Church and State Leadership
The story is a few weeks old, but I still feel the need to address it. Earlier in the month Robert Jeffress, megachurch pastor of Dallas First Baptist Church and super-Trump supporter, claimed that "In the case of North Korea, God has given Trump authority to take out Kim Jong Un." Additionally, he claimed Trump's God-given authority grants him "whatever force necessary" to get the job done. Jeffress referenced Romans 13:1-7 as his supporting scripture. The text reads (ESV):
Yet here is an important point that I believe Pastor Jeffress does not address: Paul's letter to the Romans, just like the rest of scripture, was not written to the United States of America. It was, just to be as clear as possible, written to the Christian churches in Rome. Now, as scripture, it "is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This means that the Romans 13 text is absolutely applicable to governing authorities in the United States--God has placed them in power. However, the text is also absolutely applicable to governing authorities in North Korea, as God has also placed Kim Jung-un in power.
If we argue that Romans 13 grants Donald Trump the authority to take out Kim Jong-un, it surely seems that it also grants Kim Jong-un the authority to take out Donald Trump.
Now this isn't saying that the United States shouldn't remove Kim Jong-un from power (though I'm certainly not saying they should either). It's also not saying that God's will is for North Korea to attack the United States. What I am saying, is for the sake of this interview, Robert Jeffress exegesis is flawed. Pastor Jeffress knows scripture better than me, and I have no doubt that he understands this text is applicable not only to the American government. However, it sure seems that he has set aside the importance of textual interpretation and good teaching to make political points. We are, after all, discussing the individual whose church's choir wrote a song to glorify Donald Trump and the idea of making America great again, as well as prioritized America over Jesus during it's "Freedom Sunday" worship service.
Ed Stetzer writes of how the heart of such issues, in this case the need to always defend President Trump, is idolatry. Stetzer says, "To be blunt: anything that replaced a love of God is idolatry, and this needs to be addressed. It is our job as pastors to point people to Jesus and highlight idolatry in our lives, in our churches, and in our culture." For our context, there are too many evangelical leaders placing the desire to safeguard the Trump presidency over the need to preach God's word.
Robert Jeffress is hardly the only Christian leader going to extremes to defend President Trump. A couple weeks ago Paula White compared Trump's election and presidency to that of David's anointing as king (1 Samuel 16), while Trump's detractors were comparable to the Jews celebrating Saul's anointing (1 Samuel 10). That is to say, the Jews wanted Saul because he looked the part and Christians today who do not not appreciate how Trump "is not a polished politician" are mimicking them. The irony is that those with unflinching loyalty to Trump to lead and protect them sound a lot more like the Jews who demanded God for a king.
While Stetzer identifies idolatry as the issue, I would argue it is equally humility. Or, specifically, the lack of humility. We Christians worship Jesus, who is fully God and fully man. He appeared on earth, born in a manger. Could our Savior's entrance have been more humble? Jesus then "humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8). Could being beaten, mocked, and nailed to a wooden cross be more humiliating for God?
If Jesus submitted himself in such a way, should Christian leaders be so apt to stand before man in order to defend every action of another man? Of course Christians should defend President Trump when he does good things. Yet what is that defense worth when we leverage whatever stage we have to uphold him in all situations?
Writing for National Review, Mark Tooley explains, "Most of Christianity, in its political theology, understands that sinful, finite humanity, even at its best, can approach most political decision-making only with modesty, not certitude. And even the best policies, especially when involving military force, must be expected to have negative unintended consequences." A Christian should not be on television promoting the president's authority to take the country to war with another country.
I know I need to be cautious when it comes to finding examples of good church and state leadership, but had there been someone better these past few years than Russell Moore? Moore defends the unborn and marriage, but also the immigrant and the religious liberty of Muslims. Like Trump, Moore is not perfect. It is easy to see why some were upset with him for going a little too far in criticizing those who planned to vote for Trump in 2016. He did apologize, but stuck to his guns with his criticism of Trump himself as a candidate for president. As Jonathan Merritt wrote,"Moore values principle over power, integrity over influence."
I come back to the issue of humility. You can lead and be humble. You can be truthful and be humble. You can be bold and be humble. Humility goes along with every fruit of the spirit, and it goes along with with Jesus' life and ministry. Maybe it is good policy for President Trump to "take out" Kim Jong-un. But we don't need a pastor making it a point to tell him scripture is on his side.
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.I need to admit up front that I struggle with passages such as these. I do not naturally want to respect government authority. I read history and see revolutions against tyrannical authority as beneficial to mankind. I oppose the growth of government in my own country. Yet scripture tells us to respect our government authority. Pastor Jeffress is right to say that whatever authority Donald Trump possesses has been granted to him, temporarily, but our Creator.
