Dear Mr. President [Trump], Your Drive-By Tweeting War is Over. Please apologize.
Dear Mr. President [Trump],
Your Drive-By Tweeting War is Over. Please apologize.
You may not remember me, I was just an accidental civilian casualty who was momentarily caught in the cross-fire of your twitter war. Your aim was towards ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl (not Carl), but your vitriol and hatred found its mark in me. Our nation has become deeply divided and wounded under your leadership and your twitter war. Please help us heal.
In my first correspondence to you, I sent you the wisdom of President Lincoln.
In my final correspondence to you, I send you the wisdom of God from the Bible.
Please listen to Him. Please read this to the end. It is worth your attention.
I love you. I care for you. I am praying for you. I am thankful for you.
I am grateful for the many wonderful things you accomplished during your presidency. However, I am deeply concerned for you.
The Bible is clear that “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” and that “on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matthew 12:34–36). Please honestly assess your words and examine your heart.
Please apologize to God. God loves you. God cares for you. God sent His Son Jesus to die for you. God wrote the Bible for you to hear of His love, but also for you to hear the warnings of His judgment.
God is being patient with you. He hasn't given up on you. No matter your past, He desires your repentant heart now and forever. The Lord gave you life. Jesus has allowed you the privilege and responsibility of serving as President of the United States. Please evaluate your life, your presidency, and where you have sinned against your Creator.
Heed the example of King Nebuchadnezzar from 2,600 years ago in Babylon (Daniel 4). He boasted. He bragged. He did not humble himself. God disciplined him.
But then...King Nebuchadnezzar repented. The king apologized to God for his pride and arrogance. God forgave him. God healed him. God restored him. God used him again.
Daniel 4:27 “Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.” (ESV)
Mr. President, let my counsel be acceptable to you; humble yourself and confess your sins to the Living God. True repentance will bring you healing. Practice “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23, ESV)
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (ESV)
Please apologize to America. Please apologize to the world. God warns us that our sins harm others. He cautions us about those who are “lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:1–5).
Consider yourself. Are any of these characteristics in you?
If you see them, confess them. To God. To America. To the world.
Who is someone around you who you can tell has the love of God in them?
Ask them to be honest with you. Listen to their loving wisdom. Confess your sins to them. Ask for their prayers.
James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
Please apologize now. Finish your presidency with a humble apology. It’s not too late.
Please apologize specifically. Take ownership of your failures. Don’t be vague.
Please apologize without justification. Say “I’m sorry.” Don’t blame shift, name-call, finger-point, or boast.
Please ask for forgiveness. True apologies go beyond “I'm sorry” and ask “will you forgive me?” Ask for the forgiveness of your nation and world, and see the healing that follows.
Please give forgiveness to others. I see your hurt. I see your bitterness. Many have attacked you. Many will continue to attack and hate you. Forgive them and watch the Lord lift a burden from your soul.
Matthew 6:14–15 “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (ESV)
You will be remembered by how you finish. It isn’t too late to apologize. Please apologize. Please ask for forgiveness. Jesus will forgive you. Many across the world will forgive you. I forgive you. Humility will carry you further than pride. Let humility be your legacy.
I love you. God loves you.
Love God. Love your nation and world with a heart-felt apology.
In Christ,
Jonathan Carl (not Karl)
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." James 4:10
Background Posts & Follow-On Updates:
Original open letter to the President here:
"Dear Mr. President, I’m a Casualty of Your Drive-By Tweeting War. We All Are."
"Why Would a Southern Baptist Pastor Write a Controversial Letter to the President?"
"A Trump Twitter-Typo Visits the White House"
"A Prayer for Our Nation"