MORE TO PONDER BEFORE PILING ON OUR PRESIDENT

Article published on FaceBook – Charles Curtman

Yesterday at 9:37 AM  · MORE TO PONDER BEFORE PILING ON OUR PRESIDENT

Here’s something else for people, especially pastors, to ponder before “piling on” President Trump:Our president, throughout his pre-political life focused entirely on his businesses, indicating little if any interest in God, Christianity or the Bible. Much of this has changed. During his two presidential campaigns and time in office, he has become acquainted with ministers such as Franklin Graham, Robert Jeffries and other good men as well as with innumerable Christian people who’ve supported and befriended him. No doubt a considerable weight of positive witness has been brought to bear on him. Christians should be happy and hopeful because of this.Of course some of the “Christian leaders” who’ve found their way into President Trump’s circle of acquaintances are less than desirable, but this is all part of the experience many of us have had as we were finding our way where the Truth of the Gospel is concerned. I think there’s evidence being manifested even now that due to the Christian influence he’s been exposed to, and the assassination attempts he has survived, etc., that our President may be “not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). Christians should be happy and hopeful about this.President Trump is running this country courageously, competently and selflessly now as a success-driven, profit-driven, national security driven businessman, and not as a typical self-serving, rung-climbing, competence-lite politician focused primarily on staying in office. He appears to be guided (however unconsciously) by Christian principles, not perfectly, but more than almost any other president we’ve had. It needs to be acknowledged, as history will acknowledge, that President Trump has done more for our country than all but a handful of his predecessors put together have done. As imperfect he is, and however much any of his decisions or actions may require a change of mind and action, our duty is to pray for our president, and that God will use him to truly bless our country. More importantly, we need to thank God for the steps he appears to be making in the right direction spiritually. One would expect anyone other than those suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome or those short on common sense to be happy and hopeful about all this; grateful, and more inclined to pray for Mr. Trump than to “pile on” him. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.”—1 Timothy 2:1-4

Charles Curtman

April 28 at 12:46 PM  · FOR PASTORS WHO’VE PILED ON THE PRESIDENT It’s interesting and sad, to see pastors—men otherwise Scripturally informed, spiritually minded, and sensible—“piling on” President Trump along with the mainstream media, the Democratic Party, and other liberals and leftists. I do not question their sincerity or “right” to do it, but I think they’re wrong to use their position, behind pulpits or otherwise, to do it; wrong where the good of our country is concerned and where their calling is concerned. Here are some things I think preachers should consider:Clinton, the Bushes, Obama, Biden, and most of the presidents preceding Trump openly and often professed to be Christians and church members, etc. while in real life and in real time, they weren’t within a thousand miles of having a truly Christian testimony. (See the New Testament and read some presidential biographies). President Trump, as far as I know, hasn’t made any such public profession of faith as have many of his predecessors. He appears to be at least, a seeker such as Cornelius (Acts 10) and others were; he may fit into the category of someone “not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). Sin, moral failure, etc. has definitely been part of his life as an unbeliever, but probably no more so than presidents before him who have professed to be believers.Until the recent advent of the internet, the sin and moral faults of Presidents have been largely kept from the public eye, and the media hasn’t had the means to perpetrate the political skulduggery and propaganda that it does now. But President Trump lives at a time when, (1) the opportunities to scrutinize and publicly slander a president have never been greater, and when (2) the mainstream media has never been more biased, corrupt and determined to destroy a President than it is now. Add to this that no president in history has been more hated and feared by people with legitimate fear of being exposed by this administration, and cast out of office and/or into prison for their crimes.Perhaps President Trump, like all his predecessors, will at some point in time, pursue a policy or go down some path politically that will be a disappointment to some. At this point it can be safely said that no other president has demonstrated more love of country, more courage or competency or more self-sacrifice in serving the best interests of Americans than has Mr. Trump. Neither has any President shown more determination to achieve world peace and avoid war than Trump.I think Christians in general, before piling on our President need to ask themselves how frequently and fervently they’ve prayed for him. Relative to preachers, I think it represents a misguided attempt at virtue signaling (that is anything but virtuous), when they pile on our President. I don’t think it’s a spiritual, sensible or smart thing to do—especially now, as our nation hovers on the edge of a well-deserved demise with radicalized enemies within who have never been more numerous, vicious, and determined to destroy America. I think Christ, our churches and our country are best served by pastors who pray for President Trump rather than pile on him. It’s impossible to do both.