The 1 Tim. 2:2 Response to President Trump’s Moral Failures

During the 2016 election cycle, a number of prophetic voices announced that God was sending a “Cyrus” to rescue the church from an increasingly anti-Christian government.

What we got was Donald Trump, a foul-mouthed, arrogant former playboy, and a merciless competitor. But, like ancient King Cyrus, he befriended God’s people, and 81 percent of the evangelicals voted for him.

Like King Cyrus, Trump rose against a corrupt system and promised to change it. Cyrus targeted the ancient city of Babylon, which was suffering from mis-rule by King Nabonidus and his son, the famous Belshazzar whose doom was prophesied by Daniel (Dan. 5:26-28). The people, already oppressed by the government, suffered from a declining economy, loss of productive land and plague. On top of it all, the kings disrespected the pagan religious leaders, who opened the gates of the city to Cyrus without an arrow being fired. In Trump’s case it was the Christian leaders, not the unbelievers, who helped an oppressed people open the gates for change.

Like Trump, Cyrus saw the wisdom of working with God’s people. He fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah (Jer. 25:9, 11, 12) by allowing the Jews to return to Israel. He also decreed that the temple would be rebuilt and all of its furnishings returned, as prophesied by Isaiah (Isa. 4:28). Because of his generosity, Israel supported Persia and helped guard Persia’s contested border with Egypt. Like Cyrus, Trump can help bring God’s presence back into our land as the Christians defend him against attack.

In his first year in office Trump’s policies have rolled back many of the oppressive and lawless decrees of the Obama administration. The stock market, although probably due for correction, has reached record levels and, thanks to tax and regulatory reform, America is enjoying prosperity and a growing economy. The ISIS caliphate has been destroyed, and we have finally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. And freedom of religion is no longer under attack by the government.

Trump’s efforts to “Drain the swamp” of corruption and misrule in Washington have been less successful, as the elites in media, government and politics have fought fiercely to maintain their power. Government agencies have promoted a false “Russia Collusion” story while trying to cover up their illegal actions taken against Trump. The media have reported, then retracted, many false accusations. Some even went so far as to shut down the government to gain political leverage in the immigration debate.

We all know that Trump can be boorish and is often his own worst enemy. Instead of judging Trump as so many have, we should follow the apostle Paul’s command to pray for him so “That we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Tim. 2:2).

The truth is that Trump has given Christians a respite from the anti-Christian forces at work in the land. But we are a nation in desperate need of revival. And it is up to God’s people to “humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and then turn from their wicked ways” so God will heal our land (2 Chron. 7:14).

Let the church begin by repenting of its divisions and come into unity as Jesus prayed in John 17:21-23, so that this world will know that God so loved the world that He sent His Son to save us.

May the love of God shine through His people to change the atmosphere of hate and divisiveness afflicting America.

So pray for President Trump, but also pray for your neighbors, and pray blessings on the enemies of the church so that they will be blessed with eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know the truth.

Love is the most powerful spiritual force of all (1 Cor. 13:13).

Let’s use it. {eoa}