Evangelical pastor apologizes for ‘hurt’
caused by praying for Trump during unscheduled visit
Washington Examiner,
by
Caitlin Yilek
Original Article
Posted By: JoniTx,
6/4/2019 7:59:08 AM
The pastor of McLean Bible Church apologized for hurting some members of his congregation by praying for President Trump during an unscheduled visit.Trump visited the northern Virginia church on Sunday on his way back to the White House during a golf outing. His appearance at the church came the same day that evangelist Franklin Graham called for a special day of prayer for Trump. Pastor David Platt said Trump’s visit was unexpected and he didn’t have time to think through his actions.“My aim was in no way to endorse the president, his policies, or his party,
Reply 1 - Posted by:
NorthernDog 6/4/2019 8:09:40 AM (No. 90457)
FTA:I know that some within our church, for a variety of valid reasons, are hurt that I made this decision,
They are hurt that the pastor prayed for the President of the United States? Seems like those folks could use a good sermon on whom to pray for.
69 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
WhamDBambam 6/4/2019 8:11:03 AM (No. 90459)
Ah, the courage of our modern "religious leaders."
57 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
spacer 6/4/2019 8:21:51 AM (No. 90466)
" Yea tho I walk through the Valley......" Well not so much, huh Rev?
26 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
jacksin5 6/4/2019 8:24:18 AM (No. 90471)
Praying for sinners is something we need to apologize for now? P.S. In my bible, we are all sinners.
33 people like this.
What we want is a leader. Trump was elected because someone finally stood up and said this is what we are going to try for the good of our country instead of blowing in the wind apologizing for everything. Ministers should do the same. The Bible says to pray for our leaders.
36 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Namma 6/4/2019 8:25:26 AM (No. 90473)
So the pastor is saying that if I say a prayer for the person who committed these killings, because that person may be mentally ill, but still has a SOUL, that I condone his behavior. This pastor is nuts. Glad he is not my pastor.
28 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
Highlander 6/4/2019 8:25:56 AM (No. 90475)
The headline misleads and references made to his “apology” is not supported by the pastor’s direct statements. He did not apologize. He did the right and Godly thing to pray for Trump and the nation. His critics need to do more bible study or butt out.
15 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
Turninggrey 6/4/2019 8:29:41 AM (No. 90481)
Apologizing is so cowardly. Another weak man of God.
15 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
ROLFNader 6/4/2019 8:37:10 AM (No. 90484)
Go lay down by your dish, er , collection plate....
6 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
Rumblehog 6/4/2019 8:43:30 AM (No. 90488)
We are all mandated to pray for our national leaders, per the Scripture! Why is this Pastor apologizing for following Scripture? How can it "hurt" a member of his congregation to pray for another? A true leader would eject such a member from his flock as being a wolf in sheep's clothing.
22 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
dovestar 6/4/2019 8:49:55 AM (No. 90494)
There are so few priests and ministers emboldened by the Holy Spirit nowadays, it's no wonder the sheep are lost.
19 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
jinx 6/4/2019 8:52:20 AM (No. 90499)
It is "pastors" like him who give Christianity a bad name. What a hypocrite. He obviously has no idea who Jesus Christ is or what he preached. I pray for Donald Trump every day and I also prayed for Obama.
12 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
raspberry 6/4/2019 8:53:45 AM (No. 90502)
Those hurt and offended by prayers for Trump should be reminded that they are to pray for their enemies. Alas, another minister apologist without backbone or convictions. He tries to be all things to all people.
17 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
Chuzzles 6/4/2019 8:58:04 AM (No. 90506)
Disagree with the earlier poster. This pastor fumbled big time. Instead of worrying more about the snowflakes, he should have given a sermon about praying for our leaders, and that if somebody walks into the church and wants to pray, who are those snowflakes to deny them that right? With that attitude, they should worry more about how God views THEM. Besides praying for leaders, the Bible also admonishes us about being aware of angels who may visit a church, so do not judge on appearance. The snowflakes did a mighty lot of judging, and that should not be apologized for.
