Pastor Paula White from the New Destiny Christian Center in Apopka, Florida is one of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's biggest supporters, and the televangelist has often defended Trump's Christianity among naysayers.
White says Jesus isn't judgmental with people, and yet, "too many Christians have spent way too much time judging Mr. Trump and his relationship with Christ." For them, White has this message to share: "God is the only one who knows the heart of a man and it is above our pay grade to be his judge."
Personally, White can attest to Trump's Christianity since they were able to forge a friendship because of their love of God. "For nearly 15 years, I've had countless conversations with Donald Trump about the Bible. In fact, I met him because he watches Christian television and he was moved by one of my sermons: 'The Value of Vision,'" White shares with The Christian Post.
White says Trump tracked her down to have a conversation with her about his Christian beliefs, and she was amazed how the business mogul remembered her sermon, "almost word-for-word." As their friendship developed, White says their conversations ranged not only from faith, but also to family and world events.
"Prior to the last presidential cycle, I distinctly remember a time he asked me to bring some friends to the Trump Tower to pray with him," she says. "He was trying to decide whether God was leading him to run for president and he wanted us to spend some time with him in prayer over that question. At the end of that informal prayer meeting, he decided it wasn't the right time."
Many people might continuously question Trump's faith, but for White, she has no doubt about the man's love for God. "My observation and experience is that faith has been instrumental in his life. Like many Christians, his understanding of the Bible has grown and is growing," she says.
Trump considers his faith as something personal and private, although he has spoken about it publicly on and off over the years. Even though there are some people who adamantly refuse to believe in Trump's Christianity, White simply takes Trump's word for it.
"In my entire ministry, I've just chosen to take people at their word. If the man hanging on the cross next to Jesus can profess his faith so quickly, just before his death, and be welcomed into Kingdom, then surely Christians ought to give Mr. Trump the benefit of the doubt," she says.
