The big news this week has been about the president’s outlandish and boastful misuse of social media, claiming he is better than and more popular than presidents Washington and Lincoln. President Trump’s obsession with power has blinded him to the truth about his actions and popularity; he clearly lacks the humility of a godly leader:
- Prideful
- Deceptive
- Vengeful
- Uncompassionate
His shocking behavior continued as Pres. Trump attacked Congressman and Congresswomen who put out a video to remind our Armed Forces that they do not have to follow illegal or unlawful orders of any president. The president called for these representatives to be arrested and executed for sedition.
The president used his own social media network to continue attacking the lawmakers who opposed his actions and orders against American citizens and attacks against Venezuela without any proof of illegal activity.
President Trump even claimed that President Washington would execute the traitors himself. The president’s pride and arrogance have led him to boast about his accomplishments instead of letting others praise him; he condemns those who refuse to praise or obey him.
The problem isn’t a political one, but one we all must fight against; our hearts are evil and boastful, except for boasting in God and His greatness (Proverbs 27:1-2, James 4:16).
What Is Boasting
Boasting is something we all have done at some point, although we have all been annoyed by the prideful boasting of others. Boasting is defined as “A statement expressing excessive pride in oneself.”
Boasting is a form of self-praise that we lavish upon ourselves because we think too much about ourselves. This prideful act only glorifies ourselves instead of glorifying God. That is why boasting is not just a moral problem, it is a spiritual one (Psalm 34:2, 1 Corinthians 4:7).
This is why the Bible has a lot to say about boasting, why it is wrong, and when it is acceptable (Jeremiah 9:23, 1 Timothy 3:1-5, James 3:14). The Bible warns us that boasting is evil and comes from our corrupt heart (Jeremiah 9: 23-24, Mark 7: 21-23, James 4:16).
Boasting focuses on glorifying ourselves instead of glorifying God. When we boast ourselves, we exalt ourselves over the greatness of God (Psalm 19:1, Galatians 6:14).
It is a prideful act of the world, and it is not something God’s people should do at all unless they are boasting about God (Romans 3:27-31; 11:1-36, 1 Corinthians 1:31; 3:21, 2 Corinthians 10:17, Galatians 6: 1-18, Ephesians 2:8-10). The Apostle Paul remembered his Jewish education about boasting and when it is appropriate.
Hālal
The Torah tells us that after the fall, mankind aspired to be great like God instead of humbly following God and His ways (Genesis 3:5; 11:1-9). Instead of following the ways of God, man followed the prideful ways of Satan (Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:12-17).
The world took pride in its accomplishments, and nations boasted about their greatness and power. The Hebrew word for boast in the Old Testament is a little confusing; hālal can also mean “Praise, glory, shine, celebrate, give, or foolish,” depending on the context it is used in.
God set His people apart from this corrupt world to follow and obey His righteous ways (Leviticus 20:26, Deuteronomy 7:6). God’s people are called to honor and worship only Him. This is why the Jewish people also offer a prayer of praise and thanksgiving called “Hallel” for His goodness and faithfulness.
Judaism also condemns all boasting as evil, except for boasting about God; boasting comes from our evil hearts (Ecclesiastes 9:3, Jeremiah 17:9):
- Pride
- Arrogance
When the Messiah came as a humble servant King, he didn’t even claim to be equal with God, although He is God (John 10:30, Philippians 2:6). When Jesus performed great miracles, He did not boast, but told others not to share and gave glory to God the Father (John 5:19-20; 11:40-42).
Our Rabbi taught his Disciples not to exult or boast about themselves, but let others praise them (Matthew 23:12, Luke 14:10-11). He chose service over lip service to glorify God.
Our Lord rebuked the Pharisees and the religious leaders of His day for their showy faith and prideful ways (Matthew 23:1-36, Mark 12:38-40, Luke 18:9-14). The truth was that even the religious experts and leaders were boasting about themselves instead of giving God the glory.
Truth Social
In other big news this week, President Trump returned to his boastful social media platform to brag that Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was resigning from Congress because she lost his support.
The truth social platform has been used for anything but sharing the truth; it is nothing but a cesspool of conspiracy theories and false witnesses against the left or anyone who disagrees with the president or MAGA (Exodus 20:16)
The entire MAGA agenda is a blasphemous boast about pursuing an earthly kingdom, instead of humbly following our true Savior. What the movement and many conservatives continue to forget is what greatness really is and where it comes from, not ourselves or the things of this world (1 Chronicles 29:11-12, Isaiah 40:28-31, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31). Earthly greatness is the opposite of God’s greatness:
- Prideful
- Greedy
- Deceptive
- Vengeful
Case in point is the president’s continued bragging and boasting about His popularity on Truth Social, which has been proven otherwise by other media outlets, even Fox News has the president polling badly.
God’s people should only praise and boast about God and His greatness, not a man or ourselves (Psalm 44:8, 1 Corinthians 1:31). It is impossible to glorify God if it is only in ourselves that we hālal.
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