On President’s Trump’s Alleged Adultery and the Prospect of Losing Our Heads

By whose axe do we prefer decapitation?

In Matthew 14, King Herod arrests and ultimately beheads John the Baptist for having the audacity to publicly call out the king for an affair with his brother’s wife. To the prophet John, Herod was a de facto leader of God's chosen people. He thus deserved a harsh rebuke—as much as David deserved the prophet Nathan’s.

Were President Trump not a professing Christian, we would have less ground upon which to hold him accountable for his alleged adultery, which his team waves off but for which there is strong evidence. However, the President’s claim to Christian faith is as public as anything. We are consequently obligated to hold him accountable—not merely as citizens but FAR more importantly as fellow believers. We should therefore humbly expect a full accounting of his interactions—personal and legal—with Mrs. Daniels. Speaking for myself, I am eager to forgive and acknowledge my mistake if this whole thing is “fake news.” So far, even as innocence is presumed, there’s too many legitimate questions and I’m not convinced.

Unfortunately, the evangelical Church’s silence on this matter suggests that we lack John’s courage. We are more beholden to political affiliations than we are compelled by our moral calling as God’s people. (Franklin Graham recently defended the President, again.) This is, tragically, the very definition of saving our own necks. In a desperate attempt to maintain our hold on temporal political power, we have already lost our heads. And even worse, our integrity.

To President Trump and all of us who believe we are God’s children, hear again the clarion call of the headless prophet, who warns us, “You brood of vipers! Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire" (Mt. 3:8-10).

If our heads are going to get chopped, I'd rather it be by Herod's axe than God's.

-MRH