Is This Donald Trump’s Testimony?

Posted on | January 31, 2016 | 52 Comments

by Smitty

Byron York talks to The Hair and The Donald beneath it, asking the following:

Let’s go to Ted Cruz. He is apparently testing ways to attack you in Iowa. His campaign is calling people, testing, saying you have never asked God for forgiveness, saying you’re a “New York liberal pretending to have conservative values.” What do you think about that?

Well, first of all, I’m a believer in a very big way. I went through my Sunday school, I’ve done everything that you’re supposed to do and that I love doing, and I feel really great about it. I think that the evangelicals have really taken to me, and I taken to them, and I’ve always taken to them. I’m doing very well with the evangelicals. In fact, nationwide, I’m leading by a substantial margin.

Stipulate that there is not a precise, cookie-cutter approach to offering a testimony, and York did not ask: “What is your Testimony?” So, one must take whatever the answer is at face value.
This bit from Inquisitr.com is of note:

According to the progressive publication Thinkprogress, Donald Trump’s consistent claims to be a member of the Queens Presbytery has been a source of considerable embarrassment and discomfort to the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. It is well known that the denomination has publicly come out in support of gay marriage and other liberal policies. Additionally, the church as a whole has publicly committed to assisting the proposed intake of Syrian refugees. Both of these positions are directly opposed to Donald Trump’s positions and statements.

The church issued a statement Wednesday denouncing Trump’s comments as un-Christian and inconsistent with the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. They also announced their intention to attempt to expel Donald Trump from the Presbyterian faith. Presbyterians have a mechanism for expulsion that is similar to the Catholic practice of excommunication. An entity or individual within the church can make a complaint against a member which leads to judicial proceedings. Depending on the outcome of these proceedings, the member may then be expelled from the church. This would effectively mean that Trump would no longer have access to church services and sacraments, and would also put paid to any connection Donald Trump’s campaign might seek to establish with the Presbyterian denomination.

It’s hard to tell what to make of all that, on a variety of levels. In the case of, for example, Carson, Rubio, Cruz, Santorum, Huckabee, and Paul, it’s less hard to tell. I’ve heard Christie allude to his Catholicism. Don’t know about Fiorina too much.
Faith, while a personal matter, is an important check on megalomania. It would be instructive to hear, in an offline, off the record setting, Donald Trump’s actual testimony.

Category: Religion, Republicans

Comments

52 Responses to “Is This Donald Trump’s Testimony?”

OrangeEnt
January 31st, 2016 @ 6:38 am

“The church issued a statement Wednesday denouncing Trump’s comments as
un-Christian and inconsistent with the teachings and example of Jesus
Christ”

Er, the PCUSA? Are they sure they’re talking about the same JC….
NeoWayland
January 31st, 2016 @ 8:37 am

Isn’t what he’s done testimony enough?
Robert What?
January 31st, 2016 @ 8:57 am

As a Trump supporter (with a couple of concerns) I could not care less what his “testimony” is. American Christians – especially Evangelicals – have a long history of being hoodwinked by charlatans saying the right words. For example, the person who uses “Jesus” in a sentence the most times is the most religious.
Zhytamyr
January 31st, 2016 @ 9:33 am

By their fruit ye shall know them.
smitty
January 31st, 2016 @ 9:37 am

“Testimony” (and I may be getting overly evangelical here) in this context usually refers to a unique personal experience with Christ.
smitty
January 31st, 2016 @ 9:38 am

I do agree with you on the hoodwinking part.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
January 31st, 2016 @ 9:53 am

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JI30ocAL0f4/VqzQIPfQLUI/AAAAAAAA3iE/f8ly14k6c8E/s1600/Choose%2BYour%2BDestructor.png

Maybe he is a member of a “church” you don’t personally go to?
Fail Burton
January 31st, 2016 @ 9:57 am

I never realized the teachings of JC were dedicated to self-extinction.

Politicians are cowboys in Texas, gay rights advocates in NY and immigration fans in Calif. If you stood a politician in front of a polka dot pattern they’d blend into the background.
marcus tullius cicero
January 31st, 2016 @ 12:07 pm

…El Trumpo should have said he’s a Mormon!
Finrod Felagund
January 31st, 2016 @ 12:30 pm

No, no they’re not.
Finrod Felagund
January 31st, 2016 @ 12:40 pm

Whether justly or unjustly, Donald Trump is seen as the least religious candidate in the race in either party. Adding the “very” and “somewhat” and subtracting the “not very” and “not at all” responses:

Ben Carson: +57
Ted Cruz: +53
Marco Rubio: +48
Hillary Clinton: +5
Bernie Sanders: +5
Donald Trump: -30

http://www.pewforum.org/2016/01/27/faith-and-the-2016-campaign/
NeoWayland
January 31st, 2016 @ 1:28 pm

I grew up in that tradition and I never did understand it. It seems to me that a personal relationship should be that, personal.

