Commentary: Serving two masters

NICK EICHER, HOST: Today is Tuesday, April 24th. Good morning!

This is The World and Everything in It from member-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Nick Eicher.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: And I’m Mary Reichard.

CAL THOMAS, COMMENTATOR: You’ve heard it said that no one can serve two masters.

You will either hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

That’s from the gospel of Matthew and it refers to money.

But it does have another application.

REICHARD: Commentary now from WORLD Radio’s Cal Thomas.

THOMAS: It’s really not a stretch to apply the Biblical verse about serving two masters to their relationship with President Trump.

Last week at Wheaton College in Illinois a number of Christian pastors and leaders gathered to discuss the future of “evangelicalism” in the Trump era.

Some who didn’t attend claimed it was merely a forum for Trump-bashing. Some who were in attendance disagreed.

But we really do need to talk about the unaccountable devotion many Christian leaders have for the president.

There is no expectation, much less any command, for believers to prop up a fallen world through government.

Here’s the question: Does President Trump deserve the support, even adulation, even fawning, of some in the evangelical tribe?

I will leave that for now to those debating the issue and ask a more important question: What would happen in our culture and especially in our politics if all of those who call themselves evangelicals became known primarily for following Christ’s explicit commands?

To be specific: Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. Feed the hungry (that’s personal, not governmental, by the way). Clothe the naked. Visit those in prison. Care for widows and orphans.

Yes, many do these things, but not enough.

Today, “evangelicals” are perceived by many as one more interest group attached to the Republican Party and especially President Trump.

I’ve said this since the Reagan administration and it just as true today: Evangelicals need to make a choice as to which one is their true “master.”

They can’t serve both.

For WORLD Radio, I’m Cal Thomas.

(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) President Donald Trump waves during his arrival on Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Sunday, April 22, 2018.

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