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HopeLives365

Mark Finley

How Should Christians Respond to Donald Trump’s Trial?


On Thursday, May 30th, the nation waited anxiously and nervously for the jury's decision in the Donald J. Trump hush money trial. CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and other news outlets across America, ABC, NBC, CBS, were carrying the story of that trial for weeks. And when the jury returned their guilty verdict on all 34 counts, many people were extremely pleased, other people were extremely upset. The nation really is divided over that issue.

There are those that feel that the jury's decision was unjust. They feel that the court was biased in favor of the prosecution. There are others that feel that the decision of the jury was very just, that no 1 is above the law, and that democracy played out in that decision. The interesting thing to me is that there are Christians on either side of that question. There are those that feel that the decision was very unjust, and there are those that feel that justice was served.

Now the point of this video is not to take either side. Let me make that abundantly plain from the beginning. But I want to raise the question, what is the Christian response to this situation in America at a time of such uncertainty, in a time when the nation is polarized? What biblical principles can guide us, whatever position we take on this issue, what biblical principles can guide us in these uncertain and troubleless times? I think there are 3 that relate to this trial that relate to each of us as Christians.

The first is this, in times of crisis and uncertainty, we hear a call to prayer. Let me give you 2 specific examples, 1 from the Old Testament, 1 from the New Testament. Let's go back to the days of ancient Babylon. Daniel was taken captive, unjustly so, brought to a foreign nation. He was in a foreign empire under a despotic, ruthless, pleasure-loving, pleasure-seeking ruler, Nebuchadnezzar.

But yet Daniel had a positive witness in that empire. He exemplified a righteous character. He prayed earnestly for Nebuchadnezzar, interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dreams. And God honored Daniel's witness. In Daniel chapter 4, Verse 37, we read these words.

You remember after the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great tree and Nebuchadnezzar's bout with insanity, wandering around like a animal for 7 years, Nebuchadnezzar looks to heaven. His sanity is returned to him. He's returned to his throne. And in Daniel 4, verse 37, we read, "'Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth and his ways justice and those who walk in pride, he's able to abase." Here, through Daniel's witness and through the intervention of God and through Daniel's prayers, Nebuchadnezzar, ruthless, brutal, king of Babylon, is converted to the true God and we may very well see Nebuchadnezzar in heaven 1 day. What does this story teach us?

It teaches us that prayer and an exemplatory character and a righteous approach to Conflict can lead others to the salvation of the true God. Or think of the second example of the apostle Paul. Paul's unjustly imprisoned by the Roman empire. What does he do? Is he angry, bitter, resentful?

Not at all. Paul writes to Timothy and gives counsel to that young man. You'll find it in 1 Timothy 2, verse 1 and 2. How do we relate in times of uncertainty? How do we relate in times that are quite challenging?

1 Timothy, you're looking there at chapter 2, verse 1. The apostle Paul says, "'Therefore I exhort, ' that is I urge, I encourage, first of all, that supplications, prayers, and intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in godliness and reverence. Here, the Apostle Paul is in prison and he urges Timothy to encourage fellow believers to pray for the kings in those that had authority over them. Why do you think the Apostle Paul would pray that way? I mean, these political leaders were evil, brutal, and corrupt.

I see 2 lessons here. First, Paul believed that intercessory prayer was absolutely vital and that God opens doors of opportunity for witness as we pray. That was exemplified in Paul's life. He was in prison, but according to Scripture, some of Caesar's household became Christians. But I think there's a second reason here.

Was Paul treated fairly or justly? Not at all. But as he encouraged Timothy to pray, he encouraged him to follow secondly this lesson, that God calls us to pray for those that treat us unjustly, because through our intercession, the Holy Spirit works upon their heart and touches their minds. In times of uncertainty, in times of political turmoil, God calls us to pray for the nation. God calls us to pray for the nation.

God calls us to pray for political leaders, whether they are on 1 side of the political aisle or the other. During a time of crisis in America, namely the Civil War in the mid 1800s, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech to the nation. And in that speech, Lincoln talked about the encouragement that he got from knowing that people were praying for him. Listen to Lincoln's words. He says, "'It's most cheering and encouraging for me to know that in the efforts which I have made and am making for the restoration of a righteous peace in our country, I am upheld and sustained by the good wishes and prayers of God's people.

