Christians and Trump--two perspectives

[Zymologist]

I briefly thought about posting this in Civics, but...nah.

These are from a site called Sharper Iron that I lurk at on occasion. From their "About" section:



Two of the site regulars posted these articles. I share them for your reading pleasure and--hopefully--edification.

Source

Source

[Littlejoe]

Donald Trump was a rich heathen most of his life....and may very well still be. But, he claims to have converted, Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's son says he accepted Christ so, how should we evaluate those claims? As a baby Christian, new to the faith, most of my activities would have gotten me shamed or condemned most likely. Even today, I occasionally consume alcohol...for many Christians, this is a big no no and calls my faith into question. But, the thing I've learned is that whether you're saved by the blood of Christ has never been, and will never be about your behavior, it's always been about faith. Does Trump have faith? I don't know, but his detractors can't know for sure either. Trump doesn't have the luxury of learning what it's like to be Christian in a church, with a Bible believing support group. I think it's unfair at this point to say one way or the other. Meanwhile, he's trying to make good on his campaign promises, (whether you agree with them or not, it's still unusual) and the US economy is humming along nicely.

[Teallaura]

I think the way he has made serious attempts to keep his promises speaks well of him. What he did in the past is either between him and God or as far from him as the east is from the west - and I am not privy to know which. He's been a much better president than I'd thought he could be.

[NorrinRadd]

Donald Trump was a rich heathen most of his life....and may very well still be. But, he claims to have converted, Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's son says he accepted Christ ...

Has Trump himself actually claimed to have converted? I've heard others -- Franklin Graham, as you note, and a few more -- make that claim on his behalf, but I've not seen or heard him directly make the claim.

[Zymologist]

Has Trump himself actually claimed to have converted? I've heard others -- Franklin Graham, as you note, and a few more -- make that claim on his behalf, but I've not seen or heard him directly make the claim.

Interesting question, actually...I don't think I've seen him make the claim, either. (Not that I've looked)

[Teallaura]

He is probably a young Christian. I actually think that if that's so, it's best for him to not make public proclamations of faith.

[Littlejoe]

Has Trump himself actually claimed to have converted? I've heard others -- Franklin Graham, as you note, and a few more -- make that claim on his behalf, but I've not seen or heard him directly make the claim.

Interesting question, actually...I don't think I've seen him make the claim, either. (Not that I've looked)

Well, I don't know if he used the term converted exactly but

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36qhTfCWdiw

At the 6:08 Trump says: "....I'm a very good Christian..." and says, it again at 6:20

I admit I was going off of reports like the one from Franklin Graham and James Dobson. This article from Belief net claims to quote Donald Trump in his book Great Again:
https://www.beliefnet.com/news/polit...Ov83UjsK1hW.99

[mikewhitney]

The first source failed to give an alternative to voting for Trump. The other option was not to vote until an ideal Christian becomes a candidate -- or a viable candidate

[Cow Poke]

Has Trump himself actually claimed to have converted? I've heard others -- Franklin Graham, as you note, and a few more -- make that claim on his behalf, but I've not seen or heard him directly make the claim.

This kinda reminds me of the whole "Did Buttigieg actually, himself, claim to be a practicing Christian"?

[NorrinRadd]

This kinda reminds me of the whole "Did Buttigieg actually, himself, claim to be a practicing Christian"?

A bit. I only participated lightly in that thread. My main issue in that thread was Buttgiggy criticizing the Christianity of others, such as Pence. He has certainly been *regarded* as a "Christian," at least in the sense of someone who attends church and is comfortable with "Christianese." Whatever else is true about Trump, I think it is clear he is not conversant with "Christianese."

[Cow Poke]

A bit. I only participated lightly in that thread. My main issue in that thread was Buttgiggy criticizing the Christianity of others, such as Pence. He has certainly been *regarded* as a "Christian," at least in the sense of someone who attends church and is comfortable with "Christianese." Whatever else is true about Trump, I think it is clear he is not conversant with "Christianese."

Yeah.

[Christian3]

I briefly thought about posting this in Civics, but...nah.

These are from a site called Sharper Iron that I lurk at on occasion. From their "About" section:



Two of the site regulars posted these articles. I share them for your reading pleasure and--hopefully--edification.

Source

Source

If we were to choose a candidate for President from any Christian congregation, we would find that none of them measures up to what a Christian should be, including the Pastors.

The question we should ask ourselves is whether President Trump can be a good President; whether what he does is in the best interests of Americans.

[NorrinRadd]

Finally skimmed the articles.

The second one was a bunch of inane pie-in-the-sky idealistic fluff.

[Cow Poke]

Finally skimmed the articles.

The second one was a bunch of inane pie-in-the-sky idealistic fluff.

You read the Democratic Party Platform?

[Leonhard]

I think the real question is why anyone cares? Why is it so important to people whether Trump is, or is not, an evangelical protestant?

Christian conservatives seem quite invested in selling him as one, and as the second-coming of Reagan. The left-wing seem to think they score a significant point if they point out that he isn't the genuine article but is only playing the ear of the religious right. To Christians, at the end of the day whether Trump is a Christian or not, is between him and God. I think his public statements don't exactly overpower me with a sense that he has the faith. However, there's a matter of record of what sort of political actions he taking. Is he a friend or foe of the religious right. And it appears he wants to be seen as a friend, and therefore the Religious Right in turn will treat him as one.

Obama, Clinton and Kennedy all claimed to be right believing Christians, and yet you can't exactly say their policies were all that friendly towards the religious communities.

At the end of the day it is those decisions that we are interested in. So if it turned out tomorrow that it was proven beyond any reasonable doubt that Trump was in fact an atheist, then I'd say its the kind of Christian atheist I'd want in office.