Did Anything Happen This Week..?
Many of us exercised our right to vote this week Tuesday, and somewhat surprisingly, the results of the Presidential election came in swiftly and overwhelmingly: Donald Trump will be the 47th President of the United States of America. Reactions to this reality are all over the map in the USA. Some of us are ecstatic and hopeful. Some of us are aggrieved. And, no doubt, reactions within our congregation are similarly all over the map. However, I’m happy to report that around Elmhurst CRC, things have been pretty calm, sane, and peaceful this week. There is one major reason for this: We have a vision that drives us that is higher and transcendent of current politics, no matter what their state.
This higher vision is summed up well in the Book of Hebrews, chapter 11, which speaks of the fathers and mothers who have gone before us in the faith as “longing for a better country.” I’m reminded of that profound phrase any time we have major elections, as well as anytime I have the opportunity to travel outside of the border of the USA. “Longing for a better country.”
On a purely American level, we are a people who are difficult to satisfy. We are people who believe in the possibility of continual growth and improvement. Whether the USA tanks or wildly succeeds over the next four years, Americans will still believe that the United States has a long way to go to reach our potential. I love that this country is always striving to become a better version of itself and that we have a citizenry that believes that change is possible. This is a truth that unites us no matter what our political preferences: we’re all longing for a better America.
On a more profound level, Christians - whether Americans or not - are always on the lookout for the signs of Jesus’ coming Kingdom, the real better country. As a proud citizen of the USA, I happily acknowledge that our great, flawed country is merely a candle in the wind relative to the beauty, durability, and nobility of what Jesus is putting together for all who follow him. This truth helps us be content no matter what the political circumstances. I occasionally meditate on the truth that the first Christians thrived under the increasingly crazed leadership of the Roman emperors (Nero!) of the first century. There are no false hopes in the New Testament over what could happen if only there were better Roman senators. The only path forward is the one that follows Jesus.
On that, I trust we can all agree. As one wise saint put it centuries ago,
“In the essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity,”
It turns out that all things political fall into either the charity or liberty bucket.
What about faith in Jesus? Now, THAT is essential.
I’m so grateful to work and serve at a place that is focused on the essentials.
– Pastor Gregg