I have been reluctant to write about this subject for at least six years. However, because I continue to hear on a regular basis demeaning labels that flow freely from the lips of Christians about President Donald Trump, I would like to address this. I will do this with three shorter articles to increase readership. I know how busy people are .
Topics In This Article (select your preferences):
Headings
• throughout the article 11 related Scriptures
• clarifying Exodus 22:28
• positive and negative comments about Trump
• how do we respond when we hear such responses?
• my expansive view of morality and character
• other examples of morality and character
• how can a professing Christian vote for candidates who espouse homosexuality, etc?
• a worldview shapes our morality
• qualifications for public leaders
• self-righteousness is alive and well
• actions to take
• intercessions made
“You must not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers.” – Exodus 22:28 NLT
The Lord, through the magnificent Torah, is commanding us to treat our leaders with respect. A certain degree of respect is due to individuals because of the office they hold, even if we disagree with the person currently holding it.
The King James version of this verse is worth noting:
“Thou shalt not revile the gods (“eloheem”), nor curse the ruler of thy people.” – KJV
In this verse, the word normally reserved for God, Elohim, is in the plural, and it means “judges” as it does on a number of other occasions like in Exodus 21:6, for example. Because “eloheem” is the plural for gods it potentially can be misleading, thinking there are many spiritual gods. This verse is better rendered “you shall not revile, [curse] judges [gods, eloheem] nor put a curse upon a chieftain [ruler or leader] among your people.”
Why do I clarify this and of what importance is it?
I listened to an hour interview with the leading Jesus Church pastor talking with another influential man in the Jesus Church movement. Together, they agreed and pontificated that there are probably other gods, and we ought to open our mind to the reality of these cosmic beings. I was listening to the interview while working out and was completely dismayed! It shows me how important it is to understanding the text of Scripture. The meaning of words and their context, is so vital for our understanding, and our behaviors, as well as our teaching flows from these things. Think about it: These two pastors were influencing thousands of people! Oh my.
Positive Introductory Remarks About Trump
I will offer three comments in each of these three articles when addressing President Trump. Notice that my comments are not qualified by derogatory and/or dishonoring language about him. I’m not trying to apologize for his character. Please look to the next two articles for additional ways I talk about him. If you are up for it, please look up the verses I have listed below related to each of the things he stands for. There are many more passages that address these areas.
The following comment is usually the first statement that Linda and I make about Trump.
“I support Trump because he stands for so many of the biblical issues that I believe in.”
• I stand with Donald Trump because he stands with Israel, God’s chosen people. (Genesis 12:1-4 JPS)
• I voted for Trump because he has made concerted efforts to stop the persecution of Christians around the world. (1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 NLT)
• Trump’s nominees to the Supreme Court have been constitutionalists (Ezra 7:25). This could possibly be his greatest legacy.
Hey gang, let’s become comfortable with verbalizing the good Trump is doing!
Here are some derogatory comments about Trump that I hear consistently hear other Christians say:
• I’ll probably vote for Trump but he’s the lesser of two evils.
• Trump is so obnoxious and narcissistic.
• He is morally depraved.
How do you usually respond if, or when, you hear such comments?
Taking the label from my above list, “morally depraved” I usually say something like this: Oh, you mean “morally depraved” like you and me? The Holy Scriptures are very clear about the nature of mankind:
“9 What then? Are we better? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” Romans 3:9-12 LSB Quoted from Psalm 14:2-3]
My Expansive View of Morality and Character
My presupposition shapes my understanding about morality and character.
Righteous and unrighteous morality and character are not only seen in one’s personal behaviors, and internal dispositions (like lust, greed, brashness, lying, sexual immoralities, prejudice, self-discipline, kindness, compassion, integrity, loyalty, purity, etc.), but also in the broader willful actions and choices they demonstrate. Consider this when it comes to public officials:
• the uncompromising spirit to stem the tide of wickedness.
• the bravery in taking necessary risks to promote righteousness.
• the wisdom to judge fearlessness and the complex challenges of living in our present world.
• the sense to emulate past Christ-followers and public leaders in how they confronted evil.
• the moral backbone to stand against the cultural tide.
• the wisdom to seek godly advice.
I summarize these character and moral traits as promoting national righteousness, (1 Kings 10:9), which is the dominate responsibility of all leaders.
Please look to my article titled National Righteousness, dated July 6 ,2024 on page one of my blog: www.daleebel.org.
