Dear Donald

Illustration: “Trump official portrait” by By Daniel Torok, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

An Agape letter to the 47th President of the United States

Dear Donald:

We love you.

We do not mean that we love what you have done or necessarily what you are doing. Rather, we love your soul. We love you as a person created in the image of God.

You probably do not know us, but we Canadians are aware of you. As the leader of the nation with whom we share a long, undefended border in an extraordinary time in our world’s history, we cannot help but be aware.

Who are we? We are believers in and followers of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the One who was with God when the world was created, the One who came down to live among us in human form but without sin, the One who willingly gave His life for us and whose Holy Spirit remains with us. We acknowledge Jesus as the only Way to God, the source of Truth and the key to eternal life in Heaven. We are citizens and residents of Canada, whose Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) begins with the bold statement that “Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law.”

We love simply because God loved us first (1 John 4:19).

“We are citizens and residents of Canada, whose Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) begins with the bold statement that “Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law.”

We love you the way Jesus Christ commanded: unconditionally, the same way God the Father loves us. This love of God is what we call Agape: perfect, selfless, sacrificial and unconditional. We, as sinful beings, will never be able to fully achieve and practice Agape love in this life. However, we are commanded to try. Thus, we are called to love our neighbours with the same perfect love God has for the people He created in his image. Every living human soul is our neighbour, no matter where they live, what they believe or do.

“Agape love commands us not to get bogged down in arguments. Rather, we are commanded by Christ to “love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”

On this note, people are not our enemies. As the Apostle Paul put it: “we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Any battle we have in this human realm is actually a war between spiritual armies of good versus evil.

This is what Agape love looks like.

First, it keeps no record of being wronged (1 Corinthians 13:5). It does not list the ways we might be offended or threatened. On the contrary, love means that if someone wants to hurt us – and please understand the purpose of this letter is not to make any direct accusation to you – then if they “are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink” (Proverbs 25:21). Recent economic actions by your administration against our free exchange of goods and services are being understood by many of our fellow citizens as an act of aggression. Perhaps it is or perhaps not. It does not matter. Agape love commands us not to get bogged down in arguments. Rather, we are commanded by Christ to “love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45). Our True Father in Heaven, it is worth reminding, created each of us in His image and causes the sun to shine and the rain to gently fall upon all living beings, whether they know and love God or not.

“If all of this comes across as weak, we believe it is the opposite. Love stands strong where others cave. Love stands strong when others turn away.”

Second, Agape love challenges us to strive for perfection, just like our Father in heaven, (Matthew 5:48). Such perfect love must be “genuine” and honour the other with “delight” (Romans 12:10). It must be deep and sincere (1 Peter 1:22) sympathetic, tender and humble (1 Peter 3:8).

The bottom line is to love each other. “This is my command” (John 15:17) Yes, we follow the divine Commander in Chief.

If all of this comes across as weak, we believe it is the opposite. Love stands strong where others cave. Love stands strong when others turn away. Love is actually stronger than hate because it’s not easy to remain charitable to someone who does not respect you. It’s very easy to give in to anger and frustration and lash out. While that may be a feel good exercise which vents emotions it only lasts for a time and needs to be repeated. When that happens, we get violent and toxic, which is the opposite of love.

“We believe that the Church is the only hope for the world. No amount of political action or diplomacy will accomplish peace in our time for the simple reason that people’s hands are behind it.”

We are commanded to go into the world, baptize and teach and bring the Light of Christ into all places. That is the reason behind this letter. We believe that the Church is the only hope for the world. No amount of political action or diplomacy will accomplish peace in our time for the simple reason that people’s hands are behind it. It is only when we turn everything over to the Holy Spirit of Christ – the Prince of Peace, who was with God when the universe was created – that miracles happen.

And so, with Agape love, we wish God’s grace and peace to fall upon you and your administration. We pray for the Holy Spirit of Christ to fall upon you and dwell within you, now and always.

May the Peace of Christ be with you.

<signed> The editorial board of Living in Truth