Until recently, Donald Trump was best known for his piles of money, reality TV show, and bad hair. Now, his desire to become the next president of the United States has dominated the headlines (and all of the other Republican candidate’s efforts to garner attention). What most people may not know is that Trump also likes to dabble in religion. Or at least he has opinions about one of the central components to the Christian faith – forgiveness.
[coll_smart_padding max=”5″]
“I try not to make mistakes where I have to ask for forgiveness,” Trump recently said. “Why do I have to repent or ask for forgiveness if I am not making mistakes? I work hard. I am an honorable person.”
In these comments, Trump reflects the religious notions of many Americans – even many who would call themselves Christians. As long as you are not hurting other people (think ISIS) or discriminating against them (think the KKK), you haven’t really done anything wrong. And if you haven’t done anything wrong, then you don’t have to repent or ask for forgiveness.
If John Newton were still alive, he would have a few words for Trump. Newton was an 18th century British sailor who was deeply involved in the slave trade and all kinds of immorality. In 1748, Newton was caught in a dangerous storm while sailing aboard his slave ship. As he realized that his ship was likely going to sink, he began to evaluate his life and realized that he needed help. In that moment, he repented of his sinful lifestyle and gave his life to Christ – and his life was never the same.
From that point on, repentance became a regular part of Newton’s relationship with God. But Newton did not just repent for the “major” sins he committed before his conversion. He would also ask forgiveness for things like pride and jealousy that he continued to experience.
Thirty years after surviving that storm at sea, Newton penned these famous words:
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
If Newton were alive today, I think he would share these words with Donald Trump – and with us all. We are all wretches. But until we recognize our own wretchedness, we fail to see our need for repentance. And without repentance, we have no chance to experience the amazing grace that accompanies it.