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God and Donald Trump
Over 100 5- Star Reviews! Featured on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC"One way to get President Donald Trump to stop and talk at the World Economic wield a book about him. On his way into the World Economic Forum, Trump stopped and talked for about ten seconds to one delegate who was brandishing a copy of “God and Donald Trump” by Stephen E. Strang. He then proceeded to hold the book aloft in his left hand." - Associated Press
With pundits asking, “How did he win?” this book explores whether there was a supernatural element involved. Christian leaders prophesied before the election that God had raised up Donald Trump to lead the nation through a time of crisis. But could this billionaire reality-TV star actually convince the voters he was for real? If so, what is God doing now not only in Donald’s Trump’s life, but also in the nation? Trump is an enigma, a brash self-promoter, casino owner, and man of the world. Yet he is also a devoted husband and father who has surrounded himself with men and women of faith and has made religion a key component of his image.God and Donald Trump is a powerful first-person account of one of the most contentious elections in American history, with exclusive interviews and insightful commentary from the men and women who were there.
With pundits asking, “How did he win?” this book explores whether there was a supernatural element involved. Christian leaders prophesied before the election that God had raised up Donald Trump to lead the nation through a time of crisis. But could this billionaire reality-TV star actually convince the voters he was for real? If so, what is God doing now not only in Donald’s Trump’s life, but also in the nation? Trump is an enigma, a brash self-promoter, casino owner, and man of the world. Yet he is also a devoted husband and father who has surrounded himself with men and women of faith and has made religion a key component of his image.God and Donald Trump is a powerful first-person account of one of the most contentious elections in American history, with exclusive interviews and insightful commentary from the men and women who were there.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2017
233 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 8, 2018
Sweet baby Jesus. I hate read the hell out of this piece of garbage. I HAD to know why people still believe that he is a "Godly" man chosen to lead the people. Basically it boils down to, yes he is a sinner, but God LEADS sinners and uses them for good. God chose Donald Trump to lead the people which is why he got almost ALL the Evangelical vote. This book was so filled with lies and garbage. Comparing Hillary to a Nazi and saying over and over again that she was going to get rid of religious liberties and give out free abortions for all and that she was basically Satan in disguise. She may not have been perfect, but she was none of those things. This book is so hypocritical and laughable. It made me sick reading it. The author is clearly delusional and lying to himself. No one can say that Trump is a good Christian. He's had sexual allegations against him, been married three times, is a bully, owns casinos, doesn't regularly attend church, married a lesbian porn star, etc. Hate read this while you drink.
December 23, 2017
God wouldn't endorse an admitted rapist, a man who mocks a disabled person, or a wealthy bigot and CrookedTrump is all of those things. He's told more lies than ANY President or Presidential candiate. Thou shall not grab women by the p*ssy. Anyone who beleives that RapistTrump was elected by God is a misguided fool, unless God was trying to punish us. God does test us, I hear. Or perhaps hate or misgony is God now. Oh, I know: perhaps Satan is responsible. Wake up, people.
December 23, 2017
Oh, so God and certain christians believe a man who has been married multiple times, who had committed adultery and raped his first immigrant wife is God's chosen one? Jesus Christ you people are naive. Trump's newest immigrant wife was a lesbian porn star. But okay, you keep blindly worshipping the moron. He has children from broken homes, he's a glutton. I could go on but it's not worth it. Real Christians are kind and meek, they don't brag about grabbing women's genitals. They don't rape chilren. This book is so dumb it hurts.
March 3, 2018
Frontline 2017
Reviewed by Diane Busch
I am so glad I listened to this audiobook. If you have had doubts about Donald Trump being president, whether you voted for him or not, please read this book. If you have questions about his character and why did Christians get behind him and support him in the 2016 Presidential election, please read this book. I was enlightened, informed, and impressed. There was so much about this man, that I did not know. I was reassured to find out that whether he is a born again Christian himself or not, he is open to wise godly counsel from others and he has a strong stance on supporting Christians in America and their constitutional rights. My doubts and concerns were addressed and my questions answered. I came away with peace and acceptance in my heart. I have been assured that God can use Donald Trump in "such a time as this".
Reviewed by Diane Busch
I am so glad I listened to this audiobook. If you have had doubts about Donald Trump being president, whether you voted for him or not, please read this book. If you have questions about his character and why did Christians get behind him and support him in the 2016 Presidential election, please read this book. I was enlightened, informed, and impressed. There was so much about this man, that I did not know. I was reassured to find out that whether he is a born again Christian himself or not, he is open to wise godly counsel from others and he has a strong stance on supporting Christians in America and their constitutional rights. My doubts and concerns were addressed and my questions answered. I came away with peace and acceptance in my heart. I have been assured that God can use Donald Trump in "such a time as this".
November 10, 2017
Excellent reportage on the Trump phenomenon
I could sense the hand of God on Donald quite early in the election. I knew virtually nothing about him at that time. Stephen gives us a great deal of corroboration about things which happened over the past few years. It was a joy to read.
I imagine non-believers might be offended by the whole concept. But if read with an open mind, you'll see God's hand in the world around us. That's exciting.
I could sense the hand of God on Donald quite early in the election. I knew virtually nothing about him at that time. Stephen gives us a great deal of corroboration about things which happened over the past few years. It was a joy to read.
I imagine non-believers might be offended by the whole concept. But if read with an open mind, you'll see God's hand in the world around us. That's exciting.
February 11, 2020
*to be fair I could not complete this book, and here is why:
Well I’m doing something I very rarely do, I’m tossing aside a book I’ve started and not finishing it. The book in question is Stephen Strang’s “God and Donald Trump.” And no, my decision to drop this book cold has nothing to do with God or Donald Trump, but everything to do with author Strang.
In less than 10 pages the author throw out no less than five different conspiracy theories, and invoked multiple antisemitic/racist tropes and dogwhistles. I could have probably withstood these things - I mean I did decide to read a book by a Conservative evangelical Christian author that is about God and President Trump - but when he repeats the ugly unfounded right-wing conspiracy theory that George Soros was a Nazi collaborator I was done. To find George Soros and his billions spent in service of radical’ left-wing causes appalling is fair, especially from your Conservative evangelical perspective. But calling Soros a Nazi collaborator is beyond the pale.
For those who don’t know (which includes many on the Right who by default believe Soros is Satan sent), George Soros is a Hungarian-born Jew who survived the Second World War in Nazi-occupied Hungary. Soros was 9-14 years old during the Nazi occupation. The conspiracy theory of right-wing groups that Soros was a collaborator of the Nazis has been debunked many times over. There is no excuse for continuing to perpetuate such an ugly, and frankly antisemitic, smear as Strang does. This is why I have decided I cannot give this author any more of my attention.
Well I’m doing something I very rarely do, I’m tossing aside a book I’ve started and not finishing it. The book in question is Stephen Strang’s “God and Donald Trump.” And no, my decision to drop this book cold has nothing to do with God or Donald Trump, but everything to do with author Strang.
In less than 10 pages the author throw out no less than five different conspiracy theories, and invoked multiple antisemitic/racist tropes and dogwhistles. I could have probably withstood these things - I mean I did decide to read a book by a Conservative evangelical Christian author that is about God and President Trump - but when he repeats the ugly unfounded right-wing conspiracy theory that George Soros was a Nazi collaborator I was done. To find George Soros and his billions spent in service of radical’ left-wing causes appalling is fair, especially from your Conservative evangelical perspective. But calling Soros a Nazi collaborator is beyond the pale.
For those who don’t know (which includes many on the Right who by default believe Soros is Satan sent), George Soros is a Hungarian-born Jew who survived the Second World War in Nazi-occupied Hungary. Soros was 9-14 years old during the Nazi occupation. The conspiracy theory of right-wing groups that Soros was a collaborator of the Nazis has been debunked many times over. There is no excuse for continuing to perpetuate such an ugly, and frankly antisemitic, smear as Strang does. This is why I have decided I cannot give this author any more of my attention.
