It may come in this way....the last great movement of God in America....the preacher....any preacher....many preachers across the America....arrive at church a little disheveled....as if they hadn't had any sleep the night before....for they hadn't.....in fact they have been tossing and turning all weekend trying to prepare a sermon that they believe God may have put on their heart. The congregations detect something as the uptempo music ends....but the preacher's shoulders are as if they are sagging. Is something wrong they wonder....has the sale for more land for the addition fallen through? The pastor begins by saying that the holiness of God is an awesome thing to be confronted with. He's not looking at the congregation while talking as he usually does but his eyes are lifted to heaven. Maybe this is the setup to a humorous but informative anecdote....he's done that kind of thing before....but his wife is sitting in the front pew....and her lips are moving in prayer. This is no humorous but informative anecdote coming! The pastor reads the Parable Of The Ten Virgins....while his eyes lower to meet those in front of him....and he begins his sermon...."Beloved....how much oil do you have available to trim your lamp.....for you may need it soon....and even if our Lord tarries in His return....we must have oil for our lamps at all times!" It may not happen this way....but each Monday I look for reports on how this preacher or that preacher was extremely solemn in the pulpit....and the congregation responded to his message with equal solemnity.
Note: My hope each and every day is that the Lord might have mercy upon us and open our eyes to Donald Trump and his worship leader Rush Limbaugh. I picked up another book on Donald Trump yesterday....and left a different one there to pick up next Tuesday....so I'm in the middle of three books right now.....on top of the forty-some books I've read....and the more I read about this man....and how he has bewitched people who ordinarily would never lower themselves to where he is....the more I pray that God would blow this fog away....and make us see our mistakes....and how we ourselves brought these judgments upon America....and how even the thought of MAGA is arrogant and preposterous and in direct conflict with God's Word.
THE PRESIDENT'S TRAVAILS
So how are we as Christians to help Donald Trump in his position of President of the United States? The general thought on this among evangelicals is that we are to pray for him....that's certainly biblical....but along with that unfortunately....we are to totally ignore those things about him where he may most be in need of prayer....and more importantly why he is so in need of prayer in those areas.
Continuing in his position as president is now tenuous. Impeachment is on the table....a resignation a la Richard Nixon is not out of the question....and along with the enormity of the opposition against him is the strong possibility of Republicans eventually coming out of the woodwork who would advise him to change his mind on seeking a second nomination. Unlikely as this appears....it is nonetheless a possibility....(and it's what I particularly hope for.)
Of course his successfully combating all the efforts against him....and winning not only the nomination but reelection is a possibility also....it may even be a probability....but there is something else that could make all of this moot....and that is catastrophes....to use that word that could encompass events such as a worldwide stock market collapse or war or any one of a number of other calamities. If Donald Trump lashes out against foreign enemies as impetuously and immaturely as he lashes out at political opponents then there will be....to use an archaic phrase....'the devil to pay." We cannot be of help to his real needs if we just continue to feed his appetites. His political fortunes are not the issue....his ability or lack thereof to act wisely under duress is the issue....and if the Russian investigation is any indication....it does not look good.
Prayer for this entire situation is what is needed....not just for the President....and certainly not to just get him out of his troubles.....most of which are self-inflicted....but praying God's hand upon all of us....and that includes our finally realizing our own culpability in these troubles. Prayer for this 'entire situation' not only would include the American pulpit but it would revolve around these pastors....flesh and blood people like the rest of us....who like the rest of us....failed to remain vigilant....failed to rely upon God....and failed to heed his warnings if they even considered them for more than a minute.
Although integral to various political agendas and the careers of numerous politicians....and even the direction of current events....Donald Trump's travails....(in spite of his own elevation of his importance to the world)....are not even near the real center of our troubles. Society and culture have crumbled....the law itself is nothing but a club to swing at opponents....violence on the streets has now crept into our minds and thoughts....the church has essentially become at best a bystander....and at worst part of the trouble....and legitimate and necessary civil discourse is all but gone.
