Depending on who you ask, someone will always say the current President is God's way of "rebuking" America. If you asked a disaffected conservative, they would say Barack Obama and the ill-advised involvement in the Syrian civil war were God's rebuke. If you asked a wary liberal, they would say George W. Bush and the meltdown of the economy were God's rebuke.
I myself am neither liberal nor conservative: that's at least one idol with which I don't struggle. Being that a Christian's views should be based on Scripture, there are some things, in worldly eyes, about which I'd be called "conservative," while other views I have might be seen as "liberal." I believe dogmatically following the man-made conservative or liberal way on any issue, without discretion, is extremely unwise. And you know you're being dogmatic when the religious zealot calls you dogmatic. Chris Rock once said, "Anyone who makes up his mind about an issue before he hears the issue is a fool." The word of God agrees: "He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him" (Proverbs 18:13).
There's nothing wrong with calling one's self a liberal or a conservative. But it's when we turn these things to idols that blur and distort our view of Christ that they become stumbling blocks to we who are called to be His servants.
There are many American Christians who have been deceived into thinking that Christianity and conservatism are mutually inclusive; who think voting Republican is a fruit of the Spirit; who think the Gospel was written by the five evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Tucker Carlson. These are the idolaters who, I believe, God is rebuking by putting Donald Trump in the office of President of the United States.
Before I'm strangled with a red necktie, note that I do not believe it is "conservatives" God is rebuking, and not "Republicans." Rather, I believe the Trump Administration is God's way of chastening those who worship these things. Those who would do what's best for the red elephant before sacrificing of themselves for the Gospel. Those who look away from, shrug off, or make excuses for the racism, xenophobia, hatred, unfairness, and un-Christlike "values" inherent in many of their political beliefs and talking points, be they obvious or subtle, all for the sake of their red idol. These are the people who I believe are being rebuked with the administration's ineptitude and disregard for the sanctity of human life. They have attached themselves to ungodly ideas, and they must choose to let go, or put them above what is right and good.
(Keep in mind this isn't just possible for idolatrous conservatives - those who worship liberalism could very well find themselves rebuked by an Oprah Winfrey presidency.)
Why would a Donald Trump presidency be a blow from God?
I believe God has shown us, 'this man is all of your hypocrisy, your empty use of My name, and the harm you do; this is what you serve, more than you serve Me.' There is already a cringe-fest of embarrassment which America, more specifically its conservative bases, has suffered and will continue to suffer during President Trump's time in office, and the year-plus of the campaign rhetoric of the mogul and those working in his administration. These things will be a sore blemish to the GOP for the next fifty years or more. President Trump's wild, unproven accusations and ignorant claims, his blatant attempts at deceit, his inability to handle criticisms with Twitter tantrums, and unscrupulous ties and conflicts of interest are a blueprint for how not to govern with the best interests of the American people at heart. Those who call themselves Christians, and lean toward "the right," who recognize the folly, ineptitude, and moral corruption of this regime and its ideologies, will refuse conservatism as their savior. They may remain "conservatives," but they will refuse to serve it as an idol. They will say, much as I've said often in my own wanderings from God, "what have I done? I've got to get back to my Father's arms." "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11).
They will, much like me with each of my idols which God has destroyed, despise it and be glad their hearts are fettered to Christ and not to lifeless isms and ologies. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).
And those who don't - those who stubbornly refuse to see any evils done by this administration, their sight being blinded by the red insignia they worship - will be seen by history as the uncaring and ignorant, as pitifully deceived, their actions an embarrassing scar on the already weary face of America. These are the ones who made excuses for the recorded conversations in which Donald Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women. These are the ones who lauded him as brilliant for not paying his taxes, while bemoaning the fact that their own taxes support the "welfare moms" they despise. These are the ones who praised him as a Christian, yet ignored the fact his own casinos include strip clubs. These are the ones who claimed they were voting "pro-life" when they voted for a man who opposes abortion, yet who doesn't care for the lives of refugees and immigrants. These are the ones who with robotic response shrieked "Hillary's emails!" in response to any evidence of wrongdoing being found by the FBI's investigations of Trump and his associates. In idolatry they did all of these things.
It's not just "secular" eyes who will look at them in embarrassment and pity - it's the eyes of future followers of Christ. Christians of future generations will cite the current idolaters' actions as examples of what is not Christlike. Today's idolatrous conservatives will be synonymous with hypocrisy and worldiness. They will be bywords among believers and non-believers alike.
Even if, by some miracle, President Trump somehow becomes another Woodrow Wilson or Ronald Reagan, the fact will remain that so many who proclaimed Christ and His instruction blinded their eyes to scandals, lies, and follies, all for the sake of their golden calf. The end does not justify the means in our idolatry.
