Why We Need Presidential Beauty | Lust Is Not Adultery | Another 'End of America' Book: The Galli Report

[Also: Lust Is Not Adultery | Another 'End of America' Book] Also: Lust Is Not Adultery | Another 'End of America' Book | [View online]( [ChristianityToday.org]( [The Galli Report newsletter]( Friday, February 02, 2018 Why We Need Presidential Beauty A couple of weeks ago, Donald Trump's sexual indiscretions were again front-page stories. Part of the conversation was, again, whether someone who lies to his wife and violates his marital vows can be trusted to govern effectively. I'd like to be able to argue that a character flaw of this nature sabotages one's ability to lead effectively, but history proves otherwise. Think of just recent presidents, each of whom had affairs: Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson—commonly recognized as some of our greatest recent national leaders (it's too early to tell if Bill Clinton will be considered in this class). So what exactly is the problem, then, if it seems to make no difference in the ability to lead a nation wisely? Why then make a stink about Trump's affairs? It's the same reason we should make a stink about his coarse language. As David Masciotra put it in "[The Darker Implications of Trump's Vulgarity](": The ill effects of public vulgarity aren't as evident as those of bad policy or failures of diplomacy, but they still degrade the American experience, making the general culture less habitable, less enjoyable, and even less beautiful. That's why character matters in Trump, and why it mattered in Bill Clinton and a host of others before him. It's just really hard to be proud of our nation and its leaders when they carry on like this. Lust Is Not Adultery At the risk of disagreeing with our Lord (I trust I'm only nuancing him!), I wrote [this piece]( last week. It's in response to the use of Scripture by one evangelical brother to justify Trump's affairs. Another 'End of America' Book Faithful readers of the GR know I'm more of a pessimist when it comes to the future of the nation. My instinct is that the American experiment, which is part of the large Enlightenment experiment of liberalism, is on its last legs. And books like Patrick Deneen's [Why Liberalism Failed]( only encourages my worst instincts. Sorry, but I seem to be late to the party on this book, which has been noted by New York Times columnists [David Brooks](, and [Russ Douthat](, as well as by writers in [The Federalist](, the [National Review](, [The Wall Street Journal](, and [The Week](, among other outlets. The one thing most of these reviewers have in common is that they each believe liberalism has the resources to make a recovery. Not sure what to make of that since Deneen thinks our perpetual optimism about the future is unwarranted and part of the problem. Go 'Amazon Go' For some, the real problem of America is not liberalism but Amazon.com. I admit to feeling that some days, only to turn around and read about its creation of [a grocery store without checkout lines](. And then I'm head over heels about modernity, technology, and the liberalism that brought it about! Grace and peace, [Mark Galli](mailto:GalliReport@christianitytoday.com) [Mark Galli](mailto:GalliReport@christianitytoday.com) [Mark Galli](mailto:GalliReport@christianitytoday.com) Editor in Chief, Christianity Today Sponsored by Jordan Tourism Board [Immerse Your Faith Family in HIS Story in Jordan]( Help your ministry members deepen their faith and fellowship through travel to the Holy Land. Our free #HolyJordan resources can help you prepare to lead a journey to Jordan--the Land of the Baptism. MyJordanJourney.com More from Christianity Today [Why the US Believes Global Religious Freedom Is Good Foreign Policy]( And just how successful America has been on promoting this value overseas. [Evangelism, Meet Soul Care]( Why we need to love ourselves to effectively love our neighbor and share the gospel. [Six Ways to Support and Challenge Those Who Leave Church]( How churchgoers can journey with their "done" brothers and sisters. Follow Us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [RSS]( [Subscribe to this newsletter]( IN THE MAGAZINE [Current Issue]( [Cover Story: Blessed Are the Handouts]( [In Defense of Pro-Life 'Hypocrisy']( [Cheering China's Urbana: Churches Poised to Become Major Exporters]( [View Full Issue]( [Subscribe Now]( Related CT Newsletters [CT Connection]( The official newsletter of the global media ministry. [Sign Up Now]( [CT Entertainment]( Reviews and perspectives on movies, TV, and music. [Sign Up Now]( //lists.christianitytoday.com/t/563750846/23299277/584566/0/ [The Galli Report]( Delivered via email to subscribers weekly. [Subscribe]( | [Email Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Advertise]( | [Subscribe to CT]( You are currently subscribed as: {EMAIL} Copyright ©2018 [ChristianityToday.org]( Christianity Today, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.