May 15, 2018
This book is not a religious/spiritual biography of Donald Trump, although the author does address that. This book is, however, a book that looks at the spiritual aspects of the 2016 election and examines the evidence of how Donald Trump won. Stephen does this “ not through the lens of what happened politically but through the lens of what happened spiritually.” This book ultimately looks at the miraculous way Donald Trump became president. Stephen concludes at the end of the book that, whether or not Donald Trump has accepted salvation, God has chosen and anointed Donald Trump through His ultimate plan and has lifted up Donald Trump to lead our country. As Stephen puts it in his book, “this book is the God story of Donald Trump’s election.”
I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot not only about Donald Trump but more about what went on behind the scenes spirituality as well. At times this book gave me goosebumps and I do believe God chose Donald to lead our country! The author, Stephen Strange, points out that God can and has chosen secular leaders to lead and he does this through “common grace.” Common grace, I learned, is a creation gift vs (pure) grace which is a salvation gift. Stephen also points out that Donald Trump has done more to protect religious liberty then any other president.
This book is very uplifting and full of hope! I wish every Christian would read this book with an open mind and a positive spirit!
I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot not only about Donald Trump but more about what went on behind the scenes spirituality as well. At times this book gave me goosebumps and I do believe God chose Donald to lead our country! The author, Stephen Strange, points out that God can and has chosen secular leaders to lead and he does this through “common grace.” Common grace, I learned, is a creation gift vs (pure) grace which is a salvation gift. Stephen also points out that Donald Trump has done more to protect religious liberty then any other president.
This book is very uplifting and full of hope! I wish every Christian would read this book with an open mind and a positive spirit!
November 23, 2017
Good Book
I enjoyed reading this book. Many of the things said in this book the Lord bore witness to me and it was great to have that confirmation. God’s got great things in store for those who love him.
I enjoyed reading this book. Many of the things said in this book the Lord bore witness to me and it was great to have that confirmation. God’s got great things in store for those who love him.
February 16, 2018
I have always voted for President until the last election. I could not in good conscience vote for either of our candidates.
However I wanted to learn more about our unusual President so I set out to listen to at least three books for him and three books against him. This was the first one for him. I understand Evangelicals rejecting Hilary Clinton because of her support of the murder of babies. I understand Evangelicals hoping that Trump will live up to his current position against abortion. I understand Evangelicals hoping that Trump will support freedom of religion and appoint Supreme Court Justices who attempt to take the Constitution as it is written rather than reinterpreting it to support their fancy. I can see some Evangelicals saying that Trump's apparent current convictions are better than Clinton's. I can see them identify him as a lesser evil.
But I am dumbfounded by those who see him as some kind of political messiah. I hate to say it but most of the Evangelical leaders who are so enamored with him are not people that I consider very good theologians or thinkers. For example, many in the book talk about Trump’s election as a miraculous answer to prayer. But was Obama’s election “outside” of God’s control? Were there not also many who viewed his election as a miraculous answer to prayer?
On numerous levels Trump has not had an honorable history. He seems to lack basic decency.
He seems to have never had to be accountable to anyone. He claims that he has never had a
reason to ask for forgiveness. He is arrogant and mean. His track record as a husband suggests
that he is not trustworthy. It seems that the thing he most cares about is promoting himself.
This book explains why some Evangelicals have supported Trump. It identifies some of the Evangelicals who support him or do not support him. But I fear that those who are so excited about him are naive. It would be great if he does some good things. But my fear is that he is using Evangelicals to his benefit and will ultimately disappoint most of them.
For me having the election come down to Trump and Clinton seems like it may be God's judgment on us. We are reaping what we’ve sown. We are getting what we deserve. Half the nation loves a bully buffoon and the other half loves a baby killer. For me having to choose between Trump and Clinton would be like having to choose between Hitler and Stalin. Obviously neither one of the them are as bad as Hitler or Stalin but for me the choice was no more appealing.
However I wanted to learn more about our unusual President so I set out to listen to at least three books for him and three books against him. This was the first one for him. I understand Evangelicals rejecting Hilary Clinton because of her support of the murder of babies. I understand Evangelicals hoping that Trump will live up to his current position against abortion. I understand Evangelicals hoping that Trump will support freedom of religion and appoint Supreme Court Justices who attempt to take the Constitution as it is written rather than reinterpreting it to support their fancy. I can see some Evangelicals saying that Trump's apparent current convictions are better than Clinton's. I can see them identify him as a lesser evil.
But I am dumbfounded by those who see him as some kind of political messiah. I hate to say it but most of the Evangelical leaders who are so enamored with him are not people that I consider very good theologians or thinkers. For example, many in the book talk about Trump’s election as a miraculous answer to prayer. But was Obama’s election “outside” of God’s control? Were there not also many who viewed his election as a miraculous answer to prayer?
On numerous levels Trump has not had an honorable history. He seems to lack basic decency.
He seems to have never had to be accountable to anyone. He claims that he has never had a
reason to ask for forgiveness. He is arrogant and mean. His track record as a husband suggests
that he is not trustworthy. It seems that the thing he most cares about is promoting himself.
This book explains why some Evangelicals have supported Trump. It identifies some of the Evangelicals who support him or do not support him. But I fear that those who are so excited about him are naive. It would be great if he does some good things. But my fear is that he is using Evangelicals to his benefit and will ultimately disappoint most of them.
For me having the election come down to Trump and Clinton seems like it may be God's judgment on us. We are reaping what we’ve sown. We are getting what we deserve. Half the nation loves a bully buffoon and the other half loves a baby killer. For me having to choose between Trump and Clinton would be like having to choose between Hitler and Stalin. Obviously neither one of the them are as bad as Hitler or Stalin but for me the choice was no more appealing.
February 19, 2018
God anointed Trump to lead our nation at this critical time our history, says this book. You could say that about every President, but this was an intriguing look into why Trump won the most evangelical Christian voters in history. If you want to know why the Evangelical vote is still the key to victory, read this book.
July 20, 2020
I'm trying to understand. I really am. I am Christian. I am a mainline charismatic renewal person. I am pro-life. I also learned how to read between the lines and recognize good journalism from bad, and to recognize fact-based nonfiction from propaganda. I can't follow your lead, Mr. Strang. This book is Trump propaganda, plain and simple. Here's what I understand: a small group of charismatic evangelicals got behind an R candidate they believed that they could influence and put him into power. And... sheesh.
October 17, 2019
This book is nothing more than pure propaganda. It contains many logical fallacies and in a few occasions presents untrue information as fact.
The book has not aged well in regards to Trumps character and political effectiveness. There is also quite a bit of discussion regarding prophecy in the book. Prophecy that when the book was written may have seemed like it was being fulfilled, but has clearly not been fulfilled two years after the first publication.
The book has not aged well in regards to Trumps character and political effectiveness. There is also quite a bit of discussion regarding prophecy in the book. Prophecy that when the book was written may have seemed like it was being fulfilled, but has clearly not been fulfilled two years after the first publication.
November 5, 2024
“A second Trump term would be the death blow to the new global order…”
— Noah Harari
A lot of people question why many Evangelicals are so supportive of Donald Trump. I did too until 2018.
CBS News was on religiously in our home. I didn’t know back then that the news organization adhered more to their donors than their listeners. The stories we all heard were given in a hidden propaganda campaign to subvert the masses. You know, what Yuri Bezmenov tried to warn us about during the Reagan years?
Slowly my eyes started to wake up to the fact that the more legacy news we watched, the more hateful we became. So I started to take a step back and analyze what they reporting, how they were reporting it, and how often. The news turned off shortly thereafter. It was never turned on again.
There is a sort of thing as fake news, sure. But more commonly, there’s political news. It used to be out in the open so you knew what you were buying into, like the Republican Banner, or the Otsego Democrat. Now it’s hidden. Appearing to be unbiased, it’s actually a platform for one party or the other. It may be easier to spot with MSNBC or FOX, but harder with CBS, ABC, or CNN. Until that is, Trump won the White House from Hillary Clinton, and all news anchors were noticeably shocked. It was then when parties started to emerge from the news’ talking points.
We began to take notice of what the Church was saying about President Trump, and compared that to what the news said. And as we stopped listening to what the news was saying, it was like the cancer of hate was leaving our bodies and minds. Since then, we started thinking for ourselves.