A rational question would be, "What about all of the people being affected by Trump's actions? Immigrants, refugees, minorities, the less fortunate? They weren't 'worshiping the red elephant.' Why would God put Trump in power as a rebuke to idolaters, but allow others to suffer, too?"
I would point to the prophet Jeremiah, who prophesied at a time when Judah was engaged in idol worship to the point of sacrificing their own children in fires to false gods. This was a detestable thing, which God would punish by allowing Judah to fall into the hands of the invading Babylonians. Jeremiah was faithful to God, obedient to the point of mocking, imprisonment, and other hardship, all to proclaim God's word. But Jeremiah also suffered as a result of the Babylonians' invasion: not only did it break his heart to see Jerusalem destroyed, but he himself was eventually taken from the land he loved, forced into exile in Egypt, though he hadn't bowed the knee to the false gods his countrymen had served.
God places in power all those who have it. I often said when Donald Trump's inauguration neared that if the Christians of the early Church could pray for Nero, if the early Protestants could pray for Bloody Mary, then I can pray for President Trump. This is a good and holy thing, as the apostle Paul instructs that "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence" (1 Timothy 2:1-2). There are those who embrace these words when a Republican is in office, yet curse the life of the other guy; those who demanded respect for Bush as "my President," but cursed Obama for his crime of being a black Democrat. The same are hypocrites, and I don't want to fall into that sin and curse President Trump as being beyond redemption. To do so would be an insult to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
I don't care what hashtag is trending - Donald Trump is my President. "You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people" (Exodus 22:28).
When instructing us to pray for our leaders and not to revile them, Scripture does not, however, teach us to agree or embrace their every decision or decree, especially should they go against the holy word of God. Scripture does not teach us to remain silent about a leader's wrongdoings or when he or she speaks against what is right and good. And we're not called to pretend things aren't going terribly wrong. It's entirely possible to believe and trust in a God who works amazing miracles, and still be a realist.
I believe an essential task for American Christians today is to proclaim Christ in a way that separates His truth from "Republican Christianity," from the idols of conservatism and miscellaneous other ideologies of man and not of God. The world ignorantly draws its caricature of Christianity from those who claim Christ but bow down to the red elephant, whose strength to proclaim Christ depends on who's in political office, who receive their gospel from Breitbart, whose savior is Senator Combover, R-Oklahoma, who vows to put the Ten Commandments back on the schoolhouse walls.
The world's view of Christianity is drawn from those who think Jesus and Fox News are inseparable. Brothers and sisters in Christ, we must shatter this illusion. What is the best way to show Jesus to others? It's not by debates, nor by funding Creationism research rather than assistance for single parents. Not even video footage of the Resurrection would prove Jesus to anyone - the only way to show Him to another is to love them. "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time" (Colossians 4:5). Let our every word and comment on social topics be sprinkled with the salt of grace and patience, but also with the starkness of truth, and let our every thought and deed be linked to the Scripture. We are to be God's image bearers on Earth - may that image not be marred in unbelieving eyes by the idols of Fox & Friends, InfoWars, or even on the other side of the spectrum by NPR and the Huffington Post.
"Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men - as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." -1 Peter 2:13-17
There's nothing wrong with calling one's self a liberal or a conservative. But it's when we turn these things to idols that blur and distort our view of Christ that they become stumbling blocks to we who are called to be His servants.
There are many American Christians who have been deceived into thinking that Christianity and conservatism are mutually inclusive; who think voting Republican is a fruit of the Spirit; who think the Gospel was written by the five evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Tucker Carlson. These are the idolaters who, I believe, God is rebuking by putting Donald Trump in the office of President of the United States.
Before I'm strangled with a red necktie, note that I do not believe it is "conservatives" God is rebuking, and not "Republicans." Rather, I believe the Trump Administration is God's way of chastening those who worship these things. Those who would do what's best for the red elephant before sacrificing of themselves for the Gospel. Those who look away from, shrug off, or make excuses for the racism, xenophobia, hatred, unfairness, and un-Christlike "values" inherent in many of their political beliefs and talking points, be they obvious or subtle, all for the sake of their red idol. These are the people who I believe are being rebuked with the administration's ineptitude and disregard for the sanctity of human life. They have attached themselves to ungodly ideas, and they must choose to let go, or put them above what is right and good.
(Keep in mind this isn't just possible for idolatrous conservatives - those who worship liberalism could very well find themselves rebuked by an Oprah Winfrey presidency.)
Why would a Donald Trump presidency be a blow from God?
