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Thread: What Christian Leaders Can Learn from Donald Trump - Michael Brown

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    What Christian Leaders Can Learn from Donald Trump - Michael Brown

    There are many things President Trump can learn from us as followers of Jesus. However, I believe there are 3 things we can learn from him (even if we don’t like the way in which he models them). Are we humble enough to recognize our blind spots even when they are exposed by a man as polarizing as President Trump?

    There are plenty of things followers of Jesus cannot learn from Donald Trump. That is self-evident. But there are things he can teach us, especially those of us in leadership.

    First, though, let me list some things that the president cannot teach us, including: 1) how to cultivate humility; 2) developing effective tools for personal Bible study 3) treating your opponents with civility and respect; 4) how to avoid divorce; 5) keys to sexual purity; 6) how to deny yourself; 7) developing a distinctive hairstyle for TV preachers. (Wait. That one might work!)

    Yet there are many things the president can teach us – again, speaking of leaders in particular – even if we don’t like the specific way he has modeled some of these things.

    Here’s a short list.

    1) Don’t avoid confrontation. We often try so hard to be “nice.” At all costs, we do not want to offend. But sometimes confrontation is necessary and important, and there are scores of biblical examples for this.

    Nathan the prophet confronted King David (2 Samuel 12). Paul confronted Peter (Galatians 2). Proverbs even says, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love” (27:5). And the New Testament calls us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).

    Again, I’m not implying that all of Trump’s confrontational tactics are called for or that the way he confronts is always right. But it’s clear that he will speak up and speak out when he feels the need, no matter how uncomfortable things become. Mixed with grace and wisdom, this is something we must learn to do as well. Don’t be so afraid of uncomfortable confrontations.

    2) Don’t be a slave of public opinion. It’s becoming increasingly clear that Trump controls the media much more than the media controls Trump. This is not to say that he doesn’t care about polling and negative reports. Nor is this to say that we should turn a deaf ear to the voices of others. Shepherds need to be attentive to their sheep.

    But all too often, as Christian leaders, we are more concerned with human opinion than divine opinion, more wanting to please other people than to please the Lord. And all too often, we tell people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear.

    And how many pastors and leaders are slaves to congregational numbers, to budgetary constraints, to the sensitivities of the community?

    “I dare not speak out on this, lest I lose long-term members. I dare not take this stand, lest our donor base evaporates. I dare not get involved in this controversy, lest the community view me negatively.”

    This is slavery, not freedom. Trump can teach us a lesson here too. Do what’s right because it’s right, not because it’s convenient.

    In the oft-quoted words of Dr. King, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

    3) Don’t be afraid to ride out the storm. Some would call this stubbornness, others conviction, others foolishness. But it’s clear that Trump is not afraid to take a stand, take some hits (as in day and night media bombardment), and hold to his guns, believing that, over time, he will be proven right.

    Again, he has done this at times when I wish he would not. He has appeared to be tone deaf. He has alienated people he might have won over. He has seemed to be more pigheaded than pragmatic, hence my caveats.

    But he has also proven that if you stand for a particular principle, then refuse to move from that principle regardless of how much flack you receive, you can ride out almost any storm.

    How many times do we waffle when the pressure builds? How often do we cave in right before the breakthrough? How frequently are we marked by cowardice rather than courage?

    Proverbs states, “If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!” (24:10)

    President Trump sets an example of strength, whether you love him or loathe him, and that’s why so many have rallied around him.

    We can learn a thing or two from him in the midst of his flaws and imperfections. And if we can merge courage and forthrightness and tenacity with Christlikeness, we will be unstoppable. (The truth be told, true Christlikeness requires courage and forthrightness and tenacity, does it not?)

    And perhaps, as we stand strong and tall and unashamed, we’ll be able to teach our president a thing or two as well.

    https://askdrbrown.org/library/what-...n-donald-trump

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    I like that. There is much to be said about standing fast to your convictions rather than caving in to placate influential believers in the church. Some will test you just to see if they can move you. For those that are power mongering controllers this is absolutely necessary.

