This week President Donald Trump officially started his 2020 re-election campaign in Florida (it seems as though the US political system is a never ending Presidential election – when do they get time to govern?!). His speech to 20,000 fans was widely reported. What was not so reported is the opening prayer from Paula White, a well known US televangelist and one of the President’s ‘spiritual advisors’.
White’s prayer is astonishing:
“I pray for the spirit of the Lord to rest upon our president and let your favor cause his horn, his power to be exalted according Psalm 89:17. Lord, your word says in Psalm 2:1-4, why do the nations conspire and the people plot in vain. The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed saying, let us break their chains and throw off their shackles … Father, you have raised President Trump up for such a time as this.”
She continues:
“Let every demonic network that has aligned itself against the purpose, against the calling of President Trump, let it be broken, let it be torn down in the name of Jesus. I declare that President Trump will overcome every strategy from hell and every strategy from the enemy, every strategy. And he will fulfil his calling and his destiny.”
The message is clear. Donald Trump is the Lord’s Anointed. Those who are opposed to him are aligning themselves with demonic forces. This is a message I have heard not only from White, but also from various ‘prophetic words’ that I have been sent (from well meaning Christians – not directly from the Lord). I’m not a big fan of being on the same side as the devil, so perhaps I had better get in line?
Having reflected and ‘tested the spirits’, let me put this quite simply. This prayer and the whole alignment of Trump as the Messiah (the Anointed) is a shameful and embarrassing episode in the American church’s history.
It is a classic example of a market-driven religion developing a market-driven approach to truth. This has nothing to do with Jesus Christ, and nothing to do with the Gospel – other than the embarrassment and shame it brings to those of us who are seeking to follow Christ and to proclaim that Gospel.
We do not confuse politics and religion. There may be many Christians who for various reasons consider Donald Trump to be the best candidate for the next President. I make no judgement upon that.
But that is a political decision upon which a pastor should not make ‘thus says the Lord’ pronouncements. We should not make spiritual declarations either that Trump is the devil, or that opposition to Trump is demonic.
We need to learn a more biblical and nuanced approach to the relationship between Christ and the rulers of this world. I wrote an article a couple of years ago which asked the question – Is Donald Trump the Christian President?
Little has changed since then. The same principles still apply. Donald Trump is the political leader of the US and should be respected and prayed for as such. Witness the wonderful prayer from David Platt when the President turned up unannounced at his church.
What a contrast with White’s OTT ‘bold prayer’. Donald Trump is not the Anointed one. Of course the ‘powers and principalities’ are at work – but they are just as likely to be at work through him as against him. To claim to know the mind of the Lord in this respect, other than what he has revealed to us through his Word, and the workings of the devil, is at best arrogant and at worst a deception.
The Southern Baptist leader, Russell Moore tweeted a couple of years ago: “Paula White is a charlatan and recognized as a heretic by every orthodox Christian, of whatever tribe.”
While White may deny being a heretic and prosperity gospel preacher, I would have to agree with Moore’s assessment and say that sadly such heresy appears to be welcome in the White House. I say that because the prosperity gospel I believe White preaches fits better with the gold of Trump Towers than it does with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I see the demonic far more at work in the manipulation and lies of the prosperity gospel than I do in the political machinations of those who are opposed to President Trump.
Christians need to be careful not to sell our eternal spiritual heritage for the short term political and material gains that we perceive any political leader might give.
David Robertson is a minister in the Free Church of Scotland. He blogs at www.theweeflea.com
Well said David.
In light of scripture could this not also be said of P. Trump. Certainly, he is not my Savior. In fact, I have often said it about P. Trump that he is not my savior as P. Reagan was not. Only Jesus Christ has that anointing.
Sadly, many Christians place tot much confidence in a human being.
Isaiah 45:1 Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
I have been the USA, California in particular. To visit a friend who is not American. She has been there for many years. She thinks a lot of what passes for church in the USA is really business and I have to agree with that, but with caution as I have met and worked with many chistians from the USA who dearly love the lord. However, the USA has its mega churches that are more like theatres and they are promoted and marketed. One questions the depth of some of the. As a president it is clear that we have to pray for those who govern us and one of the contrasts I see between the USA and the UK is that in the USA they candidates have to say something about God to get the christian vote. As Allistair Campbell said in the UK, “WE do not do God”.
Sir,
The lesson read this week my local CoE was Isaiah45 , and i’m quietly giggling after reading this.
knowing that God’s providence is at work – many a straight line drawn with a cricket bat etc. ..
I fully agree with your sentiment, but will still support Mr Trump over that Score of Democrat potentials who were outbidding themselves at the Planned Parenthood kill fest last week. He may be today’s Cyrus? (Rom11:33)
yours
Ryan
How anyone can vote democrat is beyond me. Pro Abortion, Pro Gay Marriage, Pro Illegal Immigrant, Anti God etc
🙈🙉🙊 we need infinite quantum hope in our days David ! Please! Blessings! Thank you!
I am a reformed theology Christian. We are living in the technological Tower of Babel era. The Triune God is still The only true, merciful and Holy Sovereign!
Thank you for the beautiful singing from the Christians in Honk Kong during their protest! Beautiful, made me cry.
Put another shrimp on the barbie for me and my husband who may need to move if the left takes control of the USA in 2020 😥
I disagree with many of your blogs but here you state, in impressive moderation, what many people whether Christian or not will regard as truth. This ‘prayer’ is as close to blasphemy as I can imagine
Paula White is just as the witch of Endor who advised king Saul. Afterall, God refused to hear Saul’s prayers and promised to never speak to him through the prophets. To those hirelings who teach that the witch of Endor actually spoke to Samuel, you make God a liar! She spoke to a demon, a familiar spirit, a liar who led Saul to his humiliation and his suicide. Donald Trump is no king Cyrus, he is the epitome of king Saul.
While I have severe reservations about the people surrounding the president, I voted for him. There really was no other choice. That said, I am under the impression that he has received Christ, and like me in my first years, has a lot of rough edges. P. Trump has a New Yorker attitude which he has been well known for. Yet, he has kept his promises and more. I am particularly pleased that he has opposed abortion, exposing corruption and building the wall. I have never listen to Paula White but it is my understanding that she has been married 3 times a has broken up at least 2 Christian families. She has shown no signs of repentance so that alone should disqualify her! There is a great danger in placing our confidence in the president as only God can save the nation. I, personally, see very littl reason why he should other than he spared King David. Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. My commitment is to pray 2 Chronicles 7:14 and hope for the best. PS The reason that the USA is in such a mess is the Christian Church has failed at the Great Commission.