what now?
/I'll start this post with a disclaimer: I am not a political commentator by any means - the Bible is more my territory and that's what I'm going to stick with, because I think it has many wise principles that are quite relevant to the Church on November 9, 2016.
I've spent a lot of time online today reading the multitude of reactions to last night's event, particularly the reactions of Christians. So far, they've ranged from articles entitled "Four Problems Associated with White Evangelical Support of Trump" to statements like "You can't be a Christian and have voted for Donald Trump." Notwithstanding a piece by Catholic conservative blogger Matt Walsh, I haven't seen a single truly positive sentiment regarding the outcome of the election, which seems unbelievable considering Trump handily won the electoral college and barely lost the popular vote - and considering that the alternative to a Trump win was a Clinton win, which I would have thought to be far less palatable to Christians, at least, even than Donald Trump.
The overwhelming question seems to be "What now?" While liberals protest and mourn Hillary's defeat, the Church seems to be at a loss; and if I am any representative of conservatism, many of us just voted in a candidate we didn't necessarily like, and are now being mocked and attacked from every direction, even from within the body. From both ends of the political spectrum there seems to be a spirit of hopelessness, as if evil has prevailed and we've lost our nation and have nothing to cling to anymore.
And that's why I'm here, writing about something I almost never write about - because someone needs to plead with the Church to snap out of it.
What now?
First of all, the reality is that evil did not unexpectedly prevail last night.
It prevailed ages ago in the Garden of Eden and has been warring against God ever since. This is part of the plan, part of the incredible epic story continuously unfolding about Who God is. It's not new and certainly isn't surprising to Him!
What now, you ask? Now is the time to keep doing what you've always been called to do - what would have been your responsibility if Hillary had won and what has been your responsibility throughout Obama's presidency, and George W. Bush's, and Bill Clinton's, and every president that came before them: to live in obedience to the law of God, to honor the leadership God has appointed, and to pray for the welfare of your nation.
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. . . . Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
1 Peter 2:13-15, 17
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, "Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare."
Jeremiah 29:4-7
Secondly, today is not the day we lost our status as a Christian nation.
Or even lost our "evangelical credibility." These things have been crumbling for decades. If you thought yesterday, last year, or even multiple presidents ago that the United States was a Christian nation, you've been very misinformed. The only nation ever actually chosen by God to be His people is the nation of Israel. Israel is still God's chosen people (although they have rejected that role), but the United States of America never was - even though the U.S. has certainly been richly and undeservedly blessed. So there's no need to be surprised and outraged when Christian values aren't upheld in our culture or our politics, or when there isn't a Billy Graham to select on your ballot.
This is why I used an example from the book of Jeremiah above. We as believers are a people exiled to a foreign land. Like Israel in Babylon, this country, even this earth, is not our home; and yet God has a life and purpose for us here for a little while. We are to intercede for this country's welfare even though it's not always hospitable to us.
So what now, you ask? Now is the time to be a vigilant and obedient follower of Christ, as Daniel was during his life of exile in Babylon. Instead of expecting your political leaders (who may or may not be Christians) to uphold the highest extent of Christian values so you'll look more righteous by having voted for them, put those expectations where they belong, which is on yourself and on your brothers and sisters in Christ, whose call is to carry the Holy Spirit's light into the world. The "credibility" of Christians in the eyes of the world will never be restored based on your vote, but the life you lead can and will be a representation of Jesus Christ to the world, whether for better or for worse.
Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.
Daniel 6:3-4
Third - politics can never solve what is wrong with America.
If we are really clinging to the idea that politics can answer our concerns for our country and our worries about the future of the world, we need to take a serious look at our hearts and our understanding of God and His Word. What's wrong with America is the same thing that was/is wrong with me and you and every human being since the fall of Adam: sin, and our consequent separation from God and vulnerability to Satan. Why do we expect year after year to change this by electing new leadership, when the problem was solved two thousand years ago by the Son of God?! If a savior is what you seek, WE HAVE ONE. Don't look for him at the polls or in Washington D.C., look for Him in the sky - His return and the deliverance of His people are imminent.
What now, you ask? Now is the time to redirect the energy we've wasted on fretting about our political options to the real task of unifying the Church behind its actual purpose, which is to take the message and example of reconciliation to the world, and to raise up true and effective disciples of Christ who can help us carry the torch.
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. . . . Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:18, 20-21
Yes, this has been a complex election and we as believers have had to make difficult decisions about our votes. It is valid and wise that we have each put so much thought and care into those decisions. Now, regardless of our personal convictions, the outcome has been decided - and this is no time for hopelessness! The Lord God Almighty reigns, and like it or not, He has a plan for the presidency of Donald Trump.
He also has a plan for His Church. It's long past time we get to work fulfilling it.
Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time - He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
1 Timothy 6:12-16