Yet here is an important point that I believe Pastor Jeffress does not address: Paul's letter to the Romans, just like the rest of scripture, was not written to the United States of America. It was, just to be as clear as possible, written to the Christian churches in Rome. Now, as scripture, it "is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This means that the Romans 13 text is absolutely applicable to governing authorities in the United States--God has placed them in power. However, the text is also absolutely applicable to governing authorities in North Korea, as God has also placed Kim Jung-un in power.
If we argue that Romans 13 grants Donald Trump the authority to take out Kim Jong-un, it surely seems that it also grants Kim Jong-un the authority to take out Donald Trump.
Now this isn't saying that the United States shouldn't remove Kim Jong-un from power (though I'm certainly not saying they should either). It's also not saying that God's will is for North Korea to attack the United States. What I am saying, is for the sake of this interview, Robert Jeffress exegesis is flawed. Pastor Jeffress knows scripture better than me, and I have no doubt that he understands this text is applicable not only to the American government. However, it sure seems that he has set aside the importance of textual interpretation and good teaching to make political points. We are, after all, discussing the individual whose church's choir wrote a song to glorify Donald Trump and the idea of making America great again, as well as prioritized America over Jesus during it's "Freedom Sunday" worship service.
The heart of this issue is that many who have supported and/or voted for Donald Trump feel the need constantly justify him and defend him from all criticism. The "but Hillary Clinton" and "think of the Supreme Court!" lines are no longer defenses. President Trump is a flawed individual, as every man before him who has served as President of the United States of America was. It is okay to admit it when he does something wrong. Some of us think he does a lot of things wrong, and many evangelical leaders may disagree with that. However, it remains that he is not perfect. Pastor Jeffress in this interview appears to demonstrate a need to preemptively approve of overthrowing the North Korean regime. And while that may be a good military strategy, I maintain that a man charged with the preaching of the word of God should not take extra efforts to advocate preemptive war. War is violence. War is death. While I believe in a "just war theory," Christians should never be the first to start beating the war drums.If your pastor has a Fox News contract it might be time to find a new church. pic.twitter.com/kJVyHZ16h5— Liam Donovan (@LPDonovan) August 10, 2017
Ed Stetzer writes of how the heart of such issues, in this case the need to always defend President Trump, is idolatry. Stetzer says, "To be blunt: anything that replaced a love of God is idolatry, and this needs to be addressed. It is our job as pastors to point people to Jesus and highlight idolatry in our lives, in our churches, and in our culture." For our context, there are too many evangelical leaders placing the desire to safeguard the Trump presidency over the need to preach God's word.
Robert Jeffress is hardly the only Christian leader going to extremes to defend President Trump. A couple weeks ago Paula White compared Trump's election and presidency to that of David's anointing as king (1 Samuel 16), while Trump's detractors were comparable to the Jews celebrating Saul's anointing (1 Samuel 10). That is to say, the Jews wanted Saul because he looked the part and Christians today who do not not appreciate how Trump "is not a polished politician" are mimicking them. The irony is that those with unflinching loyalty to Trump to lead and protect them sound a lot more like the Jews who demanded God for a king.
While Stetzer identifies idolatry as the issue, I would argue it is equally humility. Or, specifically, the lack of humility. We Christians worship Jesus, who is fully God and fully man. He appeared on earth, born in a manger. Could our Savior's entrance have been more humble? Jesus then "humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8). Could being beaten, mocked, and nailed to a wooden cross be more humiliating for God?
If Jesus submitted himself in such a way, should Christian leaders be so apt to stand before man in order to defend every action of another man? Of course Christians should defend President Trump when he does good things. Yet what is that defense worth when we leverage whatever stage we have to uphold him in all situations?
Writing for National Review, Mark Tooley explains, "Most of Christianity, in its political theology, understands that sinful, finite humanity, even at its best, can approach most political decision-making only with modesty, not certitude. And even the best policies, especially when involving military force, must be expected to have negative unintended consequences." A Christian should not be on television promoting the president's authority to take the country to war with another country.
I know I need to be cautious when it comes to finding examples of good church and state leadership, but had there been someone better these past few years than Russell Moore? Moore defends the unborn and marriage, but also the immigrant and the religious liberty of Muslims. Like Trump, Moore is not perfect. It is easy to see why some were upset with him for going a little too far in criticizing those who planned to vote for Trump in 2016. He did apologize, but stuck to his guns with his criticism of Trump himself as a candidate for president. As Jonathan Merritt wrote,"Moore values principle over power, integrity over influence."
I come back to the issue of humility. You can lead and be humble. You can be truthful and be humble. You can be bold and be humble. Humility goes along with every fruit of the spirit, and it goes along with with Jesus' life and ministry. Maybe it is good policy for President Trump to "take out" Kim Jong-un. But we don't need a pastor making it a point to tell him scripture is on his side.
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