Other Examples of My Understanding of Morality and Character
Confronting judicial laws (e.g. Roe vs. Wade 1973), and same sex marriage (e.g. Obergefell v. Hodges 2015). Standing up to pagan leaders, as Bonhoeffer did with Hitler, expecting people to work for a living, and challenging corruption in the halls of government. Also addressing the
deviant ideology of transgenderism.
Here are examples related to pastors. While I was senior pastor at Rolling Hills Community Church, the other teaching pastors on staff did not believe that abortion or homosexuality was morally right. And, of course, this is being morally upright. However, they did not teach the biblical passages publicly from the Scriptures regarding the evils of homosexuality or abortion. I made concerted efforts to enlist pastors in the state of Oregon to inform their congregation about many of the pressing moral issues facing Oregon voters. I spoke to 7,000 people in downtown Portland at a Right to Life rally and only a handful of pastors attended the event. Ninety-nine percent of pastors understood and believed what Scripture taught, but they refused to address these things publicly. Virtually all of their reasons were and still are today encapsulated in the phrase “We don’t get involved in politics” as if abortion, and homosexuality are political issues. Bottom line: they were fearful of congregants who opposed them and the secular voices present in the Northwest.
They also chose to not have a Biblical Total Truth Worldview, but they espoused their perceived incomplete view to “love others as Jesus would.” I personally consider that morally reprehensible and lacking courageous character.
I think James 4:17 is apropos here. “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it sins.” Yikes, I would say that’s an equalizing verse that levels the playing field as to how we evaluate other’s morality and our own. It is so convicting to me. What about you?
How can professing Christians vote for candidates who support homosexuality, abortion or transgenderism? (To name only a few)
Is not one’s vote a reflection of one’s character? I find that to vote for evil, or perversion is to be morally evil. I just read a comment from a follower of Christ who referred to Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. This is what he said when he heard the decision about the passing of Roe vs Wade:
“I was in the Hill Auditorium at Arrowhead Springs, Dr. Bright was speaking, and he was noticeably shaken as he announced the Supreme Court decision and followed to our shock with, “Every Justice who voted for that should get the death penalty!” WOW!!!
Perhaps I’m taking this too far, but I’m trying to make sense of how or why we can call ourselves Christians and support candidates who attempt to legislate immoral policies, and why we condemn or apologize for people (like Trump) who are attempting to thwart evil even though we know they have character flaws. I am trying to be consistent with my thinking regarding morality and good or bad behavior. Any insight here is welcome.
Look to my short article on my blog: www.daleebel, dated October 23, 2024, titled, Three Types of Leaders (Presidents), page one, might be helpful.
I am also aware of my own inconsistency to vote for a candidate (like Trump) who has practiced immoral behavior in his personal life, past or present. I attempt to discover from reliable sources (which sometimes is a challenge), if the public person in office or a candidate is practicing such behavior presently.
A major future discussion is warranted regarding two questions: 1. What is our source? and
2. Is our source accurate? I will cover these questions in future articles.
Because everyone is flawed in their morality and character, I chose to focus on present-day policies which candidates stands for, as well as the platform of a particular party. Much of the Book of the Covenants (OT) when describing Kings, focuses on the policies they enacted, not just their personal character. Look to Josiah’s reign in Israel, (2 Chronicles 34:33;) and Governor Nehemiah’s reforms from Nehemiah 10-13). Since all people in public office are sinners, flawed, and are morally bankrupt according to the scriptures, I look to the policies that they endorse and how those policies square up with Scripture.
I vote for the person who endorses programs which are closest to Scripture. I do this because, ultimately, every person is disqualified to serve in any capacity — whether that be a pastor, or president — as no one is completely above reproach in every area of their life.
A Worldview (the lens in which we measure and perceive all of life) Shapes One’s Morality
When we first moved back to Portland in 1975, I was hired by the church I grew up in. Linda and I went to their denominational conference and to our surprise they never once mentioned sin, they were ordaining women and promoting homosexuality. I am sure that many of those supporting those issues were good people who lived personal upright lives, but from our perspective, their support of unbiblical truths and morally deviant behaviors, was clearly not right and lacked wisdom to say the least.
When we came back from the conference, we asked our senior pastor about this persuasion. He said he did not agree with it, but he would not fight it because he would lose his retirement. Linda and I chose to leave the church, and obviously I lost my job which was a significant income for us at that time. I’m telling this story because my Biblical Total Truth Worldview played a role in me determining that I would not compromise the teaching of Word of God. I would categorize that action as being morally courageous and having an uncompromising character.