In God and Donald Trump, Stephen Strang goes over the 2016 election, and what handed Trump the win. Within the last hours of the polls being open, overwhelming support for Trump from Evangelicals secured Trump the win, and gave him the electoral votes that Hillary just couldn’t get.
During Trump’s first term in office, he disavowed the Johnson Act that prohibits Christians from talking to political leaders about their faith. He organized the Abraham Accords, securing peace for Israel with its Islamic neighbors. He moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, signifying that the democratic Israel was our ally. And he secured the borders of this nation, far greater than Bush or Reagan, or any before him.
It’s these policies, not personality, of why Evangelicals and other Christians have adopted Trump as their president.
Some say Trump is too egotistical to allow America to fail. Others say, in private, he’s the most humble person you’d ever meet. In 2016, Trump got the major Republicans to back him, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Governor Huckabee. In 2024, he’s got Democrats to switch parties and back him — Elon Musk, Robert Kennedy, Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard.
“This will be the last election in America if you don’t vote…”
— Elon Musk
There’s only three conceivable reasons why someone would vote for Kamala in my mind’s eye in this most important of elections.
1. Trump installed Supreme Court Justices that overturned Roe and gave that power back to the States.
2. Voting for the first female President.
3. Fueled by the media (as I was) to hate everything Trump, the “Anyone but Trump!” reason even if it means an end to our liberties.
Learning absolutely nothing from the past four years and the hardness of the economic policies means a continued price hike at the gas pump, groceries, and basically everything. Biden has said he is looking to make gas prices $10/gallon, so everyone switches to EV’s. Kamala has adopted “Bidenomics” and swears “it’s working”.
This is why I urge everyone to vote for President Trump. Not for mean tweets, pompous personality, or anything of that sort. But for our nation, and our continued liberties. I may lose friends, receive hate mail, or simply be ignored, but I don’t care. My country hangs in the balance. And for those Stars and Stripes, I give my all…
“We will not bend, we will not break, we will not yield. We will never give in, we will never give up, and we will never back down. And we will never ever surrender! Because we are Americans, and our hearts bleed: red, white, and blue…”
— President Donald J. Trump
— Noah Harari
A lot of people question why many Evangelicals are so supportive of Donald Trump. I did too until 2018.
CBS News was on religiously in our home. I didn’t know back then that the news organization adhered more to their donors than their listeners. The stories we all heard were given in a hidden propaganda campaign to subvert the masses. You know, what Yuri Bezmenov tried to warn us about during the Reagan years?
Slowly my eyes started to wake up to the fact that the more legacy news we watched, the more hateful we became. So I started to take a step back and analyze what they reporting, how they were reporting it, and how often. The news turned off shortly thereafter. It was never turned on again.
There is a sort of thing as fake news, sure. But more commonly, there’s political news. It used to be out in the open so you knew what you were buying into, like the Republican Banner, or the Otsego Democrat. Now it’s hidden. Appearing to be unbiased, it’s actually a platform for one party or the other. It may be easier to spot with MSNBC or FOX, but harder with CBS, ABC, or CNN. Until that is, Trump won the White House from Hillary Clinton, and all news anchors were noticeably shocked. It was then when parties started to emerge from the news’ talking points.
We began to take notice of what the Church was saying about President Trump, and compared that to what the news said. And as we stopped listening to what the news was saying, it was like the cancer of hate was leaving our bodies and minds. Since then, we started thinking for ourselves.
In God and Donald Trump, Stephen Strang goes over the 2016 election, and what handed Trump the win. Within the last hours of the polls being open, overwhelming support for Trump from Evangelicals secured Trump the win, and gave him the electoral votes that Hillary just couldn’t get.
During Trump’s first term in office, he disavowed the Johnson Act that prohibits Christians from talking to political leaders about their faith. He organized the Abraham Accords, securing peace for Israel with its Islamic neighbors. He moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, signifying that the democratic Israel was our ally. And he secured the borders of this nation, far greater than Bush or Reagan, or any before him.
It’s these policies, not personality, of why Evangelicals and other Christians have adopted Trump as their president.
Some say Trump is too egotistical to allow America to fail. Others say, in private, he’s the most humble person you’d ever meet. In 2016, Trump got the major Republicans to back him, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Governor Huckabee. In 2024, he’s got Democrats to switch parties and back him — Elon Musk, Robert Kennedy, Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard.
“This will be the last election in America if you don’t vote…”
— Elon Musk
There’s only three conceivable reasons why someone would vote for Kamala in my mind’s eye in this most important of elections.
1. Trump installed Supreme Court Justices that overturned Roe and gave that power back to the States.
2. Voting for the first female President.
3. Fueled by the media (as I was) to hate everything Trump, the “Anyone but Trump!” reason even if it means an end to our liberties.
Learning absolutely nothing from the past four years and the hardness of the economic policies means a continued price hike at the gas pump, groceries, and basically everything. Biden has said he is looking to make gas prices $10/gallon, so everyone switches to EV’s. Kamala has adopted “Bidenomics” and swears “it’s working”.
This is why I urge everyone to vote for President Trump. Not for mean tweets, pompous personality, or anything of that sort. But for our nation, and our continued liberties. I may lose friends, receive hate mail, or simply be ignored, but I don’t care. My country hangs in the balance. And for those Stars and Stripes, I give my all…
“We will not bend, we will not break, we will not yield. We will never give in, we will never give up, and we will never back down. And we will never ever surrender! Because we are Americans, and our hearts bleed: red, white, and blue…”
— President Donald J. Trump
March 7, 2018
"Two years ago I would never have suspected that God would raise up a brash billionaire from Queens, New York, to undertake the transformation of America, not only politically but also spiritually. I expected to vote for Ted Cruz in November, but when he left the race, I had to reconsider my options. Now I have a better understanding of why that reorientation was necessary." [STRANG, 177]
This quote sums it up. Like Strang, many Christians who take the Bible seriously and their personal spirituality seriously, recognized the unusual importance of voting in the 2016 presidential election after witnessing eight years of a presidential administration who seemed to wage a deliberate unspoken war on biblical values. These same Christians probably felt similar, like Ted Cruz was one of the few candidates, if not the only one, who checked off all the traditional presidential candidate boxes: conservative, Evangelical, personally pious, well spoken, even keeled. The obvious choice? But when Trump got the nomination, how were these same Christians supposed to rectify their understanding of an "ideal" candidate with Donald J. Trump, the "brash billionaire"? And why, by and large, was Trump successful in garnering their support?
Strang writes about the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump, from the perspective of a charismatic evangelical Christian. The term "charismatic" being a separate branch of evangelicalism that believes in present-day "gifts of the Spirit"--meaning that there are Christians today who believe they have the spiritual gifts of prophecy, healing, speaking in tongues, and other supernaturalisms.
This is distinct from Protestant evangelicalism in general, in that evangelicals as a group (while they believe in the authority and inspiration of the Bible and the centricity of Christ's death and resurrection and its impact on spiritual transformation) do not believe that there are supernatural "gifts" in play today.
So, it is important to approach Strang's book knowing his worldview and belief system beforehand. This book is not a general evangelical analysis of Trump's candidacy, presidency, and personal religious beliefs, but rather a charismatic analysis. So he talks about people he knows who "prophesied" that Trump would win, and highlights charismatic denominational leaders who had an impact on Trump personally as spiritual advisors.
Strang's goal in writing this book might be best understood as a placation to the evangelical community at large, especially to those voters who felt conflicted about voting for Trump because of his perceived flaws, whether moral or spiritual or personal. Strang wants his readers to feel confident they made the right decision. And beyond this, he wants those readers to also see God's hand in sovereignly raising up Trump as His leader of choice for this specific time period and political context.
Strang does attempt to speculate about Trump's personal spiritual beliefs, and rightly recognizes that Trump does not seem to fit the mold of a typical evangelical Christian--like Vice President Mike Pence does. Yet Strang wants his readers to feel more comfortable with Trump's spirituality. So he explores Trump's speeches and policies that align with the political expectations of the conservative Christian community at large. Pro-faith, pro-God speeches and policies.
