A response to the article “The photo of Trump and the Bible”

I am writing in response to Joel Forster's article criticizing President Trump for holding up the Bible in front of an historic church in Washington D.C. For very many Christians this act represented President Trump's declaration that he intends to uphold the principles of the word of God which have the only answers for the problem of “injustice” in the world. The US justice system is based on the moral precepts of the Bible. This was also a symbol that he intends to uphold justice done according to God's truth.

Also, President Trump has openly made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and personally identifies with Protestant Christianity. Mr. Forster does not know that Donald Trump "does not take the Bible seriously". That is ungodly speculation on Mr. Forster's part. As is the shabby accusation that Trump is "using God as just another political weapon."

Since Christians are one of the most severely persecuted groups in the world today it should be a welcome thing that the American President who has power to influence and shape international trends is not ashamed to support the Christian faith in all its aspects, and this is represented by the Bible. How tragic that Christians of any kind would be offended by a US President showing respect for the Christian faith and the Bible in front of a church!

President Trump has shown genuine compassion for the “distressed and hurt” by sponsoring reform of the VA Military Hospital system so that military veterans can get medical care from private doctors immediately and not be left on long waiting lists to die as has been the case for decades. He has also changed VA rules so that staff who abuse veterans, which has been a serious and ongoing problem, can be fired. No president before has taken any steps to correct these horrible injustices.

President Trump has made unprecedented concrete plans to bring manufacturing and jobs back to American inner cities where they are needed most by blacks and minorities. This is what he means by “America First”. We have poor and needy in our nation that need to be helped before all of our resources are sent abroad to other nations. Doesn't the Bible say that "if one does not provide for the needs of their own household they are worse than an infidel."?

He has arranged training programs with numerous major corporations to train and hire workers in particularly in these areas. Before the COVID-19 virus, more blacks and minorities were employed than at any time before in our nation's history due directly to President Trump's policies.

He has also initiated Prison Reform whereby non-violent inmates can be released and given a “second chance” and connected directly with job training and opportunities instead of being released with no prospects of work. These are major accomplishments his critics ignore.

Mr. Forster's article strikes me as unfair and untrue. He is repeating the criticism of the political opponents of President Trump which do not reflect the reality of the many positive things President Trump is doing. Neither is it "Christian humility and grace” for Mr. Forster to assume he knows President Trump's heart to accuse him of “using Christianity for political purposes”. Trump's concrete actions to protect free speech and free exercise of religion for all Christians is a major proof of his sincerity about Christianity. He would be far more popular with the secular world if he did not do this!

He would be far more popular if he were "pro-death" and promoted killing of the world's most helpless and innocent, babies inside and outside the womb, like most of his critics do, instead of being pro-life.

With so many mortal enemies of Christianity in the world today, why are so many Christians obediently parroting the untruths of the enemies of Christianity about President Trump in such a careless fashion? They have a sincere ally in President Trump who is willing to protect for their cause and they do nothing but slander him at every opportunity.

If this “defender of the faith” does so with a scowl on his face at times, so what? The Bible says we are at war with spiritual “principalities and powers” who would like to destroy every Christian and human being on earth. I have never known a real soldier who did not have some rough edges, and there are no perfect Christians anywhere. God is our judge. I think Christians everywhere should be grateful to have anyone on their side anymore in this violent, God-hating world, but strangely they are not.

Linda Beauchamp, Texas (USA)

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