Stay Focused
Today, Donald Trump made his return to the White House. Our forty-seventh president wasted no time in beginning his efforts to shape the nation to his vision. With substantial control of Congress, President Trump could be much more effective than he was during his last term in office. Knowing Trump—and the company he keeps—things will likely get better for those who most clearly and passionately support him, and markedly worse for many others.
Today, I’m choosing not to care. Today, I will fulfill the bare minimum of what Scripture asks me to do regarding the person who happens to sit in the Oval Office, and then I will get back to actively serving my Lord.
Let’s be clear about what God expects us to do regarding worldly leaders. In Paul’s instruction to Timothy, he urges “that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority.” The purpose of this, Paul clarifies, is not that those leaders would do what we want, but rather that we might live “peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Fittingly, Paul declares that this prayer is pleasing to our Savior, and then clarifies that our God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” In other words, we pray for those in power so that they will leave us alone so we can proclaim the gospel.
Fine: I will pray for Donald Trump. I will pray that he repents of his sin, and that it serves as a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit and the name of Jesus. In the meantime, I will pray that the same Spirit checks his pride, and allows those actually trying to serve God in Trump’s administration to further the work of the Kingdom. And if Donald Trump won’t repent, I will pray that he will be humbled like the kings of old.
Beyond that, though, I don’t intend on giving President Trump much of my attention. He simply doesn’t deserve it. I’d rather pay attention to Jesus and what he is telling me to do.
This does not mean sticking my head in the sand. This does not mean ignoring the plight of those around me. In fact, it means quite the opposite. As a follower of Jesus, I am called to work for justice in the world—real, restorative justice. Justice that seeks and demands repentance for historical wounds; that cares for the immigrant; that strives to provide for future generations. Most importantly, I am called to proclaim the gospel so that the Holy Spirit might bring any who hear me into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ so that others might work with me to bring that much more of God’s justice here on Earth.
In the face of all of that, President Trump is just a distraction. He is a symptom of a disease afflicting the people of God in this country. American Christians have allowed the tumor of national pride to fester to the point that it threatens to kill our ability to be witnesses for Jesus. Donald Trump is just the latest open wound on the body of believers; the sickness runs much deeper. I think we should call Trump what he is—ungodly—then move on to addressing the real, systemic sins that paved the way for him in the first place.
Imagine this: what if instead of discussing whatever word salad Donald Trump most recently blathered, we instead had a real, personal conversation with someone in the hopes of leading them closer to Jesus? What if every hour we spent scrolling through online reactions—be they adoration or hatred—to this administration’s policies, we served the most vulnerable members of our community in Jesus’ name. What if we talked about Jesus as often as most of our country talks about Donald Trump?
That certainly seems like a much better use of my time.