"Whether or not you were for him in the 2016 election, you must admit that Donald Trump believes in the importance of faith and he takes his vow to serve the best interests of the American people very seriously." [STRANG, 159]
Strang does make a lot of accurate observations about the intersection of evangelical's concerns and Trump's campaign stances and presidential follow-through. This may be the greatest takeaway, to assuage any reader's pangs of conscience regarding their pro-Trump vote in the presidential election of 2016, as well as laying the groundwork for future Trump support in the next election.
Strang also does a good job of spotlighting the glaring barbs of the Democrat party's recent hard-left ideological bent. Identity politics and their evergreen outrage at hyperbolic racism. He notes Obama's duplicity on gay marriage and war on Christian values. Such things played a strong role in mobilizing the evangelical vote nationwide.
Overall, Strang does a good job highlighting Trump's expressed theism, as a strong advocate for the role and importance of faith in the fabric of American culture. This is a solid encouragement for charismatic Christians, and evangelicals in general, who were or still are concerned about the decline of American morality and the role secular liberalism has played in recent years.
This quote sums it up. Like Strang, many Christians who take the Bible seriously and their personal spirituality seriously, recognized the unusual importance of voting in the 2016 presidential election after witnessing eight years of a presidential administration who seemed to wage a deliberate unspoken war on biblical values. These same Christians probably felt similar, like Ted Cruz was one of the few candidates, if not the only one, who checked off all the traditional presidential candidate boxes: conservative, Evangelical, personally pious, well spoken, even keeled. The obvious choice? But when Trump got the nomination, how were these same Christians supposed to rectify their understanding of an "ideal" candidate with Donald J. Trump, the "brash billionaire"? And why, by and large, was Trump successful in garnering their support?
Strang writes about the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump, from the perspective of a charismatic evangelical Christian. The term "charismatic" being a separate branch of evangelicalism that believes in present-day "gifts of the Spirit"--meaning that there are Christians today who believe they have the spiritual gifts of prophecy, healing, speaking in tongues, and other supernaturalisms.
This is distinct from Protestant evangelicalism in general, in that evangelicals as a group (while they believe in the authority and inspiration of the Bible and the centricity of Christ's death and resurrection and its impact on spiritual transformation) do not believe that there are supernatural "gifts" in play today.
So, it is important to approach Strang's book knowing his worldview and belief system beforehand. This book is not a general evangelical analysis of Trump's candidacy, presidency, and personal religious beliefs, but rather a charismatic analysis. So he talks about people he knows who "prophesied" that Trump would win, and highlights charismatic denominational leaders who had an impact on Trump personally as spiritual advisors.
Strang's goal in writing this book might be best understood as a placation to the evangelical community at large, especially to those voters who felt conflicted about voting for Trump because of his perceived flaws, whether moral or spiritual or personal. Strang wants his readers to feel confident they made the right decision. And beyond this, he wants those readers to also see God's hand in sovereignly raising up Trump as His leader of choice for this specific time period and political context.
Strang does attempt to speculate about Trump's personal spiritual beliefs, and rightly recognizes that Trump does not seem to fit the mold of a typical evangelical Christian--like Vice President Mike Pence does. Yet Strang wants his readers to feel more comfortable with Trump's spirituality. So he explores Trump's speeches and policies that align with the political expectations of the conservative Christian community at large. Pro-faith, pro-God speeches and policies.
"Whether or not you were for him in the 2016 election, you must admit that Donald Trump believes in the importance of faith and he takes his vow to serve the best interests of the American people very seriously." [STRANG, 159]
Strang does make a lot of accurate observations about the intersection of evangelical's concerns and Trump's campaign stances and presidential follow-through. This may be the greatest takeaway, to assuage any reader's pangs of conscience regarding their pro-Trump vote in the presidential election of 2016, as well as laying the groundwork for future Trump support in the next election.
Strang also does a good job of spotlighting the glaring barbs of the Democrat party's recent hard-left ideological bent. Identity politics and their evergreen outrage at hyperbolic racism. He notes Obama's duplicity on gay marriage and war on Christian values. Such things played a strong role in mobilizing the evangelical vote nationwide.
Overall, Strang does a good job highlighting Trump's expressed theism, as a strong advocate for the role and importance of faith in the fabric of American culture. This is a solid encouragement for charismatic Christians, and evangelicals in general, who were or still are concerned about the decline of American morality and the role secular liberalism has played in recent years.
April 23, 2018
If you like Donald Trump, you'll love the insight this book brings. As a Christian, I too felt the hand of God upon this election. It doesn't make any sense that Trump was able to defeat Hillary and her political machine plus the Democrat party. Not to mention most Republican politicians as well. Throw in the propagandist media and deviant celebrities plus many world leaders and it boggles the mind that The Donald won. It was God, no doubt. What an inspiring book.
I also have to laugh at the accusation many liberals and media pundits make that Christians who supported Trump are hypocrites. Obviously they haven't read the Bible and don't grasp the main point of what we believe. It's called forgiveness. Moses, David and Paul, three of the greatest leaders in the Bible, were all murderers and one an adulterer. They repented and changed their ways. This is not an excuse for sin; but rather it's a wonderful hope that God is willing to forgive and use flawed people.
I also have to laugh at the accusation many liberals and media pundits make that Christians who supported Trump are hypocrites. Obviously they haven't read the Bible and don't grasp the main point of what we believe. It's called forgiveness. Moses, David and Paul, three of the greatest leaders in the Bible, were all murderers and one an adulterer. They repented and changed their ways. This is not an excuse for sin; but rather it's a wonderful hope that God is willing to forgive and use flawed people.
March 24, 2022
First, a Broader Reflection
Oh, the sad, dramatic irony that I started reading this book when I was fairly confident Trump would get re-elected, and that I should finish it the day after the election, with results that - despite being frozen in ambivalence and uncertainty - look very good for Biden. From Australia, it appears not impossible but very unlikely that Trump will turn it. For what it's worth, I think there's a small chance he will manage to keep Georgia and North Carolina, but only just. Unless the remaining mail-ins are enough to push Biden past him - a very likely scenario - Trump may hold onto the valuable state of Pennsylvania, but if Biden takes Nevada and holds onto Arizona, it will not matter. In short, a little over half the nation has rejected the incumbent president. His support base was not enough to brace the tide of anti-Trumpism. But the battle is not over. Biden will be stepping into a very messy situation - and despite what the lefties will say, it isn't all Trump's doing. The divide is larger than ever before, the virus (where I agree Trump conducted himself terribly) is still rampant, and there is a catastrophic economic recession on the near horizon. It has already started.
The only silver lining is that the Republicans have so far kept the Senate. This, in addition to that mentioned above, means the Democrats have not found the triumphant success the worthless pollsters assured them. And they are a far from unified group. Soon, I think Biden will have to face the fact that Trump-hatred rather than any real respect for him has won him this election. And I think that one side of the Left - the moderates or the faux-socialist - will become disillusioned with him. Especially if he thinks he is going to court the Republicans and restore that mythical "unity" we still talk about.
Short of a miracle, the battle has been won by the Left. But this is far from the end. And now I hope the Republicans can show themselves to be better than the hypocritical Left, the party of hatred that parades itself as inclusive and progressive yet turns a blind eye to violence so long as it is directed against their opponents. Once the election results have been confirmed, they need to discourage violent opposition and follow the constitution in keeping the Biden-Harris administration in check. Unless everything they've been saying against Joe Biden was a lie, four years of an actual Biden presidency will be more effective than any Republican smear campaign in convincing enough people not to vote for him again. But who the hell knows? The country is an absolute mess.
The Actual Review
Despite the overly-Evangelical perspective of the writer - which, of course, was hardly kept secret, so I don't hold it against him - I did enjoy this book for the most part. Strang comes across as a bit too starry-eyed about Trump, and the book was not nearly as objectively honest in its scrutiny of his religious values as Stephen Mansfield's Faith of Barack Obama. But it still sheds some interesting light on the gradual process the Evangelical community went through in coming around to endorsing someone like Donald Trump.
As for the question of God's hand in 2016 ...
