Jesus had much to say about love and obedience. The connection between the two is unequivocal:

“If you love me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15

Jesus DID NOT say, “If you call yourself a Christian, your conduct no longer matters.” Unfortunately, one POTUS and his sycophants seem to believe otherwise.

But Jesus defined discipleship as more than merely professing faith, more than claiming a Christian identity, and more than simply invoking God’s name. He connected love for Him with obedience to His commands.

As my pastor so perfectly illuminated in a recent sermon, the Lord’s core message was not just “Believe in Me”…it was “Follow Me.”

Christianity is more than a label. Calling oneself a Christian does not alone establish that one is living as a disciple of Jesus. For instance, Donald Trump unabashedly asserts his faith. When he declares that he “hates his opponents” POTUS is not saying that the Bible is false. Rather, he is asserting that he refuses to obey it.

John 14:15 is a test of professed discipleship and Trump simply fails it. In fact, he does so repeatedly and unrepentantly – whether it is reflected in his pride, his greed, his adulteries, his lies, his mercilessness and/or his hate.

Of course, I do not know the heart of Donald Trump. Thus, I do not profess to judge it. But I can examine publicly observable behavior and compare it with God’s commands…as can each of us. We can – and must – judge his behavior. My observations suggest that his conduct does not reflect the teachings of the Christ he professes to follow.

Love for Jesus produces obedience, not defiance. I believe that one who claims to love Christ should take His commands seriously, even when doing so conflicts with personal ambition or political advantage. True Christians do not compromise in this conviction.

Donald Trump will be judged, as will we all. Perhaps the more relevant questions that we must each ask of ourselves are these: Do I maintain my fidelity to the Lord’s commands to love and care for others? Do I enable and encourage disobedience? Do I celebrate it?

Unfortunately, there are those who believe politics that prioritize power while disregarding the suffering of vulnerable people is Christian behavior. It is not.

If you choose to defend POTUS, I simply ask that you do not do so at the expense of Christ’s teachings. If you do, perhaps the issue of utmost importance is not whether POTUS is a Christian, but whether your political loyalties undermine your own loyalty to Jesus.

Remember…love for Jesus is not demonstrated by the label we claim but by the obedience we manifest.