16 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
TexasRose 6/4/2019 8:59:02 AM (No. 90507)
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, " I Tim. 2:4. Wasn't Nero the ruler at the time Paul wrote this?
15 people like this.
How pathetic.
17 people like this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
Nevadadad46 6/4/2019 9:09:24 AM (No. 90517)
I guess this fellow, who claims to be a preacher, that is someone educated in the passages of the Bible never heard of the passage from Mark 2: 15-17. Let me paste a bit of it for us so we can be refreshed-
Mark 2:15-17 King James Version (KJV)
15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Would that the man prayed for the President of the United States? Is he not doing as Jesus would have, even in the eyes of the President's enemies? Can there be no less educat4ed "Christians" than these people the good Pastor calls his congregation? It seems to me, he needs to do a sermon or two on the fundamentals of what it means to truly walk in the path Christ has set for them.
So, if I myself were a man of prayer, I would pray for him to receive guidance in that. But, since I am not, I will include that in my usual talk with God. (Yeah, I talk to God. I talk, He listens. I am continually amazed that He shows me how much he takes to heart my little musings. Sometimes, I think I even make Him laugh.)
11 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
Daria 6/4/2019 9:11:32 AM (No. 90520)
I would respectfully ask the pastor to refer those who are "hurt" by his actions to Luke 6: 27-28, Peter 1: 3-15 and maybe Romans 12:21. What's needed here is pastoral guidance, not backtracking - and yes I would say this if he had prayed for Obama.
9 people like this.
So let me get this straight, the so called Christians that belong to this church don't want their pastor praying for the President of the United States? So they decide who is worthy of prayer? Wow now that is really what I call a sin of pride, one of the most deadly, to think that you are better than someone else and not worthy of prayer. Shame on you, and shame on your pastor who give some garbage apology saying he did not have time to think about this. So tell us pastor how exactly would you have done it differently? Would you not pray for someone who asks you specifically to pray for them? I have never heard of such a thing, not in any Christian church I know of. Please tell us how wonderful your congregation must be to be so filled with hatred for a man they do not even know and who asks for nothing but prayer. This is the saddest and most disgusting thing I have heard in a long time and I hope that those people whose hearts are so filled with hate may find some way out of their misery. I pray for them to find their way.
18 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
Gnana1 6/4/2019 9:43:27 AM (No. 90552)
Well, cross the mega church off my schedule. A pastor should NEVER apologize for praying for anyone. What a crappy thing to do....
However, God heard the prayer, and stands by the man we call Trump. God also keeps a list of fake pastors who make lots of money from the pulpit.
This pastor in effect denied the power of prayer, the power of God, and caved to mere men/women.....or media pressure. Shame on Platt
12 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
AlpineLace 6/4/2019 9:47:57 AM (No. 90556)
Ummm, no he did not, fake news.
3 people like this.
Hey REV. My Bible says that only God chooses who will lead any nation! He is fully in control. Sorry about your butthurt congregation, but maybe some bible study instead of preaching about money and happy happy talk might help? No?
7 people like this.
Reply 23 - Posted by:
judy 6/4/2019 10:25:45 AM (No. 90580)
The Bible says pray for your leaders.
3 people like this.
Reply 24 - Posted by:
ebolamadcow 6/4/2019 10:37:30 AM (No. 90586)
Pastor, you're going to hell.
1 person likes this.
Reply 25 - Posted by:
msjena 6/4/2019 10:43:31 AM (No. 90593)
#26, judge not. I think the pastor is a sincere Christian but I also think that he shouldn't have to apologize for praying for our President. Do people really think it would be a bad thing if God gave our elected leaders wisdom and strength?
5 people like this.
Reply 26 - Posted by:
dwa 6/4/2019 10:47:31 AM (No. 90594)
This person is not much of a pastor.
4 people like this.
