What Now?
I woke up this morning in the same fashion I always do, with cats making biscuits on my blankets informing me that it’s time for their breakfast.
I have a hard time standing first thing in the morning, so we gather on the floor and I feed them the best food an old man on Social Security can afford.
This is usually my favorite time of the day…making a meal for friends is holy and comforting.
This morning, though, I was aware that the world had changed overnight and grief tempered my spirit.
You see, a couple of times a month, when I can…I send a few dollars to a brave young woman in Ukraine who feeds and cares for cats and dogs displaced by bombings from the murderer Putin.
She may have a short time left to live as a free person…I literally weep over the thought.
I wonder what the future holds for missionaries like Joel Sterling Brown who has modeled Jesus in caring for thousands of Ukrainian refugees.
They may all end up abandoned…given over to a rapacious tyrant as a gift from America.
Here at home, I fear for the most vulnerable among us…in truth, I fear for my own well being.
Nothing grieves me more than the role the visible church has played in this…not just for the short term terrors, but the long term where the faithful are reduced to a remnant.
Grief upon grief, even though I saw it coming.
I recognized Trump for what he is because he is the kind of abusive, authoritarian bully I’ve seen and fought in the church for most of my adult life.
It has not escaped my notice that we have lost almost all those battles and another loss was easy to predict…because the American church loves those wicked men.
What now?
The cats will still be hungry in the morning and I will not let these circumstances steal the joy of our morning meeting on the floor.
I understand now that the divide among us is permanent…I will not waste any more of my failing strength to do anything but ‘strengthen that which remains’.
I will re-commit to the rhythms of my tradition in prayer…this is where safety and hope will abide.
There will be many times when it is necessary to stand in love and for righteousness…may God give me the strength.
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:14-21 ESV)
I saw this from Katelyn Beaty and said the amen;
“But none of this would have lifted the ever-present responsibility in my own life to love the people the Lord has entrusted to me, far and wide; to pray with the church every week for the sick, poor, and oppressed; to resist cruelty and retaliation; to educate myself on local issues that are affecting my neighbors in immediate ways; to volunteer; to love my enemies; to speak up for the cause of the oppressed; and to practice joy that bears witness to another way of being human.”
The biggest challenge is always to not become what you despise…it is only possible in Christ.
Misery loves company; I just want to be alone with my dogs.
fil,
I added this quote to the article:
“But none of this would have lifted the ever-present responsibility in my own life to love the people the Lord has entrusted to me, far and wide; to pray with the church every week for the sick, poor, and oppressed; to resist cruelty and retaliation; to educate myself on local issues that are affecting my neighbors in immediate ways; to volunteer; to love my enemies; to speak up for the cause of the oppressed; and to practice joy that bears witness to another way of being human.”
We can do this…with my cats and your dogs…
Michael,
Good words! I’ll be at Spanish church tonight with my many undocumented friends…wondering what the future holds for them. I know one person who has already “self-deported” as she did have something in her home country to return to. Most of the people I know don’t.
My main comfort is that God is in charge. We also have laws on the books that may impede many of the plans Trump has, or tie him up in the courts for the next four years. I am resolved to move in the same circles and keep doing what I’m doing, which is lots of stuff in Spanish ministry. I know we have a MAGA contingent in my church, but they have been much less obvious this election cycle. I think someone in leadership told them to pipe down.
So, kids to teach and papers to grade…many prayers to be said, and a hope that God will be glorified through this election. It’s amazing that the biggest issues usually come down to the price of eggs at the supermarket.
Linn,
Well said.
You’re one of the people I know that gives me the courage to get up…that and the cats. 🙂
Michael,
I had meant to include a line in my article about fearing for the welfare of the Ukrainian people, but forgot to do so. I’m glad you captured it in yours.
Kevin H,
You did well, anyway.
My friends over there were the first thing on my mind this morning…I’m having a hard time containing my grief for them.
Well said brother! My daughters and I had this very conversation this morning-.the day of reality that GOD whispered to us “Don’t be surprised “ and lean in!!!
I have a friend in Ukraine, also, and she and her family are the last thing I thought about and prayed for last night before I fell asleep. I ‘m still processing what this means for our country, but I can’t help feeling that the ‘rule of law’ has been replaced by ‘the rule if the jungle’ with this election and we are headed for an Ayn Rand dystopia for the next four years in America.
I see a couple parallels between the mainline church and the Democratic Party.
In both cases there are issues to push people out of a fellowship. However, in both cases those issues are more important to the institution than the prediction of their ultimate demise.
Higher Criticism and progressive morality have effectively destroyed mainline Christianity. They apparently could care less. UMC is the latest case in point.
Regarding our politics:
America is not as progressive as the Democratic party. The Democratic party, just in the last 10 years, has lurched significantly to the left (into la-la land). There is low hanging fruit that the Democratic party could address that would help align it with a significantly larger proportion of the electorate than they currently have, but will it?
Most Americans don’t want a nanny state. Don’t treat the American people like we’re too stupid to make decisions for ourselves and bear the consequences. Don’t pick winners and losers; let markets decide. Don’t bail out bad decisions and create moral hazards for the future.
Most Americans do not agree with the LGBTQ+ agenda. Don’t use Title IX, created to promote opportunity for young women, to hurt women by including transgendered biological men.
Don’t dismiss or ignore the issue of illegal immigration. Americans want a secure Southern border. They care about orderly, legal immigration of people in numbers we can effectively vet and absorb, with skills that can benefit our country.
The people of America have spoken! We want smaller government. We want religious liberty. We want protection of babies and children. We want freedom!
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
We want smaller government. – From a guy who wants total control
We want religious liberty. – As long as it is conservative Christianity
We want protection of babies and children. – So we elected a sexual predator.
We want freedom! – for us and people who look like us.
Indeed, America has spoken.
Nothing has changed overnight…
“Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness, and pride of power, and with its plea for the weak. Christians are doing too little to make these points clear … Christendom adjusts itself far too easily to the worship of power. Christians should give more offense, shock the world far more, than they are doing now.”
Bonhoeffer
Duane Arnold, Amen!!
“Mentally Broken Nation Starts Dressing, Speaking Like Frank Sinatra”
‘Ring-A-Ding-Ding, Baby,’ Say 340 Million Deeply Unwell Americans’
https://theonion.com/mentally-broken-nation-starts-dressing-speaking-like-frank-sinatra/?mc_cid=871e761a1b&mc_eid=ed3beaf174
What now you ask Michael?
We are in danger of losing our Democracy for the first time in our history.
Muff,
That’s a possibility.
What we have to keep in mind is that democracy worked…it simply didn’t work the way we hoped.
The challenge in front of us is how we function in the face of what our democracy has given us this time.
Michael,
Sometimes I feel like the old timey actor Edward G. Robinson in the film ‘Soylent Green’, the scene where he weeps into his hands saying:
“How did we come to this?…..”
“Checks and balances are worldy, good for governments but not good for the church.”
I heard Chuck Smith say these exact words one night.