Dear friends and readers,
In all the time I have been writing articles on the internet, I have never once delved into the political world. Oh, I most certainly have my opinions but have always shied clear of politics because my articles are all about the Bible and in many cases Biblical prophecy. But today I am going to give my opinions about a few things including the current President Donald J. Trump. Why? Because I am frequently asked and find myself constantly dancing around an issue that is quite frankly affecting the entire world.
To begin with allow me to file full discloser; Until the second term of President George Bush, I considered myself to be a solid Republican my entire life. However when he promised---several times---to move the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and then did not do so, I quit. Literally, as in sent a letter addressed to the President himself and said consider me out as a Republican because you folks don't keep your word! Of course I had no illusions that he would ever actually see a letter from a "nobody" out in U.S.A. land but then I thought, maybe just maybe someone at the White House would read it. And you know what? Someone did. I actually received a nicely worded letter back that thanked me for writing and said, "The President thanks you for your opinion"! Well, was I ever impressed. Apparently they missed the I QUIT part that I know was also being shared by Evangelical Christians by the hundreds of thousands---if not millions. And then they wonder why Barack Obama won two back to back elections. The followers of Christ had basically dropped out.
After I quit I considered myself to be a thoroughly disgusted Independent conservative. I began seeing a pattern of denial, deceit and downright political pandering in both of our major parties. Little if anything was actually being accomplished and political gridlock became the norm---not only the norm but the name of the game.
Then the big contest between Hillary Clinton and some ultra rich guy T.V. star and real estate developer. Of course I had been hearing about Donald Trump for many years but REALLY? This guy is running for President? Talk about trying to decide about the lessor of the two evils---friend this was it.
Personally I would have chosen someone like Mike Huckabee but I soon realized that he is entirely too Christian to ever be elected. Trump was swatting off the other Republican contenders like flies off a wall and none of it---absolutely none of it made the slightest sense. That's when my antennae went up because as a seasoned pastor, I have always been impressed when the Lord moved in ways that seemed utterly impossible. It was at this time that I refreshed myself on a little known scripture in Romans 13:1 that says "---there is no authority except from God and the authorities that exist are appointed by God".
Ok, says I, if Trump becomes President God put him there. But wait, there may be another side to the story. Way back in Daniel chapter 4 verse 17 the text is speaking about King Nebuchadnezzar and says "---The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whoever He will, and sets over it the LOWEST of men". Other translations insert the word BASEST rather than lowest which of course in this context means, a person of poor quality, ignoble or even worthless. Reading the entire story of King Nebuchadnezzar, it becomes obvious that God placed this man over the powerful kingdom of Babylon for a specific purpose; To humble and take into captivity the sinning kingdom and people of Judah. In other words God used a despotic ruler to punish His own chosen people who had walked away from God and down a path of unrighteousness.
So back to the drawing board. Romans appears to be saying that God appoints ALL rulers but then clarification comes in the book of Hosea chapter 8 verse 4 (GOD speaking through His prophet), "They (mankind) set up kings but not by Me; They made princes but I did not acknowledge them". So now we are left at least with some understanding that yes, God does appoint and ordain specific rulers for specific times and purposes. But not all rulers are appointed by God.
We can finally put to rest what some people are thinking that God appointed a person like Adolf Hitler. Or how about Joseph Stalin? Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Augusto Pinochet, Francis Duvalier, Francisco Franko, Charles Taylor, Saddam Hussein or a really nice guy like Bashar Al-Assad who has killed or displaced millions of his own citizens? I don't think so.
So as Mr. Trump was finally elected against all odds, I had to come to grips with the fact that maybe, just maybe God had something to do with it. Or, maybe not, only time would tell.
For me, I decided to completely discount all the bad stuff like womanizing that Trump has been reported to have done over the years. I mean lets face it, we cannot change history and at last count something like 16 past Presidents of the United States had extra marital affairs while in office and can you believe this? At least two first lady's! One President reportedly committed violent rape and when his victim was discovered to be pregnant, had his minions lock her up in an insane asylum. What a way to keep illegal and unseemly activity out of the public eye!
Then I had to consider the fact that several well know pastors and church leaders have come forward and claimed or at least hinted that Trump repented for his sins and accepted the Lord. OK NOW! For me that begins to tell me what kind of guy he will turn out to be although frankly I have on occasion been fooled by false professions of faith. So, back to square one AGAIN! Wait and see.
Now we are hearing reports of Bible studies and prayer daily in the Oval Office. WOW. Now I 'm listening. Plus there is always Vice President Mike Pence, an extremely solid believer and have you noticed? Nearly always at the Presidents side? And his closest advisors? Hard, smart men and women who know what they are about. And by all accounts the President listens to them. Not to mention his generals which is another biggie for me.
That puts my attention on full color, wide screen plus it is becoming obvious for all to see that Trump actually does what he promised to do and has moved the Embassy to Jerusalem. He also 100% supports Israel which is huge for me. And he is knocking down an incredibly long list of the campaign promises one after the other. And he donates his pay as President??? Dude! This is stuff of legend that I have never seen in my lifetime. Wake up world, we have a gem here!
But wait, what about all that stuff about sexual improprieties? I mean really! Can I accept that in my President? Fair question but then I have to answer that from a Biblical, Christian view point.