While I’m not perfect I believe losing my job and standing up for what I believe Scripture taught, pointed to the integrity of my character. In many ways, Christians have lost sight of the comprehensive call God makes on our lives. We need to understand how many Christians have been influenced by dualism and a compartmentalization of biblical truth. Our morality is simply not expansive enough. Its easy to celebrate and teach passages we find easy to obey, but neglect scriptures that we struggle to obey, or need significant growth in. Oh, the trap of self-deception that is alive and well in all of us!
Qualifications for Leaders
“But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.” – Exodus 18:21 NLT
Commenting on only one of the traits listed above I have discovered over the years that people are bribed not only by money, but by power, prestige, control, status and the desire to appease others. This is a huge reality in the institutional church as I saw being operative in the church that I pastored. Also, look to Deuteronomy 1:13 below.
“Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.” – Deuteronomy 1:13 ESV
Far too many Christians have a myopic view of the world. Speaking from my own experience, as a pastor for 30 plus years, when we selected people for leadership our attention was almost exclusively on personal character. If a person wasn’t lying or cheating, and was faithful to his wife, he was automatically qualified to be a leader. It seems like, in many evangelical churches, the only threshold for disqualification of leaders is sexual immorality. In hindsight, these character traits are obviously necessary and biblical, but qualification assessments were incomplete regarding the placement of such people in positions of authority. I would have better served the Lord if I also included the trait of wisdom (making correct biblical judgments), skill, competency, the fear of the LORD, and the value given to both the Book of the Covenants (OT) as well as the Renewed Covenant (NT). It is safe to say that many churches are shriveling because elder boards run their churches by professional businessmen, with a democratized corporate paradigm of consensus.
We must recalibrate our understanding of the institutionalization of the American Church and allow the Holy Spirit to give us a biblical paradigm shift about “ecclesia” (God’s chosen people being sent out). I will address this also in coming articles.
The Holy Spirit is raising up a new generation of loyal followers of Jesus Christ who are defining how church ought to be done and who are igniting new movements across the world. I call them Holy Spirit Mini-Movements that are absolutely thrilling.
An enlightening author about this subject is Alan Hirsch, who has written extensively about the positively new paradigms for how the church is meant to be incarnation. My two favorite books he wrote are: “The Forgotten Ways,” and “The Shaping of Things to Come.”
Self-righteousness Is Alive and Well in All of Us
With my own personal propensity to act wickedly, as I am morally bankrupt, it would be very difficult for anyone to hear from me voicing disqualifying statements about Trump with morally derogatory comments. Self-righteousness is alive and well in my heart and behavior ☹! When I have assessed Biden, over the last years I have made a concerted effort not to introduce him with some morally demeaning language. I have assessed him according to the decisions that he has made and the policies he has enacted, or has promoted. Here are few words I have used when assessing him:
“We are experiencing the Biden economy of inflation”, and/or “Biden, “in one of Biden’s first acts as President he gave millions of dollars to support abortions across the world.”
“Under the Biden administration the number of illegal immigrants entering our country will reach 10 million in January 2025, many of which are criminals and Islamic terrorists.”
To me his actions reflect his character, and these actions to me are morally jolting. At the same time when Biden has acted with a righteous moral compass, I bring that up to other people with whom I associate.
We can still “honor” people and their positions of leadership and disagree with a person’s policies.
Actions to take
#1 Please reflect on the Scriptures that resonate most deeply with you, and become proficient in explaining them to others as you go about your day. This is crucial regarding all dimensions of our Christian Walk.
#2 Be able to comment on the good qualities that you see in Trump, and other leaders in the public sphere.
#3 Assess my comments about how a Biblical Total Truth Worldview influences morality. What additional insights would you give to this subject?
#4 Please pass this article on to others within your sphere of influence.
#5 Intersessions to be made:
Pray for Prime Minister Netanyahu and his advisors to be safe and that they will have godly wisdom in facing war with the surrounding Islamic Terrorists (Psalm 122:6). Also, his recovery from a prostrate operation.
Pray for President Trump for his physical safety and for wisdom (making righteous judgments) and for the people surrounding him (1 Timothy 2:1, 2).
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” – Matthew 5:13 NLT
Hey gang, I’m trying to add a little biblical seasoning to life. Let’s do it together by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Dale