Dear Theophilus,
There has always been in Christian circles, as long as I have been running in them, much talk of voting according to Christian Principles. A friend, who shall remain nameless, wrote to me and stated it this way: "You know the only person who was perfect was Christ, but when Trump calls himself a Christian he is to be measured as Paul tells us to measure - by his words and deeds. It's not there." I presume he refers to this:
1 Corinthians 5:11-13 ESV (11) But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler--not even to eat with such a one. (12) For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? (13) God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you."
He adamantly points out Mr. Trump's use of bankruptcy, 2 divorces, etc.
He writes in his blog:
Remember, the author of "The Art of The Deal" is a consummate deal maker. He readily acknowledges using the laws to protect himself when he has filed for bankruptcy; he has admitted to changing his mind on virtually everything.
Donald Trump is not a conservative, he is a populist who will say whatever is needed at the moment. That is the art of a salesman...do what it takes to get the deal done. It is "the art of the deal."
Always remember bankruptcy hurts people. Many people never get paid for the goods and services they provided in good faith. Bragging about using the laws to better oneself at the expense of others is not a trait I want in our next President.
As you can see, this man has judged Mr. Trump unworthy to be President by his standards.
I would like to expound on those standards and what I think is going on in the spirit.
First, to my friend, I would ask this: Are we talking about electing him Pastor or Head Prophet or something? No. We're talking about the Presidency of the United States.
Earlier in 1 Corinthians, Paul writes this:
1 Corinthians 4:1-8 ESV (1) This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. (2) Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. (3) But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. (4) For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. (5) Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. (6) I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. (7) For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (8) Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!
Now the context of all of this is: "In the Church". The problem is we are not talking about "Church". We are talking about Government. Now, as damning as all that my friend refers to is, are we to judge Mr. Trump unfit for our government because of his past? If the answer is yes, well, then, let's damn them all, yes? No one is truly fit for the Presidency as what we want is Christian Perfection, yes? I see this as another way of saying "You're not good enough for my church until you clean yourself up!"
I also see this as just a symptom of a larger phenomenon among today's Christians. What is really going on in evangelical circles is something called "Dominionism".
(From Wikipedia)
Journalist Frederick Clarkson defined dominionism as a movement that, while including Dominion Theology and Reconstructionism as subsets, is much broader in scope, extending to much of the Christian Right in the United States.
In 2005, Clarkson enumerated the following characteristics shared by all forms of dominionism:
1) Dominionists celebrate Christian nationalism, in that they believe that the United States once was, and should once again be, a Christian nation. In this way, they deny the Enlightenment roots of American democracy.
2) Dominionists promote religious supremacy, insofar as they generally do not respect the equality of other religions, or even other versions of Christianity.
3) Dominionists endorse theocratic visions, insofar as they believe that the Ten Commandments, or "biblical law," should be the foundation of American law, and that the U.S. Constitution should be seen as a vehicle for implementing Biblical principles.
Now, am I calling my friend a dominionist? No. Absolutely not. I am convinced he means well and is not overtly promoting "religious supremacy". But, I know his belief system includes most of what was just listed. I'm sure he has decided to judge Mr. Trump according to the book he lives his life by. And that is fine. I have no quarrel with that. The net result is that he is judging Mr. Trump the same way, I presume, he would judge someone who would be applying for a position in his church. Again, if he wants to do that, he has the right. And, again, no quarrel from me.
However, having said all that, I do have another thought that may not have occurred to him or, perhaps, anyone else, either.
There is a case, in the Bible, of a non-believer that God calls "his anointed".
A man by the name of Cyrus, which history has dubbed Cyrus the Great.
Isaiah 45:1-5 ESV Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: (2) "I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, (3) I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. (4) For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. (5) I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me,
I will include a number of quotes following this to show some of the history of this man.
(From Wikipedia)
Cyrus II of Persia commonly known as Cyrus the Great and also called Cyrus the Elder by the Greeks, was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire.
(From Wikipedia)
The reign of Cyrus the Great lasted between 29 and 31 years. Cyrus built his empire by conquering first the Median Empire, then the Lydian Empire and eventually the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Either before or after Babylon, he led an expedition into central Asia, which resulted in major campaigns that were described as having brought "into subjection every nation without exception".
And this is one the most interesting things I found:
(From Wikipedia)
Cyrus the Great respected the customs and religions of the lands he conquered. It is said that in universal history, the role of the Achaemenid Empire founded by Cyrus lies in its very successful model for centralized administration and establishing a government working to the advantage and profit of its subjects.
(From Wikipedia)
The personage of Cyrus the Great is unconditionally praised in the Jewish sources. It is likely that, after the Persian conquest of Babylon, Cyrus had commenced his relationship with the Jewish leaders in exile, and that he later was considered as a messiah sent by Yahweh. Daniel was in the favor of Cyrus, and it was in the third year of Cyrus that he had the vision recorded in his tenth chapter.
Cyrus issued the decree of liberation to the Jews,[4] concerning which Daniel had prayed and prophesied. The edict of Cyrus for the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem marked a great epoch in the history of the Jewish people.
There is much more available which you, dear Theophilus, can find for yourself. Here's the thing I want to bring out: In my spirit, my thoughts about Mr. Trump always come back to Cyrus. I see Cyrus when I see Mr. Trump. I think this is significant. I speak for myself, of course. And I make no prophetic claim of anything in this. Others can judge for themselves whether I'm on to something or just full of whatever.
My point in this is that it may not take a perfectly honed Christian man to be the one to finally shake off the shackles of progressive liberalism from our country and restore the Federal Government back to the people. It may just take a vulgarian Jacksonian hero who knows what to do and how to do it. And in the end, America can be great again.
As always,
taj
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