1). Sex out of wedlock is a no no. Period. But the word of God is also abundantly clear regarding repentance. Psalm 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He (GOD) removed our transgressions from us". Have you looked at a globe or world map lately? I have and clearly the north turns to the south but never ever does the east meet the west. The take away from that is that when true and sincere repentance comes, God forgets all about our past sins. So if God forgets our past sins should we also not do the same for fellow believers? Including a President who admittedly had a storied past?
SPECIAL NOTE: Believers who have forgotten that they themselves were sinners before salvation are the very ones who cause non believers to think that "all Christians are hypocrites"!
2). But how do I know for certain that this man Trump is sincere in repentance? Whoops, I almost stepped onto a land mine with that one. Let's see now wasn't it something like "judge not lest you be judged"?
3). I was raised in a vastly different generation in which a man's handshake meant something and his word should be depended upon. I have never ever seen in my lifetime any President who actually tried diligently to keep his campaign promises. UNTIL NOW!
Er, has anyone noticed that we elect Presidents not pastors? But then some pastors fall also don't they? It's hard to point fingers isn't it?
4). So lets review shall we? Trump was a sinner, so was I. Trump was forgiven, so was I.
5). This President is pro life, so am I. He does not believe that Americans tax money should be spent on funding abortions, neither do I. This President obviously loves his military families, so do I. He cares deeply for the nations police and first responders, so do I. He wants America safe and strong, so do I. He hates thuggery such as MS 13, so do I. He is trying to reform the prison systems (I was once a jail commander) so I believe in that completely.
6). Trump takes care of wounded warriors and the nations military veterans---something near and dear to my own heart.
7). This President is both pro free speech and pro second amendment. So am I.
8). President Trump is making the economy better, providing tax relief, and I believe sincerely wants to make America a strong vibrant economy once more. So do I. He has tried diligently to move the nation into a far better insurance medical environment and although that has not happened yet, he is still trying.
9). He believes in fair trade deals in which the United States tax payers are not shafted, so do I.
10. He believes in LEGAL immigration, so do I. A side note here; I live in Mexico. It took my wife and I ten years to complete our legal paperwork to live here (where I minister) and 7 full years of paperwork to adopt an extremely handicapped little boy---at extreme expense in both cases. If the Mexican government thought we were here illegally we would be kicked out PRONTO. It should be the same in both countries.
11). Trump wants to renegotiate NAFTA. He is 100% correct in doing so. I was born In America and love my flag but I have ministered and lived in Mexico for over 25 years full time. I see what the reality of NAFTA actually is. The way it is currently set up NAFTA benefits Mexico in huge ways. Good for them, these are very nice people. But it is not good for America. A future article will outline that for you because you cannot believe all you hear from journalists most of whom have never crossed the boarder, let alone lived here.
12). Trump is trying to secure the boarders of the United States and I agree with that whole heartedly. Keep the drugs out of the good ole U.S.A. and in all fairness to Mexico keep guns from going south, They are illegal here.
I could go on and on with my opinions about this President. Bottom line, he is not a perfect man, neither am I. Are you?
Tomorrow I will go back to being a non political writer, but for today as far as I am concerned enough is enough. This stupid investigation by Robert Mueller needs to stop now. Trump is being extremely hard with sanctions on both Russia and China. But he is knocked continually for maintaining a relationship with the leaders of those two countries.
There is an old country saying "keep your friends close and your enemies closer". That way your enemies cannot blind side you. SMART!
I believe that Donald Trump has become a believer. But he is a young believer (we call them baby Christians). Young believers say some silly things from time to time. We all know that. If you ask my wife or my closest friends they may tell you that I (after being a pastor for 34 years) am still capable of occasionally saying some silly things. Give the man a break already!
Lastly let me comment on the Presidents TWEETING. People say it's stupid. I disagree. This is the very first President in all of history who has discovered a way to personally speak into the lives of 20 million on Twitter DAILY and somewhere around 100 million on social media around the globe. Sometimes he says controversial things. I believe I understand why. This man is brilliant. He has his political opponents and the media in general on a short leash and keeps them jumping like a circus monkey. Whenever he wants to change the dialogue he simply puts something out there that he knows will cause apoplexy and it does. It sucks the entire oxygen out of news cycles for a week for two at a time. While this is going on President Trump is laughing hysterically and sitting in the Oval Office rolling back rules, regulations and appointing more judges for confirmation. By the time anyone notices, he simply changes the narrative again. SMART!
I was born long before the end of WWII and have seen a number of Presidents in my lifetime. Not one of them was able to do in a full eight years what this man has done in a year and a half.
He has been able to secure the release of political prisoners from two countries that NO ONE ELSE has been able to do. He speaks and people and leaders in countries like North Korea, Russia, China, Lebanon and Syria---and even Iran, listen very carefully.They do that because they have figured out that this man, this President means what he says and will brook no nonsense from anyone. Threatening the United States while this man is President is tantamount to political and potentially even physical suicide.
PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH WORKS!
Yes, I have decided. Donald J. Trump is my President and my Commander in Chief. And I am proud of the job he is doing.
Think about it,
God bless,
Pastor Rance.
P.S. Leave the First Lady alone for goodness sakes---and their son. She represents pure class as far as I am concerned.
