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‘I believe in the Bible’: Trump courts Christian right
http://www.washingtonpost.com ^ | September 25, 2015 | Jim Colvin

Posted on 09/26/2015 7:03:30 AM PDT by NKP_Vet

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump recently showed up at a gathering of Iowa conservative Christian voters with a copy of the Bible in hand.

“See, I’m better than you thought,” he said. Then came a black-and-white photograph from his confirmation to further prove his Christian cred.

“Nobody believes this,” he said to laughs. “What went wrong?”

As the Republican presidential front-runner and billionaire businessman tries to maintain his lead in early polls with rivals gaining, Trump is increasingly courting a wing of the Republican Party that might seem antithetical to his brand: evangelical Christians.

After initially declining the invitation, Trump spoke Friday in front of several hundred social conservative leaders at the Family Research Council’s Values Voter Summit in Washington. He joined a speaking program that includes Republican rivals with long records of dedication to religious causes — among them, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist pastor, and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who wants his colleagues to risk a government shutdown to block funding to Planned Parenthood.

Trump brought his Bible along once again, and briefly addressed his faith between attacks on his rivals and Democrats.

“I believe in God. I believe in the Bible. I’m a Christian,” he said. He ended by bemoaning the increased use of the term “Happy Holidays” in place of “Merry Christmas” as a sign that Christianity is under attack. As president, he said, he’d reverse the trend.

In Oklahoma City later in the day, Trump had kind words for Pope Francis as the Catholic leader visited Trump’s hometown of New York. “He is a unifier. He wants to bring people together, and I think that’s a great thing,” Trump said. “That’s what we have to do. We have to bring people together.” He did mention that he disagrees with Francis on global warming.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: religion; repositorytrump; trump
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To: NKP_Vet
Can't help but remember another politician who liked to tote his Bible around a lot.

And this one, who teaches Sunday School.


41 posted on 09/26/2015 8:44:27 AM PDT by EternalVigilance (Keep in mind, Boehner was the symptom, not the disease.)
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To: gov_bean_ counter

I appreciate that. I don’t see Trump as being evangelical by a long shot. He is probably late to the prolife position, but he seems to have got there and that alone enables me to vote for the man. That serves as my threshold condition.

I can vote for him and pray for him, but no I don’t think he needs to be falsely molded into some paragon of faith. That’s a false projection if I ever heard one.

He is the best man for this terrible job, perhaps by miles, but if he were loosey goosey on abortion, I would have to happily lose with Cruz.

I am all *for* a citizen president, entirely out of government as it is today.

Trump, I pray, is on his own spiritual journey, as are we all. And, none have arrived. Who knows where it might lead him. He is not there yet. Neither am I, I’m quite sure. Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. Thanks, bean counter. Rita


42 posted on 09/26/2015 8:45:06 AM PDT by RitaOK ( VIVA CRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming)
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To: Politicalkiddo

God raises them up, and God brings them down.. I hope and pray he brings Obama down soon.. We all need to pray.. even if you don’t believe pray anyway... Our nation is based on Christian principles and is about to turn Islamic.. We can not allow that to happen. There is more suffering under Islam then there is under communism.. If we allow them to bring the “so called refuges” here, we will find out in less then 5 years or so. God Speed America.. Bless us again..


43 posted on 09/26/2015 8:47:33 AM PDT by just me (GOD BLESS AMERICA Amen)
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To: NKP_Vet

I think a better approach, instead of this obvious lying, would be to just discuss how he would protect religious liberty and why he thinks that is necessary (if in fact he really believes in it).

At this point in time we all know the hypocrisy of past presidents in this area as others have posted (those pics say it all).


44 posted on 09/26/2015 8:56:47 AM PDT by Lake Living
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To: hoosiermama

Yes, I agree. He may have 32% but that means 68% aren’t behind him. I speak to many people who basically can’t stand the man. You ask them, why? They respond, (believe it or not), “first off he’s for gun control, ie anti second amendment, secondly, he’s a phoney when it comes to his faith, thirdly he’s a sexist pig, 4th he wants to raise our taxes...etc.”


45 posted on 09/26/2015 9:03:35 AM PDT by nikos1121 ("There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." Thoreau)
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To: hoosiermama

Very nice, mama. You are beautifully wise, and what a wonderfully apt scripture quote!

