The other day I read an article announcing Donald Trump’s recent conversion to Christianity. It left me exhausted beyond belief. James Dobson, the head of Focus on the Family, believes Donald Trump is now a baby Christian.
I haven’t been so taken aback in a long time. For hours I wandered around trying to figure out what the hell is going on. What have we done with our country that some evil, power-hungry man can pray some little prayer in front of some famous Evangelicals, use their own language against them, use words that used to mean something and now he’s a convert? This is insanity and chaos. We are in a free fall.
I never write about politics on my blog because I don’t want to gain readers by becoming some inflammatory, angry writer who says things for shock value. I’m into thoughtful living, the sacredness of life lived out in absolute ordinary goodness. But, when something nags at me enough, I take note. This blog is also a place for me to write out my life and share my story. This Donald Trump horror-show is unfortunately part of my story because I’ve been a Christian for most of my life. Once, a long time ago, I prayed a prayer and it radically changed my life. It was the truest prayer I knew how to pray at the time. When I prayed it, I knew it was a prayer that divided my old from new, this day forward… it would force me to make choices that redefined me as a person.
Prayer is supposed to be about talking to God. It is supposed to be about the real me, making contact with the great big YOU. The real, authentic me talking to that which is completely OTHER.
Twenty-three years ago, I crawled out of a tent, hung-over and ashamed, afraid and adrift, unsure of myself and convicted beyond human understanding. I knew some ONE was chasing me down. God was pressing in on me and wanted my attention. It had been that way for months. This presence, this voice, this constant gnawing at my back that God wanted me for himself. I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to belong to God. I liked the idea of being my own person.
But there was something so beautiful about God, so winsome and holy, so intriguing that I finally capitulated and decided to make God my all in all if I could know Him intimately. You see, I had this deep heart-level interest in knowing God, in finding God, in being consumed by God. I knew, even at sixteen, you don’t come to the HOLY lightly. You don’t step into life with the Divine with anything but your most real self. God loves us just as we are, which is why we have to come as we are… this is one of the most sacred rules of the life with God.
We have become a clamor culture. We have Facebook and Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. We have mediums like Snap Chat where one can say whatever they want and in a few minutes those words are gone … OBLIVION … kids love snap chat. We shout and instigate with catchy phrases to try and get more hits. We built our platforms and our brands. We are losing our minds and maybe even our souls.
God is not interested in our many words. God is not stunned speechless with power or with lights and cameras, with stages overflowing with thousands of people gathered to listen to one person talk. God is not amazed at charming and charismatic leaders who can preach it up and sway the masses. He is not impressed with your endorsement.
Have you not heard? Have you not seen? God is interested in the weak and lowly, in the poor and afflicted, in the one who is contrite and humble in heart and who trembles at his word … God takes note of the one who wants God for God’s sake not for political gain and for a more powerful platform.
We are told over and over in the book of Proverbs that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. These verses have been misunderstood over the years. They have, from time to time, been used to create a sort of terror-culture that keeps people in subjection to bad leaders and bad institutions.
However, if we can read them once again against the backdrop of good and healthy living, they are beautiful verses.
In them is this wonderful idea that if I see God as my most sacred, the biggest and most powerful in all the realms … then something happens to me. I begin to see this world aright. I begin to gain a heart of understanding that is capable of seeing true power for what it is and authentic weakness for its real strength. I begin to realize that power is more than money and financial stability, more than brands and platforms, and ridiculous endorsements.
Twenty-three years ago I knelt down and acknowledged that I wanted to know God and I’d go wherever God led me. It was a sacred moment for me. A big defining moment. I was young and immature. I was vulnerable in this world and afraid of the future. I was frightened of my own spiritual poverty. I was a young woman who wanted to make a difference in the world. I was a lot of things.
I didn’t understand the entirety of what I prayed. I had no idea what those words would eventually cost me. Being a Christian is sometimes downright embarrassing in the cultural climate of today. People think it means something that it doesn’t – and because it’s so personal and varied we don’t always know the best way to explain what it is that keeps us going. Why, after all that is going on, do we keep talking to God?
I’ve searched the whole world for a home … I searched far and wide for a safe place to settle into myself and be known. I have looked for love, for hope, for sanity, for affirmation and calling, for legitimacy … time and time again, I discover my soul rests best in God.
For Reflection and Conversation: Have you had defining moments of prayer with God that changed your life?
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In my opinion, Tina, this is some of your best writing. Ever. And not just because I agreed with you but because I saw your soul and recognized bits of my own at the same time. Thank you for speaking out and speaking up at such a critical time in our country’s history. Loving you from Port Orchard…
Kara,
Thank you so much. I appreciate that more than I can say. So much of the time, I struggle to know what my readers will appreciate. It helps to hear back from a friend and know I’m not missing it entirely.
