CONDOLENCES to the deeply discouraged and worried half of the country.
I’d like to say more, but I’ve already said it on The Casual English Bible® blog site. So, I’m not supposed to repeat it here. Google punishes us for that kind of thing.
But if, like me, you stayed up most of the night—to your horror—I have some advice. It’s not mine, though, I borrowed it from the baseball coaches of my grandsons, ages 6 and 8.
There’s some Bible reminders, too, about what our attitude should be toward government leaders. And since the Bible writer lived when the tyrant Nero led Rome, I’m guessing Paul would say his reminder is for us, too.
So, here’s the link to the blog: Condolences for Christians bummed about the election results. And you can sign up to the new Casual English Bible® blog series below.
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Thank you for leading me to a more hopeful look.
Maryann,
Thank you. You help balance out the critical email I just took from a polite pastor who tried to convince me that the policies of the winner represent the correct biblical worldview. I answered him that there is no biblical worldview apart from the character of a man. I should have added “or a woman.”
Wretched character aside, what’s biblical about me-first, America-first, governing a woman’s body, and deporting people who grew up here through no fault of their own?
These are godless policies. And some of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus will react to those Christians who hold those policies the way Jesus reacted to Pharisees. That is the biblical worldview.
Peace to you. And peace to America. But give Americans a few weeks to calm down. Then give us two years to tweak the system and two more to finish fixing it.
Steve
I’m leaving this comment four days after I heard the news! Has it only been 4 days? Time moves differently when we are responding to shock and facing the unknown. I was searching my journals the other day and came across the first entry (two weeks!) after Covid Shut down and was surprised at the similarities I felt then and now.
I also recall the same shock and unknown after 9/11.
It has been validating to know I am not the only one shocked and dismayed at what our nation has done.
I think too I have been in mourning for our nation and the world like a mother/parent mourns when her children start making poor choices and start hanging out with gang leaders and criminals. It looks good to them, powerful friends, prestige, money. But chances are the more enmeshed they become in there choices, in the end it will cost them their freedom or even their life.
I’m glad you mentioned being ashamed for what our nation has done because I do. I never wanted to believe my nation could end up on the wrong side of history, but now I am not so sure we wont. I do not want to be remembered as the generation that shouted for the release of Barabas and the Crucifixion of Jesus. But God helped me to see that for His purpose to be accomplished, the crowd had to choose the criminal and murderer. And while I know how the story goes and ends and and it needed to be or I wouldn’t have a relationship with God as I do today, my heart still cringes at that moment in time when the innocent Christ was rejected (and condemned) and the criminal was chosen.
I believe that God has been working very diligently in my personal life for this moment in time. I see the miracles of connection and prayer I’ve experienced with others (who do not see things like I do) and have a sense that we are venturing into an unknown where we will experience and know that the light shines brightest in the darkness. Though truth me told, I’ve always been afraid of that darkness.
I’ve also struggled with the idea that I am ‘seeing’ something that is not being ‘seen’ by 51% of the population. My 80 year old aunt explained to me that three of the religious leaders that she believes speak the truth had been urging their listener not to vote based on (what you see-I cant remember at the moment what word was used but don’t think it was personality but that is the word that keeps coming to mind…) but on policy, and then gave me a hand out that highlighted what policies the different candidates supported. When I did a little research because what it was saying seemed off, I did find that the policies that were being touted as support were constitutional law which I don’t think can be changed by the opponent’s ‘policies’ or even their own.
I’ve struggled since 2020 with was what I was ‘seeing’ based on the truth of what I ‘saw’ or highly colored by the trauma I experienced at the hands of an abuser that was a lier, manipulator, that said and did whatever it took to get and keep getting what their self-serving needs believed was their right to have at my expense and detriment? (The enemy seeks only to steel, kill, and destroy). I was only one year into the intense therapy I was finally at a place in my life to receive to begin seeing the truth about what I had experienced and begin the long and arduous process of unraveling what I have come to recognize as trauma survival belief that has kept me locked in the affects of that trauma.
I have been able to separate my experience from those I see around me. I know that they are not my abuser. BUT that hasn’t changed the truth of what I was seeing in 2020 and what I am still seeing today! What has changed is my reaction to what I am seeing. I’m no longer cowering in fear, hiding in my closet because the insurrectionists are going to storm my house next. I am seeing the truth of what our nation has done and the truth of what it might mean to us and the world and the hardships that may lie ahead for many if not all. But I am not afraid. God is love and perfect love casts out all fear and I trust that His love with shine brightly through me regardless of the darkness, and in the end, shining through us all, will dispel, overcome, and defeat the darkness!
In the meantime I will continue my prayer for the whole world (pray big, right?) that God would forgive each of us our sins, so that he can pour out His Spirit on us, opening our eyes to see and opening our ears to hear so that our hearts may turn to Him. That we would seek him, find him, and know Him (or know Him more), as Lord and Savior, Father God, Wonderful Counselor! Being known by God and knowing we are known my God! What greater joy can there be!
Thank you for the opportunity to share what’s been on my heart. God Bless you!