If Trump is anointed by God – WHY?

According to an organization calling themselves Religion in Public, Trump is appointed by God to be President of the U.S.  Fine – anyone can say that.  Anyone can even believe it.  But my question for Evangelical Christians – WHY?  Why do you believe Trump is God’s anointed one to be President?

If Trump is appointed by God - WHY?Here’s the excerpt from a New York Times opinion piece.

In less than a year, from May 2019 to March 2020, the share of weekly church-attending white Protestants convinced that Donald Trump was anointed by God to be president grew from 29.6 percent to 49.5 percent.

This finding — based on direct responses to the question: “How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement?  Donald Trump was anointed by God to become president of the United States”

After reading the share of weekly church-attending white Protestants, you may wonder why I wrote my question for Evangelical Christians – WHY?   It’s a rather simple reason.  The opinion piece in the NY Times didn’t quite tell the whole story. 

Yes – the percentage for white Evangelical Christians did rise from 29.6 percent to 49.5 percent.  However, if we go to the web page for religionpublic.blog – the source for the survey – we also see: 

Before we isolate this as a phenomenon of white Protestants, we should compare them to the rest of the sample in 2020. The figure below shows unequivocally that white Protestants are NOT distinctive in their beliefs in Trump’s anointing. In the top two attendance categories, the level of belief is effectively identical between the two groups. This is a phenomenon that is sweeping American religion.

Here’s the accompanying chart to show just how close the white and non-white groups are.

Why white and non-white consider Trump annointed one from God

As you can see, the difference between white and non-white Evangelicals is so minimal as to be insignificant.  Given Trump’s statements about immigrants and his apparent support for white supremacist groups – this is unbelievable on many counts.

Trump as anointed one stats compared to belief in Jesus

OK – I had to go here.  I was more than a little curious as to how that number can be so high.  So, I looked up a couple numbers from lifewayresearch.com on the state of American Theology, as of 2018.  BTW – I have a series going for that research on my other site at: American Theology is mixed up.

Payment for sin

Americans were asked how they respond to the statement: Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.

Only 42% strongly agreed.  That’s shocking.  This is a country where about 75% of the people claim to be Christian.  And yet, that statement is a basic tenet of Christianity.  There’s just no way that number should be at only 42%.

Christians really should be aware of and remember, not to mention understand (at some level)  and believe the passage below:

The Shepherd and His Flock

Jn 10:1 “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

Jesus gave an example that people at the time would have known about and understood.  Sure – few people in the U.S. and many other so-called developed countries don’t tend sheep anymore.  But really – is this example so hard to understand?  Sorry, but apparently it is.

Jn 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

This should be understood by every Christian.  Not because it’s obvious, but because we should all have the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said – I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  For a Christian to not understand that this means Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin likely means one of two things.  They don’t have the Holy Spirit, meaning their baptism wasn’t based on actual belief.  Or, they have the Holy Spirit, but aren’t using / listening to Him.  Either way – this isn’t good.

Jn 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

More explanation.

Jn 10:14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

I know my sheep and my sheep know me – meaning Jesus knows which of us really believes in Him, believes Him, and follows Him. 

What’s the bottom line here?  It’s impossible to know the cross-section of Christians who think Trump is the anointed one and those Christians who don’t acknowledge that Jesus is their source of salvation.  However – neither number is what it should be.  There are just too many self-called-Christians – who don’t know Jesus and who aren’t known by Jesus. 

Jesus is the only way to salvation

In another question, Americans were asked how they respond to the statement: Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.

It sounds a lot like the previous question, doesn’t it?  The difference has something to do with whether or not forgiveness of sins is enough to be saved.  Apparently quite a few people don’t line up forgiveness of our sins with being saved. 

In fact, based on the numbers, some people believe there’s more to salvation than just having our sins forgiven.  In other words, even if Jesus’ death on the cross pays for our sins, we still might not be saved.

I say that because only 37% of Americans strongly agreed with the statement Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.

Again – that number is shocking to me.  Just look at the passage above – The Shepherd and His Flock again.  If our sins are forgiven, how can we not be saved?  What else is needed?

One more time – What’s the bottom line here?  It’s impossible to know the cross-section of Christians who think Trump is the anointed one and those Christians who don’t acknowledge that Jesus is their source of salvation.  However – neither number is what it should be.  There are just too many self-called-Christians – who don’t know Jesus and who aren’t known by Jesus. 

The unforgivable sin

Actually, there is one way to sort of explain the discrepancy. 

Unfortunately, it’s not something people who do it are normally aware of.  It’s often called “quenching” the Holy Spirit.  Look at the passage below and especially check out verse 32 – it’s underlined.

