Deontological & Teleological Ethics and Voting Trump

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/trump-my-great-honor-to-be-called-the-the-most-pro-gay-president-in-american-history

I know some of you believe in President Trump and are enthusiastic supporters. Others view him as a necessary stopgap measure to keep the Stalinist Democrats at bay. The link above explains in one simple article and video why I do not believe that it is proper for Christians to be casting our vote — a vote that belongs to God in heaven — for Donald Trump.

I’m not going to chide anyone for voting Trump more than what is in the paragraph above. I understand that people view Trump as a hope to forestall the darkness that is descending on both our suburban and urban areas. I understand the pragmatism that insists on voting Trump over Biden and the Marxists. I get the fear that would stampede people to vote for Trump. I share those fears. I would like to vote for him also on one level. However, as long as he courts the sodomite vote I will not join myself, through my vote, to that wickedness.

Some will counter with… “But if Trump isn’t elected you’re going to get sodomy anyway plus abortion, Marxism, more Government over-reach, etc.” That likely is true but I cannot find it within me to use that as an excuse to yoke myself, through my vote, to someone who says it is his great honor to be called the “most pro-sodomite President in History.”

My position on this is accounted for by the fact that I am practicing what is called a deontological ethic while many other Christians pulling levers for Trump seem to be practicing what is called a teleological ethic. In deontological ethics behavior is right or wrong as dependent on a clear set of established rules. The title (deontology) arises from the Greek word “deon” which means “duty.” As Christians we find those “rules” laid down in God’s law and are duty bound to abide by them. When I read in Scripture, “Be ye not unequally yoked,” I understand that I am duty bound not to vote for wickedness since a vote is a yoking of my permission for a candidate to pursue the behavior and policy he will pursue. The result of voting is when the candidate I voted for acts, I act. By my vote, his action, as my political covenant representative, is my action.

In teleological ethics on the other hand is a ethic of pragmatism. It holds that duty or moral obligation is to be pursued consistent with the end goal desired. So, in a teleological ethic right or wrong is dependent upon the outcome desired. From a teleological ethic standpoint voting for Trump, as an example, is considered right because the outcome of not voting for Trump would be bad. You can see the difference here vis-a-vis deontological ethics which insists that voting fro Trump is a matter of following a basic standard for behavior that is independent of the good or evil generated by not voting for Trump resulting from following that standard which is not considering the teleos of the action.

So, it is my conviction that many Christians have decided (understandingly given all that is at stake) to follow a teleological ethic in voting for Trump. I understand it. I don’t agree with it. I have decided that this matter of voting is a deontological ethic.

And there the twain never shall meet.

Author: jetbrane

I am a Pastor of a small Church in Mid-Michigan who delights in my family, my congregation and my calling. I am postmillennial in my eschatology. Paedo-Calvinist Covenantal in my Christianity Reformed in my Soteriology Presuppositional in my apologetics Familialist in my family theology Agrarian in my regional community social order belief Christianity creates culture and so Christendom in my national social order belief Mythic-Poetic / Grammatical Historical in my Hermeneutic Pre-modern, Medieval, & Feudal before Enlightenment, modernity, & postmodern Reconstructionist / Theonomic in my Worldview One part paleo-conservative / one part micro Libertarian in my politics Systematic and Biblical theology need one another but Systematics has pride of place Some of my favorite authors, Augustine, Turretin, Calvin, Tolkien, Chesterton, Nock, Tozer, Dabney, Bavinck, Wodehouse, Rushdoony, Bahnsen, Schaeffer, C. Van Til, H. Van Til, G. H. Clark, C. Dawson, H. Berman, R. Nash, C. G. Singer, R. Kipling, G. North, J. Edwards, S. Foote, F. Hayek, O. Guiness, J. Witte, M. Rothbard, Clyde Wilson, Mencken, Lasch, Postman, Gatto, T. Boston, Thomas Brooks, Terry Brooks, C. Hodge, J. Calhoun, Llyod-Jones, T. Sowell, A. McClaren, M. Muggeridge, C. F. H. Henry, F. Swarz, M. Henry, G. Marten, P. Schaff, T. S. Elliott, K. Van Hoozer, K. Gentry, etc. My passion is to write in such a way that the Lord Christ might be pleased. It is my hope that people will be challenged to reconsider what are considered the givens of the current culture. Your biggest help to me dear reader will be to often remind me that God is Sovereign and that all that is, is because it pleases him. View all posts by jetbrane