A Christian Leader Reminds Believers of the Power of Character

John Piper revives Christian convictions of the recent past.

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“Tolerance of serious wrong by leaders sears the conscience of the culture, spawns unrestrained immorality and lawlessness in the society, and surely results in God’s judgment.”

Southern Baptist Convention, June 1, 1998

“Is it not baffling, then, that so many Christians seem to be sure that they are saving human lives and freedoms by treating as minimal the destructive effects of the spreading gangrene of high-profile, high-handed, culture-shaping sin?”

Theologian and pastor John Piper, October 22, 2020

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  1. Avatar photo
    Anita Farris

    As a flawed human but a Christian, I'm as appalled as John Piper by the person of Donald Trump. Though I do not know his heart, what he presents to the world as his character is amoral, deceitful, narcissistic, lecherous, and without a shred of integrity. He likes to present himself as combative and brash. Joe Biden presents exactly the same character -- amoral, deceitful, narcissistic, lecherous, and without a shred of integrity. The difference? He likes to present himself as 'good 'ol Joe.' Each is equally destructive to the culture of our country. And, those among us, especially Christians, who embrace either of them as a 'great, good hope' are delusional beyond understanding. So, why will I vote for Trump? I will vote for this person whose character is devoid of anything good simply because in spite of who he is, there have been some accomplishments by his administration that have benefited our country and beyond. If Biden is elected, the increasingly depraved culture that surrounds him -- of which he is, as one pundit called him, 'a sock puppet of the left'-- will propel this country further down the slippery slope to eventual collapse.

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    Gregg Johnston

    Is john Piper - who holds to exhaustive divine determinism - saying that we need to choose not to choose? Seems inconsistent with his overall theology. Michael Brown had a much better response to Piper: https://stream.org/pastor-john-piper-and-the-2020-elections-a-respectful-response/

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    Charles Jordan

    I'm not a great fan of Rev. Piper's Calvinism, but I have always respected him for his consistency. I cannot understand Christians who called out Clinton's immorality but overlook Trumps.

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    Brian Newman

    I appreciate your reflections and while I am not as conservative as you are ideologically I believe you are intellectually honest and forthright. I also believe that character far outweighs policy decisions. As a newer member of The Dispatch community, I think I may be in the minority not only ideologically but also on what people are willing to trade or sacrifice for policies they prefer. At least this is what I see from many of the comments written here.

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  5. Lee Williford

    One of two people will lead the executive branch of the federal government: Donald Trump or Joe Biden. Both men are far from ideal leaders. For Christians who want to help determine their state’s electoral votes, trade-offs must be made: what you want more of comes at a cost of what you do not want less of. Each of us gets to choose (policy/character). And if not voting seems like avoiding a sin of omission, you’ve misled yourself. Your state will cast its electoral votes for someone to lead the executive branch and all its many arms. Unfortunately, both men cannot lose.

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    DrDread

    Thank you Mr French for the lesson and reminder about puting our faith before political decisions. I am actually one of those moderate undecided voters. Neither side has a God fearing candidate. (Joe Biden's history does not really portray a man of faith, despite being Catholic) You made a marvelous case of the immorality of President Trump. Its plain for all of us to see.

    I see a crime happening on the Democrat side--Elder Abuse. Elder Abuse occurs when someone uses an impaired elderly person for their own gain. As a seasoned family physician, I see the clear signs of cognitive impairment Joe Biden exhibits. I can see it in his blank eyes when he is trying to find the right sound track from his memory so he can say what he thinks he is supposed to say. But, every Democrat acts like its the elephant in the room that we all just ignore. Mr. Biden should be retired, in a safe home, and being cared for by a loving family, who should be looking out for his best interest. Instead, his wife is allowing and helping "handle" him to put on his best show. This is shameful. As Christians, we should protect life in all of its stages, including protecting vulnerable elderly people. We shouldn't elect a man with dementia and then allow our country to be run by his crew (whoever they all might be).

    Mr. Trump is obviously immoral. There is immorality on the other side. Democrats are just better at smiling, lying, and handing out packages of poison rapped in a bow.

    I'm on the fence for the election. I'm probably going to write in my candidate, Jesus Christ.

