Trump's heaven query shocks critics — however they missed the true story

[ad_1] <img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bb2af736cbc4a913d02b7b3ceb87e98f" id="e9bd8" src="https://www.conservativereview.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWJsYXplLmNvbS9tZWRpYS1saWJyYXJ5L3RydW1wLXMtaGVhdmVuLXF1ZXN0aW9uLXNob2Nrcy1jcml0aWNzLWJ1dC10aGV5LW1pc3NlZC10aGUtcmVhbC1zdG9yeS5qcGc_aWQ9NjE3NzI0NDEmYW1wO3dpZHRoPTEyNDUmYW1wO2hlaWdodD03MDAmYW1wO2Nvb3JkaW5hdGVzPTAsNDksMCw1OCIsImV4cGlyZXNfYXQiOjE3OTE0MDU2Nzd9.rTtWubwcY1hyUG1ed4BjXDvR_Cu6CLqbte4mVLb9twA/image.jpg" /> President Donald Trump isn't any stranger to dropping jaws and turning heads together with his rhetoric, bombastic commentary, and generally stunning statements.

Whereas these reactions are usually sparked by the comical names he concocts for his opponents, his sizzling political takes, and different daring strikes, the commander in chief has not too long ago made headlines for a few of his extra theological proclamations and curiosities.

'I am undecided I could make it, however he'll make it. He is there. He is trying down on us proper now.'

Trump was aboard Air Power One when he informed reporters final Sunday that he’s uncertain if he’ll make it to heaven. He prefaced his phrases by noting he was being “a little bit cute,” however proceeded to drop some ideas concerning the afterlife.

“I don’t assume there’s something going to get me in heaven,” he stated. “I feel I’m not perhaps heaven-bound. ... I’m undecided I’m going to have the ability to make heaven.”

Just some days later, whereas giving the late Charlie Kirk a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom, the best civilian honor, Trump once more introduced up heaven.

“In his ultimate moments, Charlie testified to the greatness of America and to the glory of our Savior, with whom he now rests in heaven,” he stated. “And he's going to make heaven. I stated I am undecided I could make it, however he'll make it. He is there. He is trying down on us proper now.”

There have been different related cases. Trump as soon as contemplated whether or not ending the Ukraine struggle would assist safe his everlasting glory. And at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service final month, the president made one other headline-grabbing remark. Heralding Kirk’s love for his enemies, Trump painted a disparity between himself and the late Turning Level USA founder.

“[Charlie] didn't hate his opponents. He wished the perfect for them,” Trump stated. “That is the place I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I do not need the perfect for them. I am sorry.”

Responses to those proclamations have been swift and harsh. They've additionally rightly raised some questions on “incomes” everlasting salvation and the biblical command to like enemies. Whereas a few of these questions are honest, a lot is being missed within the mixture of commentary and conjecture about Trump’s theology.

RELATED: Christian name to motion: Pray for President Trump

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First, it’s typically robust to discern when Trump is being facetious or comical, making it nearly unattainable to know his actual intent behind these remarks. Past that, the critics lambasting Trump ought to contemplate a unique method: prayer.

Anybody may be an armchair critic, but when Trump vociferously continues to convey up heaven, everlasting salvation, and different associated theological matters, there’s a strong likelihood it’s one thing he’s been considering personally. This appears extremely seemingly within the wake of the makes an attempt in opposition to his personal life and after Kirk — a staunch good friend and ally — was killed so publicly.

Some individuals appear to have missed the obvious actuality that now could be the time to maneuver ceaseless critique to the facet and double down on prayer for Trump to discern, comprehend, and embrace the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

However there’s one other component being missed amid the combination of reactions.

Some individuals declare that Trump wants higher religion advisers, deriding the Christians who've coalesced round him. The idea is that these leaders aren’t sharing biblical reality with the president.

However I do know for a indisputable fact that Trump has heard the gospel. The late Phil Robertson of “Duck Dynasty” fame as soon as personally informed me how he shared Jesus’ life, dying, and resurrection straight with Trump main as much as the 2016 election.

“[I discussed] God changing into flesh … dying for the sins of the world, and, in his case, I stated, ‘Dying on your sins, Donald, all of them, I determine there’s so much — what do you assume?’” Robertson informed me. “He didn’t disagree with me.”

Robertson additionally drew a picture of “an arrow coming down out of heaven … God changing into flesh, a cross, the place Jesus took away the sins of the world.”

The purpose is: Trump has heard the gospel, and moderately than trashing him, we needs to be doubling down in prayer that he involves a spot of full repentance and understanding.

Nonetheless, we should contemplate the deeper theological points on the heart of Trump’s remarks.

Within the New Testomony, James makes it clear that “religion with out works is lifeless.” Curiously, Trump has been speaking so much about peace offers and good deeds, pondering whether or not these acts can get him to heaven. The Bible has a lot to say about this subject.

“What good is it, my brothers, if somebody says he has religion however doesn't have works? Can that religion save him?” James 2:14 reads, with verses 15-17 persevering with: “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and missing in each day meals, and certainly one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and stuffed,’ with out giving them the issues wanted for the physique, what good is that? So additionally religion by itself, if it doesn't have works, is lifeless.”

James’ phrases are necessary not as a result of works save us, however as a result of the Holy Spirit, which dwells in us after we settle for Christ and dwell a life for him, sparks in us a quest to dwell out Jesus’ name to like God and love others.

Merely acknowledged: We do good as a result of we’re guided by the Lord and His coronary heart for others.

This message is boiled down superbly by Christ himself in John 3. In that chapter, Jesus tells Nicodemus, a non secular chief, that “you should be born once more” to enter heaven. Nicodemus appears confused, pondering how one may re-enter his mom’s womb after start.

That’s when Jesus explains that the rebirth in query is a non secular one — a dying to self and a life for the Lord. John 3:16, arguably the Bible’s most well-known verse, tackles God sending his son to die for mankind so that individuals can have everlasting life.

However what comes subsequent is commonly neglected.

“For God didn't ship his Son into the world to sentence the world, however so that the world is perhaps saved by him,” John 3:17 reads, with verse 18 persevering with: “Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, however whoever doesn't consider is condemned already, as a result of he has not believed within the identify of the one Son of God.”

Finally, one should die to self and dwell for Christ. There’s no motion — with out this transfer — that affords anybody everlasting life. Trump is perhaps probably the most highly effective particular person on the planet, however he, like all of us, should determine whether or not he'll embrace this actuality.

Fairly than endlessly lambasting him over his makes an attempt to know, we must always commit ourselves to praying for him whereas additionally pondering whether or not we, too, have totally embraced this reality.