I’m going to suggest something outrageous. It’s so wild and scandalous that I expect a lot of people will stop reading this post and simply dismiss me. And some people will leap into action to destroy me. Here’s my outrageous statement: “I don’t doubt Donald Trump is a Christian.”
Recently, Trump stood for a photograph in front of a church holding a Bible. Was this “staged?” Of course. There are very few candid photographs of Presidents. A Christian friend of mine posted this comment regarding the photo.
So I asked how Donald Trump could publicly represent the Christian faith without being accused of phoniness? I am still waiting for a response…
In the meantime, I’ve got a couple of things to say to my fellow Christians who have re-written Matthew 7:1 to be, “Judge not, lest you are talking about Trump.”
It’s good when anyone professes Christianity.
If I understand the Christian faith properly (and I do) , Jesus is the only way to make peace with God. When a sinner comes to Christ, all of Heaven rejoices. The church is supposed to celebrate too. Politics are put aside and the new soul is welcomed into the family.
It’s good when a President professes Christianity…isn’t it?
It goes without saying that the President of the United States of America is an influential character. Over the years, the church accepted testimonies from Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Christ Pratt, and dozens of other “famous” people without scrutiny. Celebrity endorsements helped us feel like Christianity was more legit. “Look! The cool kids are Christians too!”
The problem is, Donald Trump embarrasses us. He’s crass, and rude, and blunt, and unkind, and arrogant, and a bully. We don’t want people like THAT holding up a Bible! Donald Trump gives Christianity a bad name!
Sinners don’t give Christianity a bad name. Christianity gives sinners a new name.
There is a story in the Bible where a prostitute washed Jesus’ feet with her hair and an expensive bottle of perfume. The apostles criticized the action as wasteful. Jesus corrected them with the now famous phrase:
“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
Luke 7:47
Christians, do you think it’s impossible that Donald Trump knows about his many sins? Is it not possible that a guy like Trump can be changed by an encounter with Jesus? If we believe Trump is “a phony” when he holds up a Bible, we are joining the apostles in their dark cynicism.
At this point, I’m tempted to picture Trump washing Jesus feet with his hair but that would distract from the point.
Only despicable people need Christianity.
Perfect people don’t need Jesus. I thought we understood that? It is only crass, rude, blunt, unkind, selfish, wicked people who need a savior. If Donald Trump recognizes his sinfulness, it doesn’t surprise me that he’s clamoring to get close to Jesus. What DOES surprise me is that people who claim to already be following Jesus are throwing rocks at him.
There is nothing in Christian doctrine that justifies abusing Donald Trump for posing with a Bible.
I got this response to my question about how Trump can profess faith without being “phony.”
I’m thankful that God is going to do the final judgment regarding Donald Trump. I’m thankful God is going to judge me as well. Something tells me that I’d be in big trouble if my fellow Christians were in charge of validating my faith.
14 Responses
Why are these people criticizing Trump for using the Bible as a prop? That seems to me to be elevating the Bible to an almost god-like status.
I would be curious if the people condemning him for this photo op had the same condemnation for the hundreds (if not thousands) of other politicians who who have posed with a Bible.
I do my best to give professing Christians the benefit of the doubt, since it’s not up to me to be the judge. The Bible makes that pretty clear. I have noticed that many of the people criticizing him do not profess to be Christians themselves. I always find that amusing. How can their Christian sensibilities be offended if they’re not Christians? If you aren’t part of the tribe, I don’t particularly care about your opinion of those who claim a place in the tribe.
As for those who also claim a place in the tribe, I would direct their attention to the speck/plank admonition.
I have strong cynical tendencies, but when I saw the video, it did not even occur to me to think that Trump was merely posing while not really meaning it. It struck me as both symbolic AND real. I’m not a devoted Trump fanboy, but I also don’t have TDS.
In the speech he made at the White House just before he went to the church, he clearly supported justice in general and justice for George Floyd in particular. He clearly indicated that the destructive and murderous riots are not that justice. The scene at the damaged church underscores this, and points to a better way.
Thank you for sharing your post! While I watched the president last night I thought nice it came across as a photo op. Are these same people going to go after other political leaders who are giving “sermons” as well when the fruit is not evident in their lives? I have seen and heard others like Nancy quote and use scripture twisting it to say what “she” wants it to say. I have an issue with taking the Word of God out of context way more then taking a minute for a photo op.