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    1. Jess

      You may not have meant it this way, but that sounded extremely patronizing. Please do not treat older people like babies to be coddled and sheltered. Thank goodness no one did that to my beloved, fiercely independent grandmother who lived to be 93. She was not quick, nor physically strong at 93 (or even 77), but she was fully herself—a wise, generous, respected southern lady. Thank goodness no sanctimonious physician claimed that she needed to be retired and protected, with her “loving family” making her decisions. How humiliating and infuriating.

      I hope I never have a doctor who judges me the way you do Biden.

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        DrDread

        Dear Jess, I apologize that I came across as patronizing and santimonious. It was not my intention. Your grandmother must have amazing. You were so lucky to have her to age 93.

        You are deflecting my point by turning insults at me. I expressed concern about Mr. Biden's condition. I was not commenting on all elderly people. I am blessed to take care of many elderly patients some are doing quite well in their 80s or 90s. And, I have witnessed others suffer the decline of demenita. I advocate for all of my patients, including those that become congnitively impaired.

        I made a mistake, assuming this was a moderately safe place to express political points of view. Alas, even here, one gets shamed into silence.

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    2. deathtomcmansions

      re dementia: clearly you didn't watch his debates or town halls. POTUS comes across as more demented and incoherent by far.

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        DrDread

        Yes, I have watched theh debates and town halls. If you compare Mr Biden's speech and manor now to just a few years ago, you can see how much he has changed.

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        1. deathtomcmansions

          Likewise for trump; I'd say it was far more obvious, and that's not counting all the stupid conspiracy theories he seems to believe. His rambling word salad is frequently just incoherent gibberish, and unlike Biden, he doesn't have to contend with a lifelong stuttering problem. Biden's fastball might not be as fast anymore, but I think he can still hurl a pretty effective curve ball (with thanks to whoever came up with this analogy.) But describing Biden as if he is ready for a nursing home is ridiculous. He spoke well, had coherent thoughts with far more detail than trump has ever expressed -- trump just spews platitudes trying to run out the clock like the kid whom the teacher knows has no idea what the answer is because he didn't study. BIden was also quite capable of a good zinger when needed.

          Quit clutching pearls about the pushback from Jess. Her reply was a bit harsh, but talking about Biden as if he were "the poor addled dear" who needs a soothing place and a bib to drool on IS pretty patronizing and humiliating. And you aren't being shamed into silence, safe places are ridiculous anyhow. So you got some disagreement; maybe you came across wrong or not how you wanted to present yourself, Deal with it -- consider whether someone has a point (I got the same reaction as Jess, BTW.). If you choose to be silent, that's on you. A 'poor me, someone disagreed with me" approach is not a good look.

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        KAM

        Agreed, though both are likely to lose a lot of ground in the next four years. Thinking of Reagan.

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    Ed

    In a democratic republic, leaders reflect the people that elect them far more than they shape the public culture. Trump's character is a symptom in that a sizable fraction of the populace don't see it as a problem. Another sizable fraction, however, see it as less of a problem than the politics of his opponents. I hate Trump's character flaws, but as I waffle back and forth as to whether to vote for him or abstain from voting-- I cannot and will not vote for a Progressive and all Democrats are either Progressives themselves or Progressive tools-- there are innumerable other considerations. The limited choices available make each vote the resultant of a complex array of influences and, even though there may be one influence, such as abortion or character that tips the choice one way or another, that influence is is just one among many. Character is important, but I find that its importance is well down the scale for me than any number of other things. Even for Clinton I have always thought it a shame that he was impeached for sexual peccadilloes that to me are much less significant than his politics.

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  8. Joe1776

    "Similarly, we’re no longer in a position (especially in parts of the American Christian community) where one can point out a political leader’s serious moral defects and expect believers to think there is any serious problem with those defects—unless and until one can tie those defects to specific poor policy choices. The leader, in this conception, is essentially a producer of specific laws and policies, and it’s the laws and policies that then shape the nation, not the character of the man or woman in power.

    Interestingly, I’ve never really seen this principle applied outside of politics—and I never heard it strongly argued before the age of Trump."

    No Christians did this for Bill Clinton?

    "It is hard to defy those with more power, even if you possess considerable means and influence.