Jesus and Beelzebub – Matthew

12:25-29 pp — Mk 3:23-27; Lk 11:17-22

Mt 12:22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

Mt 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”

Mt 12:25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Mt 12:29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.

Mt 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Mt 12:33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Remember when I referenced the Holy Spirit earlier?  

This should be understood by every Christian.  Not because it’s obvious, but because we should all have the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said – I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  For a Christian to not understand that this means Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin likely means one of two things.  They don’t have the Holy Spirit, meaning their baptism wasn’t based on actual belief. Or, they have the Holy Spirit, but aren’t using / listening to Him.  Either way – this isn’t good.

Not listening, ignoring, speaking against the Holy Spirit are ways that we “quench” or “grieve” the Holy Spirit.  Put out His “fire”.  That’s unforgivable. 

And yet, based on our actions, in spite of our words, it’s something I feel like far too many Christians do.  I’ve been there.  I know.  I try not to do it anymore.  But it takes conscious effort and – here’s the really hard part – the work of the Holy Spirit to accomplish.  That’s pretty much impossible when we’re ignoring the Holy Spirit or rejecting what He’s trying to tell us.

If Trump is anointed by God – WHY?

My point for bringing these things up is to show that many Americans are mixed up when it comes to Christian Theology.  For too many, what we believe doesn’t match up with what the Bible says.  Even on very basic issues.

Let’s look at one final issue before the conclusion.

Love – Romans

Ro 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Ro 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Ro 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Ro 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

OK – for the Evangelical Christians, or any so-called Christians, who think Trump was anointed by God to be our President – which of those things that Paul wrote about Love do you attribute to Trump?  Can you honestly point to even one?

Just one!  That’s all I ask. 

Trump is the antithesis of Love, as Paul described it.

I kid you not – when I right-clicked on “antithesis” to do a Google search to put in a definition for you – here’s what came up first.

a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.
“love is the antithesis of selfishness”

So – one more time – name one thing in Paul’s Romans passage that lines up with what comes out of the mouth of Trump.

Conclusion – If Trump is anointed by God – WHY?

Let’s look at one final (I think) passage from Paul, this one to the church in Corinth.

Paul and the False Apostles

2Co 11:1 I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. 5 But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” 6 I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.

2Co 11:7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you.  9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.

2Co 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

For those of you that believe there are ways other than Jesus to have our sins forgiven, I have a message for you.  Same thing for those that think Jesus alone isn’t enough to be saved.  In the same way, I firmly believe there’s a message here for those who think Trump is the anointed one to be President.  Well, those who believe that Trump is here for your salvation as a Christian.  He might very well be here to test us and see if we realize God’s trying to tell us He’s not happy with our nation.

Paul’s passage isn’t just about the false teachers.  The ones who apparently taught you the three things we’ve talked about here, among a whole bunch of other things.

Did you notice verses 3 and 4?

3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

Paul’s passage is also about those being led astray by the false apostles / teachers.  

In the same way he worries about some of the people in the Corinthian church, I worry about those of you who are so far off on what the Bible teachers as compared to what you believe.

I’m worried that someone who should believe that Love is the things Paul wrote about in Romans thinks that in any way, shape, or form Trump represents any of those things.  I worry that you’re being led astray.  And that you too will go where he’s going.  

I guess there is going to be one more passage.  One to indicate how I hope I’m “speaking” to you.  One we should all examine as to how we interact with each other.  And one that anyone who thinks Trump is anointed by God to lead us to anyplace good should use to examine his words.

Unity in the Body of Christ

Eph 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Eph 4:7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions ? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Eph 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Final questions on: If Trump is anointed by God – WHY?

Does the passage above reflect you?

What about those you look up to in terms of your faith, what the Bible says, and anyone else you listen to in an attempt to understand Jesus and His teachings?

And the final, final question – does that passage reflect Trump as an anointed one from God to bring the U.S. to a good place?  Or is Trump the exact opposite of what we should expect from someone anointed by God to lead us to Him?


Image by Sambeet D from Pixabay


 

4 thoughts on “If Trump is anointed by God – WHY?”

  1. Mary M Scott-Nelson

    Thank you for posting tis message. because I have been trying to say that to people who seem to have lost touch about what the Character of God is in His anointed one. And Donald J. Trump never ever fit that.

    1. You are most welcome. All we can do is try to remind our brothers and sisters in Christ about what God told us about His character. Ultimately, it’s between each of us and the Holy Spirit. However, we still have our part to play, realizing that people don’t reject us, but God. Keep up the faith and have a blessed day!

  2. why do people who read the Bible, received Jesus in their heart, who loved Jesus so much when they got saved are now believing that there is a different “chosen one”? MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON US..

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