The sins of Donald
In Part 1, published on December 1, 2020, the object lesson was the popularity of US President Donald Trump. We asked the hard question of why is this one man so loved by many and so vilified by as many? We were led to admit that he is a summary on public display of America and mankind.
We continue the discussion with a look at Trump’s personal and presidential sins.
Trump, like all men, is a sinner in the sight of God. We have all fallen short. Who will cast the first stone? But whether you are a stone caster or the one at whom the stone is aimed, both serve a purpose and must be judged by that purpose.
It is worth making a distinction with Trumps personal sins which preceded his presidency, which were all public knowledge, yet the nation voted him into office. Then there are the sins of his presidency. For which are we casting the stone? His pride and arrogance portrayed in his sometimes obnoxious manner is agreed to be unacceptable. But his presidency must be assessed by his attitude, performance, and sins in the presidency.
I’ve heard and read of some of his sins before the presidency. Whatever he may have believed, or how he was socialised, would have affected his life and some of his belief system. His accusers say that among his sins there is evidence of him being racist.
There is in the public sphere undeniable evidence that he has inappropriately spoken and acted with women. That accusation, of course, is not uncommon to many.
Presidents of the United States, presidents of other coun- tries, and prime ministers, even in our own country, are known to have exhibited inappropriate behaviours in the way they have dealt with women. This speaks to their own weaknesses; all common sinners.
So, personal sin is not peculiar by any means to Trump? Wrong, yes, sin, but sins are common to men who have not built a personal relationship with a Holy God! Don’t for one moment think that I am excusing away Trump’s sins. For unchecked sin can sometimes destroy great people and even great nations.
Trump is the man in our mirror, and we don’t like all of what we see. Rather than deal with this reflection of ourselves, we reject it. But he’s also the man in the mirror with the potential that lies within; only needing courage and the resolve to fight for that which you believe in.
The amazing truth is that God has always used imperfect vessels. Hence, he has and can do more with Trump and with any of us. Still, that can never be an excuse or justification for us to accept or do wrong.
Like it or not, Trump saw the evil system and lifestyle he was a part of yet chose to engage to do something about it, despite his flaws and past. He never pretended to be perfect or waited to become so. He saw the problem, caught a vision to help, to solve it, and therefore declared his intention, stated his position, and pressed forward.
The citizens accepted his position. What in that is the problem? It is certainly better than the majority of us who do nothing and have a bag of excuses.
The question has to be: Has his personal historical sins outside of his manner interfered with his office?
But what are the perceived presidential sins of Trump that are causing people to be so angry at and disconnected from his personal and his political agendas? Do the sins in the presidency invalidate his serving, which ones? What really were Trump’s presidential sins?
Trump’s presidential sin #1: Drain the swamp!
It is felt his first sinful error of choosing was to think that he can ‘drain the swamp’ in Washington — an evil political system steeped in corrupt policies and systems and programmes that are not very often in the best interests of the people.
Both Republicans and