Praying for leaders dates back to 586 BCE:
Specifically, the prayer for the government is a biblical prayer, and is read during the Saturday morning service on Shabbat. The concept of praying for the wellbeing of the government was started by the prophet Jeremiah after the first expulsion from Jerusalem. Seeing as the Jewish people could not govern themselves, they implored G-d to guide their foreign rulers. David Abudarham first introduced this prayer into the modern siddurim (prayer book) in the 14th century. Jews have adopted different prayers for the governments of the countries in which they live. The prayer is read aloud after the Torah reading, but before the Torah is placed back into the ark. This blessing asks G-d to guard the proceedings of the government and the nation’s leaders.
Jeremiah 29:7
7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
If this "preacher" actually taught his followers Torah/Bible, no explanation would be needed.
(Note, I am just an Orthodox Jewish guy, not hardly a Biblical scholar, and I know this. Pathetic)
5 people like this.
Reply 28 - Posted by:
Harlowe 6/4/2019 11:06:20 AM (No. 90610)
Although there are many passages in Scripture about those in authority, 1 Timothy 2:1-2 is very clear: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”
6 people like this.
Reply 29 - Posted by:
Moritz55 6/4/2019 11:14:52 AM (No. 90617)
Retired Lutheran pastor here. We always had prayers for those in authority. But in addition, I always hold the members of my churches that if they voted for those who got elected, they ought to pray for them; if they didn’t vote for those who got elected, that’s all the more reason to pray for them. I used to pray a lot for Obama.
12 people like this.
Reply 30 - Posted by:
SALady 6/4/2019 11:42:17 AM (No. 90633)
If that were my congregation, this coward would be gone or I would!!!!
When you are such a coward that you feel the need to apologize for saying a prayer for the president of the United States -- your president and the president of everyone in your congregation -- that is clearly not God working through your words or actions!!!!
This poser had better decide who he is going to serve!!!!
4 people like this.
Reply 31 - Posted by:
SabraJet 6/4/2019 11:42:22 AM (No. 90635)
Just basic 101 Christianity that the Reverend must have skipped over, Jesus said that we were to pray for those in power. He said that when Harold the Greats awful sons were governing Israel and Roman Emperors ruled them. At no time did he say pray only for those leaders you agree with. Yes, and pray for the Clinton and Obama's of this world.
1 person likes this.
Reply 32 - Posted by:
franq 6/4/2019 11:59:23 AM (No. 90647)
This seemed very disturbing, based on the headline. Read what Rev. Platt actually said. Doesn't sound like an apology to me, nor should it.
1 person likes this.
Reply 33 - Posted by:
mizzmac 6/4/2019 12:17:53 PM (No. 90655)
An elder in my evangelical church changed the words of the Lord's Prayer in worship to pray for illegal immigrants and ask forgiveness for those of us who have not welcomed them with open arms, no questions asked. And nobody apologized for hurting anyone. The presence of politics and politicians in church is only permissible if they are liberal. Conservatism is equated more and more with hate, and Christian conservatives are seen as being in need of repentance for their views.
2 people like this.
Reply 34 - Posted by:
felixcat 6/4/2019 12:28:33 PM (No. 90666)
Another poster stated yesterday about this pastor that he was a good guy. Maybe, but he is weak.
1 person likes this.
Reply 35 - Posted by:
Tennman 6/4/2019 12:47:22 PM (No. 90674)
It's often said that when Christ returns and calls his children home, many, many churches will cocntinue as if nothing ocurred. Looks like this one can be added to the list. Sure not acting Christian at all.
0 people like this.
Reply 36 - Posted by:
TXknitter 6/4/2019 5:40:26 PM (No. 90790)
Thank you so much, #32. The passivity and the cowardice of so many believers today is sickening.
0 people like this.
Reply 37 - Posted by:
franq 6/4/2019 6:15:33 PM (No. 90804)
It still seems like the headline is twisting it.
0 people like this.
Reply 38 - Posted by:
Trigger2 6/5/2019 7:00:35 AM (No. 90998)
Some pastor he is. Obviously unqualified to be one.
0 people like this.
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