I’m not an American, and my natural mind can easily get clouded with things that aren’t of paramount importance—especially when it comes to Trump and all the things he claims about A, B, or C. Are some of the things he says true? Does he exaggerate? Is there anything about him that might be disingenuous? Sure, those are all fair discussions to have in the natural realm.
But I want to lock in here on things of the Spirit and the Word of God. What does the Bible actually say?First, we need to stay anchored in Scripture, particularly in what Paul the Apostle taught in the New Testament about government. We see clearly that we are to pray for leaders and intercede for them, that God would move upon their hearts toward salvation, because God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (1 Timothy 2:1–4; 2 Peter 3:9).However, there is another passage that really highlights what I believe is the main point of praying for leaders. Paul did not pray for a worldwide morality revolution. Instead, he prayed that the gospel would have free course and not be hindered (2 Thessalonians 3:1; Colossians 4:3; Ephesians 6:19–20).Here is the key: when you get that, you generally get the other. When the gospel has free course, people can be born again (John 3:3–7; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). They receive the life, love, and nature of God, and then morality begins to change—not through the flesh, but through the Spirit (Romans 8:1–4; Galatians 5:16–23; 2 Corinthians 3:6).
So what about Trump?
At the very least, he is a President who has stood—so far—on the side of allowing religious liberty. That creates a scenario where the gospel can have free course, and that is our agent for advancing the Kingdom of God (Acts 4:29; Acts 28:30–31).
Now, I understand the passion many Christians have about pro-life issues and wanting the courts to reflect those values. I get that. But we must always remember that what is achieved merely through legislation does not necessarily change the hearts of men (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 2:28–29). Only God can give a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26–27).
Our mandate is not simply to modify external behavior, but to change hearts through the gospel (Matthew 28:19–20; 2 Corinthians 5:17–20).Some may disagree with me here, but I honestly don’t think Jesus would ever attend a pro-life rally. I could be wrong, but I believe He would say that while the intentions are sincere, that is not the wavelength He operates on. Jesus consistently addressed the root of the problem, not just the branches (Matthew 7:17–20; Matthew 15:18–19).
You can cut branches all day long, but if you don’t deal with the heart, the issue remains.
This can also be seen when Christians become overly involved in natural methods and then wonder where their joy has gone. The Kingdom of God is not advanced by external systems, but by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17), and joy itself is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
Back to Trump.
To me, the central issue is that he has kept the door open for the gospel to have free course—and that is everything. With that freedom, hearts can change. Without it, they won’t. Some might argue that voting for someone else brings a leader who is nicer in mannerisms, more polite, or more gracious. That may be true, but such leaders may not preserve the freedom necessary for the gospel to run unhindered. Trump may not even realize this himself, but the moment he no longer allows the gospel to have free course, his usefulness in this regard ends. If there is any reason God has shown him favor, I believe this would be it.
Now regarding the idea of “Making America Great Again,” and I am speaking from God’s standpoint, not man’s: greatness in God’s eyes is not defined by national prosperity (Luke 12:15; Matthew 6:19–21).Israel desired prosperity intensely in the days of Christ, but Jesus was not primarily concerned with that, because such a focus appeals to the flesh (John 6:26–27). The Kingdom of God does not advance through fleshly means, but by spiritual power (Zechariah 4:6; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5).I understand that American citizens desire prosperity, but the Church must be careful not to jump on that bandwagon. If you are going to support Trump, it should be for the right reasons .Great prosperity can actually make it more difficult for people to be saved (Mark 10:23–25; 1 Timothy 6:9–10). Scripture itself tells us that not many wise, mighty, or noble are called (1 Corinthians 1:26–29), and the church in Revelation was rebuked precisely because it equated material wealth with spiritual health (Revelation 3:17).
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