Dear President Trump,
I write to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm simply a bondservant of Christ. I am an ordained elder in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and I serve at an EPC church in Wenatchee, WA. I am also a public school music teacher at one of the local middle schools and a professional musician. Like yourself, my primary duty is a public servant, though I serve a very small group of students in a small part of Washington state. I expect people to disagree with me, but I also expect that, unless I'm breaking the law, students will follow my lead. I've had my sins and shortcomings. I've had difficult conversations with students and parents, both warranted and unwarranted. It's hard to have a backbone in a society where everyone has "rights." But, to what extent are we willing to sacrifice our rights for our responsibilities? It seems to me that Americans are forgetting that very crucial point. As an elder/pastor, Holy Scripture is the standard of truth. One the one hand, Romans 13 is clear about the place of national leaders. You, Mr. President, are the leader God has chosen for such a time as this.
I find it rather interesting that as our government is actually following the laws laid down during previous administrations regarding the border and immigration (was it the Obama Administration). And, yet, the American voice is largely mad at, well, you, for actually doing what we are called to do. For that, I’m sorry. I see that so much in our world. As a music teacher, we have state and national standards and we are to follow some form of best practices in implementing those standards, whether it be singing in tune or performing rhythms accurately with a given steady tempo. I have followed two teachers that essentially taught by rote and note by those best practices. I end up taking it very hard from the students, parents, and building administration for doing the right thing until the school sees what happens when it’s done correctly. Both times, it took about two years. So, I get it.
But, why the backlash? This is where the Gospel of Jesus Christ really comes to play. If you ever get a chance, I’d encourage you to watch Ray Comfort’s short movie, Evolution Vs. God. In one conversation with a young atheist, it’s made abundantly clear that, in accordance with Scripture, atheists disbelieve in God because “they love their sin.” It’s like drowning in an ocean while wearing a money belt with 80 pounds of gold coin inside. So what if that money brings you pleasure? You’re going to die if you don’t dump the belt and swim to the surface. In the same way, countless people throughout our world will die in their sins if they do not see their sin as pulling them to hell and flee to the savior who is “mighty to save.” Our biggest problem in this world is not immigration (though it certainly needs fixing), nor finances (though we are immorally in debt). Our biggest problem is that, in general, America is at enmity with God through our wicked works. We support gay marriage which is an abomination to God. We are liars. We are greedy. We allow pornography to be considered “entertainment” but is responsible for slavery and rape and is an abuse of the Free Speech clause. We have broken the 10 Commandments 10 ways to Sunday and boast about it. We are prideful and not humble before a holy God who “has set a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness.”
Mr. President, I hope and pray that you and the other elected officials look at your sin and need of a savior and flee to Jesus who was cursed to a cross so our sin could be forgiven. Ultimately, only God can save us from the predicament we’ve gotten ourselves into. I only hope that you are sensitive enough to the gospel and that you never veer from it. I pray that God blesses you with the free gift of salvation, with wisdom to act and say things in a way that honors God and lifts your reputation as one “above reproach,” and that God softens the hearts of all in office to work together in a way that honors Him and Him alone.
Grace and peace,
Jeff
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