We....the church.....Christians....have to go beyond our president. Neither his impeachment nor reelection would alter God's overall plan of judgment. Our prayer for Donald Trump as an individual....and as a president....should be that God humbles him as He has humbled every one of us. In the final analysis it matters not whether he remains in office or someone else replaces him....our eyes have to turn to Him who holds every atom in place in this universe....and they would therefore of necessity turn away from something else.
Note: Here is a verse that encourages me as we traverse this stormy weather and attempt to navigate shoals everywhere...."Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear (or revere) Him. For HE Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust." PS 103: 13,14
Note: My hope each and every day is that the Lord might have mercy upon us and open our eyes to Donald Trump and his worship leader Rush Limbaugh. I picked up another book on Donald Trump yesterday....and left a different one there to pick up next Tuesday....so I'm in the middle of three books right now.....on top of the forty-some books I've read....and the more I read about this man....and how he has bewitched people who ordinarily would never lower themselves to where he is....the more I pray that God would blow this fog away....and make us see our mistakes....and how we ourselves brought these judgments upon America....and how even the thought of MAGA is arrogant and preposterous and in direct conflict with God's Word.
THE PRESIDENT'S TRAVAILS
So how are we as Christians to help Donald Trump in his position of President of the United States? The general thought on this among evangelicals is that we are to pray for him....that's certainly biblical....but along with that unfortunately....we are to totally ignore those things about him where he may most be in need of prayer....and more importantly why he is so in need of prayer in those areas.
Continuing in his position as president is now tenuous. Impeachment is on the table....a resignation a la Richard Nixon is not out of the question....and along with the enormity of the opposition against him is the strong possibility of Republicans eventually coming out of the woodwork who would advise him to change his mind on seeking a second nomination. Unlikely as this appears....it is nonetheless a possibility....(and it's what I particularly hope for.)
Of course his successfully combating all the efforts against him....and winning not only the nomination but reelection is a possibility also....it may even be a probability....but there is something else that could make all of this moot....and that is catastrophes....to use that word that could encompass events such as a worldwide stock market collapse or war or any one of a number of other calamities. If Donald Trump lashes out against foreign enemies as impetuously and immaturely as he lashes out at political opponents then there will be....to use an archaic phrase....'the devil to pay." We cannot be of help to his real needs if we just continue to feed his appetites. His political fortunes are not the issue....his ability or lack thereof to act wisely under duress is the issue....and if the Russian investigation is any indication....it does not look good.
Prayer for this entire situation is what is needed....not just for the President....and certainly not to just get him out of his troubles.....most of which are self-inflicted....but praying God's hand upon all of us....and that includes our finally realizing our own culpability in these troubles. Prayer for this 'entire situation' not only would include the American pulpit but it would revolve around these pastors....flesh and blood people like the rest of us....who like the rest of us....failed to remain vigilant....failed to rely upon God....and failed to heed his warnings if they even considered them for more than a minute.
Although integral to various political agendas and the careers of numerous politicians....and even the direction of current events....Donald Trump's travails....(in spite of his own elevation of his importance to the world)....are not even near the real center of our troubles. Society and culture have crumbled....the law itself is nothing but a club to swing at opponents....violence on the streets has now crept into our minds and thoughts....the church has essentially become at best a bystander....and at worst part of the trouble....and legitimate and necessary civil discourse is all but gone.
We....the church.....Christians....have to go beyond our president. Neither his impeachment nor reelection would alter God's overall plan of judgment. Our prayer for Donald Trump as an individual....and as a president....should be that God humbles him as He has humbled every one of us. In the final analysis it matters not whether he remains in office or someone else replaces him....our eyes have to turn to Him who holds every atom in place in this universe....and they would therefore of necessity turn away from something else.
Note: Here is a verse that encourages me as we traverse this stormy weather and attempt to navigate shoals everywhere...."Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear (or revere) Him. For HE Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust." PS 103: 13,14
