Why Won't Trump Answer These Questions About God?

Can President Biden's impeachment proceedings teach us anything about the state of American politics? Our latest episode takes you on a journey through the treacherous waters of impeachment history, contrasting the attempts to dethrone Biden with those faced by former President Trump. We dissect not just the political mechanisms but delve into the philosophical underpinnings of leadership—both spiritual and political. I'll share my insights on the critical issue of term limits, drawing from Biblical narratives like Adam and Eve to illustrate the innate human struggle with power. And for those still captivated by the Trump era, I confront the complex matter of loyalty and patriotism, dissecting what it truly means to support a leader.

This episode doesn't shy away from the enigmatic union of faith and politics as I scrutinize Donald Trump's purported Christian journey. Has Norman Vincent Peale's influence shaped Trump beyond his business acumen, into his spiritual beliefs? This question leads us to ponder the authenticity of a leader's faith and its role in guiding a nation. We dive deep into Trump's interactions with religious figures and the echoing voices of his supporters, examining whether his faith is a deeply woven thread in the fabric of his leadership or merely a tapestry for the public eye.

Wrapping up, we zoom in on the magnifying glass over Trump's acceptance of Christianity's core tenet—the need for a savior. Without a public declaration of faith from Trump himself, we're left to speculate and analyze the breadcrumbs of his religious evolution throughout his presidency. I encourage our listeners to reflect on their own spiritual values and how they intersect with their political choices. As an added bonus, I spotlight a YouTube channel that champions biblically sound content, inviting our audience to join a broader theological discussion. This episode promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of the intricate tapestry of faith, power, and politics.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

They are trying to impeach Biden. Okay, first of all, why did it take four years? Just personal opinion. Second of all, it seems a whole lot like what they tried to do to Trump right before he got out of office.

Speaker 2: 0:14

Faith and failures podcast.

Speaker 1: 0:18

Very good stuff. So what do y'all think about the upcoming election? Leave a comment below about what you think. Do you think now, some of you, you can go down a rabbit hole pretty quick. Some of you probably think that 2020 was stolen. Anybody, anybody, brave enough?

Speaker 1: 0:32

There's so many things surrounding this and that's the thing. Like people in power like to keep things confused so that us peasants can't really figure it out and we don't know what's going on. For instance, like there should not be a person who can be in power, whether whatever the government job is that has power. There should be term limits to make sure that power does not stay in one person. I mean, even in the church the nomination I'm a part of we have governing things, policies in place to where not just one person can stay in the position of a board member or a deacon for that very reason. Like you have your terms, I believe they may can get voted back in or they may. I think they can't stay, they can't do a consecutive turn back to back. I mean smaller churches. You know you got who you got, but those policies are in place for us peasants down here so that one person doesn't stay and get because man wants to have power, man wants to have control. That's just the way we're wired Like. We want to make ourselves like God. That was the very beginning. Adam and Eve, that was how it all started. That's how the fall happened. Was we wanted to be like God? That was the temptation put before Adam and Eve, and it happened. So I thought that was a funny video. So go give them a sub.

Speaker 1: 2:05

Now let's move on to talking about Trump. Now you don't have to comment below, but a lot of people, according to stats and his approval rating and things like that, trump is still, even though they have tried to. And, by the way, hold on. Let me back up. So I have seen in the last week this is when I saw it. It may not have just happened, but they are trying to impeach Biden. Okay, first of all, why did it take four years? Just personal opinion. Second of all, it seems a whole lot like what they tried to do to Trump right before he got out of office. So I mean, it's kind of calling the kettle black a little bit, but I digress.

Speaker 1: 2:46

So, with that being said, I found a cool little video. Now, this guy we've I've had him here on the show before his videos where he talks about a lot of cool different things. He's very. His videos grab your attention, so I wanted to look at this video. His channel is what Do you Mean? I'll show you up on the screen just in a second. But the reason I wanted to do something about Trump and I'm not going into a deep dive into his life and personal, I'm not going to go detective on his stuff but what I want us to be careful for and why I thought this video would be so important and why this topic would be be important for us as Christians.

Speaker 1: 3:23

Somebody asked me the other day what do you think about Trump? I've actually got that request, or that question, a lot, and so here's my thoughts. He is not the second coming, okay, one of the and there's kind of like this I don't know how to describe it except like a fog in the air where you either love him or you're against America, like by. Granted, that's probably a part of his tactic. It's genius. I'm not saying that he's stupid for doing that. It's working. But what I'm saying is like, really, out of all the people that live in America and our citizens, that's the only guy you can come up with. Now there's a guy actually we're on a live stream. Let's just I'll look him up right quick on my little Googles. It sounds racist, but I don't know what his name is. Any guy running for president? There we go. Vivek Ramaswamy Is that?

Speaker 4: 4:15

and that is why oh yeah, here we go, and that is why, today, I am announcing my run Hold on.