Well, of course one can only ever speculate. And I speak from a conservative Catholic position, so I do not reject the notion out of hand like atheists or Trump-hating Christians would. I do find it hard to entirely reconcile the idea of someone like Trump (pre-election Trump, that is) being held up as a "great religious leader". But at the same time, it is indeed biblically incorrect to assume God would only ever choose a pious man to work through. Many a time, God selects those of more questionable qualities to transform and enact in His plan for us. I mean, it's a cliche to point this out, but just look at Saint Paul. He had the blood of many Christians on his hands before he became the great apostle and part-writer of the New Testament.
Just because God works through people of all kinds, that does not mean He approves of every aspect of their life. So yeah, given the fact conservatism, religious liberty and freedom of speech have all been brought back into the mainstream debate, and that the proponents of these (among other issues) have had their confidence and energy renewed, I do believe God's will was that Trump should win the 2016 election. Joe Biden's assertion, as an apparent Catholic, that it was an "abomination" is not the way to look at it. It indicates Biden is probably going to outright deny the reality that nearly half the country does not want him. But what about Trump losing 2020? What happens to the "will of God" there?
Well, we all know he has a real issue with pride - Trump, that is; not God. He is still hardly a humble person. And furthermore, God's chosen ones, much in the vein of Christ Himself, are the "losers", the underdogs, the persecuted, the despised and rejected. So it would seem - unless the results suddenly change - that God only wishes for Trump to serve one term. But maybe that term was all that was needed to spur the conservatives and the Christians onward, and not to settle for the increasingly secular, anti-religious attitude espoused by the rest of the world.
And somehow I suspect that, after the honeymoon period, the Democrats and their followers will revert to being perpetually unhappy and offended.
Oh, the sad, dramatic irony that I started reading this book when I was fairly confident Trump would get re-elected, and that I should finish it the day after the election, with results that - despite being frozen in ambivalence and uncertainty - look very good for Biden. From Australia, it appears not impossible but very unlikely that Trump will turn it. For what it's worth, I think there's a small chance he will manage to keep Georgia and North Carolina, but only just. Unless the remaining mail-ins are enough to push Biden past him - a very likely scenario - Trump may hold onto the valuable state of Pennsylvania, but if Biden takes Nevada and holds onto Arizona, it will not matter. In short, a little over half the nation has rejected the incumbent president. His support base was not enough to brace the tide of anti-Trumpism. But the battle is not over. Biden will be stepping into a very messy situation - and despite what the lefties will say, it isn't all Trump's doing. The divide is larger than ever before, the virus (where I agree Trump conducted himself terribly) is still rampant, and there is a catastrophic economic recession on the near horizon. It has already started.
The only silver lining is that the Republicans have so far kept the Senate. This, in addition to that mentioned above, means the Democrats have not found the triumphant success the worthless pollsters assured them. And they are a far from unified group. Soon, I think Biden will have to face the fact that Trump-hatred rather than any real respect for him has won him this election. And I think that one side of the Left - the moderates or the faux-socialist - will become disillusioned with him. Especially if he thinks he is going to court the Republicans and restore that mythical "unity" we still talk about.
Short of a miracle, the battle has been won by the Left. But this is far from the end. And now I hope the Republicans can show themselves to be better than the hypocritical Left, the party of hatred that parades itself as inclusive and progressive yet turns a blind eye to violence so long as it is directed against their opponents. Once the election results have been confirmed, they need to discourage violent opposition and follow the constitution in keeping the Biden-Harris administration in check. Unless everything they've been saying against Joe Biden was a lie, four years of an actual Biden presidency will be more effective than any Republican smear campaign in convincing enough people not to vote for him again. But who the hell knows? The country is an absolute mess.
The Actual Review
Despite the overly-Evangelical perspective of the writer - which, of course, was hardly kept secret, so I don't hold it against him - I did enjoy this book for the most part. Strang comes across as a bit too starry-eyed about Trump, and the book was not nearly as objectively honest in its scrutiny of his religious values as Stephen Mansfield's Faith of Barack Obama. But it still sheds some interesting light on the gradual process the Evangelical community went through in coming around to endorsing someone like Donald Trump.
As for the question of God's hand in 2016 ...
Well, of course one can only ever speculate. And I speak from a conservative Catholic position, so I do not reject the notion out of hand like atheists or Trump-hating Christians would. I do find it hard to entirely reconcile the idea of someone like Trump (pre-election Trump, that is) being held up as a "great religious leader". But at the same time, it is indeed biblically incorrect to assume God would only ever choose a pious man to work through. Many a time, God selects those of more questionable qualities to transform and enact in His plan for us. I mean, it's a cliche to point this out, but just look at Saint Paul. He had the blood of many Christians on his hands before he became the great apostle and part-writer of the New Testament.
Just because God works through people of all kinds, that does not mean He approves of every aspect of their life. So yeah, given the fact conservatism, religious liberty and freedom of speech have all been brought back into the mainstream debate, and that the proponents of these (among other issues) have had their confidence and energy renewed, I do believe God's will was that Trump should win the 2016 election. Joe Biden's assertion, as an apparent Catholic, that it was an "abomination" is not the way to look at it. It indicates Biden is probably going to outright deny the reality that nearly half the country does not want him. But what about Trump losing 2020? What happens to the "will of God" there?
Well, we all know he has a real issue with pride - Trump, that is; not God. He is still hardly a humble person. And furthermore, God's chosen ones, much in the vein of Christ Himself, are the "losers", the underdogs, the persecuted, the despised and rejected. So it would seem - unless the results suddenly change - that God only wishes for Trump to serve one term. But maybe that term was all that was needed to spur the conservatives and the Christians onward, and not to settle for the increasingly secular, anti-religious attitude espoused by the rest of the world.
And somehow I suspect that, after the honeymoon period, the Democrats and their followers will revert to being perpetually unhappy and offended.
Read
June 11, 2018No one in the media predicted that Trump would win the 2016 election. Thank God that the President of the U.S.A is chosen by the people and not the media. Elites felt Clinton has earned a spot as president was all but guaranteed to be elected.
From forward by Mike Huckabee:
"I was and still am convinced that Donald Trump is our best hope of turning the tide of the insider political nonsense that has left people seething and that would have continued is Hillary Clinton had won the election."
"I believe his continued openness to the input of Christian leaders shows that he wasn't only pandering for votes but that he truly understands and welcomes Godly advice and he sees the value of prayer."
From conclusion:
Most evangelicals believe our nation was founded on a love for God and reverence for his Word, and because of that we have experienced the undeserved favor of God upon our country. Jeffress said that while it's true the founders gave us a nation built on Christian principles,"it is also an indisputable fact that in recent years there have been those who have tried to separate out nation from its spiritual foundation. God declared that the people, not pollsters, were gonna choose the next president of the United States. And they chose Donald Trunp. He alone had the leadership skills and the unwavering persistence to reverse the death spiral of our nation
Thoughts
Trump would stem the influence of globalism he puts America and our people first. He won support of Christian in large majority. No one predicted the outcome of religion. Minorities voted him especially Hispanics. America did not want more of the same politics which would have been what happened with Hillary. Trump is like a baby Christian. He believes, but has lived his church instead of physically going. He surrounds himself with good Christians and seeks out their advice.
Pastors and Sources
• Robert Jeffress - First Baptist Church Pastor
• Lance Wallnau
• James Robison
• Dr James Dobson
• Jim Garlow - Skyline Weslyn Church San Diego
• InfoWars
• Charisma News
• Brietbart
• Drudge Report
• Newt Gingrich, Understanding Trump
Evangelical vote accounted for nearly third of all votes cast for Trump. His campaign gained support of more the 80 percent of white born again Christians.
“As a pastor I would rather deal with a church attendee who is blatant and brash in his sinning than one who is devious lying cunning and deceptive.
There are 75 million evangelicals, 20 million of them vote.
Matthew 5:6-7, 11, 14-16 God bless those who hunger and thirst for justice. The problem of identity politics remains a fact of life in most of America and something we will have to live with for some time no doubt. While there are score of black Evangelical and pro-family Catholics striving to restore balance and respect between ethnic groups, the political Left embrace groups such a Black Lives Matter blasts so called “white privilege,” and foments violence in order to drive a wedge between the blacks and whites.
