalty Must Not Replace Loyalty to Christ
The church is in danger whenever Christians become so loyal to a political party or leader that they defend conduct Scripture condemns.
We cannot condemn dishonesty in one political party and excuse it in another. We cannot preach against hatred when it comes from our opponents and applaud it when it comes from our friends. We cannot demand morality from those across the aisle while giving our preferred leaders permission to behave any way they choose.
The Bible declares:
“Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.”
— Proverbs 20:10, KJV
God does not have one standard for Republicans and another for Democrats. He does not maintain one set of scales for conservatives and another for liberals. If something is sinful when our opponent does it, it remains sinful when our political hero does it.
Our allegiance belongs first to Jesus Christ—not to Donald Trump, the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, or any political movement.
Political leaders may deserve our prayers, respect, and support when they do what is right. They also deserve honest correction when they do what is wrong. Supporting a particular policy does not require us to excuse every word, decision, and action of the person advancing it.
You Can Recognize a Tree by Its Fruit
James asked:
“Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?”
— James 3:11, KJV
We should not be impressed merely because someone occasionally speaks sweet religious words. We must examine what continues to flow from the fountain.
A person may talk about Christian values while showing contempt for the teachings of Christ. A leader may publicly pray while pursuing revenge. A movement may speak about protecting Christianity while encouraging Christians to abandon mercy, truthfulness, humility, and love for their enemies.
Jesus said:
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
— Luke 6:46, KJV
That question still stands.
Why invoke His name while rejecting His ways?
Why speak about Christian values while refusing to demonstrate Christian character?
Why ask Christians for their loyalty while encouraging conduct contrary to Christ?
The name of Jesus must never be used as a decoration placed over political ambition. His name is holy. His teachings are not campaign material to be quoted when convenient and ignored when they become costly.
We Must Examine Ourselves Too
Before we point toward Washington, we should examine our own hearts. It is easy to inspect another person’s fruit while ignoring what is growing in our own orchard.
Jesus warned:
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”
— Matthew 7:3, KJV
If we condemn pride in our leaders while harboring pride ourselves, we also need to repent. If we criticize their angry words while using hateful language against them, we have become guilty of the same spirit we condemn.
Biblical discernment must begin with prayer and self-examination. Our purpose should not be to destroy people but to defend truth, call for repentance, and remain faithful to Christ.
We should pray for those in authority, as Scripture commands. But praying for a leader does not mean pretending that everything the leader does is right. Nathan prayed for David’s nation, yet he still stood before the king and declared, “Thou art the man” (2 Samuel 12:7).
Sometimes the most faithful thing a Christian can do is tell a powerful person the truth.
Look Beyond the Christian Label
The church must stop being satisfied with religious language. We need to look beyond the label and inspect the fruit.
Does the fruit resemble Jesus?
Does it demonstrate truth?
Does it show mercy?
Does it protect the weak?
Does it seek peace?
Does it accept correction?
Does it produce humility and repentance?
Or does it produce fear, anger, division, vengeance, deception, and the worship of political power?
I cannot tell you who is saved. That judgment belongs to God alone. But I can tell you that Jesus gave us permission—and responsibility—to examine the fruit.
A Bible held up before the cameras is not proof of a Bible hidden in the heart. A prayer spoken before a crowd is not proof of a life surrendered to Christ. Saying “God bless America” does not give anyone permission to disobey God while governing America.
The proof will not be found in the label attached to the trunk. It will be found in the fruit hanging from the branches.
“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
— Matthew 7:20, KJV
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