Speaker 1: 4:20

Let's back up and watch this dude, why not? Yeah, Vivek, there we go. Yeah, I just found let's watch this video. And the reason I want to watch this video and what kind of like spaghetti in it a little bit is because we're going to watch some stuff on Trump.

Speaker 1: 4:36

Somebody said to me what do you think about Trump? I said well, he's out the second coming. I'm not even 100% sure if he is a Christian. No, why do I say that? And then, listen, I'm not one to judge somebody else unless there's like outright evidence or a lifestyle, because the Bible says you will know them by their fruit. But what I'm saying is like I'm just not. I'm not seeing what other people are seeing that are so for him.

Speaker 1: 4:58

Now, do I think he shook up the government? I think that's why they have been trying to get him so much, because whether you have Democrats, the liberals, then you have a progressive or not the progressive, the center, that's like kind of libertarian or whatever. Then you have the conservative or it's more, you know, republican, and then there's this constant fight back and forth. But I think that there's so much dirt that people have done to get things passed that everybody's dirty, if that makes sense. So we try to pinpoint and try to say, oh, it's the Democrats. Or, if you're on the Democrat side, oh it's the Republicans. I think everybody's boo boo stinks and they're scared because Trump had how do I say this without cursing?

Speaker 1: 5:41

I guess I'll say the letter and please don't be offended by this. But he had F you money, if you know what that means. Like Joe Rogan, I've heard, has the same thing. Like he doesn't care if he offends you or takes you off or makes you upset, because he can just say and does it affect him? He could put $100 million on the table and it wouldn't affect him and burn it right in front of everybody and it would not. Yeah, exactly, cassie said both sides are corrupt, absolutely, that's. That's the point I'm getting at.

Speaker 1: 6:12

Like we we oftentimes try to say Democrat or Republican, but this guy I can't really figure him out, but I like him. Like I have never seen a candidate. Like I've even watched this guy debate and I've never seen a candidate debate before, or the way he holds himself and talks. This guy, like I usually don't say who I'm gonna vote for, but I would probably if I was to put it out there. I'd probably vote for this guy over Trump and let's watch his debates Like we'll watch it together. But watch his debates and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about.

Speaker 1: 6:44

He's very honest, but he has what Trump does not have. He has, like, charisma. Trump has more of a like a rhino style, like whatever, I'm gonna power through it and you're just gonna have to deal with it. You're fired Like. He's got that kind of attitude about him which a lot of people like, especially people down south. They want rough, they want rough. They want somebody who's gonna walk in and take the bull by the horns. But this guy's like a little. He looks like a little pencil pusher but he has a roar about him Like it's crazy. Let's watch.

Speaker 4: 7:11

This is like his little ad thing and that is why today I am announcing my run for president of the United States. She'll get paid for this. She was president as a Republican. Thank you, I appreciate that. Thank you who actually understands that those civil service protections protect individuals but they do not protect entire divisions, that we forgot all of the ways we are really just the same as Americans, bound by a common set of ideals that set this nation into motion in 1776.

Speaker 1: 7:41

Like I'm not doing this as an ad for him. I just I wanted y'all to see somebody out there may not know who he is. I just wanted to show you what all this fight is about.

Speaker 5: 7:49

And 11, so right, so and 10.

Speaker 1: 7:51

See he's anti woke stuff, like he doesn't play that game, like he's not doing the whole, like your feelings are hurt, let's patch you on the back and let's make you a victim, and then let me give you money For me, for me, for me. If you don't know what woke ism? Woke ism is the promotion of liberal progressive ideology and policy, is an expression of sensitivity to systematic injustice, of systemic excuse me, not systematic systemic injustice and prejudice, which is a load of crap.

Speaker 4: 8:20

Yeah, and the way I'll define it in neutral terms is it's a worldview that says that there are those who are oppressors and those who are oppressed in the world, generally based on genetically inherited attributes, and then you mix in a belief about the existential calamity posed by climate change. That's basically, in short form, what it means to be woke. Now I think that, agree or not, that's a facially neutral definition.

Speaker 1: 8:46

So anyways, he's a. In my personal opinion, he's a very good candidate to at least look at. You know what I mean. So something to think about when you go to vote, because it is coming up. We need to address this stuff. We need to, really we need to. I don't preach sermons about it, but what I tell my leaders is this like if they have a class or something, I say don't expressly talk about Democrats or Republicans. Talk about biblical things that are wrong in the sight of God and that will usually land them on a side of political take, but anyways. So let's watch this little video about Trump, and it's pretty informative, and I want you always use critical thinking and think for yourself. Do not just do what everybody else around you is doing. Think for yourself. Okay, let's watch this.

Speaker 3: 9:37

Donald Trump's real religious beliefs are probably not what you think they are, with polls showing that most Americans don't believe that Trump is actually religious at all. 33% of Americans still believe that Trump is indeed a Protestant Christian, and when it comes to what he-.

Speaker 1: 9:50

So what do you think? Do you think Trump is a Christian? Do you think? Exactly Cassie said vote for whoever is closest to the word of God. This thing gets a money.

