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The unwavering support of American evangelicals for Donald Trump, despite his glaring ethical contradictions, raises a deeply troubling question: How have so many who claim to follow Christ been drawn to a leader whose voice and character should be foreign to them?
The Power of the Crowd
A recent ABC Four Corners report on Trump’s political resurgence captured the sheer force of "Trumpism"—a movement fuelled by a man whose existence revolves around self-preservation and domination. Trump's refusal to admit mistakes, his relentless counterattacks, and his need for absolute control have created a cult-like phenomenon. His rallies evoke a near-religious fervour, where crowds respond with mindless slogans and unrestrained enthusiasm. The atmosphere is charged not with innocent admiration but with resentment toward any perceived obstacle. Crowd behaviour is fickle. and unpredictable. Its pent-up energy, if provoked, can flip instantly into a hate-fuelled mob.
It is in this environment that 80% of American evangelicals cast their vote for Trump. Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham and a pivotal figure in American evangelicalism, even declared at the Inauguration that Trump’s victory was achieved by God’s "powerful right hand." But how does the God revealed in Jesus Christ fit into this narrative? More disturbingly, how did so many evangelicals fail to recognise the voice of their Shepherd?
The Shepherd’s Voice
Jesus made it plain in John 10:1-5: "I am the good shepherd... The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own by name and leads them out... and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
If evangelicals have been drawn to a voice that contradicts the values and teachings of Christ, what does that say about their discernment? Even more troubling, what has conditioned them to mistake a stranger’s voice for their Shepherd’s?
The Conditioning of the Church
The conditioning of American evangelicals didn’t happen overnight. Decades of cultural fearmongering, combined with a theology that equates national and personal prosperity with divine blessing, have dulled spiritual discernment. Faith, in many circles, has been reduced to a tool for preserving political power rather than pursuing Christ-like discipleship.
Jesus was often surrounded by crowds, but He never manipulated them. When they wanted to make Him king by force (John 6:15), He withdrew. When the crowd turned on Him, shouting "Crucify Him!" (Mark 15:13), He remained silent. His mission was never to thrive on mass enthusiasm but to call people to deeper discipleship.
The Failure of Leadership
The responsibility for this crisis does not rest solely with the people—it also lies with evangelical leaders. Many have not only failed to warn against the dangers of following a stranger’s voice but have actively encouraged it. The rebuke of Ezekiel 34:2-4 is fitting: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? ... You have ruled them harshly and brutally."
Some evangelical leaders have amassed fortunes ranging from $20 million to $300 million. With so much at stake, it is little surprise that they have followed Trump's playbook: deny wrongdoing, silence critics, and preserve power at all costs. The result? A church entangled with worldly influence, justifying lies, cruelty, and injustice for political gain.
The Call to Return
Jesus warned in Matthew 7:15-16: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognise them by their fruits."
The tragedy of this moment is not just that evangelicals have followed a stranger, but that in doing so, they have dealt a king-hit to American evangelicalism’s spiritual credibility as a mediator of civil and moral virtue. Yet the true Shepherd still calls. The pressing question is: Will His flock listen? Not en masse, to be sure but, as always, one at a time.
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