MORE TO PONDER BEFORE PILING ON OUR PRESIDENT

Here’s something else for people, especially pastors, to ponder before “piling on” President Trump:

Our president, throughout his pre-political life focused entirely on his businesses indicating little if any interest in God, Christianity or the Bible. Much of this has changed. During his two presidential campaigns and time in office, he has become acquainted with ministers such as Franklin Graham, Robert Jeffries and other good men as well as with innumerable Christian people who’ve supported and befriended him. No doubt a considerable weight of positive witness has been brought to bear on him. Christians should be happy and hopeful because of this.

Of course some of the “Christian leaders” who’ve found their way into President Trump’s circle of acquaintances are less than desirable, but this is all part of the experience many of us have had as we were finding our way where the Truth of the Gospel is concerned. I think there's evidence being manifested even now that due to the Christian influence he’s been exposed to, and the assassination attempts he has survived, etc., that our President may be “not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).  Christians should be happy and hopeful about this.

President Trump is running this country courageously, competently and selflessly now as a success-driven, profit-driven, national security driven businessman, and not as a typical self-serving, rung-climbing, competence-lite politician focused primarily on staying in office. He appears to be guided (however unconsciously) by Christian principles, not perfectly, but more than almost any other president we've had. It needs to be acknowledged, as history will acknowledge, that President Trump has done more for our country than all but a handful of his predecessors put together have done.

As imperfect he is, and however much any of his decisions or actions may require a change of mind and action, our duty is to pray for this our president, and that God will use him to truly bless our country. More importantly, we need to thank God for the steps he appears to be making in the right direction spiritually.

One would expect anyone who is not suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome or short on common sense to be happy and hopeful about all this; grateful, and more inclined to pray for Mr. Trump than to “pile on” him.

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour."

—1 Timothy 2:1-4