If Donald Trump were to repent before Jesus as King, he would join a local church and submit himself under its elders.
He would gladly subject himself to their godly counsel and even church discipline if necessary.
This puts the local church in perspective. The church and state are separate institutions. Each have their “spheres” of sovereignty and their own respective responsibilities. But are both called to bend the knee under the same King.
The local church itself may not with a sword depose a nation’s ruler from his station. But it can excommunicate a king.
A godly leader does not say of Jesus and his church,
“Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
Psalm 2:3
The gospel says to every ruler:
“Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.”
“Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”
“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,”
“For his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
Psalm 2:10-12
A friend asks, “Are you saying trump can’t be a believer because he hasn’t placed himself under the authority of a church?”
The most appropriate people to affirm the credibility of anyone’s profession of faith would be their local church. Trump has yet to obviously embrace this with normal fruits we should expect of any true believer.
One hopes he has had good Christian influences these past years, and has become a genuine believer. But we’re not permitted to recognize him as such without the clear fruit and clear confession. We need to feel the weight of this: If a man repents, he will flee sin, be identifiably changed, love the brotherhood, and confess his Lord.