They will, much like me with each of my idols which God has destroyed, despise it and be glad their hearts are fettered to Christ and not to lifeless isms and ologies. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).
And those who don't - those who stubbornly refuse to see any evils done by this administration, their sight being blinded by the red insignia they worship - will be seen by history as the uncaring and ignorant, as pitifully deceived, their actions an embarrassing scar on the already weary face of America. These are the ones who made excuses for the recorded conversations in which Donald Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women. These are the ones who lauded him as brilliant for not paying his taxes, while bemoaning the fact that their own taxes support the "welfare moms" they despise. These are the ones who praised him as a Christian, yet ignored the fact his own casinos include strip clubs. These are the ones who claimed they were voting "pro-life" when they voted for a man who opposes abortion, yet who doesn't care for the lives of refugees and immigrants. These are the ones who with robotic response shrieked "Hillary's emails!" in response to any evidence of wrongdoing being found by the FBI's investigations of Trump and his associates. In idolatry they did all of these things.
It's not just "secular" eyes who will look at them in embarrassment and pity - it's the eyes of future followers of Christ. Christians of future generations will cite the current idolaters' actions as examples of what is not Christlike. Today's idolatrous conservatives will be synonymous with hypocrisy and worldiness. They will be bywords among believers and non-believers alike.
Even if, by some miracle, President Trump somehow becomes another Woodrow Wilson or Ronald Reagan, the fact will remain that so many who proclaimed Christ and His instruction blinded their eyes to scandals, lies, and follies, all for the sake of their golden calf. The end does not justify the means in our idolatry.
A rational question would be, "What about all of the people being affected by Trump's actions? Immigrants, refugees, minorities, the less fortunate? They weren't 'worshiping the red elephant.' Why would God put Trump in power as a rebuke to idolaters, but allow others to suffer, too?"
I would point to the prophet Jeremiah, who prophesied at a time when Judah was engaged in idol worship to the point of sacrificing their own children in fires to false gods. This was a detestable thing, which God would punish by allowing Judah to fall into the hands of the invading Babylonians. Jeremiah was faithful to God, obedient to the point of mocking, imprisonment, and other hardship, all to proclaim God's word. But Jeremiah also suffered as a result of the Babylonians' invasion: not only did it break his heart to see Jerusalem destroyed, but he himself was eventually taken from the land he loved, forced into exile in Egypt, though he hadn't bowed the knee to the false gods his countrymen had served.
God places in power all those who have it. I often said when Donald Trump's inauguration neared that if the Christians of the early Church could pray for Nero, if the early Protestants could pray for Bloody Mary, then I can pray for President Trump. This is a good and holy thing, as the apostle Paul instructs that "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence" (1 Timothy 2:1-2). There are those who embrace these words when a Republican is in office, yet curse the life of the other guy; those who demanded respect for Bush as "my President," but cursed Obama for his crime of being a black Democrat. The same are hypocrites, and I don't want to fall into that sin and curse President Trump as being beyond redemption. To do so would be an insult to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
I don't care what hashtag is trending - Donald Trump is my President. "You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people" (Exodus 22:28).
When instructing us to pray for our leaders and not to revile them, Scripture does not, however, teach us to agree or embrace their every decision or decree, especially should they go against the holy word of God. Scripture does not teach us to remain silent about a leader's wrongdoings or when he or she speaks against what is right and good. And we're not called to pretend things aren't going terribly wrong. It's entirely possible to believe and trust in a God who works amazing miracles, and still be a realist.
I believe an essential task for American Christians today is to proclaim Christ in a way that separates His truth from "Republican Christianity," from the idols of conservatism and miscellaneous other ideologies of man and not of God. The world ignorantly draws its caricature of Christianity from those who claim Christ but bow down to the red elephant, whose strength to proclaim Christ depends on who's in political office, who receive their gospel from Breitbart, whose savior is Senator Combover, R-Oklahoma, who vows to put the Ten Commandments back on the schoolhouse walls.
The world's view of Christianity is drawn from those who think Jesus and Fox News are inseparable. Brothers and sisters in Christ, we must shatter this illusion. What is the best way to show Jesus to others? It's not by debates, nor by funding Creationism research rather than assistance for single parents. Not even video footage of the Resurrection would prove Jesus to anyone - the only way to show Him to another is to love them. "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time" (Colossians 4:5). Let our every word and comment on social topics be sprinkled with the salt of grace and patience, but also with the starkness of truth, and let our every thought and deed be linked to the Scripture. We are to be God's image bearers on Earth - may that image not be marred in unbelieving eyes by the idols of Fox & Friends, InfoWars, or even on the other side of the spectrum by NPR and the Huffington Post.
"Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men - as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." -1 Peter 2:13-17
