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By James Wilson
I choose Donald Trump. Once upon a time I planned to vote for none of the above. I did not swallow the lame argument Trump is the only alternative to Hillary. The only alternative to Hillary is for American voters and leaders to demonstrate authentic faith and integrity by voting for someone we believe to be God’s choice to serve this nation rather than be served by her. Pre-requisite to such a belief would be thoroughgoing repentance – re-focus of the heart – in each voter and in that someone believed-to-be-so-called. I choose Trump now because I know he has had a Damascus Road encounter with the living Lord and such encounters tend to turn hearts of stone to hearts of flesh. Nothing in the debates is going to sway me from that conviction.
That said, what do we make of the debacle of the first debate? It comes down to Trump being on defense instead of offense. None of this is rocket science until we get to the part about how he goes on offense – where points are scored. The answer – this may be rocket science – is not more aggression but more humility. The defense crystalizes around Trump calling 1996’s Miss Universe Alicia Machado “Miss Piggy”.
Attempts to explain his 1997 interview neither change nor justify what is unacceptable in a man or president. Trump should apologize for crudeness and return to becoming a man in Christ. He has not done this because he still embraces the most popular American idol of our time – the fear of being wrong.
Trump – like most – has a griping fear of being wrong. He is in the same boat as the Roman tribune in 2016’s amazing film, Risen. When the Risen Christ asks the tribune what he most fears the answer is immediate, “I fear being wrong.” That bogey has become his ultimate concern – his idol – preventing him from entering larger life. When he confronts his fear he becomes able and willing to re-focus – repent – his attention on God and come truly alive. When we can admit we are wrong we tend to be wrong less often and fear it not at all. Mr. Trump needs to repent and move on.
He needs to do one more thing in a lifelong process of repentance. He needs to stop trying to win and begin to lead…by example. Leadership does not ignore the vicious attacks; it transforms them into assets. When pundits and opponents obsessed about Ronald Reagan’s age he laughed and promised never to exploit Mondale’s youth and inexperience; he won two elections with two landslides. When vilified as an enemy of freedom he courageously ensured all candidates got to speak in the presidential debates. And when he was lambasted as a trigger happy cowboy he kept on keeping on with his famous grin and aw-shucks attitude; until he brought down the Soviet Empire without firing a shot. He was a leader committed to healing for his nation more than glory for himself.
I don’t know if Donald Trump is Reagan’s second coming; I suspect he is not. But I don’t know that Ronald Reagan was Reagan’s first coming until he chose – repeatedly – leadership before victory. Repentance trumps whatever alternatives we try and trumps them with a power and authority found only in the One in whom the repentant one places trust.
Trump is in good company, and I think of Paul of Tarsus before Ronald Reagan. Paul was full of himself as he bragged his education, zeal for the Jewish Law, and determination to save the nation from these Christians who were ruining everything in his eyes. He committed one gaff after another, from assisting in the murder of Steven to embarking for Damascus as a vigilante, all in the name of that zeal to not be found wrong. When he met the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus it changed his life but not – immediately – his personality.
Paul remained the same grouch. When he and Mark disagreed he cast the younger man adrift. When best friend Barnabas sympathized with Mark he too was shown the door. Portions of Paul’s letters bristle at opponents. Yet over the course of his life he mellows as he permits the Spirit of God to progressively permeate his being. His repentance is lifelong and – like all who choose to seek right over avoiding wrong – he eventually bears the fruit of leadership.
Donald Trump has all the character flaws of Peter and Paul put together. But he has also traveled the Damascus Road. Rather than judge him I pray for him. His conviction beings hope.
James A. Wilson is the author of Living As Ambassadors of Relationships and The Holy Spirit and the End Times, and Kingdom in Pursuit – available at local bookstores or by e-mailing him at praynorthstate@charter.net