No 1 is more deeply than myself aware that without his favor, our highest wisdom is but foolishness and that our most strenuous efforts would fail nothing in the shadow of his displeasure." Now notice what Lincoln says. I think these words are significant. He says, I am upheld and sustained by the prayers of God's people. Whether political leaders know it or not, when Christians gather to pray, when we seek God, when we come together in unity and pour out our hearts to God for our political leaders. As Lincoln says, they're sustained by those prayers.

So what is a Christian response to what's going on in the nation today? With a government so divided, with conflicts in political arena. Well, what is a Christian response to that? The first aspect of the Christian response is deep, earnest, heartfelt prayer for political leaders and for the nation. There's another aspect, and this is a second principle.

Although civil courts have a role to play in secular society, as Christians, we leave final judgment to God. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 7. You know, there are so many armchair pundits that are making comments on what happened in court on May 30th. And you know, Jesus is very clear in Matthew 7, verse 1 and 2, he says, judge not that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged.

And with the same measure you use, it'll be measured back to you again." In other words, our background of situations, our knowledge of those situations, is very limited. We often don't have all the information to make adequate decisions about the conduct of another person. We have our own biases, our own thinking processes, our own failures and frailties. Rather than judge others, Jesus invites us to treat them charitably and humbly look at our own hearts to see if there's any root of sin there that create within us a critical fault-finding spirit rather than the attitude of Jesus. Now there are 2 enlightening statements that I find from the writings of Ellen White that can guide us here.

The first is in a compilation called Help in Daily Living, page 35. The very act of looking for evil in others develops evil in those who look. By dwelling upon the faults of others, we are changed into the same image. By beholding Jesus, talking of his love and perfection of character, we become changed into his image by contemplating the lofty ideal he's placed before us. We shall be uplifted into a pure and holy atmosphere, even the presence of God." Our lives are transformed and changed by what we contemplate, what we look at.

As we criticize others, as we are fault finding of others, when we don't have the background, we don't have all the facts, The looking for evil in others develops evil in those that look. But when we look to Jesus, and we've all judgment to Him when it comes to these issues, when we reach out in loving kindness to people around us. You know, this is a lesson not only for the Donald J. Trump trial, but it's a lesson in local churches. There's nothing that can divide a church like criticism and fault finding.

You know, when a church is critical, when a church is fault-finding, it fails to accomplish its mission. God has called the church to unify around the great principles of the Word of God. He's called His people to unify about a last-day, end-time message to prepare people for the coming of Jesus and to share the gospel with the world. The second statement that I think is significant from the writings of Ellen White is found in Ministry of Healing page 463. I've alluded to the concept, but let's carefully look at the statement.

It's found in Ministry of Healing, page 463. We differ so widely in disposition, habits, and education that our ways of looking at things vary. We judge differently. Isn't that true? You know, we come from different backgrounds, we have different dispositions, different characters, different habits, and we look at things differently.

So frail, I'm quoting, so ignorant, so liable to misconception is human nature, that each should be careful in the estimate he places upon another. We little know the bearing of our acts upon the experience of others. What we do or say may seem to us of little moment, when our eyes could be opened. We should see that upon it depended the most important results for good or for evil. Daniel witnessed in Abba Knazer, and his witness had positive results for the kingdom of God.

Paul witnessed in a Roman prison, and scores in the household of Caesar were converted. If God could do that then and there, He can do that here and now. If God could do that in the first century, if he could do it back in the days of Daniel, he can do it in our churches and in our lives. He can accomplish a great deal through our witness. If we refrain from criticism and fault finding, and if we have a vision to positively witness to those around us and witness in our community.

So principle number 1, when a nation is in a time of crisis, pray and pray and pray. Pray for political leaders in a divided political situation. Pray for the political leaders when there is polarization. Refrain from criticism and gossip and false finding because it creates within us roots of bitterness that we cannot even always know. By beholding, we become changed.

