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)
Sorry typo. 1/8/2016
Quick! SEIZE Donglalinger!
He's got the last flux capacitor!
Too late, Ditter. :)
yawn
I knew what you meant :)
Donald Trump's Son-Law, daughter and 2 Grandchildren are Jewish hated by the KKK.
Friday he denounce David Duke must he do it daily ? Did you know Jimmy Carter accuses Ronald Reagan, Too?
Now why didn't;t you disclose your loans instead told people Heidi and I sold everything?
Sounds like you got The Cramp, 1035rep. :)
IN that scenario, I’d rather see Cruz in the senate than VP.
We’re so focused on Trump\Cruz\Rubio, that maybe we aren’t seeing that control of congress might be in jeopardy.
24 Repub seats are up and only 10 RAT seats are up.
The House has 18 Repub seats that appear to be toss-ups.
GASP!!!
The EVIL TRUMP wants to kill his OWN grandchildren! Dirty scumbag bastiche!!!
Yeah but Trump does not find it necessary to ask God for forgiveness. His own words were “I never asked God for Forgiveness.” Do you agree with Trump?
BTW good article. Unfortunately, the children showed up to spam the thread.
Spot on.
Hitler filled a lot of stadiums too. Popularity doesn’t make anyone a good leader or even a good person.
Actually the false rumor came from the Clinton News Network. And Ted Cruz apologized to Dr Carson. Would Trump have? I doubt it very much
Godwin’s law. Drink.
Sometimes it so happens that caviar isn’t on the menu but K rations are, and copiously.
The most similar situation I see in the bible to our situation today is when Nehemiah cried on the shoulder of Cyrus the Great about his ruined home city, and Cyrus took pity.
Now did Nehemiah start nit picking about Cyrus’ character, or did he take advantage of his special friendship as cup bearer to get as much help as possible for the Jews?
Christians need to begin looking at things from this point of view. If the scarcely believing Donald J. Trump can make this place a lot more friendly for them, and especially for the gospel, they ought not to look a heavenly gift donkey in the mouth. And many aren’t.
Let’s take a closer look at the discussion there. Trump brought up the communion (for which a cracker is used in Presbyterian churches), which in fact is the reminder of where... YEAH! JESUS CHRIST begged the Father’s forgiveness for those He died for!
Jesus is the Name Above All Names. If He asks God to forgive you and God says yes... the only reason you’d have to ask redundantly is because you’re incredulous. (Isaiah 53: Who has believed our message?)
Trump might have MORE faith... in THAT direction... than some outspoken Christians do.
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