Speaker 1: 10:00

Errors Hold on, I'm about to fix this in real time. Sorry, I just get it on my nerves. It does it every single time and I don't know why. Anyway, okay, while we're paused for a second, make sure that you go over to faith and failures.

Speaker 1: 10:14

If you're not watching on YouTube or you are watching on YouTube, go over to Facebook, instagram, facebook Instagram Collectively. Thank y'all so much. About 3,000 people follow either the Instagram account or they follow YouTube. We just passed, I think, 1,400 subscribers, something like that. So that's a pretty awesome thing. Thank y'all. Just while we're stopped, below any link that you use that says Amazon. So I'm an Amazon affiliate, which means if you buy water, you buy dog food, anything like that, you click my link, I get a little percentage or a kickback and no extra cost to you. Or if you wanna give directly some of y'all do that too I greatly appreciate it. There is a PayPal link that you could click where you can do a one-time or you can do a monthly reoccurring donation. This is a ministry and I greatly appreciate it. Now that that's over, he truly believes.

Speaker 3: 11:01

the truth isn't what it may appear to be on the surface, and in order to understand his actual beliefs, we first have to understand his religious history. Trump's parents, fred and Mary Trump, enrolled Trump in the Sunday School in the 1950s, when Trump was just a kid.

Speaker 1: 11:15

Tell me that still don't look like him. I forgot to take your thing. Tell me that still don't look like him. A little bit Like that looks like Trump, Just a little baby face straight up yeah.

Speaker 6: 11:24

I was born into a family where my father was religious. My mother was religious. I wouldn't say they were going to church every single day, but they were believers.

Speaker 3: 11:35

In 1959, trump was first confirmed at first Presbyterian church in Jamaica, queens, when he was just 13 years old. But Trump's religious views continue to evolve as he and his father became captivated by the teachings of Norman Vincent Pyl, who is the pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan. Trump started going to Pyl's church in the 1960s and still references Pyl as having a remarkable impact on him and his life.

Speaker 6: 11:56

The great Norman Vincent Pyl was my pastor. He was the greatest guy.

Speaker 3: 12:00

If the name Norman Vincent Pyl doesn't sound familiar, you may be aware of his 1952 book, the Power of Positive Thinking, as the title later became a common catchphrase in our culture. Now, though, pyl was a Christian pastor. Many considered him to be a heretic, because he taught that you can bring your desires into existence with only your thoughts, that God is energy that you can harness in your imagination, and was reported as which is new age nonsense.

Speaker 1: 12:25

Like what is it? Faith, word of faith, movement. So I've been really studying this kind of stuff here lately. So that may become an episode, but it's, if you don't know, I'm at Pentecostal, which we believe that God gave us spiritual gifts and one of those gifts is healing faith. James, chapter five, tells us to lay hands on the sick and they will recover. So we believe that. But with every denomination or every form of Christianity or any kind of religion, there's extremists and the word of faith are like extremists, like you have. They have like a very weird doctrine and very specific that you won't even know it's there until you dive deep into what they believe. So pay attention, because these are the people right here.

Speaker 3: 13:06

It's also teaching that Jesus was not the only way To add to Pyl's controversial views. Pyl undoubtedly taught and endorsed some new age and occult beliefs, as well as endorsing several new age writers. Several Christian teachers in his day also criticized Pyl for replacing the heart of the gospel message with positive thinking, as well as peddling worldly success instead of eternal salvation.

Speaker 6: 13:27

She had never heard of the science of positive imaging, nor of positive thinking, but Jesus Christ had made her a positive thinker.

Speaker 3: 13:37

But as the years went on, trump and Pyl became closest. Pyl ordained Trump's first marriage as well as his parents' funerals. In Trump's book Great Again, trump says that Pyl would instill in him a very positive feeling about God. That also made him feel positive about himself, and that he would literally leave church feeling like he could listen to another three sermons. Although Pyl died of a stroke in 1993, the roots of Pyl's teachings could be traced in Trump's beliefs for many more years to come. But in order to understand why this is so crucial to understanding Trump's beliefs, we first have to turn to Trump's major public conversations about God, and the first significant one was in 2011. In 2011, trump announced that he was seriously considering running for president, and he started to do more interviews, including an interview with David Brody of the Christian Bible Network. It was in this interview that Trump stated his beliefs about God, the Bible and going to church.

Speaker 2: 14:26

You were a little bit about God and your views on God.

Speaker 6: 14:29

Well, I believe in God. I am Christian, I believe very strongly in God. I think that the Bible certainly is one of. I mean, it is the book, it is the thing.

Speaker 2: 14:41

Do you actively go to church, or is that something that it's more just when you can?

Speaker 1: 14:45

So just to clarify now I want you to think about this. Is wording there Now maybe the question was to him do you believe in God? If you are a Christian, trying to figure out if somebody else is a Christian, asking the question do you believe in God is a dumb question. Now why do I say that? Because the devil believes in God. The Bible tells us that only through grace, by faith, faith in Jesus, jesus Christ, is the only way to heaven. So asking do you believe in God is not a smart question to ask. It's not a good, prompting question for you to assess where someone is spiritually, because even the devils tremble. We have to know if they have accepted Jesus as the Lord and Savior. It's a big difference. It's important for you to know, as a Christian, what questions to ask so that you can be led by the spirit of how to respond and where to lead Can right?