Love you, too …
I also studied at Northwest University with a Bachelor’s in Children’s Ministry and am currently getting my Master’s of Pastoral Counseling at Liberty University. In response to what you said I would say this: who are we to judge this? Whether he is a baby Christian or not, the reality is Donald Trump, confessed with his mouth and out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks, and therefore believes in his heart that Jesus is his Lord and Savior as Romans 10:9 expresses. How can you be so upset? Who is really in control here? God is sovereign. Praise God that Donald Trump came to this conclusion. I feel like I am being a big more compassionate that you were, and I think I understand where you are coming from as it is frustrating that someone who has said racist comments and is making some pretty bull-headed statements is a man that top evangelicals are getting behind, but I would also say praise God he came to this moment. The judging lies on God, and God alone as Matthew 7:1 states. Love through doing good is what will overcome evil, Romans 12:21. Pray for Donald Trump and Hillary for that matter because these are going to be the leaders that are going to be over America. You asked the question what have we done with our country that some power hungry man could be in this office. That is an interesting statement as the answer lies in the perspective you have. If you see this country as a diverse multitude of religions and worldviews, then there’s your answer, you have a bunch of candidates playing a popularity contest with a synchronization of ideas and views that have to be appeased in order to win said popularity contest. However, if you look at the “we” in the statement of what have we done as Christians, well, we shut ourselves up and didn’t speak out at a time when it was important to let our voice be heard. I don’t believe Christians around the nation are stepping up to the plate out of fear of being “politically correct” and fear of persecution. The West is not as free as it used to be. Convenience, complacency, and apathy have truly led this country astray.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. My questions was, of course, rhetorical.
Take care,
Tina
I had my own opinion of our present political presidential candidate, long before he announced he would run for president, and nothing I have read or heard since, this one announcement excepted, has changed my mind about him. But setting him personally aside now, if he, as a sinner compared with me as a sinner, made that confession of faith, who is the worse sinner? There is no comparison. ALL have sinned. And if we both made a confession of faith in Jesus Christ, we are both now Christians, saved by God’s grace. I might have 60+ years of growth and maturity, wisdom and knowledge, and a tight close faith in Jesus, over this brand new Christian man, but it doesn’t make me any more saved than him. Is this truly a real conversion? Is he going to use this to gain some kind of support from Christians? Only his fruit will show us. I fear for my country and where it is going. I think Christians have left politics for way too long, in the hands of way too many secular folks who have no relationship with Jesus. Our Founding Fathers said it would set America on a destructive road if godly men were not leading it, and if we turned away from God, thus we are reaping the consequences at this very moment. Each one of us as Christians are responsible for ourselves and for where our relationship with Jesus is at. We are either working to bring others to know Jesus as He told us to in the Great Commission, and also working to preserve what we have left of our freedoms, or we are sitting home twiddling our thumbs moaning about our situation. We can only answer that question personally. I pray that this man grows with wisdom and strength in the Lord, because at this moment he is what we have. Unless the other candidate wins the election. God often uses scary, difficult trials to mature and teach us. Read about Daniel in the Lions Den because that is where this man may soon be. He needs our prayers and God’s help. God uses who he chooses for His own purposes. Good or Evil. He alone knows our hearts.
Carol,
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I appreciate your thoughts and your heart. You always have great things to challenge me with.
I love Daniel and the Lions Den, but I don’t think I’ll compare Daniel and Donald Trump one to the other. I also think we need to be discerning and thoughtful as Christians. Yes, every day is the day of Salvation and we all are in need of God … but Donald Trump chose an interesting moment to pray the sinners prayer. It secured him a great many votes. I look at that and think we should be thoughtful and careful to discern good from evil, which takes maturity. No, I don’t know his heart. But I’ve listen to his words … out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. I’ll leave it there.
Much Love to you,
Tina
As Believers in Christ, we need to put our trust in God, not in any politician or political party. Discouragement comes when we take our eyes off God. We don’t need to be discouraged by the upcoming election, but rather, we need to be intentional about being in constant prayer. The next President of the United States is not our Savior-Only Jesus is!
We can look to Jesus and learn how to live in our now secular world (The book of Ephesians is a perfect read of how to live out our Christian walk). As Believers, we may not be liked, we may be mocked, and we may be ridiculed, but Jesus warned us about this. This is the sacrifice we make for holding true to our faith in Christ.
As American Citizens, we should pray and vote according to our beliefs. You see it doesn’t matter whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump become our next president, we still need to set our eyes on Jesus. We need to put our trust in God- He is the only One who can change the heart of of any man or woman-even Hillary Clinton and/or Donald Trump.
Thanks Gin! It’s nice of you to read and comment. I agree it’s important to trust God. I’ve always enjoyed Ephesians. I hope that it gives you great insight at this time.
I disagree with you about the idea that there is no need to feel discouraged. People feel lots of things and it can be helpful to express our concerns and worries — in the middle we find that God is present and near. And yes, Jesus is our savior. He loves us. He is sufficient.
I’m thankful we live in a democracy that affords us freedom of speech, a freedom I intend to use. How we act as citizens and behave as Christians in our country is absolutely important. It does matter. It does matter who becomes president. Christians need to find intelligent and thoughtful ways to speak up and be present in our world.
Blessings and much love,
Tina
I should have added that I’m still not a fan of either of our present candidates for president. I do not know how I will vote yet, but I will vote. Just the same, whomever it is needs our prayers. As Gil said, no mere man can save America, only God in His mercy and justice will put the person in that office that He needs to fulfill his plan for America and mankind. That is who I trust.