M-G: 1.23.17 // Legitimacy

Though our new president won the election fair and square by winning the majority of the all-important electoral votes with no evidence pointing to the Russians tampering in the voting process across the land, there seems to be an unfair opinion that our new president is illegitimate. Some of the main reasons are based on a personal dislike of him for various things (true or false), Russian persuasion via email leaks, and losing the presidency to the other party though their candidate won the popular vote.

There is nothing you or I can say that will ever change the minds of those who passionately believe the sitting president is not legitimate. I do believe that even if the newly elected president addressed every campaign promise to the American people and turned our country in a healthier direction, those in opposition would enjoy the benefits of those changes while still thinking of him as an unlawful president. They will never have his back and dog him in every turn.

His new residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500 for the next four or eight years, barring the rapture, is surrounded by those who voted for the other candidate: 92.8%. I do think that the second commandment of God to “love your neighbor as yourself” is not going to be legislated toward a certain personality in D.C. by the locals; what do you think? It becomes quickly apparent that the Washington mindset wanted another four or eight years of the same spirit of the previous administration, that is until God stepped in to pull off the unheard-of in an American presidential election. Read this verse found in Dan 2:21,

And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.

What I took away from this past presidential election was God’s reminder to us and to the world that He is Sovereign and involved in the affairs of man. He had to do it in a surprising, impossible, and spectacular fashion to receive glory. We are a stubborn lot, but I am certain that God is not done with America yet! Whew...

I think I could make a case for believers who are affiliated with the neo-democratic party that they should prefer to pray rather than protest against their president and condemn riots not protected under the first amendment, “…the right of the people peaceably to assemble...” (my emphasis), but if born again believers should exercise their right to lawfully protest peaceably according to the U.S. Constitution, they better make sure that their grievances are supported by the Scriptures, being on the right side of eternity (being in the will of God),

(1Tim 2:1) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

(1Tim 2:2) for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence [emphasis mine].

(1Tim 2:3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

(1Tim 2:4) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth [Did you catch that purpose?].

Jesus knows what it is like to be thought of as illegitimate regardless of what He did that would prove He was otherwise; the One that Israel had been waiting for so many centuries. The primary reason for all of His miracles was to validate that He was the One prophesied. While John the Baptist was in prison, He sent his disciples to ask, “Are You the coming One, or do we look for another” (Lk 7:20)?

Jesus answered JB’s disciples by quoting from Isa 35:5-6; 61:1,

(Lk 7:22) Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.

(Lk 7:23) And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Even in the most demonstrative of miracles, the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11), the spiritual leadership of Israel remained antagonistic toward Jesus (cf. Lk 16:31). This amazing miracle was engulfed in fear and hatred. However, they could not deny what had taken place because the living proof was walking around telling others about Jesus! No, this did not melt the heart of Jesus' enemies to embrace Him as their long-awaited Messiah. Rather, they only became increasingly entrenched in their position of resisting Jesus. The mantra of those opposing Jesus gained momentum from “Resist, resist, resist Him” to “Kill, kill, kill Him!” They agreed that Jesus must die for personal, religious, and political expediencies,

Jn 11:47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.

Jn 11:48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”

Jn 11:53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.

How did Jesus feel about being thought of as having no legitimacy no matter what He said or did?

(Mat 23:37) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

Admittedly, Trump is nothing like Jesus; if He was, he would probably be hated more than he is by his opposition now (cf. 2 Tim 3:12). One of his enemies is clamoring for reproductive rights who are nothing more than terrorists of the unborn. Yet who knows whether our new Commander and Chief has come to the kingdom for such a time as this (cf. Esther 4:14)? It is challenging for those who have never served in the military that you have to learn to respect the rank of authority regardless of how you may feel about that person. Legitimacy is in the eyes of God. <><

(Act 5:38) And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing;

(Act 5:39) but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.

THOT: Being on the wrong side of eternity for a believer is being out of the will of God for your life.

Tender Moment: Paul was decapitated in Rome under Nero’s rule. Read what he wrote to the Romans, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Rom 13:1). 

Roughly 10-11 years after his letter to the church in Rome, Paul died by Nero’s decree in the will of God. Nero was a monster; Trump is a babe in Christ as I understand it, taking on the toughest job of his life, without a salary, hated, and fully throttled in making America great again [for God I hope].