Donald Trump on God and Forgiveness
According to Pew a whopping 58% of Christians voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 election. For those identified as White Evangelical, the number is close to 80%. It's safe assume many Christian voters voted for President Trump as the moral alternative to Hillary Clinton, and for many this is a reasonable. Hillary is no saint and has her own set of baggage.
I recently watched this conversation with between President Trump and Republican pollster Frank Luntz. This is a great conversation, and really gives you a glimpse into Donald Trump’s views on religion, and forgiveness. Frank Luntz does a great job of not allowing then candidate Trump to dodge the question “Have you ever asked God for forgiveness?”. After being pressed a bit Donald Trump admits “…no I don’t think I have…”. That got me to thinking. Can you be a Christian having never asked God for forgiveness? In Donald's defense, he goes on to explain he does not interpret his faith in the context of asking for forgiveness, and that's fair. Religion is a very personal thing and has many manifestations. However, I think its important that Evangelicals know who they voted for, and what he believes.
A basic tenant of the Christian faith is forgiveness; regardless of your stripe; Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Fire Baptised Snake Handling Pentecostal…whatever. It’s safe to say if you call yourself a Christian, then you ask for forgiveness…period! 1 Corinthians 11:28–29 says let a man (or women) examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself. The idea is as Christians we should examine ourselves and ask for forgiveness before participating in the Lord’s Supper (also called communion). Different religions perform the Lord’s Supper on different schedules. Some do it once a month or once a quarter. The church I grew up in did it once a week. So, partaking in Communion and using that occasion to ask for forgiveness is a good time to practice the tenant. Others ask for forgiveness as a part of daily prayer and meditation. I think there is even room for someone who comes to an understanding of faith and on that single occasion asks for forgiveness for sins or wrongdoings. But to call yourself a Christian, or even just religious, and having never asked for forgiveness is problematic at best…self-destructive and hypocritical at worst.
For my Christian friends who voted for Donald Trump feel free to laud his policies, boldness or vision for the United States. I may disagree with you, but it is your right to voice your support the President, and I respect your right to do that. However, might I suggest you leave faith and religion out of the matter? It is difficult to know what is in a women or man’s heart, and those evaluations are best left up to higher powers with more wisdom than we possess.