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    Quote Originally Posted by FireBrand View Post
    I like that. There is much to be said about standing fast to your convictions rather than caving in to placate influential believers in the church. Some will test you just to see if they can move you. For those that are power mongering controllers this is absolutely necessary.
    That really defines Trump. Him becoming president, mostly conservative, and standing pat no matter how loud the left screams has exposed the left/liberals/Dems for what they really are. And it's pretty ugly, and that's an understatement. The exposing of the lawlessness of the heart. He's the only person who could have been elected that would have exposed this. Everybody else are just politicians. The sad thing is that so many conservatives can't see this and fight him too. That's because they have no guts either.

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    So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John's Avatar
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    We need a thousand Trumps. Governors, Mayors, Council Men and Women.

    Leadership by example takes the longest to bear fruit but when it does... watch out!

    BTW, I believe church leaders should follow the example of Christ. No knock on Trump but things have a tendency to go wrong when the church looks to the world for leaders. There is also the ever present danger of the church marrying politics.

    I thank God for raising up competent leadership but we really should not have slipped so far that we find Trump to be transformative. His job is easy, just be honest, not corrupt, pretty much a no-brainer.

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    Quote Originally Posted by John View Post
    We need a thousand Trumps. Governors, Mayors, Council Men and Women.

    Leadership by example takes the longest to bear fruit but when it does... watch out!

    BTW, I believe church leaders should follow the example of Christ. No knock on Trump but things have a tendency to go wrong when the church looks to the world for leaders. There is also the ever present danger of the church marrying politics.

    I thank God for raising up competent leadership but we really should not have slipped so far that we find Trump to be transformative. His job is easy, just be honest, not corrupt, pretty much a no-brainer.
    Agree 100% but I think Dr. Browne is speaking about those qualities in Trump that can be modeled in a Christ-like way by Christian leaders, whereas, President Trump, while having these strengths, may not always use them in the way Christ would.

    Christ our Lord was NEVER afraid of confrontation (as the Pharisees and sadduccess quickly found out).

    Christ our Lord was NEVER a slave to public opinion - He would not allow them to crown Him king nor was He discouraged when they failed to recognize Him as the Messiah.

    Christ was not only unafraid of the storms, He slept through them and then rebuked them when people bothered Him about them
    - Yeah, that includes METAPHORICAL storms
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    Quote Originally Posted by victoryword View Post
    Agree 100% but I think Dr. Browne is speaking about those qualities in Trump that can be modeled in a Christ-like way by Christian leaders, whereas, President Trump, while having these strengths, may not always use them in the way Christ would.

    Christ our Lord was NEVER afraid of confrontation (as the Pharisees and sadduccess quickly found out).
    Jesus often avoided confrontation. If he hadn't then he would have been killed prematurely. There are many examples including during conversations, here is one from the first chapter of Mark :

    Mark 1:40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
    41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
    45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

    Of course Jesus could have entered the city openly anyway but he chose not to, to avoid various forms of confrontation.

  12. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Colonel View Post
    Jesus often avoided confrontation. If he hadn't then he would have been killed prematurely.
    No doubt that he avoided UNNECESSARY confrontation that would have not brought forth any fruit. It is also wise for church leaders to do the same. But in the context of the OP, Jesus was NEVER afraid to deal with controversial issues or issues of sin and injustice. On the contrary, He was quite outspoken about them and, when necessary, would use a whip and overturn some tables of people who used His Father's house as a market place to take advantage of people.
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    Senior Member Colonel's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by victoryword View Post
    No doubt that he avoided UNNECESSARY confrontation that would have not brought forth any fruit. It is also wise for church leaders to do the same. But in the context of the OP, Jesus was NEVER afraid to deal with controversial issues or issues of sin and injustice. On the contrary, He was quite outspoken about them and, when necessary, would use a whip and overturn some tables of people who used His Father's house as a market place to take advantage of people.
    He didn't avoid controversies and he was lead by the Spirit in how to deal with potential confrontations, I agree.

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