Speaker 6: 15:44

well, I go as much as I can, always on Christmas, always on Easter. That.

Speaker 1: 15:50

I'm not gonna believe somebody all may do that, that's just you're forsaken the gathering, that's not going to church.

Speaker 6: 15:58

Always when there's a major occasion and during the Sundays I'm a Sunday church person I'll go when I can.

Speaker 3: 16:06

But even though.

Speaker 1: 16:06

Trump talked about how important his faith. Tell me that wasn't a political answer. I only go on Easter and Christmas and Sundays. I'm a Sunday person.

Speaker 3: 16:16

Yeah all right Close to him. Some people were skeptical, given his controversial past of owning casinos, multiple affairs, being married three times, among other controversies that he was involved in up until that point. However, as Trump ran for president in 2015, people considered the fact that he could indeed be a changed man, as he would talk more and more about the Bible at his rallies.

Speaker 4: 16:36

My second favorite book of all time. What's my first favorite book? The Bible.

Speaker 1: 16:42

Now think about this If you're running for an office, you're going to cater to the people that are most likely to vote for you. It's called politics. Now, I'm not trying to judge whether he is or isn't a follower of Jesus, but someone can talk with their mouth all they want. I wanna see the fruit. You know what I mean. You go into the clubs. You're doing all that I mean. If you're living a life of debauchery and sin and you still go to church on Sundays, who do you think your real master is?

Speaker 3: 17:14

Trump continued to talk about his faith, a lot of Christians started to see Trump in a more favorable light. Go.

Speaker 5: 17:20

Trump. He represents the godly people of the United States of America.

Speaker 6: 17:24

Do you think he's always acting like a good Christian?

Speaker 5: 17:26

Absolutely. How can you build that kind of empire if you're not praying to God for good things every day?

Speaker 3: 17:33

The way that he talked about the Bible made a lot of.

Speaker 1: 17:35

That's false. I've seen a lot of rich people that have no clue who God is. Being rich has nothing to do with whether you know to God or not, and this is the problem right here. People like this on this video that are like now some call them Trump Tards. That's like, that's mean. I think the guy is good for the government. I think he would be good as president again, but also, if we're talking not presidential, just as a person like he is, that's like said okay, think about this. Now this is getting serious. Biden said in a speech that transgender people are the backbone of the United States. That was his comment. That is of the same measure of this woman saying that Trump represents Christian people in America. Because he doesn't. I'm going to go on. Yeah, I'm getting quiet.

Speaker 3: 18:28

A lot of Christians happy believe in that Trump was in fact a genuine Christian, and they were excited to have a president who not only loved the Bible but unashamedly talked about it.

Speaker 6: 18:38

Most importantly, I brought my Bible. You know, it's first Presbyterian church Jamaica and this was written by my mother with my name, with my address, with everything. In case I lost it, somebody would return it In Iowa. It just came out on number one at 29, substantially ahead of anyone else. I'm happy about that. You know why. That's the reason.

Speaker 3: 19:00

That's the reason, but not everyone was happy with this, as several cometers complained that his Bible looked like it hadn't been open more than a few times in 70 years and that he was just using the Bible as a prop in order to get more votes.

Speaker 1: 19:13

Thank you. Now, I'm not saying that's what he was doing, but I mean, in reality, in the end it all ends up being propaganda, like who's going to vote for me? I'm going to cater to what they like. I'm going to try to say things they like. I mean that's a part of the political game, that's a part of trying to get voted in the office. You start doing things and that's how so much dirt is in the political parties is because you do things for certain people, so certain bills get passed that you want to get passed. They may be good, but apparently you can tag things on the end of them and it's like what kind of system is this? It's one that you can just pander to a certain group of people and make them think that you're going to be what they want. Now I'm not saying Trump is doing that, but in 2024, we're voting again. You need to think about these things so that you can be a responsible voter.

Speaker 3: 20:10

In addition, the skepticism of Trump's love for the Bible only increased after Trump was asked what his favorite Bible verse was, and many interpreted his response as an attempt at dodging the question. You mentioned the Bible. You've been talking about how it's your favorite book and you said, I think last night in Iowa. Some people are surprised that you say that.

Speaker 2: 20:27

I'm wondering what one or two of your most favorite Bible verses are, and why.

Speaker 6: 20:31

I wouldn't want to get into it because to me that's very personal. You know, when I talk about the Bible it's very personal, so I don't want to get in.

