Posted on 03/01/2016 11:52:35 AM PST by Kaslin
The puzzling trend that has some evangelicals jumping on the Donald Trump bandwagon is puzzling to me. When I express my concern, I am sometimes given an argument that goes something like this: “We’re not electing a pastor, we’re choosing a president.” The idea being that to expect the kind of “saintly” behavior, rhetoric, and demeanor demanded of the clergy in a politician is not a standard we should apply.
That’s partly true, particularly when it comes to purely theological and spiritual issues. But when it comes to things like character and integrity, standards highlighted in scripture for those who aspire to leadership in religious bodies also make sense in any context where someone is considered for a position of private or public trust.
For example, when the Apostle Paul instructed a young and emerging church leader in one of his letters, he profiled a good and decent person. And I think most Americans would agree that there are some very basic standards of goodness and decency that should be shared by all effective leaders.
Character matters.
So Paul listed some of these things in his admonition to young Timothy in the third chapter of his first letter to him. And I think what Paul described transcends the church and religion. There are universal qualities that can and should also apply to leaders everywhere.
A good leader should be “blameless,” which means “above reproach” and free from scandal. A leader should be faithful to his or her spouse, demonstrating through the capacity to keep his or her word in the most essential relationship, that he or she will be trustworthy in other contexts.
A good leader should be able to control his tongue. The old word is “sober-minded,” which denotes the trend toward serious reflection and careful articulation.
A good leader should be “hospitable,” according to Paul. Interestingly, the Greek root for that English word is the compound of “xenos” (stranger or foreigner) and “philos” (loving), or literally, “a lover of foreigners or outsiders.”
A good leader is not violent, but gentle and never quarrelsome.
And a good leader should never be “a lover of money.” Someone in charge must never be driven by personal gain, or use personal gain in a selfish way.
Yes, all of these matters of character apply to leadership in the church. But don’t they also make sense in a larger context? I think so. I know some like Trump because he promotes himself as a man who can get things done. But this strikes me as something akin to the “Mussolini made the trains run on time” argument.
The presidency is a powerful job. Theodore Roosevelt called it a “bully pulpit.” But he also said: “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”
Sacrificing the good in the pursuit of great is a prescription for disaster. The Scripture reminds us, “When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.” (Proverbs 29:2 New Living Translation)
Cruz is a good man. He is not a liar or a cheater. Do you hate all conservatives or just Ted Cruz?
And there is a difference between assessing the moral character of a candidate and applying the biblical standards for an elder.
It is however a free country, mostly, and you are individually welcome to apply such standards as you see fit. Further you may openly advocate for others to apply similar standards.
Others similarly remain free to agree, disagree, discuss, or oppose your views.
I see nothing fascist in such a system.
I think Donald Trump, despite the fact he is a sinner, as we all are, was raised up by God to tell us that He (God) can save this country if we the people turn from our sinful ways. I think that God has given Mr. Trump the “stiff forehead” and stout heart that he needs to withstand the onslaught of vicious evil that is coming his way, that is only going to get worse.
I think God is doing this for us, showing us this last grace, because He knows much of the wickedness we are seeing in this nations is being forced upon us by very wicked leadership, despite the fact, that we tried to stop this with the last 3 elections to no avail. Now He has given us this tough guy to stand up to the left and to the people on the right who we elected to do this task, and who betrayed us. But it is up to us whether Trump will succeed or not. We do have to turn away and reject all of this evil, even the parts of it that we may like.
God would not raise up a Canadian or Cuban to this. God gave us our constitution, and He would not give us a leader who by his very existence as a leader would violate our constitution any further. God will restore our constitution if we let Him by again remembering that we are one of the two nations who made a covenant with Him, and keep to the ways our forefathers promised Him that we would.
The hand of God is not upon Ted Cruz. I think it was until he made this disastrous and unconstitutional decision to run for president.
Anyway, this is how I see it. I am a sinner, my sins are akin to those of Donald Trump. I also believe I am a Christian, I certainly take my faith quite seriously, and this is what I think.
But this strikes me as something akin to the “Mussolini made the trains run on time” argument.
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTT!!!!!
Godwin's Law, Mussolini Corollary.
Thanks for playing, David!
Better luck next time, after you get your nasty little bout of TeeDeeEss (TDS). :)
“Maybe it is the case that Donald — there have been multiple media reports about Donald’s business dealings with the mob, with the mafia,” “Maybe his taxes show those business dealings.” -Ted Cruz
“Really sad,” “you’re better than this. We should all agree, racism is wrong, KKK is abhorrent.”
“We cannot be a party that nominates someone who refuses to condemn white supremacists and the Ku Klux Klan.”- Ted Cruz
Probably the aftereffects of Stokes stroking out over the 0 for 50 drubbing Cruz got in "heavily evangelical" South Carolina...
They say it tends to scramble your brain a little bit... :)
Ted Cruz’s Campaign Spread False Report in Iowa That Ben Carson Was Quitting Race-Feb 5 2016
Ted Cruz Fires Top Aide Rick Tyler Over Misleading Video Attacking Marco Rubio- Feb 22 2016
I don’t personal think Cruz would run as vice president, but what are you going to do if your warrior god asks Cruz and he accepts, will you vote 3rd party, having been betrayed!
Just so you know, I will never vote for Trump ‘EVER’ even if Cruz accepted!
Who cares?
Was the title in Engrish?
Well you're wrong...Paul was writing about the qualifications for elders and deacons. Not political leaders. God has not been shy about raising up very flawed men to do His work on earth.
Are you tired of newbies who slam conservatives and post childish pics
Too Bad-Donglalinder 2016
Geez, Donglalinger - go easy on Cruz.
He's just another Beltway pol who HAS to say what he says to get back in power, or get more power... :)
because I have no choice.
it's a shame though. After eight long years I was hoping for a president I could respect.
No.
Moar pictures, Donglalinger! MOAR! :)
And speaking of "conservatives", 1035rep - what's with Cruz suddenly becoming a fan of the IRS? And signing onto the Media's KKK lies about Trump? Is Ted a "Consistently Scumbag Conservative"?
(Definition of ding–a–ling
: nitwit, kook
Simple Definition of nitwit : a stupid or silly person
Simple Definition of kook
:a person whose ideas or actions are very strange or foolish
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