Despite his lack of "born-again" Christian background and his admission that he has never asked for forgiveness, Donald Trump is still winning the hearts and minds of evangelical voters, as shown by his continued dominance of the race for the Republican presidential nomination.
What draws evangelicals to Trump despite all his outward shortcomings?
Writing for Charisma News, respected author, teacher and ordained minister Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt lists five reasons why many evangelicals are embracing Trump.
1 - Evangelicals feel betrayed by the Republican majority whom they elected and sent to Washington, D.C., to stop the "fundamental transformation" of the nation by President Barack Obama, Hyatt says.
"They see the Republican majority whom they elected as being feckless, timid and ineffective. They find this very frustrating and they see Trump as someone with the backbone to stand up to the Democrats," he writes.
2 - Evangelicals are outraged by Obama's use of his executive orders to bypass Congress to implement his liberal agenda. At the same time the evangelicals are disgusted at the failure of Congress to oppose Obama's misuse of power.
"Many evangelicals see Trump as the one who will do just that," Hyatt says.
3 - Evangelicals feel they have been marginalised and that the United States is no longer a nation of "we the people," but a nation being governed by a liberal president, liberal justices and liberal unelected government bureaucrats.
"They felt this deeply when five, unelected, liberal justices struck down the state laws instituted by 'we the people' that had defined marriage as being between one man and one woman. They are looking for a strong 'voice' in Washington, D.C., and right or wrong, many see Trump as providing that voice," Hyatt writes.
4 - Evangelicals are disheartened by the Obama administration's hostile attitude towards Christianity as its minions continue to try imposing bans on public prayers and the display of Christian symbols on federal and state property. The evangelicals are horrified to see Obama ordering the removal of Christian symbols from behind the podium when he speaks at a Catholic University and dispensing with the traditional "Christmas tree" and calling it a "Holiday tree," according to Hyatt.
"This trend is very disturbing to evangelicals. In spite of Trump's non-evangelical past, they hear his bold promise to reverse this trend," he adds.
5 - Evangelicals are very much worried about national security. They view Obama as being naïve and in a state of denial by his refusal to use the words "Islamic terrorist" or "Islamic radicals" in the attacks launched in the U.S. and elsewhere by these terrorists.
"They see his tepid and flippant attitude toward ISIS, and they realize this weak approach has left that terrorist organization free to slaughter thousands of Christians in the Middle East. Because of this, they do not trust him or his party to protect them from Islamic extremists," Hyatt says.
When Trump cries out, "We have stupid leaders in Washington, D.C.," he is expressing what many evangelicals deeply feel. They applaud him when he says, "I will defend Christianity" since this is the opposite of what Obama is doing.
Evangelicals also applaud when Trump emphatically declares, "I will destroy ISIS" since Obama has done nothing to stop Islamic terrorism, Hyatt says.
"I have not been a Trump supporter and did not vote for him in the recent Texas primary. Nonetheless, it is obvious to even me that he is addressing with clarity and force the deep frustration and anger being felt by evangelicals," he adds.
Taking all this into consideration, Hyatt advises the Republican establishment to be "wise to dispense with their scorched-earth plan to destroy Trump and his candidacy."
"They will only hurt themselves and the party and nation they claim to love. Why not, instead, seek to understand why these millions of good, decent Americans are so frustrated and angry? Why not seek to address those concerns with a bold, proactive vision and plan? Why not?" he says.
