Piper, John Piper, like shaken not stirred. I like the man but there are many times he makes me go, now hold up here, close but no cigar.
I don’t intend this to be a political post, but politics are kind of unavoidable in the sense that his post is actually called, “How to Live Under an Unqualified President.” Just the same, it is actually some faith-based matters I want to speak of, not politics.
Specifically this spirit and attitude that seems to permeate a lot of people in the church and is somewhat problematic because it is rooted in a couple of deceptions. First off Piper declares Donald Trump is not morally qualified to be President. Yes, that is quite true, but on the other hand “there is none righteous, not one.” Romans 3:10. Who among us is morally qualified to do much of anything in this world? Jesus Christ is really the only sin free one we can look to as an example of what it even might look like to be “morally qualified.”
Second of all, all through history, there has never been a truly morally qualified human leader. David, he was an adulterer who had a woman’s husband killed. So a good King, one who had the Lord’s favor, and yet morally unqualified, as we all are. So true of all former US Presidents, some better than others, but every last one of them morally unqualified for office. They’re human so they do ugly things like own slaves, have affairs, make mistakes, lie under oath, lead us into war.
Next there is this idea that we the church deserve better leaders because we are the pure and unblemished bride of Jesus Christ. So, the world just better produce leaders as pure and righteous as we are, worthy of leading such morally qualified people. Because everyone knows culture just stops at the church doors. There are the sinners of the world, “those kind of people,” and then there is us. There’s two problems there, one being we are justified by our faith, by the work of Jesus Christ who died on the cross, while we were yet sinners. So those of us in the body are not even “morally qualified” ourselves, we’re justified by the work of Jesus Christ.
He doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
Piper always seems to have this idea that our authority and leadership must always be worthy, qualified, above us, and to some extent that is true, but consider marriage for example. One could simple declare one’s spouse unworthy and unqualified, but that kind of denies the hidden truth that you chose them. It takes some humility to see it, but who really is the one with poor judgment here? And if your own judgment is so flawed, should you really be pointing fingers at someone else? As the saying goes, “don’t be too critical of your husband or wife’s choices, you were one of them.”
Lastly, remember Josiah? He became king when he was 8 yrs old. Josiah is a good king and 2 Kings 22:2 tells us, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.” He tore down idols, called people back to the Lord, repaired the temple. 2 Kings 23:25 tells us “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.”
God saw him, God heard him and yet we read, “Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger.” God is not fooled by the fact that we simply put a righteous man in charge and called it good. A nation is not her King. It was the heart of the people that mattered, and the heart of the people were building the same idols that Josiah was tearing down.
The heart and soul of a nation is what lurks in her people, and the only sorrow of a Trump presidency is that so many of our Christian leaders are acting as if we can just turn away and act as if our own hands are clean, obviously far superior and certainly not responsible for anything…… we may have actually brought upon ourselves.
So how do we live under an unqualified president? The same way we always have, with humility and a willingness to consider the horrifying fact that we often get the leaders we deserve, even more so in a democracy were we actually chose them. We remember that there is only one morally qualified King and He is already seated in victory at the right hand of the Father.
Than we remember that faith actually begins at home, with each one of us.
Near as I can tell, the bible says God will judge the nations, but not by the alleged virtue or non virtue of our Kings, but by the heart and soul of her people and the strength of our faith.
Also Piper, seriously? “Let us not exhaust ourselves bemoaning a Trump presidency.” You’ve been bemoaning for so long, I simply had to respond. You must be absolutely exhausted by now.
atimetoshare.me said:
Perfectly stated, IB. He’s just a human being, like all the rest of us. ” He doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” says it precisely as it should be said. You go girl!
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Deborah Ann said:
AMEN! ~ Blessings ~
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Julie Sheppard aka Reiko Chinen said:
Reblogged this on emotionalpeace.
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insanitybytes22 said:
Thank you,much appreciated. 🙂
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Brandon Adams said:
Sorry, I gotta land on Piper’s side on this one (and I do NOT land on Piper’s side with everything). There’s a point at which “the heart and soul of her people” are revealed as darkened by condoning the wanton sin of the candidate they support. Christians didn’t make the same “grace” argument for either of the Clintons. Grace is not an excuse for tolerating sin; it is a tool for loving a person out of it.
I did, however, hear God tell me this morning on the drive in to work: “Your sin isn’t any better.” Which was humbling. And also rather hopeful, for if God will appoint to office a man like Trump despite his sin, how might he use a man like me?
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Brandon Adams said:
And just to be clear, I’m praying for Trump vigorously.
Funny thought: Trump actually has a much likelier chance of being converted/sanctified than Obama, given that Obama was not really prayed for by Christians. 🙂
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Susan Irene Fox said:
Sorry Brandon, but I gotta say it: The Obamas were Christians long before he came to office, though not many Christians chose to believe it (just as many did not believe he was a U.S. citizen, btw).
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Nonya said:
I think that Obama is actually a Christian. It is odd that people can look at the life Obama is leading and the life that Trump is leading and think that Trump is a Christian but that Obama is not.
It was also discouraging to hear so many Christians making excuses for Trump who is an adulterer and casino owner on his third marriage to a rumored escort and nude model while mocking and criticizing Hilary for remaining married to a man who cheated on her.
I wouldn’t vote Donald Trump president of my local home owners association but I added him to my prayer list.
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insanitybytes22 said:
“I wouldn’t vote Donald Trump president of my local home owners association but I added him to my prayer list.”
LOL! Good for you. Pray for our leaders. If you don’t like them, pray all the a harder. 🙂
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insanitybytes22 said:
“And also rather hopeful, for if God will appoint to office a man like Trump despite his sin, how might he use a man like me?”
