Posted on 02/20/2016 6:08:39 AM PST by Kaslin
Donald Trump has challenged the Christianity of Ted Cruz while also raising questions about the nature of Ben Carson's faith. In the past, he also suggested that President Obama might be a Muslim rather than a Christian. Now, the Pope has questioned the Christianity of Trump.
It appears that what goes around, comes around.
Trump's immediate response was to call Pope Francis's comments "disgraceful" and to state that, "No leader, especially a religious leader, should have the right to question another man's religion or faith."
So, Trump can question the faith of others but the Pope cannot question his?
In defense of Trump, Jerry Falwell, Jr., has stated that, "I have no doubts that he is a man of faith, that he's a Christian."
Welcome to the 2016 version of the presidential race, representing reality TV at its most unscripted and bizarre.
Two serious questions, though, are begging to be asked.
First, according to the Bible, do we have the right to judge someone's profession of faith, let alone the mandate to?
Second, if we are called to judge, what are the criteria?
On the one hand, the Bible tells us repeatedly that only God knows the heart and in that sense, only He knows who belongs to Him and who doesn't. At the same time, the Bible repeatedly calls us to examine what a professing Christian believes and to evaluate how that person lives, to judge the tree by its fruit, as Jesus put it.
Using that criteria, we know, for example, that Richard Dawkins is not a Christian, since he denies the existence of God, the authority of Scripture, and the atoning death and bodily resurrection of Jesus. We also know that Osama bin Laden was not a Christian, since he was a radical Muslim and an unrepentant mass murderer.
In the same way, albeit in a much less extreme fashion, we know that our friendly next-door neighbors are not Christians when they demonstrate no understanding of their own sin, no recognition of their need for forgiveness, and no knowledge of who Jesus really is or why He died on the cross. And we can say this with certainty even if they attend church services every year at Easter and Christmas.
A Christian believes core Christian doctrines and lives a basic Christian lifestyle.
The Christian faith begins with an acknowledgement of our sin and a profession of faith in our Savior and is then evidenced by a godly life - not a perfect life, but a godly life. As Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 7:21)
James (Jacob) echoed this saying, "Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works" (Jas. 2:18b).
In other words, talk is cheap. Let's see how you live.
That's why Paul could contrast the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:17-23), adding, "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal. 5:24).
That's why Paul could also state plainly that no adulterer or drunkard or practicing homosexual would enter God's kingdom (among other lifestyles; see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 5:5-7; Galatians 5:17-21), also noting, "And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:11).
How does Donald Trump line up?
We know that in the past he boasted about his numerous adulterous affairs and that he built the first casino in America with its own strip club, actually featuring 36,000 square feet of adult entertainment. Yet he sees no need to ask for forgiveness for these past acts (which are just a small sampling of ungodly behavior) because he is "a very good person."
This is the opposite of Christianity, which begins with a recognition of guilt and an open confession of our need for forgiveness. As for Donald Trump, at no point in any interview that has ever been conducted with him has he offered the slightest understanding of the heart of the gospel.
That alone would indicate that Trump is a not a real Christian.
As for his conduct, while we have no idea how he lives in private, and while he presumably has many good qualities that are commendable, we do know that his public conduct is often deplorable, with his tweets and comments violating almost every standard of Christian decorum.
This is the standard Paul laid out for followers of Jesus: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Eph 4:29, NIV).
Trump's vitriolic, nasty, often vulgar, sometimes patently false attacks on others violate this verse from beginning to end, both in spirit and in letter. And remember that it was Jesus who told us that it was out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.
Jesus also "told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt [does this sound familiar to you at all?]
'Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector [remember that in New Testament times, tax collectors were notoriously corrupt].
'The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get."
'But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"
'I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.'" (Luke 18:9-14)
Which one sounds like Donald Trump, the Pharisee or the tax collector? And which is more characteristic of Mr. Trump, the person who exalts himself or the person who humbles himself?
Again, God is the ultimate judge, but He does tell us to judge the tree by its fruit, and that means that Donald Trump could really use our prayers.
You may still plan to vote for him to be president, even though he shows no true signs of being a genuine Christian (although it's clear he believes he is one). That's obviously your call entirely.
But let's not foolishly proclaim him to be a Christian when, until recently, many of his ardent supporters acknowledged that he was not. And just consider what a world changer Donald Trump could be if he really knew the Lord. Through prayer and God's mercy, it could happen.
