Word for the Day, Thursday, January 28, 2016

But all of us on FR should be able to predict the collapse of our freedoms if Bernie or Hillary takes over. So if Trump is the nominee, that is your moment to decide whether you are in charge of everyone's walk with God, or only your own, as a citizen trying to make the best out of an imperfect situation.

The difference between the outright socialism under Bernie or Hillary and the crony capitalism under Trump is a very thin line, and it is debatable as to how much -- if any -- marginal improvement the Trump crony capitalism would afford. As to the devastation to our federal court system and the tyranny to come from the judicial appointees and the ensuing activism of the SCOTUS with any of these three making lifetime appointments for probably three or four justices, I shudder to think of that. If we are faced with the choice that you propose, I would take that to mean that God is bringing judgment upon this nation by allowing us to have the leaders that the populace deserves.

"HE's not a Christian but I AM a devout Christian...."
That's a logical impossibility. Devout Christians don't try to take God's place in another person's walk with faith....

As has been noted on this Forum often, we're not electing a pastor or a Pope.

Erick Erickson had an extremely insightful column in which he cited many of Trump's own comments. In this column, he also addressed points that you made in your post (though he was addressing them more as the talking points of Trump's apologists in the evangelical community).

Erick Erickson: In His Own Words

In response to those who say either (1) "we aren't electing a pastor-in-chief" or (2) "who are you to judge whether Trump is or is not a Christian", Erick says this:

Donald Trump calls himself a Christian, but has never asked God for forgiveness and sees no need to repent. Point that out to many an evangelical Christian and they will be quick to accuse you of judging Donald Trump. And if you point out that 1 Corinthians 5 makes clear that Christians are to judge anyone who calls himself a Christian, Trump defenders will proclaim they are not electing a pastor. Paul wrote, "[do not] associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler." The Bible also implores the faithful to seek out godly men for their leaders.

I think his analysis of why certain evangelical "leaders" and pastors are so slow to discern and quick to endorse to be spot on:

That men who spend their time wrapped in scripture and preaching in pulpits are quick to embrace a man who is on his third wife gets me thinking. This man is on his third wife -- after having cheated on his first wife with his second -- and says he has never asked God for forgiveness, cannot name a favorite book of the Bible and has no favorite passage of scripture. This suggests to me that many Christian preachers in this country have unsure moorings and let their homesickness for this country as they think they once knew it supersede their homesickness for the land to which they have not yet been, but to which they supposedly long.

I pray that God gives GOP primary voters the discernment not to saddle us with this democrat at the top of our ticket.

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