If you are a professing Christian, should it matter to you
who is the President of this country?
That’s an argument that Pete Buttigieg is apparently willing
to take on. In remarks to a CNN news analyst and USA TODAY columnist published
in
today’s
editions
of that newspaper, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana questioned
President Trump’s faith, telling Kirsten Powers, “It is hard to look at this
president’s actions and believe that they’re the actions of somebody who
believes in God. I just don’t understand how you can be as worshipful of your
own self as he is and be prepared to humble yourself before God, and the
exaltation of yourself, especially a self (which is) about wealth and power,
could not be more at odds with at least my understanding of the teachings of
the Christian faith.”
Buttigieg is an announced candidate for the 2020 Democratic
presidential nomination, and this statement can be seen as an effort to cut into a faith-based pillar of Mr. Trump's political base.
His remarks were in Powers’ column entitled, “Mayor
Pete Buttigieg’s countercultural approach to Christianity is what America needs
now.” In that column, Powers said that Buttigieg “criticized right-wing
Christians for ‘saying so much about what Christ said so little about, and so
little about what he said so much about.’”
The columnist added this: “’Saying so much about what Christ
said so little about’ applies to the religious right’s treatment of abortion as
a litmus test for Christian faith, when in fact Jesus never mentioned the
issue.”
As nationally-known Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community
Church in suburban Los Angeles would say in his sermons – “Stop right there.”
Here’s what David wrote in Psalm 139: “For you created my
inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I
am fearfully and wonderfully made, I know that full well. My frame was not
hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together
in the depths of the earth.” (Psalm 139:13-15 NIVUK)
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians: “Do you not know that your
bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received
from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God
with your bodies.” (I Cor 6: 19-20 NIVUK)
If one takes the Bible as the inerrant Word of God, which it
is, those lines justify why Christians should be opposed to abortion. Jesus may
have “never mentioned the issue,” but the Father has in no uncertain terms.
Continuing what Powers wrote: “That omission has not stopped
many right-wing Christians from using’s Trump’s anti-abortion rights judicial
appointments as the president’s ‘get out of jail free card,’ and license for
them to support a leader who consistently behaves in a way that is antithetical
to the teachings of Jesus.”
Again, back to Scripture and the first epistle of Peter: “Submit
yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the
emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to
punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s
will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”
(1 Pet 2: 13-15 NIVUK)
Also, Paul wrote to Timothy: “I urge, then, first of all,
that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people –
for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives
in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who
wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim
2: 1-3 NIVUK)
We may not agree with the lifestyle and attitude of the
President, but as long as he doesn’t compel us to violate the Word of God, we
are bound to support him and to pray for him. This should be the case for
whoever is in the White House, for our true leader is in Heaven. That is why is
really shouldn’t matter who is President, for Christians answer to a Higher
Authority and are assured of being with Him in Heaven eternally.
Finally, turning the spotlight to Mayor Buttigieg, any
criticism by him of the current President should be viewed through the same
lens that Powers is using towards “right-wing Christians.” Buttigieg claims to
be a professing Christian, but he is a homosexual married in the Episcopal
Church to a male partner.
Again, back to Scripture and Paul’s first letter to the
Corinthians: “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom
of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers
nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor
slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Cor 6: 9-10
NIVUK)
At least Powers did write this in the conclusion of her
column: “In our pugilistic take-no-prisoners era, preaching grace toward those
on the other side of the political fence is decidedly countercultural.”
In that sentiment there is agreement, for as it is written
in Luke’s gospel: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke
19:10 NIVUK) We need to pray for those who are lost, no matter the political persuasion or “lifestyle choices,” that they may be drawn to
salvation by the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ and all that entails.
Thanks!