    We know this to be true. We feel it in our own lives in those times when we are faced with the terrible choice—defy or comply. When dysfunction reigns, destruction often follows. When vice is the path of least resistance—especially when that vice permits us to indulge in our own temptations—then sin can spread like a virus. "


    We see this most closely with the press and media covering for Biden. Those who do not comply are attacked viciously for going against the party line. Here is Biden again lashing out at someone asking about news of his corruption.
    https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-snaps-at-reporter-for-bringing-up-hunter-biden-controversy-its-all-a-lie

    And of course they will comply and stop asking. Because to defy the party means you will never be offered jobs at places like the Atlantic, NYT, WAPO, or the various networks.

    Romney benefited from his impeachment vote.

    https://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/24008-romney-s-job-approval-rating-climbs-in-utah-according-to-new-poll

    I think it is fair to say he may have voted his conscience and he didn't do it for the sole reason of gaining power. I think Romney gave a principled reason for his vote on impeachment. But he in fact chose the path that worked out best for him politically. Just like so much of the media today are choosing to cover for Biden's corruption and it just so happens that will further their own self ambition.

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    1. Tim Johnson

      I find lots of stories on Hunter's emails, but they don't mean much because I'm voting for Joe. Happily. With a skip in my step. And I'm a registered Republican.

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      1. Joe1776

        This quote David French seems to directly apply to you:

        "Similarly, we’re no longer in a position (especially in parts of the American Christian community) where one can point out a political leader’s serious moral defects and expect believers to think there is any serious problem with those defects..."

        It may not apply to you if you are not a Christian. But he seems to be indicting any Christians that might be taking your view while similarly brushing off the obvious evidence, that Biden has been lying to Americans about his role in Hunter's political influence peddling business.

        Yes there are lots of stories about these emails and testimony about corruption. But those stories and are not being published by those who are going to vote for Biden. There has never been such a clear line drawn by so many in media to cover up a story of corruption for favored candidate. It is the exact opposite of how there was such a clear line in the media to exaggerate the "Trump is a treasonous Russian spy" narrative based on no clear sources.

        But we shouldn't expect the members of the media to defy the powers that be and act against their self interest for such abstract notions of "truth" or "Christianity". Money and ambition often drown those concerns out. Everyone can see that those who don't walk the party line walk are being shown the door at major media institutions. Bias for personal gain in reporting news is not a new phenomena in the world. Russia is full of the same sort of thing. Although we definitely seem to be hitting new heights of this corruption in the US. I don't know when the media has ever been more obviously biased than it has in this last 10 years.

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  9. Jon

    Nobody disputes Trumps personality flaws. But many laugh at those that point to his flaws while ignoring the flaws of his alternative and those that stand behind his alternative. Nobody needs to support Trump. But it is completely hypocritical to stand behind his opponent and those who stand behind his alternative when pretending those same flaws don’t exist there as well.

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    1. Tim Johnson

      Biden has flaws.

      But they pale in comparison to Trump's flaws.

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  10. Steve

    Once again we voters are faced with a choice of “the devil or the deep blue sea”.

    David seems to imply that Biden would be different than Trump. Personally, I am sure this is a false assumption.
    Neither has the capacity or character to lead the nation to a better place morally.

    Moral norms once deeply held by the majority of Americans have been eroding since the banning of prayer in our public schools in the 60’s. We are now reaping the consequences of an absence of morality and what morality means to the life of a nation whose laws are incapable of governing a society that is not just and moral at its core.

    Absent that morality, the default protection of our enumerated freedoms lays in our Constitution.
    Neither party has shown 100% faithfulness to this document but one in particular seems to show a serious desire to change and obfuscate its meanings. That would be the party of Mr Biden. One needs no other proof than the philosophy held by the justices appointed by the previous administration.

    That is why I’ll be voting Republican. Our Constitution is now the only thing protecting our freedoms.

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    1. Tim Johnson

      I'll be voting for the one who didn't just Tweet this:

      Cases up because we TEST, TEST, TEST. A Fake News Media Conspiracy. Many young people who heal very fast. 99.9%. Corrupt Media conspiracy at all time high. On November 4th., topic will totally change. VOTE!

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