Shouldn’t it be like sex? The experience may be amazing, but it’s not polite to stand on a soapbox and give details. There may even be some bragging there.

If you care for the person (or the Divine), how you treat them is going to show more than any public declaration.
NeoWayland
January 31st, 2016 @ 1:39 pm

*grins* Since that Book “tain’t mine,” I usually find my soundbites elsewhere.

There are times though when it does nail the point.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
January 31st, 2016 @ 3:03 pm

Bernie and Donald should be tied, at 100% religious. Bernie prays to the State. Donald to the mirror. Hillary is a close second to The Donald on vanity but she (like many women) is freaked out by aging and is more akin to Elizabeth Báthory.
Neil
January 31st, 2016 @ 4:03 pm

If one has to believe in promoting one’s own displacement and genetic and cultural suicide to be a christian in a mainstream church, that could explain why the only large church that isn’t dying is the Catholic church in the western states, full up of “new Americans”, many of whom still wave Mexican flags for some obviously non-important reason. Either white conservative Christians are going to wake up and reclaim their self-respect and their society, or they will be nothing but a shrinking and hated minority in the new america, a third world shithole full of government dependent peasants, inescably held under the jackboots of a tiny elite. Those are the only choices. Demographics are destiny, whether they lead to permanent equal peasantry or constant ethnic conflict (likely both). But don’t worry, while replacing the bulk of the population with socialist catholics from mostly failed states, our leaders will also make sure to import plenty of violent, low IQ Muslims and Africans to keep everyone at each other’s throats. If people keep buying the lie of multiculturalism and the “benefits” of immigration, in another couple of generations, we’ll be very lucky to be as well off, socially cohesive, and peaceful as brazil, south africa or egypt….which is exactly what the globalist ruling class wants, the death of strong western societies and values that could challenge their economic and social domination by growing real human communities with a strong identity and a shared and loved culture.
Neil
January 31st, 2016 @ 4:12 pm

Didn’t you get the memo? To liberal “christians”, ” love thy neighbor” now means “love thy neighbor (who isn’t really your neighbor, doesn’t want to be your neighbor, and who hates you) more than yourself, you family, your country, your god, then lay down and die, sell your daughters to Muslims, give all your jobs and tax dollars to mexicans, and exempt muslims, hispanic immigrants and africans from having to obey the law, or else you’re a horrible racist bigot!!!!!”
CaptDMO
January 31st, 2016 @ 5:33 pm

Aesop’s Fables, Brothers Grimm, HC Anderson. They’re
for EVERYBODY!
SEE: Little Red Riding Hood
An odd number of “issues” also covered in various “really thick” and “often reinterpreted” books. (including APA disorders handbook)
NeoWayland
January 31st, 2016 @ 5:36 pm

“Wisdom is where you find it.”
Jason Lee
January 31st, 2016 @ 5:51 pm

Every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.
Quartermaster
January 31st, 2016 @ 6:51 pm

One’s testimony is part of evangelism. That you didn’t understand it simply underlines the fact you never were a part of it.
Evan3457
January 31st, 2016 @ 7:02 pm

I’d like to hear his testimony on what he was promised by the Clintons in exchange for all those contributions.
Fail Burton
January 31st, 2016 @ 7:52 pm

The Devil’s email.
NeoWayland
January 31st, 2016 @ 7:55 pm

Oh, I don’t know about that.

You can make a fine table from mahogany.
NeoWayland
January 31st, 2016 @ 8:02 pm

So we have your word for it.

But that isn’t “the Word,” is it?
Mike G.
January 31st, 2016 @ 8:04 pm

Part of being a Christian is that you are supposed to evangelize to others spreading the Gospel of Jesus. But it’s up to the other person/people to listen and heed the words. It’s called “Free Will.’
NeoWayland
January 31st, 2016 @ 8:06 pm

But wouldn’t how you live your life do that better than anything you could say?
Mike G.
January 31st, 2016 @ 8:10 pm

I’m a back slid Christian, meaning I believe, but do not go to church regularly or evangelize like I should.

A good Christian not only lives a good life, but promotes the Gospel. Its up to the listener to take heed…or not.
NeoWayland
January 31st, 2016 @ 8:22 pm

Pardon, but I don’t think it’s “promoting.” I think it’s supposed to be sharing.

I’m not sure anyone’s personal experience is supposed to be part of your Gospel.
Mike G.
January 31st, 2016 @ 9:10 pm

Whoosh~~~

Actually, one’s personal experience can be a part of spreading/sharing the Gospel. Many Christian motivational speakers use events in their own lives to get their point across.

