The Cocksure Candidate

Next year in November, the United States will elect a new president. One candidate pursuing the Republican nomination is real estate mogul Donald Trump. It’s bad enough political ads just before an election emphasizes the negatives of a candidate’s opponent. Trump is already making brash remarks against those who disagree with him. 

During a July 11 rally at the Phoenix Convention Center, Donald Trump’s comments about illegal immigration drew criticism from Arizona senator John McCain. Trump then insulted McCain by saying the former POW wasn’t a war hero but then said, "He's a war hero because he was captured." Later during a speech in South Carolina, Trump publicly gave out Senator Lindsey Graham's phone number as retaliation for Graham calling him a “jackass.”

Romans 12:14 says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” A professing Christian must follow Jesus’ example. He told us in Matthew 5:44, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” The only people Jesus regularly criticized were the Pharisees, the religious leaders of His day. 

There is one incident in Luke 13:32 when Jesus called Herod a “fox” after being told the King wanted to kill Him. Otherwise, Jesus went out of His way to honor authority figures. A recent revelation I received was how Jesus didn’t resist Pilate’s order to have Him crucified. It was part of the plan of redemption.

One thing I do appreciate about Donald Trump is his speaking out against the persecution of Christians. In a recent speech in Las Vegas, Trump pointed out how the Obama administration has deliberately blocked Syrian Christians from coming into America while allowing Muslims to do so. Previously he told CBN News, “Believe me, if I run and I win, I will be the greatest representative of the Christians they’ve had in a long time.”

Donald Trump identifies himself as Presbyterian. When asked several times by an interviewer if he’s ever asked God for forgiveness, Trump avoided giving a direct answer. That made me think of what Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

Nevertheless, I will likely vote for Donald Trump if he wins the Republican nomination. Certainly, I won’t vote for a Democrat who endorses abortion and homosexuality. Still, I prefer a president who has a genuine relationship with the Lord and will conduct himself in a Christlike manner when representing our nation.

“A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.” - Proverbs 12:16 (NLT)

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