I will begin my first blog post with a question:
What should those who hold to a Biblical worldview (i.e., Christians) do about Donald Trump?
There are believers in Christ, who are convinced that Donald Trump is just what America needs to get the country back on track. This includes stopping illegal immigration, bringing jobs back to America, and giving due respect to our military (especially our veterans). There are believers who will not, under any circumstances, vote for “The Donald.” They see him as inept, uncouth, and unfit for the presidential office. Then there are believers who will vote for “Mr. Trump” because they absolutely despise the alternative Democratic candidates.
All three groups confess Christ and have received the forgiveness of sins in Jesus name. However when it comes to political candidates they may sit on opposite sides of each other, and disagree in terms of whether they should vote for Trump, or not.
So how would one who holds to a Biblical worldview observe Donald Trump? Donald Trump has claimed he is a Presbyterian. The PCUSA, the largest Presbyterian Committee, which has thousands of churches under its banner holds to the Westminster Confession of Faith. Where the first question, found in the large and shorter catechism, says this:
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
In light of Donald Trump’s confession of being a Protestant, specifically a Presbyterian, it would be advantageous for us to examine some of the actions of this candidate, and observe if he lives a life that reflects the glory of God, as given by the Westminster Confession.
Repentance is essential for those with a Biblical worldview: Donald Trump mentioned, in an interview with Jake Tapper, what he believes about forgiveness:
“I like to be good. I don’t like to have to ask for forgiveness. And I am good. I don’t do a lot of things that are bad. I try to do nothing that is bad.”
The Sacred Scriptures give a different perspective of forgiveness. James in his epistle, concerning prayer for the saints writes,
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (James 5:16 NASB)
The apostle John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives the truth regarding how we are to come to God as believers when he writes,
8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10 NASB)
Donald Trump in his admission that he,”does not like to ask for forgiveness” runs against the central truth of Sacred Scripture: All believers acknowledge they receive forgiveness from God daily, because believers sin daily. Believers in Christ also recognize they are not perfect nor “good,” something that has eluded “Mr. Trump” in his theological answer to Jake Tapper.
Donald Trump is unaware of the significance of the Lord’s Supper: Donald Trump, in an article by Eugene Scott said this,
“When I drink my little wine — which is about the only wine I drink — and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of asking for forgiveness, and I do that as often as possible because I feel cleansed,” he said. “I think in terms of ‘let’s go on and let’s make it right.”
Irrespective what one thinks about the Lord’s Supper (I will leave this subject for another blog), there is no doubt that the Lord’s Supper is one of the most important sacraments given to the saints of the faith by Jesus Christ. Is the Lord Supper a “form” of asking for forgiveness? The apostle Paul highlights the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper:
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NASB).
The apostle Paul told the followers of Corinth the reason why they were to partake of the Lord’s Supper: To proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. In other words, the Lord’s Supper was not a “form” of asking for forgiveness, given in “a little wine” or “a little cracker.” One partakes of the Lord Supper because they have already received the forgiveness of sins. A believer takes the Lord Supper because they are to remember the means by which the universal church has received forgiveness: The death of Christ on the cross, satisfying the wrath of God for the sinner.
If rememberance of what the Lord has done is found in the Lord Supper, and Donald Trump has no need for forgiveness, then why would Donald Trump even partake of the sacred practice? For Donald Trump to say that the Lord’s Supper is just “a little wine” and “a little cracker” minimizes the glory of God found in this wonderful ordinance.
Trump’s Conduct Is Not Centered In Wisdom: The apostle Paul, Colossians 4:7 writes to the believers in Colossae,
5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (Colossians 4:6 NASB)
The apostle Paul tells the believers in Colossae to conduct themselves with wisdom, making the most of every opportunity, and having their speech seasoned with grace. However what has Donald Trump done throughout his life? He has admitted to sleeping with married women, and bragging about it, to slandering the former candidates, and their family members. To being involved with an escort service, from calling all kinds of people “pigs,” and “fat slobs.” From insulting people like Russell Moore, an prominent Evangelical figure, stating he is,”a nasty guy with no heart.” From bragging about what he has in common with his own daughter is sexual intercourse, adding he would possibly even date his own daughter if she was not his daughter (Again, none of this conduct he feels he has no need to ask forgiveness for). There are many more things he has said and done that have been nowhere close to wisdom. Nor has his speech been gentle, as seasoned with salt, as the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, has instructed believers to conduct themselves.
I understand that Donald Trump has been a tidal wave in the political race. The candidate some people are saying that is “shaking things up,” and “telling it like it is.” However, as believers in Christ, we must ask ourselves: Has Donald Trump, according to his conduct, speech, and his knowledge of God’s word (or lack thereof), reflected the glory of God, as a forgiven sinner, saved by grace? Perhaps a better question would be: What would the world at large think if we as Christians, who are commanded to have conduct like the apostle Paul said, cast our support behind a man who says he is a believer, but did not, and does not ask for forgiveness, denigrates the Lord’s Supper, and has behavior not centered in godly wisdom?
In our Biblical worldview, let us be consistent in our standards. Not just striving to do all things for the glory of God, but demand others we desire to support do the same in this election, or future elections to come.
Until next time…
Soli Deo Gloria!
L.S.
Comments