What I have to say about President Trump…if I claim to take the Bible literally

I take the Bible literally.
All of it.
Not just the parts I like, not just the poetic, pretty parts, not just the verses that build me up and give me strength…all of it.
It’s no joke that the Bible is referred to as a sword, piercing the parts of me that need changing.
It’s not an accident that the Bible is also called a light, shining on my sins and exposing them, requiring action.

So for those of us who take the Bible literally, I think it’s important that we stop letting our emotions, our feelings, the voices around us and even our “rights” take over.
What we need is to start humbling ourselves.
I mean, really humble ourselves and pray.
We are so quick to judge. We are so quick to see other people’s faults and overlook our own.

So what I have to say about President Trump…if I claim to take the Bible literally, is this:

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.” Romans 13:1

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2

“Honor everyone.” 1 Peter 2:17

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” Titus 3:1-2

I am taking Hebrews 3:13 seriously right now when it says that we are called to exhort each other daily because it’s possible that we can be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

While some Christians are posting pictures that have “prayer” crossed out and “change” filled in, I would assume that they don’t actually know what prayer really is.
Prayer is probably the hardest discipline I have ever tried to maintain.
Honestly, it’s harder than the training I put in for the 2 marathons I ran.
It’s not thoughtless, careless words thrown up to a sky in some vague hope that a God maybe hears.
So, if that is what they are suggesting we throw out, I mean…I guess.
But prayer is the most powerful thing we can do, which is why I am guessing the enemy makes it so hard to stay strong with.
I’m guessing that is why the enemy is gleefully laughing when he sees Christians posting pictures suggesting we throw it out and try working on our own power instead…as if our policies and changes are more powerful than the God of the universe.
Prayer is physically and emotionally difficult.
It is time consuming, it is heart wrenching, it is challenging and it is incredibly powerful.

So…What I have to say about President Trump is actually not in my own words.
It’s how the Bible says I should be treating other people.
All people. Trump included.
Stop speaking evil of another person.
Stop disrespecting authority…all authority.
Stop thinking your sin is not nearly as bad as someone else’s sin.

Start..
Praying. Actually praying to the point of getting on our faces before God. Praying Scripture over ourselves, our country, our leaders, our children, our families.
Start being respectful to authority even when we don’t agree.
Start being more humble. Realizing that my sin is just as bad as someone else’s sin and I am not better than them for any reason.
Start being loving.
Read 1 Corinthians 13. It’s funny how we love to throw the “love” word around when we want it to apply to a specific people group that we like.
We suddenly don’t need to act those things out when it’s towards people we don’t like? Or towards people we don’t agree with?

I have nothing to say about President Trump that’s different from anything I could say about anyone else.
We are sinful people.
We are in need of a Savior.
My sin is what put Jesus on the cross.
My attitudes, actions, thoughts and words are just as sinful when I am using them to judge and hate other people…Trump, or anyone else.
If I claim to take the Bible literally, I don’t see how I can see that any other way.
Also, when I have sin in my heart, God doesn’t even hear me.
Why would I put my relationship with God at risk because I want to hold on to hatred towards another person?
Not worth it.
My response needs to start with myself:

I need to work on my prayer life.
I need to be more humble.
I need to be less judgmental.
I need to be more respectful.
I need to be more loving.

That is what I have to say about it.
It has to consistent.
I can’t love my family, love the teens in my community, love my church family, love my town, love my sports team, love the poor, love the orphan, and hate my president.
It’s hypocritical, and honestly I think it cheapens my love for all the others.
Because what if someone in my family sinned in a great way? Would I stop loving them and start judging them?
What if someone in my town hurt someone else? Would I stop loving them and start judging them?
What if someone who was poor stole from me? Would I stop loving them and start judging them?

No. The definition of love is God.
It’s fine that we all get to use it, but He was the one who invented it, started it and is it.
God is love.
And the way we should be treating other people, should be defined by the one who defined love in the first place.
Trump is not in a category separate from what God is talking about when He tells us how to live life and treat other people.

Let God be the judge.
Let us be the love.