As I said above, imho, Trump is a secular man, but appears open, even desirous of a deeper faith and he seems to be learning on the run, so to speak. Obviously, he would never ask for prayer from that pastor, if he didn’t know that he needed prayer.

Trump said he had not asked God for forgiveness. As a protestant, I never did either. I guess we relied on our conscience, bucked up, and just tried to do better, but we didn’t examine our conscience daily and we didn’t accuse ourself daily.

As a Catholic convert, that daily examination of conscience does, over time and when I got used to it, teach me more about my fallen state, correcting my selfish heart, and relying on the mercy of God, and in my nightly prayer, I have learned about myself and admit to it.

Accepting that I am fallen has greatly induced an enlarged appreciation for what Jesus did for me on the Cross. I knew that academically of course, but when I realized what he suffered because I am a sinner pilgrim, I experienced His love for me, in a most poignant way.

I just agree with you so much that the reliance on Grace is a virtue, and Trump seems to come from that understanding too. That is exactly right, and it does, naturally, meet with some resistance from those who believe in daily repentance, for their fallen state. God is merciful and terrible. Thanks ever so much. Rita.


46 posted on 09/26/2015 9:09:56 AM PDT by RitaOK ( VIVA CRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming)
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To: NKP_Vet

I am voting for Trump in the NH primary. And I love my Evangelical Bible Christian brothers and sisters.

BUT

If you will not vote for someone who has not accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and who follows the Bible in (almost) every act of his daily life -

Vote for somebody else.


47 posted on 09/26/2015 9:12:09 AM PDT by Jim Noble (You walk into the room like a camel and then you frown)
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To: hoosiermama

He’s in my prayers, count on it!


48 posted on 09/26/2015 9:15:36 AM PDT by Guenevere (If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do....)
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To: Conscience of a Conservative

Really? I consider myself a Christian too, I always did, but I was pretty laid back about the whole thing. A few years ago when I realized I had to start taking my faith very seriously, especially the matter of sin.

Christ instructs not to be deceived and, like you, I agree it is important to remember this instruction in all things, not just the time of the Great Deception that we know is to come.

Now, I know for certain that the Democrats are deceivers, and I know now for certain that the Republican establishment/leadership are deceivers. And there are none in the media or academia, few in the pulpits, who are willing to call them deceivers. People who we trust to tell us the truth, do not call them deceivers but instead tell us to trust these political liars of every stripe who do not tell us the truth, and slander and persecute the one who has come to stand in the gap and call them corrupt!

And so, this is what I believe. I believe that God in His Mercy, has raised up Donald Trump to tell the truth and to save this country if she has the will be saved. I believe that if we turn to God and repent, that the Day of the Lord will be stayed for a time, as it was in Ninevah. But to that is up to us; we must fight on both front, spiritually and temporally. Christ tells us (the church) to occupy until He returns, with Donald Trump we have the opportunity to take a stand for what we believe in, with the establishment liars on the aisle we have none

There is an antichrist and a false prophet plainly and obviously in place, and it is up to us to decide, by our actions, if they are the ones spoken of by the prophets or not. We can turn away from this chance given to us, and continue the way we have, and usher in the day of the Lord in a matter of months, perhaps even days, (which we are instructed to pray that it does not happen in our lifetime) or we can turn, we can fight, we can regain our sovereignty and our moral integrity, we can be again the people we once were, and a source of good in the world. Or we can continue to believe the liars who tell us all is as good as it can possibly be, and that every terrible disgraceful thing that is happening to us, our culture, our children, and that Donald Trump is a reality show clown with bad manners, or we can believe Donald Trump who is telling us that nothing is good, that we are losing our culture, our sovereignty, our prosperity, and that are leaders are treacherous self-serving liars; and then humbly asks his fellow citizens to pray him and ask Good to lead him in the direction he should go.

And one more thing, dear CoC, remember that God delights in choosing the unlikely sinner to deliver his people. Remember the story of Gideon? Remember the cowardice of Moses? Remember Paul held the cloaks of those who stoned to death the first martyr for Christ, the Apostle Stephen?


49 posted on 09/26/2015 9:19:53 AM PDT by erkelly
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To: RitaOK

I just visited the Billy Graham library....and saw Ruth Graham’s simple tombstone in the garden.