I was merely mocking the Catholics. They seem to accept all kinda stuff that has no basis in the bible.
Helen wasn’t so bad when she was young.
But then; neither was I.
I'm a little over 300 miles away.
That was SHE!
Thank you. Sorry if I was confused.
Sorry, thought you were closer, by your earlier description.
Liars will not enter into the kingdom of God. You didn’t like me pointing out your hypocrisy and you didn’t address my point did you?!
ok actually you did address my point BUT it is you who brought a candidate’s sister into the thread not I. I pointed out your hypocrisy.
Of course Trump spoke well of his sister, what he is going to publicly say bad things about her.
Now here is DU like behavior, you drag Trump’s sister in even though Trump never said he would nominate her for anything. He has actually said he would not nominate her for SCOTUS.
Actually I did not know she was dead. I mentioned her in response as a comparison to CC’s DU like comment on Trump’s sister, but his comment is ok with you isn’t it?
So what did I supposedly lie about?
Perhaps you shouldn't answer in so much haste.
I didn't bring up Cruz' sister because she had no pertinence to my point. Trump's sister did. For it to be hypocrisy, the situations have to have some similarity.
FWIW, I don't hold misbehaving siblings against anyone unless the person is facilitating the misbehavior which no one has alleged in either case.
Cruz never said his sister would be a great US Supreme Court Justice like Trump did his liberal abortion-loving sister.
Here are the facts, those who are running an election bid as a religious campaign and not a political campaign will be totally rejected by the American people in the general election and actually will not be able to win a nomination to run at all.
The reason for this is, typically and effectively, any such candidate whose main dogma or theme is a religious one and not a political one, is almost always wrapped up in religious sectism that is outside of the mainstream of religion in America, or whose tendency is to surround themselves with off the farm personalities of a disturbing nature that eventually will often turn on their mentor in the end due to the very nature of their disturbance of the mind.
This election is not about an imminent return of Jesus or the end times or any such thing, while that may be the discussion among a congregation it is not the discussion that Americans are interested in when voting in the general election in 2016.
It is the economy, number one, and followed in no particular order by immigration and terrorism. All three has in one way, a symbiotic relation to each other or can notably impact one against the other.
The Cruz campaign, under the auspices of Rafael Cruz and Glenn Beck, is increasingly being associated with a religious campaign and not a political campaign, and the religious aspect is increasingly being seen as a form of cultism, as the election moves forward there will come more and more exposure in the media to this aspect and which will be seen as a serious issue, the religious campaign will be totally rejected by the American people. It is increasingly doubtful in my opinion that Cruz at this juncture will get the nomination, but if by chance he does, the same dynamic of the public rejecting politicians and no longer respecting them because too many have been revealed as phony and self-serving is the same dynamic of the pubic rejecting ballyhoo preachers because too many have been revealed as phony and self-serving, or often the most vocal being border line lunatics or full blown disturbed personalities.
Beck is an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church Monastery, right here is California, specifically Modesto, California, of which other of its ordained ministers includes Hugh Heffner and John Lennon (dead). He has jumped from one religion to another, there are now “rumors” that he may convert to Judaism (if that is even possible, it would likely be his own conversion in his own mind). He is mixed up in cults and has serious personality disorders and lives in an apocalyptic end times world that reflects his own apocalyptic and self-destructive conflicts within his own mind.
In other words, the reality is, the voters of American are not fixated on who is a Christian bettered than the next. They care about the economy, immigration and terrorism. In fact, a “layman” is more trusted than a “preacher” as far as the voters are concerned.
I am confusaed a lot these days!
Just LOOK at my spellings!!
Bones had to tell Jim this repeatedly.
Beck is an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church Monastery...
I wonder if his Mormon BISHOP knows about this; considering Temple Recommend question #7!!
A United States District Court ruled in 2002 that a Utah statute declaring Universal Life Church ordinations invalid was unconstitutional.[15] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Life_Church_Monastery
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Temple Recommend Questions
1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost? 2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer? 3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days? 4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church? 5 Do you live the law of chastity? 6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church? 7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? 8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel? 9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen? 10 Are you a full-tithe payer? 11 Do you keep the Word of Wisdom? 12 Do you have financial or other obligations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations? 13 If you have previously received your temple endowment: Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple? Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple? 14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been? 15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances? |
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