Speaker 1: 20:38

Okay, I'm sorry for stopping it so much, but if somebody loves something and they can't talk about it like they're like, oh no, that's personal, but they want to say it on a stage in front of thousands all the time, but then you ask specifics and they can't get very specific, they probably don't know what they're talking about. Now I'm very gracious in this area because I'm a pastor of a church and I am terrible at remembering what or where verses are found in the Bible. I can quote them, but I can't remember if it's like Matthew, chapter 10, verses five through nine, or if it's Matthew, chapter three, verses nine through 10. You know it, to me it's so confusing it's very hard for me to remember that. But I can quote description, like for instance, in the chat right now in the comment section, if you're watching this later, but down in the bottom, what your favorite verse is Like. You don't have to quote where it's from.

Speaker 1: 21:29

But your favorite verse For me it was when, and I know the story, so this is how you know. I actually read it when it says Jesus whipped. It's the shortest verse in the Bible and also to me it is a reminder that Jesus felt things to. So when I'm down, when I'm hurting, when I am grieving, when I am in sorrow, I can remember that Jesus once felt that way too, and so that's why that's my favorite verse. So let me know what yours is, we'll move on.

Speaker 4: 22:01

I don't want to get into it. It's a me plot too that you think about or cite.

Speaker 6: 22:05

The Bible means a lot to me, but I don't want to get into specifics.

Speaker 1: 22:09

Even to cite a verse that you like no, I don't want to do it. It's a good politic. Political answer Is that?

Speaker 6: 22:13

an old.

Speaker 3: 22:13

Testament guy or a new Testament.

Speaker 6: 22:15

Really Well. I think it's just an incredible. The whole Bible is an incredible joke, very much so they always hold up the art of the deal. I say my second favorite book of all time.

Speaker 3: 22:26

This topic was brought up again in another interview, in which Trump did seem to point to a specific verse that he found the most impactful. However, the verse that he quoted seemed to be a verse that didn't actually exist.

Speaker 2: 22:38

You talked about yet the art of the deal, great book, the Bible, even better.

Speaker 6: 22:43

Why is that? For you? There's so many things, like you know. You take whatever you want to say, there's so many things that you could learn from it. Proverbs, the chapter never bend to envy. I've had that thing all of my life where people are bending to envy and they're just. It's actually. It's an incredible book. So many things you can learn from the Bible and you can lead your life and I'm not just talking in terms of religion, I'm talking in terms of leading a life, even beyond a religion. There's so many brilliant things in the Bible.

Speaker 3: 23:13

Following this interview, many were quick to point out that there was no chapter in Proverbs with the verse on bending and need to envy. But the question of Trump's favorite Bible verse was a question that people didn't seem to want to let go of as, once again, Trump was asked this question and gave yet a different answer. Is is there a favorite Bible verse?

Speaker 1: 23:31

or Bible story that has informed your thinking or your character through life, sir.

Speaker 5: 23:36

Well, I think many. I mean, you know, when we get into the Bible, I think many, so many, and it's helping people to hold up an eye for an eye you can almost say that that's not a particularly nice thing. But you know, if you look at what's happening to our country I mean when you see what's going on with our country, how people are taking advantage of us and how they scoff at us and laugh at us and they laugh at our face and they're taking our jobs, they're taking our money, they're taking our, you know, they're taking the health of our country and we have to be very firm and we have to be very strong and we can learn a lot from the Bible, that I can tell you.

Speaker 3: 24:09

So this time, trump did indeed quote the Bible correctly. However, in the New Testament, christ commanded us not to embrace an eye for an eye, contrary to Trump's appeal to the verse.

Speaker 6: 24:19

Maybe he's not as perfect on the Bible, but I did go to Sunday school for many years. I want to tell you.

Speaker 3: 24:24

But despite Trump's biblical mistakes, many Christians were still pleased with the positive things that Trump said about the Bible and faith, even though it seemed as though he wasn't the most well versed on specific passages.

Speaker 1: 24:34

Now, that's true. So, and, by the way, cassie said Ephesians 2, 19. Listen to that. Oh, look that Ephesians 2, 19,. See what it is. While looking that up, somebody else posted your Ephesians 2, 19. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers of fellow citizens with God, people and God's people, also members of his household. I'm going to read 22, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as a chief cornerstone. Boom, boom. I like it. I like it. Yeah, god brought us in, made his family, so yeah, and I'm not trying to pounce on Trump with all this stuff but what I'm saying is is that, like how he said that?

Speaker 1: 25:17

You know he did say something about the Bible. You know somebody as influential as Trump, even though he may not be well versed or nobody's talking about, or maybe even be. He may not even be real with what he's saying and he doesn't really care. He's just saying it because of votes. You know, I think God can use anything and I think it's very, very possible that some people that maybe valued Trump in a different way, that was not Christian, was not biblical, heard him say some things like that and maybe it got them curious. I believe God can use things like that and I hope that he has through all of this. But anyways, let's go.

Speaker 6: 25:53

Two Corinthians right. Two Corinthians 317,. That's the all ball game.

Speaker 3: 25:58

But just as people started to brush that aside, trump answered a question that would no doubt be one of the things that was most responsible for people believing that he was not, in fact, the true Christian. In July of 2015, trump was asked if he ever asked God for forgiveness, which, of course, is foundational to the Christian faith, and here was his response. I just got one more because you used the word Christian.