One day she was driving through a construcion site.....and saw a sign and said...
Put those words on my grave stone

.....Ruth Bell Graham
...Construction Over, Thanks for Your Patience

I think that speaks for all of us on the road to sanctification.

May God bless Donald Trump


50 posted on 09/26/2015 9:23:40 AM PDT by Guenevere (If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do....)
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To: RitaOK; All

I understand. After attending an Emmaus Walk I longed for that time we shared when we felt closest and most far from God

One dear friend would share as a child she would tell.a lie just before confession so she would have something to confess. BLess her heart she passed with that same childlike innocence.

There is so much I wish he would share about his life. But there is also so much written that I can understand his leaning toward keeping some part of his life private

He has been criticized relentlessly for his sins by the public (this thread is an excellent example) Should we not support our brothers and sisters in their struggles instead some seem intent on throwing stones.

If you are reading these threads and you have a stone in hand think! Pray! For Your own short comings and for the request Trump vocalized in this article and all our candidates that they too open their eyes and hearts


51 posted on 09/26/2015 9:25:44 AM PDT by hoosiermama (If Obama canÂ’t convince Americans heÂ’s not a moslem then it certainly isnÂ’t TrumpÂ’s job to do s)
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To: erkelly

Don’t forget David.


52 posted on 09/26/2015 9:29:19 AM PDT by hoosiermama (If Obama canÂ’t convince Americans heÂ’s not a moslem then it certainly isnÂ’t TrumpÂ’s job to do s)
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To: Guenevere

How clever and yet true. I had not heard that. Thanks, Guenevere.


53 posted on 09/26/2015 9:36:14 AM PDT by RitaOK ( VIVA CRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming)
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To: LS

God is answering prayer. I want Trump as POTUS, but not just as a nominal christian, businessman, deal maker. I pray that God draws Trump to Himself, brings him to a definite, clear cut Salvation experience, and surrounds him with seasoned Christians - like Cruz as Veep, who will be a Godly influence on him.

The crowd in which you travel matters. When I got saved, I had the blessing of “wandering” into a circle of strong, astute, godly businessmen; and a lot of what helps me yet today, I picked up from them by osmosis.

God bless, lead, promote and protect Donald John Trump.
Amen.


54 posted on 09/26/2015 9:42:35 AM PDT by Tucker39 (Welcome to America! Now speak English; and keep to the right....In driving, in Faith, and politics.)
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To: LS

I don’t think its a show. I think Donald Trump has a good moral compass. He has made mistakes like many millions of the rest of us. But I think he has a good heart and I really cannot imagine any other reason for him to go through this to become President except a desire to help the country. That is why Mr. GG2 and I are going to vote for him. I think Trump will attempt to keep his promises if elected.


55 posted on 09/26/2015 9:46:10 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: hoosiermama

I was raised Presbyterian. They have confirmation.


56 posted on 09/26/2015 9:49:42 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Texas Eagle

It is not a Catholic thing. I would imagine all churches have them. When I was about 11 or 12 I went through confirmation to be a member of our Methodist church at the time.


57 posted on 09/26/2015 9:52:48 AM PDT by American Faith Today
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To: Tucker39

I agree with you!!!!!


58 posted on 09/26/2015 9:58:41 AM PDT by Guenevere (If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do....)
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To: LS

I will give him enormous credit for doing this. It is a start and seems to demonstrate some sincere faith
I will however lean toward the candidate (s) who I feel shows more consistent obedience to God and understanding of His Truth.


59 posted on 09/26/2015 9:59:09 AM PDT by American Faith Today
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To: Texas Eagle

Confirmation is a rite in numerous mainline denominations. Most of them mistakenly construe it as Salvation, which it can be if part and parcel of it is a teaching of one’s absolute need of a Savior, and concluded with each participant personally praying the “Sinner’s Prayer”. I personally doubt if a very high percentage teach that way.

They have a printed formula that they’ve used for centuries; the supplicant follows that set of rails, and when they get to the end, someone dubs them a Lutheran or fill-in-the-blank, Christian and hands them a certificate.

At least, that has been my own personal experience. I didn’t get born again until I was 23 years old. That was 53 years ago.

There! Now the cat’s out of the bag.


60 posted on 09/26/2015 10:00:09 AM PDT by Tucker39 (Welcome to America! Now speak English; and keep to the right....In driving, in Faith, and politics.)
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