Last night marked the first Presidential debate, and judging by reaction from various Christians on social media there was a lot left to be desired.
Coming into the debate, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were two of the least popular candidates in modern history, and record numbers of viewers were expected to tune in. Watching at home, you could almost feel the nervous tension over what was about to take place.
Praying that tonight’s debate will not be an embarrassment for the nation. 100 million people expected to watch.
— Albert Mohler (@albertmohler) September 27, 2016
For the first half hour or so it was a relatively non-embarrassing affair, but by the end of the 90+ minute session filled with interruptions, accusations, falsehoods, and nonsense – many were exasperated.
Wow, that didn't even feel like 12 hours. #debatenight
— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) September 27, 2016
— AndyStanley (@AndyStanley) September 27, 2016
Gonna be a tough day in seminary tomorrow.
"Erickson, why do you look so sleepy?"
"I sat at the hotel bar to numb myself after that debate"— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) September 27, 2016
Why was it so difficult for Christians (and many Americans) to watch? Consider this moment:
TRUMP: But you want to know the truth? I was going to say something…
HOLT: Please very quickly.
TRUMP: … extremely rough to Hillary, to her family, and I said to myself, “I can’t do it. I just can’t do it. It’s inappropriate. It’s not nice.” But she spent hundreds of millions of dollars on negative ads on me, many of which are absolutely untrue. They’re untrue. And they’re misrepresentations. And I will tell you this, Lester: It’s not nice. And I don’t deserve that.
Trump was alluding to former President Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky, an incredibly ironic attack considering Trump himself has bragged about his own extramarital exploits in the past.
Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, managed to shrug off her email scandal by trying to place the issue of Trump’s tax returns on the same playing field – as if matters of national security are equally as important as Trump’s financial stats.
By the end of it all, many were left feeling a little despondent.
Maybe we should try 4 years without a president? #debatenight
— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) September 27, 2016
But it’s always good to keep perspective, and remembering that God is ultimately sovereign and not surprised by this election in the slightest should leave us feeling confident and hopeful. True change won’t come from a strong man or woman perched atop the executive branch.
No debate here- what America desperately needs are thousands of pastors who pray fervently, preaching Biblically & share Jesus passionately.
— Pastor Steve Gaines (@bellevuepastor) September 27, 2016
Our Republic is resilient. We will survive this. But that still doesn't make our bread-and-circuses decadence easy to watch. #Debates2016
— Russell Moore (@drmoore) September 27, 2016
Our Republic is resilient – and our God sits high above it all. It may not have been easy to watch, but all is not lost.