Speaker 6: 26:18

Have you ever asked God for forgiveness? That's a tough question. I don't think in terms of. I'm a religious person Shockingly, because people are so shocked when they find this out I'm Protestant, I'm Presbyterian and I go to church and I love God and I love my church and Norman Vincent Peale. The great Norman Vincent Peale was my pastor, the power of positive thinking. Everybody's heard of Norman Vincent Peale. He was so great. He would give a sermon you never wanted to leave. Sometimes we have sermons and everyone said, well, we think about leaving a little early, right even though we're Christian.

Speaker 1: 26:52

He didn't answer the question. If he's just 210, that's what she said. If he's just 210, hold on now, let's look. Let's look. We're on a live stream here. We're just hanging out, let's do this. I already finished my message for tomorrow, so, but we are his workmanship. Created in Christ Jesus, for God works or sorry, for good works, which God can read, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Cool, I like it. It's a good one too. Shout out to Ephesians oh my, I was trying to activate my credit card. I tried to make no purchase, all right.

Speaker 6: 27:26

The Norman Vincent Peale Frank would give a sermon. I'm telling you I still remember his sermons. It was unbelievable and what he would do is he'd bring real life situations, modern day situations, into the sermon and you could listen to him all day long when you left the church. It would disappoint that it was over. He was the greatest guy and then you know he passed away, but he was great. He wrote the power of positive thinking, which is great.

Speaker 3: 27:53

So at this point it seemed as if Trump was merely dodging the questions. The host repeated the questions to him once again. What have you ever asked God for forgiveness?

Speaker 1: 28:03

See, now think about it. If someone actually knew God, why would they run from a question like have you ever asked God for forgiveness? That doesn't make a. I'm just think critically. Think logically here. Follow just listen to what's being said, how it's being done, and don't look at who you're listening to, because that can manipulate how you receive it. Just think about it.

Speaker 6: 28:25

Not sure I have. I just go and try and do a better job from there. I don't think so. I think if I do something wrong, I think I just try and make it right. I don't bring God into that picture, I don't Now when I take you know what?

Speaker 1: 28:40

Now listen, he just said hold on, just run a bit. He won't answer the question. And then he says I don't bring God into the picture. Now think about this If someone knows God and has a relationship with the Father and has asked Jesus to cover them in their blood, and you don't bring God into things, just say it, think about it, think so.

Speaker 6: 29:05

I think if I do something wrong, I think I just try and make it right. I don't bring God into that picture. I don't Now when I take, you know, when we go in church and when I drink my little wine which is about the only wine I drink and have my little cracker. I guess that's a form of asking for forgiveness and I do that as-.

Speaker 1: 29:25

No, actually the Bible tells us that before we take communion we should ask for forgiveness, to examine ourselves before death fall on us. Like taking communion is serious. It means something and that's not asking God for forgiveness at all.

Speaker 6: 29:44

As often as possible because I feel cleansed, okay. But you know, to me that's important, I do that, but in terms of officially, I see, I couldn't say absolutely and everybody. I don't think in terms of that. I think in terms of let's go on and let's make it right. So let's-.

Speaker 3: 30:00

Trump's response generated quite a bit of backlash, which is why, in 2016, trump was offered a chance to change or even clarify his answer to that question.

Speaker 2: 30:09

When you said that you've never asked God for forgiveness. Do you regret making that remark?

Speaker 6: 30:14

No, I have great relationship with God. I have great relationship with the evangelicals, In fact, nationwide. I'm up by a lot. I'm leading everybody.

Speaker 1: 30:25

That had nothing to do with a question, like it literally had. Again, he's a. This is what I'm saying. Like people are following this guy, christian people, christian people are following this guy. Now, I'm not saying if you follow him, you're not a Christian. It's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is, as a Christian, we have to be on guard with just following anybody that says that they are a Christian. This is why people end up in churches they don't need to be a part of, because they're following people that say they are a messenger, say that they are sent by God or say that they have a prophecy over your life. If they don't measure up with the scripture, they are not of God.

Speaker 1: 31:05

Now, whether the point we're not putting on the balance here of whether Trump is good for the country or not, I think he's very good. He shakes things up. He don't care what people have to say. He's not scared of them, which is very good. That means he won't end up in somebody's pocket and just be a little puppet on strings. That's awesome, that's perfect.