And as I already said, its up to the listener to heed The Word…or not. Its called free will.
smitty
January 31st, 2016 @ 9:43 pm

The teachings of Jesus Christ were about the extinction/crucifixion of the carnal self in the service of the glory of the Father.
Bob Belvedere
January 31st, 2016 @ 9:44 pm

I am certainly not a Trump supporter [especially after his distasteful attacks on Mr. Cruz], but, perhaps, things are so bad in America that it’s time for an Ethan Edwards – you know, the type of person we need and call-in to clean-up the mess we’ve created and we’re in [and then discard once the problem has been solved].
smitty
January 31st, 2016 @ 9:44 pm

Better he put on a turban and proclaim himself a Sikh, if he’s just using words for a sales pitch.

The question here is what, if anything, he actually *means*.
smitty
January 31st, 2016 @ 9:45 pm

I’ve always surmised that Her Majesty worshipped power, and joked that she worships Cthulhu.
smitty
January 31st, 2016 @ 9:47 pm

I’m of the (minority) opinion that “large church” is something of an oxymoron.

But this post isn’t about telling everyone to toe my arch-conservative line. This post is about wondering if the line Trump toes is remotely Christian.
smitty
January 31st, 2016 @ 9:49 pm

Do you mean Jonathon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Edwards?
Bob Belvedere
January 31st, 2016 @ 9:57 pm

No, Ethan Edwards from The Searchers.
Bob Belvedere
January 31st, 2016 @ 9:58 pm

George Patton would work.
Good Stuff
January 31st, 2016 @ 10:41 pm

the tallest tree is the first one chopped down
Evi L. Bloggerlady
February 1st, 2016 @ 2:06 am
slp
February 1st, 2016 @ 5:17 am

There are number of smaller Presbyterian denominations other than PCUSA.

“What’s your testimony?” is not something said among mainstream Presbyterians.
Quartermaster
February 1st, 2016 @ 6:21 am

It certainty isn’t the word in your case.
NeoWayland
February 1st, 2016 @ 7:12 am

No, it’s not.

Do you think it’s up to you to change that?
NeoWayland
February 1st, 2016 @ 7:20 am

Let’s move (sort of) back to my original point.

Let’s say that Mr. Evangelist got elected three months ago using all that, wrapping himself in the flag and standing on the Bible. The way he sees it, it’s destiny and he has the Mandate of Heaven.

Now he proposes government do something that I don’t agree with. It doesn’t matter what, maybe it’s subsidized Bibles or Federally mandated prayer spaces.

Does that mean a government backed Holy War on the people who disagree with him?
NeoWayland
February 1st, 2016 @ 7:25 am

Meanwhile, the scads of people who didn’t vote for him now have direct evidence of exactly how bad an evangelistic Christian would be if elected.

Not because of the belief of millions of citizens who live and let live every day, but because one politico has abused his trust to force his beliefs on everyone else.

And no one except the “non-believers” wants to call him on it.

Religion & faith are deeply personal, they should never be used to control others.
Lulu
February 1st, 2016 @ 10:49 am

I’m pretty sure you’re allowed to run for office in this country even if you’re not evangelical – heck I hear that some Jews, Mormons, and muslims hold office. Personally, I don’t want to hear any politician tell me about his inner life be it his relationship with God or any other personal feelings. I find it inappropriate and distrust anyone who is so willing to share the details of their most important relationships and/or feelings with reporters and other strangers.
Australian Uses ‘Flamethrower’ on Robbers | Regular Right Guy
February 1st, 2016 @ 3:41 pm

[…] Is This Donald Trump’s Testimony? […]
Quartermaster
February 2nd, 2016 @ 11:02 am

Christ’s statement on pearls before swine comes to mind.
NeoWayland
February 2nd, 2016 @ 12:30 pm

Then neighbor, leave it alone.

In all our discussions, I’ve never insisted that you replace your faith with mine. The least you can do is return the favor.
Quartermaster
February 2nd, 2016 @ 12:56 pm

No one has tried to force anything on you. You, OTOH, have come here and inserted yourself, and then lied about people trying to shove their faith down your throat . This is not a safe space for anti-Christ SJW. if you wish to be left alone, then accord others the respect you desire for yourself. Not to put too fine a point on it, take your own advice.
NeoWayland
February 2nd, 2016 @ 2:28 pm

I didn’t say anything about leaving me alone, I specifically said for you to leave it alone.

If you will check, I’ve never said anything here against Christianity or your Christ. I have objected to specific Christians who wanted to make Christianity public policy or the justification for the law.

On the other hand, I absolutely agree with most people here that the RadFems have it wrong. I also agree that child molestation is wrong. I agree that the government should be smaller and less intrusive. On those issues and many like them, I agree with most conservatives.