From forward by Mike Huckabee:
"I was and still am convinced that Donald Trump is our best hope of turning the tide of the insider political nonsense that has left people seething and that would have continued is Hillary Clinton had won the election."
"I believe his continued openness to the input of Christian leaders shows that he wasn't only pandering for votes but that he truly understands and welcomes Godly advice and he sees the value of prayer."
From conclusion:
Most evangelicals believe our nation was founded on a love for God and reverence for his Word, and because of that we have experienced the undeserved favor of God upon our country. Jeffress said that while it's true the founders gave us a nation built on Christian principles,"it is also an indisputable fact that in recent years there have been those who have tried to separate out nation from its spiritual foundation. God declared that the people, not pollsters, were gonna choose the next president of the United States. And they chose Donald Trunp. He alone had the leadership skills and the unwavering persistence to reverse the death spiral of our nation
Thoughts
Trump would stem the influence of globalism he puts America and our people first. He won support of Christian in large majority. No one predicted the outcome of religion. Minorities voted him especially Hispanics. America did not want more of the same politics which would have been what happened with Hillary. Trump is like a baby Christian. He believes, but has lived his church instead of physically going. He surrounds himself with good Christians and seeks out their advice.
Pastors and Sources
• Robert Jeffress - First Baptist Church Pastor
• Lance Wallnau
• James Robison
• Dr James Dobson
• Jim Garlow - Skyline Weslyn Church San Diego
• InfoWars
• Charisma News
• Brietbart
• Drudge Report
• Newt Gingrich, Understanding Trump
Evangelical vote accounted for nearly third of all votes cast for Trump. His campaign gained support of more the 80 percent of white born again Christians.
“As a pastor I would rather deal with a church attendee who is blatant and brash in his sinning than one who is devious lying cunning and deceptive.
There are 75 million evangelicals, 20 million of them vote.
Matthew 5:6-7, 11, 14-16 God bless those who hunger and thirst for justice. The problem of identity politics remains a fact of life in most of America and something we will have to live with for some time no doubt. While there are score of black Evangelical and pro-family Catholics striving to restore balance and respect between ethnic groups, the political Left embrace groups such a Black Lives Matter blasts so called “white privilege,” and foments violence in order to drive a wedge between the blacks and whites.
August 2, 2019
As a person who has gotten interested in politics more recently due to the vast changes of American culture, I am trying to learn more about all sides of politics now. I have also been a strong Christian for over 20 years now and could not get myself to vote for Trump in 2016. Unfortunately in 2016, I couldn’t vote “for” someone, but voted for “against” someone for the only person who I thought could beat him. And then she didn’t. This book was recommended to me by two of my (few) strong Trump supporter Christian friends to help me understand not only why Trump was elected as the US president in 2016, but why a vast number of Christians voted for him.
There are many reasons why I voted against Trump in 2016, but primarily as a Christian, I couldn’t take him at his word for anything he said because he claims to be a Christian and he is not genuine and does not strive to model Jesus Christ. No person is perfect, but a genuine Christian strives to know Jesus more and imitate Him and His behavior. The Bible is the foundation and guide of a believer’s life, and if that does not rise above self interest, I cannot take you at your word. Trump claims he does this which unfortunately makes him a liar to me.
(Of course the leak of the video in how he speaks about and treats women does not make me feel any better, to say the least, but the whole #metoo subject is a whole other subject.)
All of my genuine Christian friends that I am aware of could not vote for Hillary, but like me, could not vote for Trump, no matter the political goals, so voted for a third party. I thought this kind of vote was pointless and would not help defeat him who, yes, comes off to me as a greater evil than Hillary (and again, she’s evil because of emails? Still don’t get it.)
So I had to read this book. I have to understand other people’s views. Particularly Christians. Or at least people that claim to be.
The information in this book helped me know Donald Trump a lot better, which I needed and appreciated. It also informed me about a lot of decisions he has made in his administration for his guidance and leadership. And then I got it. A person who is going to try to lead more based on Christian guidance and leaders will be supported by Christians who’s valued align this way more than for a person who is going to blindly lead based on what she thinks is morally best for the nation.
The reason I gave this book 3 stars is because of the bias it was written from and I get that—everyone has a bias. But I couldn’t read and learn from it as well with as helpful of a lense, which was my goal. The two main assumptions that this book came in with (which I still am trying to learn about and understand) are 1) Obama did horrible and destructive things during his administration (really? can I have some examples?) and 2) Hillary Clinton is an evil, terrible person (but why?) I do realize that Trump supporters feel this way, but no matter how many times I ask, no one can give me an answer why. So I am still trying to understand.
There are many reasons why I voted against Trump in 2016, but primarily as a Christian, I couldn’t take him at his word for anything he said because he claims to be a Christian and he is not genuine and does not strive to model Jesus Christ. No person is perfect, but a genuine Christian strives to know Jesus more and imitate Him and His behavior. The Bible is the foundation and guide of a believer’s life, and if that does not rise above self interest, I cannot take you at your word. Trump claims he does this which unfortunately makes him a liar to me.
(Of course the leak of the video in how he speaks about and treats women does not make me feel any better, to say the least, but the whole #metoo subject is a whole other subject.)
All of my genuine Christian friends that I am aware of could not vote for Hillary, but like me, could not vote for Trump, no matter the political goals, so voted for a third party. I thought this kind of vote was pointless and would not help defeat him who, yes, comes off to me as a greater evil than Hillary (and again, she’s evil because of emails? Still don’t get it.)
So I had to read this book. I have to understand other people’s views. Particularly Christians. Or at least people that claim to be.
The information in this book helped me know Donald Trump a lot better, which I needed and appreciated. It also informed me about a lot of decisions he has made in his administration for his guidance and leadership. And then I got it. A person who is going to try to lead more based on Christian guidance and leaders will be supported by Christians who’s valued align this way more than for a person who is going to blindly lead based on what she thinks is morally best for the nation.
The reason I gave this book 3 stars is because of the bias it was written from and I get that—everyone has a bias. But I couldn’t read and learn from it as well with as helpful of a lense, which was my goal. The two main assumptions that this book came in with (which I still am trying to learn about and understand) are 1) Obama did horrible and destructive things during his administration (really? can I have some examples?) and 2) Hillary Clinton is an evil, terrible person (but why?) I do realize that Trump supporters feel this way, but no matter how many times I ask, no one can give me an answer why. So I am still trying to understand.
February 19, 2019
God and Donald Trump is a fascinating look at the role evangelicals played in electing Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. Author Stephen E. Strang attempts to tell what he calls the “God story” of the election, how Donald Trump won over evangelicals, who came together and rallied around his candidacy: giving him 81 percent of their vote (the highest received by any presidential candidate). Strang tracks how Trump courted their vote in the months leading up to the election, gaining the support of leaders such as Paula White, Franklin Graham, Jerry Falwell Jr., and Robert Jeffress, who vouched for his respect for America’s Christian heritage and desire to preserve religious liberty. And despite some questionable character traits, such as his three marriages, history as a casino owner, and tendency to engage in public feuds, many came to see Trump as, if not a fellow believer, a modern Cyrus; a secular leader called by God to work His will. However, Strang provides an ample amount of evidence of Trump’s faith; his salvation story, his dedication to charity, the ways in which he makes references to God in his major speeches. A unique analysis of one of the most remarkable presidential campaigns, God and Donald Trump is incredibly engaging and revealing.
