Scripture says that a good name is better than gold or silver. But take a name, any name that Christ-followers are known by, and it won’t be long before efforts from without and within will be at work trying to destroy it. Unfortunately, that is part and parcel of Christianity’s existence in a fallen sinful world. But let us remember that the ultimate reason good names come under attack is at least two-fold. Reason one is to try to ruin the credibility of the person or persons bearing the name. And Reason two is to attempt to make the person or persons bearing the name feel too ashamed or afraid to continue doing what they are known for.

And there is a name that is currently under attack like never before. And that is the name “Evangelical”. Webster’s primary definitions of the word are that which is, “of, relating to, or being in agreement with the Christian gospel especially as it is presented in the four Gospels” and “emphasizing salvation by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ through personal conversion, the authority of Scripture, and the importance of preaching as contrasted with ritual”.

This name has come under increased attack in the last year since Republicans, through the election of President Trump, have regained majority control of the House and Senate. Along with this regime change of sorts came an unprecedented level of evangelical leaders having continual access to the Oval Office. And of course with such access comes a great responsibility to maintain the proper definition of evangelicalism while also praying for and attempting to advise the President on policy and other issues.

How successful has it been for evangelicals to have such access to our nation’s seat of power? It depends on your perspective. I’ll say that there are many things I can applaud about the influence evangelical leaders seem to be having over the President. But I must also admit that there appears to be some things seriously lacking. I wonder if any of these leaders are firmly counseling him on how to communicate more maturely as he fulfills his duties as Commander-in-Chief. But more than that, I hope and pray that through some of their efforts, the president will come to a clear saving knowledge of the truth in Jesus Christ. But that is my perspective. Perhaps some other born-again believer who actually gets to sit down with him sees great hope and knows more than I do about President Trump’s faith. I know a couple of those advisors. And I will give them the benefit of the doubt.

It is unfortunate that we get to see so many verbal missteps by President Trump. But it is also our president’s choice to so put himself out there each day. Is he always wrong? No. Is he always right? Of course not. But is he the president? Yes. 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And so I will continue to pray that he and all evangelicals involved in the governance of our great country will submit to Christ’s authority. But I also realize that not all will. In fact, to keep it Scriptural, let us never forget that there is a narrow way that leads to life, and only a few find it. Yet, there remains a broad way that leads to destruction, and many or most find it. And that biblical truth helps me to refrain from taking our government too seriously. I will not allow my position as an evangelical to be determined by what goes on in the White House. And I hope that you won’t either.

But the main reason I bring up the Trump White House is because anyone who has a pulse knows that the ongoing argument of the day is whether or not Trump is racist. I personally do not believe that he is. But I also can see how some would feel like he is. I continually maintain that I do not condone the use of sinful language by anyone, but especially not by the President of the United States. He is essentially the leader of the free world. It simply makes no good sense to me to use foul and vitriolic lang...