Christian Hope

Fear & Trumpst

Against all the nay saying Donald Trump is a politician who has actually followed up on many/most of his campaign pledges. From policies aimed at maintaining or returning jobs to the United States and leveling the international trade playing field, to First Amendment freedoms to the selection of Supreme Court nominations, the President has been behind many commendable efforts that should benefit everyone in this nation for years to come.

Certainly some efforts have been less than successful, brought more controversy than benefit, or promise benefits yet to be seen. 

Having said that I wouldn’t want anyone to read more into those statements than I mean. With Roseanne Barr I am glad for these helpful policies but not a defender of the many faults of this President. I believe the President to be morally flawed to a remarkable degree. I believe he’s less than truthful regarding his personal life and past. His unrestrained tweets and verbal speech is routinely the stuff labeled “folly” in the book of Proverbs. He’s a lowly man in our nation’s highest office. And yet….

The Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom he wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men. Daniel 4:17 NASB

In a democratic republic like ours, where we are part of the divine process of installing leaders, it’s an indictment on the nation when we elect the base and morally lowly. In that last presidential election many felt the choice was between two base, deficient candidates, and yet these were the candidates that came out of the popular process in each political party. The moral stature of our choices in the last election to some significant degree reflects the moral status of the nation largely.

That Donald Trump has been truer to his campaign rhetoric and pledges than previous men who have held the same office is an indictment of those otherwise better men.  The contrast between campaign rhetoric and in-office follow through speaks to the low state of our politics generally as well as to the stature of many who trade in it. Donald Trump the businessman turned politician has certainly followed through on his pledges and brought a productive engagement to the politics of nationhood, whether you agree with his policies or not.

While I’m glad “the Donald” is “the” President, instead of the other elective option, my hope and trust are not in this President, and yours shouldn’t be either. I hope you’ll follow this link to an article at Christianity Today by theologian Michael Horton who offers a helpful, Biblical reminder regarding where our trust and confidence should always rest. President Trump may trumpet his own leadership and that of conservatives generally as our hope for the future (see Horton’s article), but there’s a better one.

We know where all nations of this world are heading— to the ash heap of earth history. The only Kingdom we can set our hearts on completely, and the only Leader we can support and trust and laud with no hesitation and no fear of disappointment, is the Kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Daniel 7:13    “I kept looking in the night visions,

And behold, with the clouds of heaven

One like a Son of Man was coming,

And He came up to the Ancient of Days

And was presented before Him.

¹⁴ “And to Him was given dominion,

Glory and a kingdom,

That all the peoples, nations and men of every language

Might serve Him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

Which will not pass away;

And His kingdom is one

Which will not be destroyed.   NASB

Amen! Come Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)