January 25, 2024
A PROMINENT EVANGELICAL SUGGESTS THAT TRUMP MAY HAVE BEEN ‘RAISED UP’ BY GOD
Journalist and Publisher of ‘Charisma’ magazine Stephen E. Strang wrote in the Introduction to this 2017 book, “News reports in the wake of the 2016 election revealed that evangelical Christians backed Donald J. Trump more than any Republican presidential candidate in history. What makes this remarkable is that few Evangelicals supported him in the beginning. For Bible-believing Christians, Trump would be the most unlikely candidate anyone could imagine. He fathered children by three wives, made some of his wealth in the gambling industry, and was well known for using some of the most vulgar and degrading language imaginable… this will not be merely another book about how Donald Trump became… president… My purpose has been to explore the spiritual dimensions of the 2016 presidential election and to determine what role faith and the religious impulse may have played in Trump’s unlikely win.” (Pg. xiii) He continues, “The ‘faith factor’ was brought up repeatedly throughout the campaign… Not only did the candidate make his faith an issue, but he went to the trouble of creating a faith advisory board of pastors, evangelists, and ministry leaders before he entered the race… I want to tell the untold story of Donald J. Trump … This book is neither biography nor commentary but delves into issues and trends in society, looking at where the country is going and the degree to which the actions of the evangelical community may have influenced Trump’s election. In short where was God in all this?” (Pg. xiii-xiv) He adds, “I hope [this book] may cause you to think that perhaps God really does get involved in the affairs of men, and better yet that the turn taking place in this nation under Donald Trump’s presidency will prove to be a turn in the right direction.” (Pg. xvi)
He explains in the first chapter, ‘Donald Trump never claimed to be a paragon of virtue… But evangelical leaders who have met with him, as I have, believe he understands the importance of sincere faith, and … he had made a sincere effort to expand his knowledge of ... essential Christian beliefs… Trump was strongly attracted to the preaching of Norman Vincent Peale… Peale’s message that faith in God and a positive attitude are the keys to success in every area of life had an obvious appeal to the young Trump… He has been taught, counseled, witnessed to, and preached at for years, and he professes belief but keeps a healthy arm’s length from overtly doctrinaire and fundamental Christianity. From a purely pragmatic point of view, perhaps that’s for the best. His understanding … may appear somewhat superficial to the faithful, but a majority of the American people have decided that’s OK. They were seeking a true American leader, not a theologian. And in comparison with the Democratic alternative, there was never a serious debate.” (Pg. 2-3)
He continues, “There are ministry leaders and prophetic voices who are convinced God brought Donald Trump… It may well be, as [Michelle] Bachmann and certain prophetic voices have suggested, that Trump was sent in as a bull in a china shop to break up the globalist agenda and interrupt the Left’s campaign to remake America in their own image. A man with a milder, gentler, less aggressive personality could never hope to take on the forces within the political establishment and prosper, which explains why Donald J. Trump was the perfect choice for this hour.” (Pg. 4)
He acknowledges, “Part of Trump’s appeal for many voters was that he wasn’t Hillary Clinton… Unfortunately the candidate kept shooting himself in the foot with one outlandish tweet after another. But… The more outrageous he was, the more the people loved him. And things that would have destroyed any other candidate didn’t seem to slow him down.” (Pg. 16) After Trump won the election, “we each thanked God in our own way that Hillary Clinton was not going to be the next commander in chief.” (Pg. 24)
He admits, “[Trump] failed the litmus test for many Evangelicals early in the campaign. There were prominent elements among the .. evangelical leadership who said they despised Trump and… worked diligently to derail his election… they were so blinded by their dislike for him they couldn’t recognize the benefits a Trump presidency would bring … compared with the immensely greater dangers of the Clinton alternative.” (Pg. 35)
James Dobson explained, “If anything, this man is a baby Christian who doesn’t have a clue about how believers think, talk, and act. All I can tell you is that we have only two choices, Hillary or Donald. Hillary scares me to death. And if Christians stay home … Hillary will run the world for perhaps eight years. The very thought of that haunts my nights and days…” (Pg. 46)
He recounts, “New Destiny Christian Center [pastor] Paula White Cain … got to know Trump in 2003… Trump had seen her television program… and he was impressed with her ability to apply spiritual understanding to complex social issues… So Paula flew to New York and met with him … in Trump Tower, and in the course of their conversation she agreed to act as Trump’s ‘spiritual adviser.’ Over the next several years they spoke often… And when she came forward to pray at President Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, Paula was the first female minister to pray at a presidential inauguration.” (Pg. 61)
He reports, “When President Trump made his speech in the White House … on June 1, 2017, withdrawing the United States from the Paris Accord on climate change… he was elaborating a principle that reflects a scriptural view of stewardship and dominion… Ending the Paris Accord would prevent foreign nations from draining the US treasury in the name of [a] fraudulent ‘climate change’ agenda… and it would provide a major boost to the nation’s overall economy for years to come.” (Pg. 145)
Jerry Falwell Jr., the president of Liberty University, “acknowledged that many of his peers who are ministry heads, pastors, and Christian leaders, including some on his own faculty, had … worked to derail [Trump's] campaign. While he respects their opinions… he believes Evangelicals really ought to think about the stakes in today’s political climate in a new way… how many times do we have to be let down by so-called evangelical candidates who promise to defend our beliefs and then turn the other way when the going gets tough?” (Pg. 156)
He summarizes, “In this book I have tried to report on the miraculous way Donald Trump became president and what that means for America. I haven’t tried to analyze his spiritual condition---only God knows the heart. Yet I’ve been told that the way of salvation has been explained to him and if he believes in his heart that Jesus Christ is risen and the only begotten Son of God, then he is a Christian---and an evangelical Christian. Mayhe Dr. James Dobson was right when he said during the campaign that Trump was ‘a baby Christian.’” (Pg. 172)
He concludes, “I expected to vote for Ted Cruz in November, but when he left the race, I had to reconsider my options… Could it be that this intersection of God and Donald Trump as well as the simultaneous shifts in the United States of America … are much more than random anomalies of coincidence? Is it possible that Donald Trump was raised up … to make a way for our nation to return to God? Is it the Creator’s plan that the diverse factions of the Christian church be united in a way to take back our country for God?” (Pg. 177)
This book may appeal to Evangelicals wanting to justify their support of Trump.
Journalist and Publisher of ‘Charisma’ magazine Stephen E. Strang wrote in the Introduction to this 2017 book, “News reports in the wake of the 2016 election revealed that evangelical Christians backed Donald J. Trump more than any Republican presidential candidate in history. What makes this remarkable is that few Evangelicals supported him in the beginning. For Bible-believing Christians, Trump would be the most unlikely candidate anyone could imagine. He fathered children by three wives, made some of his wealth in the gambling industry, and was well known for using some of the most vulgar and degrading language imaginable… this will not be merely another book about how Donald Trump became… president… My purpose has been to explore the spiritual dimensions of the 2016 presidential election and to determine what role faith and the religious impulse may have played in Trump’s unlikely win.” (Pg. xiii) He continues, “The ‘faith factor’ was brought up repeatedly throughout the campaign… Not only did the candidate make his faith an issue, but he went to the trouble of creating a faith advisory board of pastors, evangelists, and ministry leaders before he entered the race… I want to tell the untold story of Donald J. Trump … This book is neither biography nor commentary but delves into issues and trends in society, looking at where the country is going and the degree to which the actions of the evangelical community may have influenced Trump’s election. In short where was God in all this?” (Pg. xiii-xiv) He adds, “I hope [this book] may cause you to think that perhaps God really does get involved in the affairs of men, and better yet that the turn taking place in this nation under Donald Trump’s presidency will prove to be a turn in the right direction.” (Pg. xvi)
He explains in the first chapter, ‘Donald Trump never claimed to be a paragon of virtue… But evangelical leaders who have met with him, as I have, believe he understands the importance of sincere faith, and … he had made a sincere effort to expand his knowledge of ... essential Christian beliefs… Trump was strongly attracted to the preaching of Norman Vincent Peale… Peale’s message that faith in God and a positive attitude are the keys to success in every area of life had an obvious appeal to the young Trump… He has been taught, counseled, witnessed to, and preached at for years, and he professes belief but keeps a healthy arm’s length from overtly doctrinaire and fundamental Christianity. From a purely pragmatic point of view, perhaps that’s for the best. His understanding … may appear somewhat superficial to the faithful, but a majority of the American people have decided that’s OK. They were seeking a true American leader, not a theologian. And in comparison with the Democratic alternative, there was never a serious debate.” (Pg. 2-3)
