The internet is rife with political memes and hot takes, but some questions, however simplified, manage to tap into something deeper. The statement, “Would Jesus have voted for Abraham Lincoln? Possibly. Would Jesus vote for Donald Trump? Probably not,” is one of those. While we can’t definitively know how a first-century Palestinian carpenter would navigate 21st-century American politics (or 19th-century ones, for that matter), the essence of this statement rings surprisingly true. It points to a fundamental difference in values, suggesting that the principles Jesus preached and embodied might find a closer echo in Lincoln’s actions and ethos than in Trump’s. Let’s unpack why there’s more than just a grain of truth to this potentially inflammatory comparison.
Firstly, it’s crucial to acknowledge the limitations. We’re not claiming to know Jesus’s political affiliation. Christian scripture doesn’t offer a political platform. However, it does offer a clear set of values, principles, and directives that are undeniably central to Jesus’s ministry and teachings. It’s against this backdrop of core Christian values that the Lincoln/Trump comparison becomes illuminating.
Jesus’s Values: A Compass for Political Alignment
To understand why the statement resonates, we must look at the core tenets of Jesus’s message. These aren’t just abstract theological concepts; they are practical guidelines for living a life of love and justice. Key values central to Jesus include:
Compassion and Love for the Marginalised: Jesus consistently championed the poor, the sick, the outcast, and the vulnerable. He actively reached out to those society deemed unworthy or unclean, demonstrating a profound empathy for suffering and a radical inclusiveness. Think of his interactions with lepers, tax collectors, and Samaritans – groups ostracised in his time.
Humility and Servant Leadership: Jesus consistently downplayed worldly power and status. He taught that true greatness lies in service, famously washing his disciples’ feet. His leadership was characterised by humility, not dominance. He prioritised serving others over being served.
Justice and Fairness: Jesus spoke out against injustice and hypocrisy. He challenged the religious leaders of his time for their legalism and lack of compassion. He advocated for righteousness and fairness, condemning exploitation and oppression.
Truth and Integrity: Jesus valued truthfulness and honesty. He called out hypocrisy and deception, urging his followers to live lives of integrity, where their words and actions aligned with their beliefs.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Jesus preached radical forgiveness, even for enemies. He emphasised reconciliation and turning the other cheek, offering a path of peace and healing rather than retribution.
Focus on the Spiritual over the Material: While not advocating for poverty itself, Jesus consistently warned against the dangers of wealth and attachment to material possessions. He emphasised the importance of spiritual riches and focussing on the Kingdom of God, rather than earthly power and accumulation.
Lincoln: Imperfect But Aligning with Core Values
Abraham Lincoln, a figure deeply entwined with American history and often viewed through a religious lens, embodies several of these Jesus-inspired values, though imperfectly, as all humans do.
Emancipation and Justice: Lincoln’s defining act, the Emancipation Proclamation, and his commitment to preserving the Union against the moral stain of slavery, aligns powerfully with Jesus’s emphasis on justice and liberation for the oppressed. While Lincoln’s motivations were complex, the undeniable outcome was the freeing of millions from bondage, a profoundly compassionate and just act. This resonates deeply with Jesus’s mission to liberate the captive and lift up the downtrodden.
Humility and National Service: Lincoln, while President, maintained a degree of humility and viewed his role as a servant of the nation during a time of immense crisis. He bore the weight of a divided country with a sense of responsibility and a desire to heal. His famous speeches, like the Gettysburg Address, are marked by a somber humility and a call for national unity and healing.
Moral Grounding (though not explicitly religious): Lincoln’s speeches and writings often draw upon moral and ethical principles, even if not explicitly quoting scripture. He appealed to the better angels of our nature, invoking a sense of shared humanity and moral responsibility which resonates with Jesus’s ethical framework.
It’s crucial to remember Lincoln was a politician in a deeply divided nation. His actions were born from political realities and compromises. He wasn’t a saint, but in the context of his time, and considering his most significant actions, he displayed values that find a strong echo in the teachings of Jesus, particularly regarding justice, compassion for the oppressed, and a degree of humble leadership.
Trump: A Starker Contrast
Donald Trump, on the other hand, presents a starker contrast when viewed through the lens of Jesus’s values. While it’s impossible to judge anyone’s heart, analysing his public statements, policies, and actions reveals a significant divergence from the principles Jesus espoused.
Emphasis on “Strength” and Dominance over Humility: Trump’s persona is often defined by projecting strength, dominance, and self-promotion. This stands in stark contrast to Jesus’s emphasis on humility and servant leadership. His rhetoric often prioritises winning and power over empathy and understanding.
Divisive Rhetoric and “Us vs. Them” Mentality: Jesus preached love for neighbour and even enemies. Trump’s rhetoric, however, often thrives on division, creating an “us vs. them” mentality, demonising political opponents, immigrants, and other groups. This directly opposes Jesus’s call for unity and reconciliation.
Focus on Wealth and Material Success: Trump’s public image and business background are deeply intertwined with wealth and material success. While not inherently wrong, this emphasis contrasts sharply with Jesus’s warnings about the dangers of wealth and his prioritisation of spiritual riches. “Make America Great Again,” while a political slogan, can be interpreted as a focus on earthly kingdom building rather than spiritual values.
Less Visible Compassion for the Marginalised: While every leader addresses different groups, Trump’s policies and rhetoric have been criticised for lacking compassion towards vulnerable populations, particularly immigrants, refugees, and the poor. Policies like family separation at the border and cuts to social safety nets seem to contradict Jesus’s call to care for the least among us.
Retribution and Lack of Forgiveness: Trump’s political style is often characterised by retaliation and holding grudges. This contrasts with Jesus’s radical call for forgiveness and turning the other cheek.
Nuance and Conclusion: Not a Simple Endorsement, But Value Alignment
It’s crucial to reiterate that this is not a simplistic endorsement of Lincoln or condemnation of Trump in a theological sense. It’s an analysis of value alignment. It’s about observing which leader’s actions and approach, when broadly considered, more closely reflect the core values and principles that Jesus taught and embodied.
We can’t know for sure who Jesus would vote for. But by examining his teachings and contrasting them with the actions and ethos of Lincoln and Trump, it becomes clear why there’s more than just a grain of truth in the statement. Lincoln, despite his imperfections, grappled with issues of justice and unity in ways that resonate with core Christian values. Trump, while appealing to some Christian voters, often embodies a style and promotes values that appear to be in greater tension with the humble, compassionate, and justice-seeking spirit of Jesus.
Ultimately, the question isn’t about who Jesus would vote for, but about how we, as individuals and as a society, should vote and lead, guided by the enduring principles of love, justice, humility, and compassion that Jesus championed.
In that light, the comparison serves as a valuable, if provocative, exercise in examining our own political values and choices against the teachings of a figure whose influence continues to shape moral and ethical thought across the world.
Worldwide Temple of Aurora 