The last two Langstaff Letters brought more than the usual responses so I thought I would share some of them and offer some reflections.
TRUMP RESPONSES
One response went this way, “With all due respect to your well-earned position as a respected and biblically wise elder and teacher in the Church, I beg to differ with your observations and conclusions about the moral character of President Trump to hold the office. Our reply has nothing to do with his politics. I am not going to debate or rebuke your analysis of his personality. Yet I am attaching herein my own observations in writing of what the Bible says, or does not say to believers, when endorsing politicians from any venue, especially in the U.S. Only the Lord and His Word can persuade all and any of us to renew our mind so we may know what is the good and acceptable perfect will of God.” There followed a two-page typed response with their personal observations.
Another point of view – “King David was a leader because God anointed him as a fighter, but he had troubles too. Gods will is above all things and He will use who He wishes.”
Someone else wrote, “Trumpster is not a bad guy, he just sounds like one!” He then referred to an article by Liz Crokin, an entertainment journalist who covered Trump for ten years. Her article on Trump gave a whole range of reports on his generosity to other people. Makes for interesting reading.
TRUMP’S RECORD AS THE MOST HONEST PRESIDENT IN MODERN HISTORY
A number of people remarked about Trump’s record. Some passed on comments or articles by others. One such article, Marc Thiessen, a right-wing Washington Post columnist, states, “Donald Trump may be remembered as the most honest president in modern American history. Don’t get me wrong, Trump lies all the time. He said that he “enacted the biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history” (actually they are the eighth largest) and that “our economy is the strongest it’s ever been in the history of our country” (which may one day be true, but not yet). In part, it’s a New York thing – everything is the biggest and the best.
“But when it comes to the real barometer of presidential truthfulness – keeping his promises – Trump is a paragon of honesty. For better or worse, since taking office Trump has done exactly what he promised he would. (Washington Post, October 11, 2018)”
CHANGE OF HEART OVER TRUMP
It has been brought to my attention that some people who have previously been ‘Never Trumpers,’ have changed their minds. Dr. Michael Brown, in the Charisma article ‘You Don’t Like Trump. Neither Did I Until . . .,’ gives his reasons for this. “On the positive side, Trump has done a great job with the economy. He is doing better against ISIS and Islamic terrorism. He has proven to be a true friend to Israel. He has made some positive progress with hostile countries. He is absolutely keeping his promises about Supreme Court and Federal Court nominees. And he has proven sincere in his commitment to stand with evangelical Christians. (Charisma, October 15, 2018)”
KAVANAUGH RESPONSES
KAVANAUGH WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE TO ADMIT TO HEAVY DRINKING
Obama, former president of the United States, confessed, in an interview that was recorded, “I think I was a thug for a big part of my growing up. I think I was a very typical gregarious, mischievous child as a young boy . . . I got into fights, I drank and consumed substances that weren’t always legal.” Later in the interview he says, “I might drink a six-pack in an hour before going back to class, things like that. (The Blaze, October 3, 2018)”
So much for the youthful habits of our former president. It also raises the question, ‘Should events of over 30 years ago automatically affect a person’s career today?’
ALAN DERSHOWITZ’S COMMENTS
The well known Harvard law professor emeritus and self-confessed liberal sounded off at the time of the Senate inquiry saying, “Until Judge Brett Kavanaugh was accused of horrible crimes-sexual assault, lewd conduct and even gang rape-his confirmation hearings could fairly, if not entirely accurately, be characterized as a “job interview.” The burden was on him to demonstrate his suitability to serve on the Supreme Court. He apparently met that burden in the eyes of a majority, a partisan one to be sure, and seemed on the way to getting the job.
“But now everything has changed. So should the burden of persuasion. The behavior of which Judge Kavanaugh has been accused is so serious and devastating that it requires a high level of proof before forming the basis for his rejection. There is an enormous and dispositive difference between a candidate’s rejection on ideological grounds, as was the case with Robert Bork, and rejection on the ground that he has committed crimes warranting lifetime imprisonment rather than a lifetime appointment. (Wall Street Journal, September 30, 2018)”
KAVANAUGH AND THE BLACKOUT THEORY
Some have suggested Kavanaugh had experienced a blackout at the time of the alleged sexual assault. The New York Times article ‘Kavanaugh and the Blackout Theory’ begins, “One of the trickiest things about blackouts is that you don’t necessarily know you’re having one . . . . Blackouts are like a philosophical riddle inside a legal conundrum: If you can’t remember a thing, how do you know it happened? (New York Times, September 29, 2018)”
CLOSING THOUGHT
David Ravenhill, the son of Leonard Ravenhill, wrote, “If America doesn’t concentrate in prayer, they will pray in concentration camps.” President Trump was elected to govern in the natural arena; the church was birthed to govern in the spiritual realm. Our power and authority is far greater than any Congress, Senate, Supreme Court or president. If we fail to take our place, America will miss her day of visitation, like Jerusalem of old. It’s time to rise up and take our rightful place before the throne of God and implore God for a mighty move of His Spirit.
“Revival or revolution? The church will decide. (Charisma, August 24, 2017)”
It is certainly not the time to stop praying! It is time to pray. Our future as a country depends on it.
RESOURCES
https://townhall.com/columnists/lizcrokin/2016/07/10/trump-does-the-unthinkable-n2190160
https://wapo.st/2IQSSSC?tid=ss_mail&utm_term=.860da9c7eba8
https://www.wsj.com/articles/this-is-no-mere-job-interview-1538313919
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/29/opinion/sunday/brett-Kavanaugh-drinking-blackouts.html
Kairos Ministries 