The pastor who prayed for President Trump this weekend during his impromptu visit to McLean Bible Church in McLean, Va., has issued a lengthy, apologetic statement clarifying why he did what he did.

Just in case you were wondering how broken and hyper-political we have become as a society.

“I know that some within our church, for a variety of valid reasons, are hurt that I made this decision. This weighs heavy on my heart. I love every member of this church, and I only want to lead us with God’s Word in a way that transcends political party and position, heals the hurts of racial division and injustice, and honors every man and woman made in the image of God,” writes Pastor David Platt.

Trump stopped at McLean Bible Church Sunday morning to “visit with the pastor and pray for the victims and community" of Virginia Beach, which just suffered a mass shooting event, according to a White House representative.

Platt's nearly 900-word long clarification this week adds, “So while I am thankful that we had an opportunity to obey 1 Timothy 2 in a unique way today, I don’t want to purposely ever do anything that undermines the unity we have in Christ.”

I disagree slightly with those who have characterized Platt’s statement as an apology. It is not quite that, though it certainly contains a great deal of sheepish throat-clearing and excuse-making. But whether this is technically an apology or not is not the point.

The point is that it's insane a Christian leader felt compelled to explain his decision to pray for another human.

Prayer is the most fundamental and routine of Christian practices. Christians pray for everyone, especially those who appear to be less than righteous. That is sort of the point.

Moreover, it is standard practice (in the United States at least) for Christians to pray for world leaders during church services. Speaking as a Catholic, I can confirm that nearly every Mass I have attended in my life has included a prayer for the current president, including Trump, Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush, etc.

The McLean Bible Church incident is made all the more insane considering Platt’s prayer was perfectly appropriate and reverent. It was not one of those obscene tongue-bathings that Trump has enjoyed in the past from Christian activists like Jerry Falwell, Jr.

Platt prayed for God to give the president grace and mercy. He asked that God would show the president how much he loves him. He prayed that Trump would look to God, that the president would trust in Him, and that the president would “lean on” him. Platt prayed that the president would “govern and make decisions in ways that are good for justice, and good for righteousness, and good for equity, every good path.” He asked that God would help Trump to govern in ways that “lead to peaceful and quiet lives, godly and dignified in every way.” But most of all, Platt prayed repeatedly for God to grant Trump wisdom.

That the pastor of McLean Bible Church felt it was necessary to defend his prayer speaks either to a brokenness in society or a brokenness in that congregation specifically. I am not sure which one it is. Perhaps it is a little bit of both.