–– David de Bruyn

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Donald Trump is a divisive figure. Reactions to his victory in the U.S. Presidential election are usually polarised: some seem to celebrate it, and others appear to mourn it. But what will a Donald Trump presidency mean for Africa, and for Christians in Africa in general?

Some have pointed out that many American Christians voted for Donald Trump not for what he was, but for what he was not. In the last four years, the Democratic Party has pushed further left, endorsing and promoting aggressively progressive agendas. These include a radically pro-abortion stance, the promotion and protection of transgenderism in sport, public life and even in families, an anti-Israel stance and a tolerance of incipient anti-semitism. The Biden Administration’s attitude towards the border and immigrants revealed a hostility towards national sovereignty and a friendliness towards globalism.

The “defund-the-police” movement supported by many Democrats showed a radically Marxist view of authority and a utopian view of human nature. Beliefs about climate change because of oil and fossil fuels raised the price of fuel and increased financial hardships for many Americans. Americans also witnessed the weaponisation of a supposed impartial legal system and saw it aggressively prosecuting Donald Trump. They rightly concluded that if the legal system can be manipulated to pursue a political opponent, it can be manipulated to target any citizen.

Many Americans voted for Donald Trump because they were tired of these issues being pursued and aggressively preached and defended in the liberal media and through their proxies in Hollywood. 

How does this affect African Christians?

African Christians may differ on what they approve of in Donald Trump, but they ought to be united on being thankful for what Donald Trump and the Republican party stand against. 

First, African Christians can breathe a sigh of relief that the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world has voted against identity politics, transgender ideology, lawlessness, and economic utopianism. The American vote has shown the world that not everyone in the world has been persuaded to embrace wokeism, LGBTQ+ politics, and climate change alarmism. While these issues are still promoted and preached in Africa, the American vote at least provides a contrasting voice to what some regard as normative thinking.

Second, the Republican victory is also a victory for freedom of religion in America, and a setback for religious persecution of Christianity. While America is very far from the persecution of Christians experienced in countries like Iran or North Korea, American Christians have increasingly felt that their values are being attacked and assailed in the law courts. The rights of Christians to refuse to endorse homosexuality in speech or professionally, to preach freely in the pulpit without threat of litigation, and to educate their children at home or in schools of their choice have been far more tenuous than at any other time in American history. African Christians can at least point to the American example, and call on their governments to similarly allow freedom of conscience in respect of speech, profession, or the raising of our children. 

Thirdly, African Christians can take heart that the liberal and progressive agenda is not an unstoppable behemoth. In democracies, every vote counts, and American Christians proved that yet again. If Christians in Africa refuse to be passive when it comes to elections, they can yet make a difference in restraining evil. The American election surprised many Democratic pundits, who did not understand how many Americans were disturbed and dismayed by the extreme progressivism of some in the Democratic Party. It is possible for African Christians to send the same message to their politicians.

Of course, no Christian should believe that politicians can change the hearts of citizens. The evil in human hearts cannot be changed by laws and policies. Governments can only restrain the outward forms of evil, and seek to promote outward good. However, when it comes to the transformation of the heart, only the church can do that. Only Christians have a message that can write God’s law on the hearts of people, bringing real and permanent change. Legislation and enforcement do not really address the problems of society: they only slow the pace of growing evil. Only the preached gospel can change the moral fibre of Africa, or bring true revival. Once every four or five years, African Christians should vote, but every Sunday, indeed, every day, African Christians should preach and teach the good news of Jesus Christ.