05 Aug The Almighty Wasn’t Finished with Him Yet
Last month, Donald Trump was almost assassinated near Pittsburgh. Already that day, and especially at the Republican National Convention the following week, his fans were quick to find religious significance in the fact that Trump was not killed. Many said that God “saved” Donald Trump. The candidate himself said, “God was on my side.”
“God wasn’t finished with him yet!” was a commonly heard refrain.
As a Christian, I have been thinking about that ever since. A lot. And I believe it is true. God was not finished with Donald Trump on that Saturday in Pennsylvania. What we don’t know – and cannot claim to ever know, however – is why. What work does God have left to do in him or with him?
I Wonder
My first reaction when Trumpians started declaring that God saved their man so he could “Make America Great Again,” was to wonder. (I seem to wonder about things as a hobby.) I wondered first about Corey Comperatore, the firefighter who was killed that same instant – perhaps by the same bullet. Was God finished with Corey?
Then I wondered about all of the other people who have died in the last month. Bob Newhart, Richard Simmons, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Donald Sutherland, Willie Mays. I pondered whether God was finished with them but not Donald Trump.
Eventually, I heard the point that if God saved our former president from sudden death so he could “take back our nation” in November, then He also must have saved Hitler from assassination attempts so that the Nazis could continue killing Jews in Europe. By the same token, God must be saving Vladimir Putin from his enemies so he can continue Russia’s brutal attack on Ukraine. Or, more bizarrely but to the point, had God saved Thomas Crooks, the Pennsylvania shooter, from childhood diseases, bullies, and apprehension, so that he could wound Trump and kill Mr. Comperatore?
Also, I knew that if it was God who saved Donald Trump’s life, then it also must have been God who made Nancy Pelosi not be at home when an attacker came to her house. It flows with similar logic that God also must have preserved Bernie Sanders, Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Bill and Hiliary Clinton, and Joe Biden to this point. All of them are long-lived Democrats.
Pretty soon I was really doubting that God was playing political favorites when Mr. Trump turned his head and the bullet just nicked his ear.
Still Not Finished, Though
Nevertheless, as I said, I do believe that God truly is not finished with Donald Trump. One thing I have come to understand about God is that he always does have something in mind. A “plan,” is what Christians like to call it. God’s plan.
Perhaps God’s plan is to continue to work on Trump himself. The biblical imagery would be that God is standing by a door, waiting for Trump to knock, so that God can open the door to eternal life.
Perhaps God has some other plan, having “called” the former president for a different purpose. The Republicans who have insisted to me over the last six months that Trump was “ordained” or “chosen” to lead the United States back to God will not like to hear this, but maybe God is making an example of Trump to warn Americans about the dangers of turning our backs on the Almighty. Many will recall that the Lord did that repeatedly to kings and rulers throughout the Old Testament.
The point is that we do not really know why God does what he does. But I am fairly sure that it is not so one political party or another can win an election and thereby control America.
We should hesitate to equate our partisan religious views with God’s will.
Written by Quentin R. Wittrock, founder of Principle Based Politics.
Look for his posts each week, as this blog will explore and promote the idea of principle in politics, both as to individual elected leaders and our federal government as an institution.
Principle Based Politics does not endorse or support any particular political candidate or party.
James Loerts
Posted at 12:37h, 06 AugustI have pondered those theological questions many times myself. While I would never discount the hand of God I would also urge caution at proclaiming what God did or did not do in particular situations. Perhaps humility might be the best course of action for us all.
Veronica Schmidt Harvey
Posted at 12:40h, 06 August“We should hesitate to equate our partisan religious views with God’s will.” TRUTH!
Linda Buehring
Posted at 16:31h, 06 AugustI appreciate and share your ‘wondering thoughts.” I also wonder about a great many things; even more so, as I reflect on all the happenings in the world. God is great, He is almighty, and His ways are beyond our comprehension. I do not expect to fully understand the depths of God’s ways or who or what He will work through to accomplish His will. I do believe God gave us His Holy word to teach and guide us. I don’t believe we can fully comprehend His ways because He is the creator, He is holy, He is almighty and we are not. Yet, He loves us and invites us to accept His invitation to live with Him for all eternity by accepting His greatest gift–His Son. Although it is more than I can grasp, I trust, believe and hold onto this truth in the midst of all my wonderings.
Anonymous
Posted at 16:34h, 06 AugustYes! What Jim said. : )
Annette Beseman
Posted at 16:57h, 06 AugustExcellent thought process and conclusion Quentin. There are a lot of things I don’t understand about how God works, but I’m pretty certain He does not wield His power and grace for a particular political party.
Brian and Laurie
Posted at 17:32h, 06 AugustAgree again, 100 percent!!
Carl E Zwisler
Posted at 21:24h, 06 AugustQuentin–Perhaps the reason for your concern is that you have not read and embraced the Trump Bible.
I look forward to reading your comments every week. Keep up the great work.
Ruth Moen
Posted at 20:43h, 07 AugustThanks Quentin👍
DKnight
Posted at 22:17h, 07 AugustI do not believe the Lord Almighty is focused on who wins elections or which teams win sporting events. The Lord is a benevolent prime mover. We should all endeavor to act with such benevolence and try to understand weaknesses and failings in others–because we all have them. Similarly, politics should not be about individual faults–but about policies. May God bless us all.