Speaker 1: 31:24

But people have asked me this specific question what do you think about Trump and the way I look at things in my life is I look at them according to the word. Is this going to be something that I do personally? Because, as a Christian, I should be measuring everything up to the word of God. I should be measuring everything up and asking what does the word of God say? What does God tell me to? How does he tell me to act? Respond See Matthew 21 and 23,. Let's look that up right now. Matthew 21,. Right, no, matthew. What Matthew seven? Okay, let's look at that. Let's read some scripture. I love looking up scripture, especially one that other people like 21 through 23. This is not everyone who says to me hey, hey, hey, you must have picked that one out because of the topic. Okay, so this is perfect for our topic. I'm pretty sure it doesn't show a picture, but I'm pretty sure it says V and F. That's probably one of my board members and not everyone who says to me Lord, lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Speaker 1: 32:30

Now, if you're a Christian, are you claimed to be a Christian? Just because you call God Lord does not make you a Christian. Your fruit is directly connected to the root. So if you're not living a life that is holy and righteous before God, covered and saturated in his spirit and in his excuse me and in his righteousness, then you're not of God. I know that's harsh, but that's the facts. I think that the world is gonna be. The world is not gonna be as empty as we think. When the rapture happens, when God, when Jesus, comes back in the clouds, I think there's gonna be people that are gonna show up business as usual to the church house on Sunday and wonder why in the world everybody's still there, because it's not gonna be as much as we think. Hey, methuselah, by the way, make sure you go check out on the YouTube channel and the Facebook and Instagram. The guy who's commenting. His name is Vernon and we talked about creation. Very good episodes, all right.

Speaker 1: 33:24

So not everyone who says me Lord, lord, we'll enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven, will enter. Many will say to me on that day Lord, lord, did we not? This is pretty crazy to me. This is what shocks me, because this is pastors, teachers, people that call themselves prophets or apostles, whatever this falls underneath. They fall underneath this scripture right here. Many will say to me on that day Lord, lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name, cast out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles, but he's still gonna say depart from me, I never knew you.

Speaker 1: 34:04

We, as people who say that we are believers, should make sure that we are doing the will of the Father, because one day, when your number is called, you're gonna stand before him and one day you'll have to answer Whoops, sorry.

Speaker 1: 34:23

One day you will have to answer for everything that you've done, and this is I tell my churches all the time.

Speaker 1: 34:28

I feel it so strong in my heart is that people like this I'm not bashing on Trump, but I want you to think about this we're in the Bible Belt. People go to church over here because that's how they were raised, because they think they're supposed to be going to church and there's no relationship with God, and so they think because they come to church, they hear a good word, they've lift their hands a little bit and they think they're good, but yet throughout the week, they just live a normal life that has nothing to do with God. How in the world can you think, how in the world can we think that we know God when God is never involved in anything that we do, except on a Sunday morning, or because you think you're a part of a certain denomination, or whenever you want to slap on there like you have to understand that there is a relationship that has to be bearing fruit in your life, that you know God For. As a little sermon, let's just go on before I get deeper in this.

Speaker 6: 35:18

But I like to be good. I don't like to have to ask for forgiveness and I am good. I don't do a lot of things at a band. I try and do nothing. That's bad.

Speaker 3: 35:26

Now, of course, seeking forgiveness is out the foundation of Christianity. The interviewer tries to ask Trump whether or not he at least sought forgiveness for their affairs and other things that he's done in the past.

Speaker 2: 35:36

The life you have now. When you say that you try to do good, that sounds very different from decades of tabloid media coverage in New York, in which some of your wilder escapades were not.

Speaker 6: 35:48

I'm talking about over the last number of years. I mean, I'm bleeding a very good life, I try to lead a good life and I have and, frankly, the reason I'm doing so well in Iowa and leading the polls, including the CNN poll where I'm 33 to 20 in Iowa. And, by the way, one of the things that I didn't like that Ted Cruz did, Liza, he said oh he's doing so well in the poll, and as he went on, he changed the topic of the conversation.

Speaker 3: 36:11

But even though he changed the topic, what many were still wondering was how his faith has changed since his early 20s, and the answer to this question became far more clear around the year 2020. In 2020, we got another insight into Trump's beliefs. As one of his spiritual advisors and the senior pastor of New Destiny Christian Center, paula White became more notable. Like Trump, white has also had her fair share of businesses gone wrong and has also been buried three times, but her past isn't what made her so controversial. The controversy around White began to come to light after she made a public prayer for Trump during the 2020 election cycle.

Speaker 5: 36:44

I hear a sound of an abundance of rain. I hear a sound of victory. The Lord says it is done. The Lord says it is done Now. Angels have even dispatched from Africa right now. Africa right now.

Speaker 1: 36:57

Wheels on the bus go round. I think that's what the beat she was singing Like. This is nonsense, complete nonsense. She's just doing something to do something.

Speaker 5: 37:06

Africa right now, from Africa right now, they're coming here. They're coming here.

Speaker 3: 37:10

However, what a lot of people didn't know was that Trump and White go back to 2002, and Trump even appeared on her TV show in 2008. White claims that over the years they remain close friends and have had several private Bible studies together as well. After Trump took office, he elected her as a spiritual advisor.

Speaker 1: 37:26

Word to the wise men never have private Bible studies with another woman by yourself.

Speaker 3: 37:30

Kaiser and she held several prayer circles for him. But given what we know about Trump's past, white's teachings might look a little familiar. White also teaches the power of positive thinking, as well as what's commonly known as the prosperity gospel, which is similar roots to the teachings of Trump's former pastor, norman Vincent Peele. So it's no wonder why Trump has been known to be associated with several of those identified as prosperity teachers, who emphasize the power yes, I just learned the term prophylide, which is like prophesied but lying, and I love it.

