Trump Still Needs Grace

It’s not a secret that I didn’t support Trump. In fact, I was the first of many who publicly disavowed any kind of support for him as the representative of the party with which I once affiliated. His Nietzschean outlook on life and existential philosophy is completely antithetical to my own philosophy and theology.

I also consciously did not denigrate anyone who chose to support him. I know there were a number of reasons in people’s minds to reject Hillary or to support Donald. Perhaps the most pervasive political argument was the question over future Supreme Court justices.

Personally, I never bought the argument to vote for Trump because of the Supreme Court.

Of course, I would make the point that we have no idea who a President Trump would actually nominate, and who would actually be confirmed, and that those confirmations could be just as detrimental to the country as a Clinton-appointed justice. We’ve seen justice-appointments-gone-wrong in the past, and even with the greatest intentions, the justice one appoints can “evolve,” or just straight-up change their positions.

But as a firm believer in the doctrines of grace, I also repeatedly made the point that IF Hillary were to win, it is certainly not beyond God’s sovereignty to intervene with an act of grace — either with Hillary or her justices — to make them the fiercest advocates for righteous principles.

And that’s where we stand now. Not with a Clinton victory, but with a Trump victory — but still very much in need of the divine grace and imputed righteousness of Christ.

Trump — and his appointees — are just as capable of total depravity as Clinton and her appointees would have been; and God is still just as capable of imputing righteousness to Mr. Trump, his cabinet, and his confirmed justices.

I was never an official #nevertrumper, precisely because of the possibility of the scenario we face today. The sentiment of #nevertrump can cause one to infer that the possibility of redemption is removed. Again, this is not the gospel.

It also causes one to infer that subjection to his governing authority is its own sin. That is also antithetical to my theology.

So as President Trump is inaugurated, I for one understand that he is now more than ever in need of the continuous common and salvific grace, and the wisdom not only to act justly, but to act righteously, and to restrain the depravity that is inherent in all of us.

We would be wise to heed the exhortation of Paul, “that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Let that also be our prayer.