In the aftermath of the recent presidential election that has been termed by most as a stunning upset, the one thing that is certain about this election is that the majority of the political pundits, prognosticators, and polls got it wrong. Donald Trump’s victory has generated much protest and unrest in certain cities by some who were obviously supporters of Hillary Clinton, as well as a racist and white supremist response by some on the extreme right. In my opinion, both responses are un-American and wrong and reflect the great chasm and discord that exist in America that has been greatly aggravated and exasperated (as stated in my column last week) by the recent presidential election. Now that Donald Trump is the President-elect of the United States of America, who won by a true democratic process with the necessary electoral college votes to make his win legal, constitutional, and binding, everyone who rejects and actively opposes his authority and position as our 45th President is acting not only as a sore loser, but is a part of the division and discord that has caused the great chasm in our nation. Whether he was your choice or not does not matter and should not prevent you from respecting, accepting, and praying for him. In a real sense, what he does in the next four years will have an effect and influence upon all of our lives to some extent and in certain areas, whether we believe it or not. In hopes that I might be a positive influence and a part of the healing process, I am going to attempt to put President-elect Donald Trump’s election and rise to the highest office in the land in a biblical perspective by weighing it by the Word of God.
The Sovereignty of God
“This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Daniel 4:17).
“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled” (Revelations 17:12,17).
Each of these passages agree and confirm the irrefutable and absolute truth that God is the One Who is in control of who rules in a nation. Whether He does it by monarchal heredity, conquest, or the democratic process of voting, at the end of the day, God sets rulers in positions to achieve His agenda, whether that agenda is to revive, restore, or to renew a culture or people because they have repented and turned back to Him or to punish and bring judgement because they have rejected Him. Although the book is not out yet on whether President-elect Donald Trump is going to be used by God as was Cyrus the Persian King, who was predicted 140 years in advance to be God’s anointed agent of deliverance for Israel from Babylonian bondage. There is great hope and optimism that he will delay or reverse the anti-Christian policies and practices that the Obama Administration implemented through executive decrees and the Justice Department. Furthermore, he will be in a position to help put conservative justices on the bench, who will most likely stop the court from becoming completely liberalized and hostile to the Christian-worldview, beginning with the replacement of Antonin Scalia, for there is even now a fear that has seized upon many in the camps of the LGBT, Pro-choice, and political correctness proponents and practitioners that has put them in bewilderment and disarray. With the defeat of their giant Philistine by the throw of one smooth stone through balloting, they are retreating to reorganize, recover, and return with a vengeance.
Although Donald Trump was not necessarily my choice, nor the choice of many others who profess Christ, he evidently was God’s choice and we must therefore give him all the support we can. I will devote the rest of this column to briefly discussing what we are instructed to do by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in regards to our newly elected leader.
Firstly, God instructs us to avoid speaking in an evil and reviling way about him as the following scripture clearly teachers. Many so-called Christians failed to embrace this divine principle concerning President Obama. Their disdain and disgust of him overrode the divine instructions and caused them to spew bitter waters out of the same fountain and mouth that only sweet waters should have sprung (read James 3:9-12). “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.” (Acts 23:1-5)
Secondly, we are instructed to honor our secular leaders as the following verse affirms… “Honor the King” (1 Peter 2:17). This word is used in the scriptures that speak in regards to those who honor God with their lips, as well as the divine decree for children to honor their parents. It conveys the thought of making heavy or weighty in regards to importance. It literally means to respect. The bottom line is this: We are instructed and commanded of God to honor and respect not the characters of our leaders, but the position that they occupy (see Matthew 23:1-3).
Thirdly, we are to submit and are subject to our secular leaders, as the following passage affirms: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour” (Romans 13:1-7). The believers and followers of Christ are to respect and obey the government, as long as the government does not countermand the demands of God and thereby require the Christian to violate the Word of God.
Finally, and in my estimation, most importantly, we are to intercede and pray for our secular leaders. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
It is interesting to note that when the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to write and send those words to his spiritual son and protégé Timothy, who was the Bishop and primary leader of the Church in Ephesus, the King and secular leaders of that time and culture were pagans and idol worshippers who embraced and practiced all types of heathenistic and deplorable things. Nevertheless, the believers of that time were instructed to pray for them. The reason being first that they would lead a quiet and peaceful life in all honesty and godliness. Obviously, the Holy Spirit knew that the prayer of the believers was important and instrumental in the leader’s ability to function and operate properly. It will be our prayers for President-elect Trump that will assist and enable him to be an effective leader in every area.
Finally, God desires all men to be saved, whether they be leaders or ordinary people. So in light of all we have considered, I hope that everyone will accept or at least consider what I have shared to be prudent and worthy of doing in regards to giving their support and prayers for President-elect Donald Trumps. If he fails, we will all suffer lost to some degree. Whether we like it or not, he will represent us as our President for the next four years.