Speaker 1: 38:00

Hold on, dang. Why can't I not get this thing to act right? It cuts it off, ba-doop, ba-doop. Anyways, here's part of it. I don't know what to do with this. I have to fix this. Anyways, yeah, pat Robertson, also Kenneth Copeland, run Our word of positive thinking.

Speaker 3: 38:16

At this point, it seems as if Trump's theology has grown from the teachings of Peele and has continued to develop further in the teachings of White. But the question that seems to matter the most is not necessarily what Did?

Speaker 1: 38:25

the girl likes to dance or something, because she keeps singing and moving.

Speaker 3: 38:29

Trump believed in the past, but what Trump believes today. Many claim that Trump was initially a baby Christian when he took office, but has now solidified his faith in Christ. Of course, until recently, this was just speculation, but during a Q&A in July of 2023, trump was asked directly how his faith has grown since he first decided to run for president.

Speaker 4: 38:48

My question is how has your faith grown since you decided in 2015 to run for president, and who has met or viewed your faith journey?

Speaker 6: 38:59

Great question. Such a great question. You know I've seen so much heartache and turmoil. I was a developer and I did other things and you know I had a wonderful. I had a wonderful life before all this stuff. I didn't know what a grand jury was. I didn't know what a subpoena, what is a subpoena. I had a wonderful life. I'm so glad they were asking me the other day a little different question Are you glad you did? It Was so. You had a great life and you're glad you did it. I couldn't be more glad. I am so happy I did it because I've made America great. We can do it again. Right now we don't even know it. Okay, you have not a great template, but I'm glad you didn't know because of this, Steve and Joe.

Speaker 3: 39:37

Now, once again, Trump's response comes across as if he's dodging the question. We're almost a minute into his response and haven't gotten the direct answer, but let's hear how he finishes his answer to this question.

Speaker 6: 39:48

I mean I know so many people and they feel so good about themselves and their family and they base it on religion. I had never had that kind of an experience where I got to know so many. And Franklin Graham and Paul White, I mean I know so many people that are so incredible religious people and not just Christians, not just evangelicals. You know, when I look at the Catholic faith, you take a look at what the FBI you know, but look at what the FBI is doing in Catholics. They made them like the enemy They've made them.

Speaker 3: 40:20

It's horrible. This is the most recent explanation that we've gotten from Trump at the time of this recording and, as you just heard, trump never answered the question directly. So we may not have all of our questions answered, but here's what we do know we don't have any of our questions answered. First off, one thing that we know for sure is that only God knows Trump's heart and what he truly believes. But, going off of all of the public data that we have, trump seems to embrace views that could be considered religious, but not necessarily Christian. In essence, as stated earlier, at the core of Christianity is forgiveness. We can't fully believe our trust in ourselves, for a sense, if I do something wrong.

Speaker 6: 40:56

I think I just try and make it right. I don't bring God into that picture.

Speaker 3: 41:00

Instead, we have to believe in trust in Christ for a sense, and, as a result, our sins are forgiven.

Speaker 3: 41:06

So without forgiveness, we can't claim to be Christian in any meaningful sense of the word. Trump's apparent lack of seeking forgiveness from God may stem from the teachings of Pil, whose some believe tried to do away with the negativity of sin and who apparently also taught that Jesus wasn't the only way to heaven. The issue with that belief is that it doesn't seem to account for the problem. Biblically speaking, the problem that all of us have is that our sins separates us from God, and in order to live in the presence of this perfect God, we too must be perfect, but we're not perfect because we've all fallen short of his perfect righteousness. This is why we need Jesus, because Jesus lived the perfect life that we should have lived and then died the death that we should have died, and then, in his perfect mercy, he offered us the life that he lived in place of our own. So that way, when we stand before God, our salvation can be judged based off of the life that he lived, rather than the life that we lived.

Speaker 3: 41:55

That's why Christians believe that Jesus is the only way and why we're no longer talking about Christianity once we remove forgiveness from the picture. Now, as I say that perhaps Trump does believe in the full gospel message and his need for forgiveness, although I couldn't find any public record of him saying so and also perhaps his views have changed since the beginning of his presidency, although, when given the opportunity, he hasn't clarified this as to be the case. But at any rate, as far as we can tell, it seems that Trump's actual beliefs, whatever they may be, are still missing the core tenet of Christianity a need for a savior, and without a savior, of course, we can't be saved. Thanks, Now, if you've made it this far in the video, make sure you hit the like button, so that way we could make yeah, make sure so you can see at the bottom of the screen, right there, right here, I think you can see my mouse.

Speaker 1: 42:38

Yeah, what do you mean? Go over there, give that guy a subscription on YouTube. Very good channel, he's biblically sound. I don't know, it's in-depth theology, but so when I found that video, I was like this is exactly exactly what I was talking about, See you next time.