While 2016 presidential hopeful Donald Trump has drawn condemnation from both sides of the political spectrum for his stance on women, Mexican immigration and other hot-button issues, some Christian leaders believe his unapologetic views are providing a much needed "shake-up" to the Republican party and a typically corrupt political process.
One such religious figure is Franklin Graham, the son of prominent evangelist Billy Graham, who took to Facebook on Monday to share his thoughts regarding the controversial businessman.
Graham, who is the president of both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, first clarified he is not endorsing Trump or any other candidate.
"[B]ut one thing's for sure-he's shaking up the Republican party and the political process overall. And it needs shaking up!" Graham continued. "Washington has become so corrupt and off-focus. We have some great individuals running for president in 2016. My advice to them? Stop taking cheap shots at each other and get back to telling the American people what you can do for this country and how you're going to do it. It is my prayer that God will give us a president who will look to Him for wisdom and direction as he or she leads this great nation."
Another Christian leader, Os Hillman, offered even stronger praise for the GOP candidate. In an op-ed titled "Is God Using Donald Trump to Wake Up the Nation?" published by Charisma News, Hillman, who is the president of Marketplace Leaders, argues that Trump is serving as an instrument of God and a modern "prophetic voice" to wake up the United States.
In elaborating on his comments, Hillman, who has authored 14 devotional books, explains that he believes Trump was sent by God "to uncover the veil of the current political leadership and culture in America."
"Trump is articulating what we all felt was under that veil-deception, lying, lack of accountability and pandering to what is politically correct. Trump is seeking to represent something that is the exact opposite," the "Change Agent" author writes.
He also criticizes current political leaders, including President Barack Obama and Democrat presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, for only taking a stand on issues to please the public "even at the expense of moral behavior."
Trump, however, "is espousing a new way of operating because he is sounding a trumpet to the nation that our nation is broken and needs to be fixed. He is becoming a new prophetic voice, albeit not necessarily spiritual, but certainly based on truth. What are those values?" Hillman contends.
He also praises Trump for proposing specific actions against illegal immigrants, for speaking his mind although his views despite media backlash, and for demanding accountability in our economic system of government.
Hillman concludes: "Will God use a secular businessman like Donald Trump to bring the nation back to some semblance of sanity? Can this be done without a spiritual awakening in its people? Only God knows the answer to that. However, one thing is for sure, he is stirring up the political establishment and may, at a minimum, infuse some accountability from the political leadership in this nation."
