Is the main tenet of Christianity understood?
Rev Charlie (September 2025)
I recently saw a compilation of comments made by Donald Trump about salvation and it shocked me. The comments were as follows:
2015 – In answer to the question, ‘Have you ever asked God for forgiveness’, Trump replied, ‘That’s a tough question. I don’t think in terms of… I’m a religious person – I’m not sure I have – I just want to try and do a better job from there.’
2016 – In answer to the same question, Trump said, ‘I like to be good - I don’t like to ask for forgiveness – and I am good. I don’t do a lot of things that are bad. I try to do nothing that’s bad.’
2024 – When asked, ‘Do you believe in heaven?’, Trump responded, ‘I do. If I’m good I’m going to heaven – and if I’m bad, I’m going someplace else.’
2025 – ‘If I can save 7,000 people from being killed – I think that’s pretty… I want to try and get to heaven if possible. I’m hearing I’m not doing well – I’m really at the bottom of the totem pole – but if I can get to heaven – this will be one of the reasons.’
I was shocked by these remarks because they demonstrate that Trump’s understanding of the Gospel is literally the opposite of what the Bible teaches. I was astounded that the most powerful person alive (humanly speaking), surrounded by advisors, many of whom profess to be Christians, could have such an enormous misapprehension about the most important truth ever conveyed.
I was still musing on this when, during a conversion with someone who grew up in a Christian home, I broached the subject of his personal faith. He said something along the lines of, ‘I understand the Christian message – that we must live a good life and do the right thing.’
The idea that we can earn a place in ‘heaven’ through our moral effort is ubiquitous, largely because it is taught, in one form or another, by nearly all the world’s religions. However, this is not what Christianity teaches, though it would seem that many professing Christians believe that it does.
The Bible is very clear that there is nothing we can do to earn God’s love, approval, or forgiveness. We can never be ‘good enough’ because the standard is perfection. As is says in Romans 3: 10, ‘There is no one righteous, not even one.’ If we could earn our way to heaven by being good, Jesus would not have had to die. But Jesus did die, and he did so to nullify the sins of all those who are willing to worship and follow him.
The problems of believing that we must earn our salvation are manifold. For those who believe themselves to be ‘good’ in the truest sense of the word, it leads to pride and dispenses with the need for Jesus and his Church. For those who acknowledge their failings, it leads to despair and makes them feel that they are not good enough to be part of the Church. Moreover, the idea that one earns their place in heaven perpetuates doubt, fear and the pressure to perform. When a person understands the Gospel and puts their faith in Jesus, they are freed from all of that. What is more, they will be filled with the Holy Spirit who will help them to become more like Jesus, who is the only perfect person who ever lived.
Whether or not Trump saves 7,000 people from being killed will have no bearing on his standing before God. If only someone would tell him that. If only the Church could do a better job of articulating its faith.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
(Ephesians 2: 8-9)