Oh, amen Brandon! That’s the truth.
.
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ColorStorm said:
I’m pretty sure I could not have said it so nicely. well done.
Reminds me WHY we are exhorted to pray for those in authority….because they are worthy? Nope, and for the reasons you cited above, because God can use a donkey to do His bidding, it’s much better if we recognize that God allows men and women to rise, for such times as these.
If our current president selects sound people for the High Court, it will be enough. Anything else would be a bonus. And it looks like there will be many bonuses.
Good reminder there too msb regarding King David and his shortcomings, (just like ours) yet was still a man after God’s own heart. Extra extra, read all about it. THE heart of men is ever the same. It’s our business to not be in tantrums over who is above us.
And as a sidebar, if we judged any man according to the highest standard of all………….hmm, I suppose there would be no government. As it is, a pretty good system even among the flawed.
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insanitybytes22 said:
“And as a sidebar, if we judged any man according to the highest standard of all….hmm, I suppose there would be no government”
Well said, Colorstorm. One of my problems with Piper is he often goes precisely there, like as he states in this article,
“Christians Don’t Need Qualified Government” We do. We need government, starting with the King of Kings, but flowing right on down to having two parents in our homes. We need lines of authority, leadership, the ability to govern ourselves. One thing that is wrong in the world is that we are trying to deny that truth, so today simply declaring “not my President” as if I can just orbit over here on my own little planet, is viewed as somehow logical and reasonable.
Of course, whether or not we really need the DMV or the Dept of Agriculture is still subject to debate, but we are all under government of some sort, worthy or not. 🙂
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Susan Irene Fox said:
I agree with you 100 percent. I’ve been praying for Trump, Congress and the country most evenings before I hop into bed. Already have sent letters to my Senators. But the truth is (the real truth, not alternative facts), we answer to the King of kings and presidents, the One who bestows all love and grace, and uses us, chooses us and qualifies us for His purposes.
I am curious to see the purpose for which He will use our country’s president.
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insanitybytes22 said:
“I am curious to see the purpose for which He will use our country’s president.”
I hear you! Somewhat darkly amusing, but a while back many people where praying for repentance and revival, and I thought,”oh no,hold up here!” You have to think these things through! Because we are more than capable of electing ourselves leaders so bad, even the atheists will start praying. Nothing like a complete disaster to bring everyone to their knees. Then we’ll all be whining, “Lord,this is not quite what we had in mind.”
So, much better to pray for repentance, refreshed hearts, renewed spirits, and an awake church, but let’s align ourselves with God’s will there and do it gently 🙂
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Susan Irene Fox said:
🙂 I know what you’re saying here. Yet, it reminds me of way back when the Hebrew people wanted a king of their own, and God let them choose King Saul, a paranoid narcissist who nearly destroyed the kingdom and his own son. But God came to the rescue with King David – an imperfect man who nevertheless loved God and eventually united the kingdom.
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Dan Ledwith said:
With you IB. Piper is an example of how we can depend too much on people we assume are God’s “favorites.”
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insanitybytes22 said:
Funny you should say that, I was just thinking of Christ’s words, “why do you call me good?” Jesus himself always points us to the Father.
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Wally Fry said:
I have nothing of value to add here, so I will add something of use only to me
Oh, never mind. I’m tired of talking about it.
Good post, IB
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insanitybytes22 said:
LOL! Take heart, Wally. God’s got us in the palm of His hands. It will all come out in the wash.
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Wally Fry said:
Yep, that is true!
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Julie (aka Cookie) said:
Well said!!!
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patrickhawthorne01 said:
Hmmm… I’m confused. John Piper seems to be sending mixed messages. Either God appoints leaders or He doesn’t. Which one is it? If God placed Trump in office, then he is qualified. However, if it all came down to our freedom to choose then would that not go against the extreme sovereignty he preaches about? Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not Piper bashing. I’m honestly confused.
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insanitybytes22 said:
“I’m honestly confused.”
LOL! So is Piper.
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Wally Fry said:
That’s a really good point!
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Debbie L said:
Good point!
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MJThompson said:
I like that you took a political matter and spiritualized the hypocrisy out of it. What a great perspective and reminder the God always chooses ‘ordinary’ people through which He can do extraordinary things.
The Biblical figures you highlighted are perfect examples of morally-challenged instruments of godly actions – in stark contrast to their former observed reputations. King Cyrus wasn’t even a believer, but he was used of God to commission the re-building of Jerusalem.
As for the ‘not my president’ movement – what qualifications of which do they suppose Trump is void?
Article Two, Section 1 of the United States Constitution sets forth the eligibility requirements for serving as President of the United States:
“No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States”.
I could be president, that’s the great thing about America. There are no ethnic, educational, moral or social restrictions.
Finally, if you reside in the USA as a legal citizen – like it or not Trump is your president. Remember the anti-war slogan of the 60’s? “America: Love it, or Leave it”. United we stand…
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Debbie L said:
Thank you for this. I’m with you! “there is none righteous, not one.” Romans 3:10
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Pastor Randy said:
Wonder if Piper thinks he is worthy of leadership? If people spent as much time praying for our leaders as they did whining about them and against them, maybe that will bring a change in our nation’s culture….I’m just sayin’……
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SLIMJIM said:
I never read that article by Piper even though I saw it shared around…largely because the title was confusing to me and I wasn’t up to chase rabbit trails. Excellent points you made though on here…It seems like Piper is going back and forth.
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luckyotter said:
I’m so glad there’s another Christian out there who actually can see through this president’s lies to the truth. Of course, you are right — there’s no perfect leader. But now we have a truly dangerous one.
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