Can Sin, Be Trumped?

I have no interest in bashing Donald Trump, or any other leader.

But I also have no interest in giving them a 'do-over,' a 'mulligan,' when they sin.

But, some religious leaders are doing just that.  After all, the President is advancing our social agenda (e.g. protecting the unborn, bringing back 'Merry Christmas,' etc.), they argue, so let's not expect perfection; we didn't elect a preacher, we elected a president.

Politico, a prominent observer of the American scene, questioned 'all this' recently, after a podcast with Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council.  After Perkins was confronted with the Wall Street Journal's report of Trump's sexual liaison with the porn star, Stormy Daniels, https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-lawyer-arranged-130-000-payment-for-adult-film-stars-silence-1515787678  Zach Stanton of Politico was puzzled by Perkins response.

“We kind of gave him—‘All right, you get a mulligan. You get a do-over here,’” Perkins told me in an interview for the latest episode of POLITICO’s Off Message podcast. Weigh a paid-off porn star against being the first president to address the March for Life live via video feed, and a lot of evangelical leaders insist they can still walk away happy. Evangelical Christians, says Perkins, “were tired of being kicked around by Barack Obama and his leftists. And I think they are finally glad that there’s somebody on the playground that is willing to punch the bully.” What happened to turning the other cheek? I ask. “You know, you only have two cheeks,” Perkins says. “Look, Christianity is not all about being a welcome mat which people can just stomp their feet on.”   https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/01/23/tony-perkins-evangelicals-donald-trump-stormy-daniels-216498

Perkins words are problematic, on several fronts.  For example, Christianity's welcome mat can be stomped on in more than one way.  Not only by a disregard for the unborn -- but a disregard for sexual purity (e.g. sex outside marriage) --  resulting in unwanted children being conceived in the first place!

But beyond Christianity's welcome mat, what's at stake is Christianity's overall credibility.  To unchurched, irreligious people there is great confusion -- and frankly, great disbelief  -- that any Christian leader would support a political leader who reflects such blatant disregard for basic moral character.

In fairness to Donald Trump, he is far from the first president to lack fidelity, honesty, decency, restraint, and other moral markers.  Returning to sexual purity, the majority of U.S. Presidents in the last 70 years have been unfaithful to their wives.  And in regards, to foul language, and blatant moral depravity, presidents prior to Trump, like Richard Nixon have 'topped the list.'

But in the past, when Christian leaders have discovered the moral laxness of the politicians they've embraced, Christian leaders have often (not always) expressed regret -- even lament -- regarding their endorsement.  But now, Christian leaders are excusing sin and sorrowful conduct.  Beyond Tony Perkins, the most prominent rationalizer has been Franklin Graham.  Recently, when pressed by MSNBCs Alex Witt regarding the Wall Street Journal's report of Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels, Graham wavered and waffled.

"...Pressed on the possibility that the Journal’s report, and subsequent confirmation by multiple news outlets, were accurate, Graham argued that any such transgression would have no bearing on the man Trump is today. “I believe at 70 years of age the president is a much different person today than he was four years ago, five years ago, 10 years ago,” Graham said. “He is not President Perfect”..." https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/evangelist-franklin-graham-defends-trump-against-stormy-daniels-reports-n83949  

What contrast we find in Franklin Graham's father, Billy Graham.  Billy Graham also had faith in the moral character of U.S. Presidents, even Richard Nixon.  In fact, Billy Graham believed,  Nixon “...held such noble standards of ethics and morality for the nation.”  But, then, when the Watergate tape transcripts revealed Richard Nixon to a man of profound:  "...profanity, political corruption, lying, racism, and sexism — Graham [became] physically ill..."https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-trump-evangelicals-have-lost-their-gag-reflex/2018/01/22/761d1174-ffa8-11e7-bb03-722769454f82_story.html?utm_term=.58579cc9ecd6  

And so in the wake of Nixon's exposed sin, Billy Graham didn't defend Nixon, but lamented Nixon, expressing deep regret over his blind and naive endorsement of such moral corruption.  Addressing religious leaders in Lausanne, Switzerland, shortly after the revelation of the worst of Watergate, a chastened Billy Graham warned:

"...that an evangelist should be careful not “to identify the Gospel with any one particular political program or culture,” and adding, “this has been my own danger.”  https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-trump-evangelicals-have-lost-their-gag-reflex/2018/01/22/761d1174-ffa8-11e7-bb03-722769454f82_story.html?utm_term=.58579cc9ecd6 

But in fairness to Billy Graham and even Franklin Graham and Tony Perkins, Christians ‘on the left’ have also been mesmerized by politicians, over-identifying with politicians and secular institutions. A prominent example is Reinhold Niebuhr’s (a famed liberal theologian) alignment with the Americans for Democratic Action beginning in the 1940’s -- or -- prominent mainline churches, like The Riverside Church, fawning over Hilary Clinton, recently. https://www.facebook.com/RiversideNY/videos/10155762226946133/

But no matter the politician or social movement, they’re all shallow replacements for Jesus as Lord and His Kingdom Cause. As James Davidson Hunter prophetically writes:  

“Christians [must] recognize that all social organizations exist as parodies of eschatological hope. And so it is that the city is a poor imitation of heavenly community; the modern state, a deformed version of the ecclesia; the market, a distortion of consummation; modern entertainment, a caricature of joy; schooling, a misrepresentation of true formation; liberalism, a crass simulacrum of freedom; and the sovereignty we accord to the self, a parody of God himself. As these institutions and ideals become ends in themselves, they become the objects of idolatry…”  - James Davison Hunter, To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World.  New York:  Oxford Press, 2010, p. 234-235

The take away:  it's easy to make someone or something the object of our adoration -- rather than the One True God.  And when that happens, we are worshipping an idol.  

Recently I have been moving through Tim and Kathy Keller's marvelous new devotional on the Proverbs:  God's Wisdom For Navigating Life.  Reflecting on the familiar proverb:  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5), the Keller's observe.

"...You can believe in God, yet trust something else for your real significance and happiness -- which is therefore your real God.  We hide how we do this from ourselves, and it is only when something goes wrong with say your career or your family that you realize it is much more important to you than the Lord himself...There are excessive emotions surrounding things you make the functional trust of your heart...You will be inordinately shaken, anxious, angry or despondent if anything threatens them.  They cloud your judgment, distort your vision of yourself and the world.  Idolatries of the heart lead to foolishness in your life.  The ultimate remedy for idolatry is the gospel.  We won't need to justify ourselves by works -- by success...or achievement -- if we are freely justified by faith in Jesus (Romans 3:21-24).  - Tim and Kathy Keller.  God's Wisdom For Navigating Life.  New York: Viking, 2107, p. 22).  

Might we be making our political leaders idols?

Do we believe that our achievement is directly tied to their achievement?  For example -- if the stock market doesn't soar -- we won't soar?

You tend to excuse sin and other related atrocities if you believe that.

And many of us of do.

But you can't trump sin, through excuses, by looking the other way, by giving a 'do-over' or mulligan in our power and strength.

The only mulligan available is the Messiah.  And He is only available as we bow down to Him alone, exclusively, as Lord -- and no worldly politician. As we trust that His character soaring in us -- and not soaring stock prices -- will finally rescue us, and, satisfy us.

And so as we anticipate the President's State of the Union address in DC tonight -- what is the state of our union with the ultimate King of Kings -- Christ Jesus -- called to be Lord of all?

Addressing that state of the union -- is the most important 'address' today or any day -- as we jettison any foolish notion -- that we -- or any politician -- can usurp sin and save.

Only the Savior can usurp sin and save.  And so to Him, and Him alone, we bow.