The third principle, there will be a final judgment where truth is revealed. God is the righteous judge and although at times earthly tribunals may not get everything right, God never makes a mistake. In the final judgment, righteousness will triumph, evil will be condemned, and truth will prevail. Look, there is a judgment coming, And whether an individual is judged guilty or whether they're judged righteous by a human court, God's judgment will never be faulty. Ecclesiastes 12, verse 14.

Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes. Here we go. Ecclesiastes chapter 12 verse 14. The scripture says, for God will bring everything into judgment with every secret thing, whether it's good or evil. God will bring what?

How much into judgment? Everything into judgment. And then we find in Hebrews 4, Hebrews 4, and verse 13, There is no creature hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him of whom we must give account. Those sins under cover of darkness, Those secret acts hidden from men or denied will be exposed in God's final judgment. So the final judgment belongs to God.

Now here's the incredible good news about the judgment. The whole universe will see that God is fair and God is just. 1 of the great judgment scenes in the Bible is found in Daniel, the seventh chapter. We take our Bibles and we turn to Daniel chapter 7. There is a final judgment that is coming where God makes no mistakes, where the heavenly records are accurate, where the judge of all the earth sits enthroned.

Daniel chapter 7, Daniel says, I looked up. It was Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, the Little Horn power, the papacy, they all faded into insignificance. The unjust powers, the unrighteous powers, the evil powers. Then Daniel says, I watched till thrones were put in place. The ancient of days was seated.

His garment was white as snow and the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire. A fiery issue, stream issued and came forth from before him. A thousand thousand ministered him. 10000 times 10000 stood before him.

What's 10000 times 10000? That's about a hundred million, isn't it? The court was seated and the books were opened. Here is not some human court, not some local court, not some federal court, not even the Supreme Court. Here is the Supreme Court of the universe.

Now Notice, as Daniel watches, verse 13, I was watching in the night visions, and behold, 1 like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. Who's the Son of Man? It's Jesus. So the Father and the Son meet in an eternal cosmic judgment to set all things right in the final resolution of the great controversy before the second coming of Christ. It says, he, the son of man, Jesus, came to the ancient of days, the Father.

They brought him near before him. Then to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away. In his kingdom, the 1 that will not be destroyed. The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Christ.

Righteousness will reign. Truth will prevail. Justice will be served. God is still upon his throne. Earthly courts sometimes get it right and sometimes get it wrong.

Earthly courts sometimes pass the right verdict and other times they pass a verdict that is not correct. But look, whatever earthly courts do, there is a heavenly court. God is still on his throne. He is still sovereign. Notice it's written, Ministry of Healing, page 417, above the distractions of earth, He, God, sits enthroned.

All things are open to his divine survey. And from his great and calm eternity, he orders what his providence sees best. God is still on the throne. We can be in peace and rest assured in these troubling times, the throne of God is not empty. God is still in control of this world and that's something to sing about.

I love that old hymn. This is my father's world. And you know, the last verse is particularly appropriate for the times that we live in. This is my father's world. Oh, let me never forget that though the wrong seems off so strong, God is ruler yet.

This is my father's world. Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King. Let the heavens ring. God reigns.

God reigns. God reigns. And let the earth be glad. Pray for your political leaders. Seek God for them.

Refrain from criticism and know that 1 day there will be a final judgment and God today is still upon his throne. Rest in peace. Let your heart be glad as we pray. Father in heaven, we thank you with all of our hearts for the principles of Scripture. We thank you that you have not abdicated the throne, that you're still on the throne of the universe.

Our hearts can be glad. You are absolutely in control. Help us focus, not on the political machinations that are taking place in our world, but help us focus on the thing that really counts, the proclamation of the gospel to our friends, our neighbors, even our families that don't know you, the sharing of your love, the witnessing to others around us. For it is written in this gospel of the kingdom, shall be preached in all the world, as a witness to all nations, then shall the end come. Lord, keep us focused.

That is the most important thing. We pray that in Jesus' name, Amen. This media was brought to you by AudioVerse, a website dedicated to spreading God's Word through free sermon audio and much more. If you would like to know more about Audioverse or if you would like to listen to more sermons, please visit www.audioverse.org

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How Should Christians Respond to Donald Trump’s Trial?

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