Just my thoughts
I must have missed the part of Christianity that allows believers to see the heart of another believer. I read a lot of posts directed at John by people professing to be Christians.The only thing we really see or hear from President Trump is in speeches or press conferences where he is in verbal combat with the media, who hate him. He is not professing his faith and we don’t see him in private. His public stance against abortion and his policies to help minorities show he cares about people. The way he handled Covid-19 again shows his care for people above money. I’m not sure what all these people want to see from him that would “prove” he is Christian. We are not the judge of any mans heart. The man says he has received Christ, that should at least earn him some grace from the Christian community, but sadly it has not. Jesus told us to love our enemies and we can’t even love a guy who says things in a way that rubs us the wrong way.
I’ve seen so many Christians post this picture of the POTUS today with so much judgement and hate then in the same breath say all lives matter and the world needs less hate.
I don’t think it’s wrong to expect Presidents (and ALL CHRISTIANS) to show some fruit…
Trump is displaying at least as much fruit as Barack Obama, or most other politicians.
In my view, it has always been hard to tell the difference between sinners saved by grace and Celebrities using faith as a prop to gain more popularity…
I don’t have a problem with people using their best judgment to determine which is the case.
The thing I have trouble with is deciding your judgment about someone is the correct judgment and then sharing that on social media. No one has the ability to judge a public figure from the very little we see on TV and we certainly don’t have enough information to determine whether their salvation is true or false. However, every Christian seems to have the market cornered on insight into these people’s heart. It is very frustrating as a Christian to see this happen over and over. We are probably the most publicly judgmental people on the planet and we wonder why people are turned off by Christianity.
I have personally struggled with myself about the president’s witness as a lot of what we see does not look very “fruitful”. I can say I have prayed for him but as he is still on Twitter one of them hasn’t been answered. Things by like having Paula White as a spiritual advisor gives me pause. I do appreciate his pro-life position and other things where he has promoted Christianity. I am also aware that my “fruit” isn’t always the best so I will throw no stones there. So short of full support I will continue to pray for those in leadership as I should. Thanks John for the reminder to pull my log first. God judges the heart.
I am so thankful that I am not in President Trump’s position. Nothing he ever does will be considered “right” by certain people. There are post after post (including from conservative organizations) about how horrible it is that Trump has remained silent on George Floyd and the protests. Yet you can go to C-SPAN and search President Trump on George Floyd and the Protests and hear his speech on the matter. Is it possible that he knows no matter what he says it’s going to be spun to be inflammatory so he chose to do his own “silent” protest and marched to the church to condemn the violence against a church. The Bible to show that this was supposed to be a sacred sight (as, it didn’t really look like a church behind him) and what does the Bible say about this violence. That he tried to show it because people won’t listen to him say it? And now they spin this too to inflame the rhetoric. So sad. So many would prefer the slick talking, forked tongue speaking of previous and current politicians that make everyone “feel good” and who say all the “right” things to a brash, plain speaking, president. That is so sad. They would rather the “feel good” falsehood to the truth.
I agree with your main points, though I would probably go with a different title. I don’t think Donald Trump makes an excellent Christian, but (assuming that his faith is not just political grandstanding) I think that Trump is a good example that God can redeem anyone for His perfect will. I hope that this picture is not just a tool like lots of Christians are saying, but a reflection of his personal life.
I think any person makes “an excellent Christian” because Christ changes sinners into saints. I didn’t make that point very clear. 😊
I see your point. I’m not as much of a Calvinist as maybe Peaches is, but I think that Christians need to move towards Christ as He is renewing them. Thus I would personally reserve the term ‘excellent’ for those that not only believe and put their trust in Christ, but exemplify and exude His love towards those around them and in their sphere of influence. I’m not arguing that Trump isn’t trying, but simply holding a Bible in front of a Church building is a small step at best.
However, I’m just peering out from under my bridge, so what do I know?🤷🏻
I would agree that holding a Bible in front of a church building is a simple thing to do. I think the gesture is symbolic. Trump has taken a lot of criticism for “not responding” to the riots. The photo is a kind of response. As I suggested in the post, the President holding up the Bible makes a powerful statement. Moreso than you or I doing the same thing.
He could have held up The Constitution or the Emancipation Proclamation and it would have sent a different message. I think my friend misinterpreted Trump’s photo as a statement of Trump’s personal faith. I believe the photo is more properly interpreted to be the Leader of the free world telling us where we should look for the solution to our current upheaval.