The day that American Christians chose to vote for moral bankruptcy in the name of political expediency
Here is what Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, stated after saying Evangelicals are prepared to give the President a “mulligan” over Stormy Daniels.
"To date, what has the President done? The President has not engaged, to our knowledge, and I think we would know, in any of the behavior that he did in the past, prior to the election. What he has done is he's actually followed through on political promises."
"If the President were to begin to engage in behavior like Bill Clinton did in the Oval Office when he was President, I think very quickly you would see evangelical support evaporate,"
The claim is that Mr. Trump is a changed man, a baby Christian, who has been forgiven for his past transgressions.
Here is the problem, this is what the Bible says:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. —1 John 1:9
Biblical forgiveness begins with confession, an admission of what you did, and that it was wrong. There is no forgiveness without confession. There is no “mulligan” on that, Mr. Perkins cannot forgive Donald Trump, only God can, and yet Mr. Trump continues to deny his affair with Stormy Daniels (among others), and dismissed the tape of him claiming to grab woman’s private parts as locker room talk rather than apologize.
Christians false assume you should not judge others - that is totally unbiblical, Paul tells us not to judge outsiders (those outside of the church), but to purge evil from among you.
1 Corinthians 5
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 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. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
If as a church you turn a blind eye to sin among those who claim to be Christians, you fail in your duty. And yet evangelical leaders rally around Trump and describe him as a “baby” Christian who has been forgiven from sins (which he refuses to confess to). An interesting if somewhat unbiblical theology.
In the end what is the measure of expected behavior for a Christian?
Gal 5:22 gives us a guide:
2 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
And contrasts that with unacceptable behavior:
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Which of these scales best fits our president? Which best fits our last president?
Or alternatively:
1 Corinthians 13 4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
So, what is the real reason Christians support Mr. Trump, given there appears to be no biblical basis for that support?
Perhaps Mr. Perkins finally told the truth:
"If this President were to stop keeping the promises that he made on the campaign trail and all of a sudden adopt a different approach, I think you would begin to see evangelical support diminish."
How sad that the moral fiber of a religious community can be prostituted in the name of expediency.
"To date, what has the President done? The President has not engaged, to our knowledge, and I think we would know, in any of the behavior that he did in the past, prior to the election. What he has done is he's actually followed through on political promises."
"If the President were to begin to engage in behavior like Bill Clinton did in the Oval Office when he was President, I think very quickly you would see evangelical support evaporate,"
The claim is that Mr. Trump is a changed man, a baby Christian, who has been forgiven for his past transgressions.
Here is the problem, this is what the Bible says:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. —1 John 1:9
Biblical forgiveness begins with confession, an admission of what you did, and that it was wrong. There is no forgiveness without confession. There is no “mulligan” on that, Mr. Perkins cannot forgive Donald Trump, only God can, and yet Mr. Trump continues to deny his affair with Stormy Daniels (among others), and dismissed the tape of him claiming to grab woman’s private parts as locker room talk rather than apologize.
Christians false assume you should not judge others - that is totally unbiblical, Paul tells us not to judge outsiders (those outside of the church), but to purge evil from among you.
1 Corinthians 5
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 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. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
If as a church you turn a blind eye to sin among those who claim to be Christians, you fail in your duty. And yet evangelical leaders rally around Trump and describe him as a “baby” Christian who has been forgiven from sins (which he refuses to confess to). An interesting if somewhat unbiblical theology.
In the end what is the measure of expected behavior for a Christian?
Gal 5:22 gives us a guide:
2 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
And contrasts that with unacceptable behavior:
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Which of these scales best fits our president? Which best fits our last president?
Or alternatively:
1 Corinthians 13 4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
So, what is the real reason Christians support Mr. Trump, given there appears to be no biblical basis for that support?
Perhaps Mr. Perkins finally told the truth:
"If this President were to stop keeping the promises that he made on the campaign trail and all of a sudden adopt a different approach, I think you would begin to see evangelical support diminish."
How sad that the moral fiber of a religious community can be prostituted in the name of expediency.
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