He continues, “There are ministry leaders and prophetic voices who are convinced God brought Donald Trump… It may well be, as [Michelle] Bachmann and certain prophetic voices have suggested, that Trump was sent in as a bull in a china shop to break up the globalist agenda and interrupt the Left’s campaign to remake America in their own image. A man with a milder, gentler, less aggressive personality could never hope to take on the forces within the political establishment and prosper, which explains why Donald J. Trump was the perfect choice for this hour.” (Pg. 4)
He acknowledges, “Part of Trump’s appeal for many voters was that he wasn’t Hillary Clinton… Unfortunately the candidate kept shooting himself in the foot with one outlandish tweet after another. But… The more outrageous he was, the more the people loved him. And things that would have destroyed any other candidate didn’t seem to slow him down.” (Pg. 16) After Trump won the election, “we each thanked God in our own way that Hillary Clinton was not going to be the next commander in chief.” (Pg. 24)
He admits, “[Trump] failed the litmus test for many Evangelicals early in the campaign. There were prominent elements among the .. evangelical leadership who said they despised Trump and… worked diligently to derail his election… they were so blinded by their dislike for him they couldn’t recognize the benefits a Trump presidency would bring … compared with the immensely greater dangers of the Clinton alternative.” (Pg. 35)
James Dobson explained, “If anything, this man is a baby Christian who doesn’t have a clue about how believers think, talk, and act. All I can tell you is that we have only two choices, Hillary or Donald. Hillary scares me to death. And if Christians stay home … Hillary will run the world for perhaps eight years. The very thought of that haunts my nights and days…” (Pg. 46)
He recounts, “New Destiny Christian Center [pastor] Paula White Cain … got to know Trump in 2003… Trump had seen her television program… and he was impressed with her ability to apply spiritual understanding to complex social issues… So Paula flew to New York and met with him … in Trump Tower, and in the course of their conversation she agreed to act as Trump’s ‘spiritual adviser.’ Over the next several years they spoke often… And when she came forward to pray at President Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, Paula was the first female minister to pray at a presidential inauguration.” (Pg. 61)
He reports, “When President Trump made his speech in the White House … on June 1, 2017, withdrawing the United States from the Paris Accord on climate change… he was elaborating a principle that reflects a scriptural view of stewardship and dominion… Ending the Paris Accord would prevent foreign nations from draining the US treasury in the name of [a] fraudulent ‘climate change’ agenda… and it would provide a major boost to the nation’s overall economy for years to come.” (Pg. 145)
Jerry Falwell Jr., the president of Liberty University, “acknowledged that many of his peers who are ministry heads, pastors, and Christian leaders, including some on his own faculty, had … worked to derail [Trump's] campaign. While he respects their opinions… he believes Evangelicals really ought to think about the stakes in today’s political climate in a new way… how many times do we have to be let down by so-called evangelical candidates who promise to defend our beliefs and then turn the other way when the going gets tough?” (Pg. 156)
He summarizes, “In this book I have tried to report on the miraculous way Donald Trump became president and what that means for America. I haven’t tried to analyze his spiritual condition---only God knows the heart. Yet I’ve been told that the way of salvation has been explained to him and if he believes in his heart that Jesus Christ is risen and the only begotten Son of God, then he is a Christian---and an evangelical Christian. Mayhe Dr. James Dobson was right when he said during the campaign that Trump was ‘a baby Christian.’” (Pg. 172)
He concludes, “I expected to vote for Ted Cruz in November, but when he left the race, I had to reconsider my options… Could it be that this intersection of God and Donald Trump as well as the simultaneous shifts in the United States of America … are much more than random anomalies of coincidence? Is it possible that Donald Trump was raised up … to make a way for our nation to return to God? Is it the Creator’s plan that the diverse factions of the Christian church be united in a way to take back our country for God?” (Pg. 177)
This book may appeal to Evangelicals wanting to justify their support of Trump.
November 12, 2018
*I'm Going to attempt to give this an honest review despite the strong political tones of this book. The review will be brief. Also preface by saying that I personally do not agree with Donald Trump nor am I particularly right wing (in an American context)
Let's start with the good/productive parts of the book:
As a non-religious person, my mind was opened to the power and importance of the evangelical vote in America. Faith is a VERY important aspect of many peoples lives and when they vote, they want to vote for someone who at the bare minimum, respects and will not impede on one's ability to practice and share such faith. I also have a much better understanding of the specific political issues the evangelical community (however, I still have vast disagreements with many of these issues)
Now for the bad, and its not a bunch of small problems; it is one big problem. This book does a horrendous job of trying to convince anyone who is not already an evangelical Trump supporter. Throughout the book, there are vicious strawman attacks of different opinions on issues and many broad political claims are made with zero evidence to support them. This is at its worst in chapters 9 and 10. To be fair, maybe the purpose of this book was not to convince anyone of differing opinions but the reaffirm those who already support Trump. I came into this book with the most open of mind possible. I didn't hate read it or begrudgingly read it like many other reviewers but I was definitely disappointed once I reached the conclusion.
*I may add more to review later but I think this suffices for now.
For those who want to hate the review, that's fine but maybe it would help if you knew that I thought Clinton and Trump were both Terrible candidates for the 2016 election. Do with that what you will.
Let's start with the good/productive parts of the book:
As a non-religious person, my mind was opened to the power and importance of the evangelical vote in America. Faith is a VERY important aspect of many peoples lives and when they vote, they want to vote for someone who at the bare minimum, respects and will not impede on one's ability to practice and share such faith. I also have a much better understanding of the specific political issues the evangelical community (however, I still have vast disagreements with many of these issues)
Now for the bad, and its not a bunch of small problems; it is one big problem. This book does a horrendous job of trying to convince anyone who is not already an evangelical Trump supporter. Throughout the book, there are vicious strawman attacks of different opinions on issues and many broad political claims are made with zero evidence to support them. This is at its worst in chapters 9 and 10. To be fair, maybe the purpose of this book was not to convince anyone of differing opinions but the reaffirm those who already support Trump. I came into this book with the most open of mind possible. I didn't hate read it or begrudgingly read it like many other reviewers but I was definitely disappointed once I reached the conclusion.
*I may add more to review later but I think this suffices for now.
For those who want to hate the review, that's fine but maybe it would help if you knew that I thought Clinton and Trump were both Terrible candidates for the 2016 election. Do with that what you will.
January 1, 2018
God and Donald Trump
Very enlightening. Avery different take on the man, outside of his brash exterior, and more heavily publicized personal. Enlightening, and what I have felt in knight from day one.
Very enlightening. Avery different take on the man, outside of his brash exterior, and more heavily publicized personal. Enlightening, and what I have felt in knight from day one.
February 16, 2018
Interesting insight that you'll never hear from most other places.
July 26, 2018
The effect of faithful men
This book is more a detailing of what went on behind the scenes years before Donald Trump threw his hat in the ring, and forward to his inauguration. It shows what can happen when we humbly and boldly pray for our nation to return to its Christian roots. And it shows how a sovereign God can raise up an unlikely vessel to accomplish His purposes - for such a time as this.
This book is more a detailing of what went on behind the scenes years before Donald Trump threw his hat in the ring, and forward to his inauguration. It shows what can happen when we humbly and boldly pray for our nation to return to its Christian roots. And it shows how a sovereign God can raise up an unlikely vessel to accomplish His purposes - for such a time as this.
July 21, 2018
Written from a Pentecostal perspective this shares the many people who though he may not represent the best of humanity he was better then the other option. While this may not turn a Never Trump person it is insightful.
Later profiles his children then back to political landscape. 2020?
Later profiles his children then back to political landscape. 2020?
October 4, 2019
actually pretty encouraging - a very unique look at how many view the raise of our current president - pretty surprising and a positive balancing effect which I needed in order to counter the non-stop negative rhetoric of what I'm more accustomed to hearing ...
February 23, 2020
Honestly, it was hard to get through... it was just kind of boring... I read it to see a different side of trump and I don’t feel like the author did that. He had a lot of anecdotal evidence but nothing that really said yes this is how Trump really feels or believes.
August 7, 2020
Interesting reading
I learned so much from this book. I supported Trump in 2016 because I felt I had no other choice. I have a whole new appreciation for the man after reading this book.
I learned so much from this book. I supported Trump in 2016 because I felt I had no other choice. I have a whole new appreciation for the man after reading this book.
December 13, 2018
Enjoyed reading the real story that you will never hear in or “Free Press”
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