God, how could this happen?

For he himself is our peace... 
-Ephesians 2:14

God, how could this happen? That’s what some of you are thinking right now. Others are exclaiming, “Thank God! What a disaster that would have been!” 

Full Disclosure: I don’t actually know what happened. This was written earlier this week before it all went down. I felt the need to remember that the message actually stays the same for us as Jesus people. But those above thoughts are here with us now, I promise you. 

I'm not feeling witty or eloquent these days. I just want to think about how we keep our souls and our witness in this moment. 

Most every one of you reading this lives in the United States. And I know everyone reading this would like to see our country thrive. But whether you are outraged/discouraged/disappointed or pleased by the outcome, there are things that haven’t changed. Now, I am not for a moment suggesting that it doesn’t matter who is leading. It does. Many lives will be affected by who is in the White House for the next few years and the words they speak and the choices they make. Both policies and leadership attitudes have actual impact on the people of this country and beyond. But. Some. Things. Haven’t. Changed. 

America is still not the kingdom of God. It wasn’t in 2016. Or 2020. And it’s not in 2024. 

America is still not the hope of the world. That role has already been filled. 

The president is not our Lord or Savior in any way, despite any claims that they or anyone else makes about them. 
If you think that because the right one got elected, that all is well in the world….. you’re wrong. 
If you think that because the wrong one got elected, that there is no hope in the world….. you’re also wrong. 
By all means, it's ok to be discouraged or be pleased, for a few minutes. 
And then return to your calling. 
Our work remains the same as it did in 2000, 2010, 2020, 2022, 2023…. well, you get it. 

Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly. (Micah 6:8)
Forgive our enemies. Love our neighbors. (Matt 5:44/22:39)
Practice hospitality. Welcome the stranger. (Romans 12:13)
Keep ourselves from being corrupted by the powers of the world. (James 1:27)
Wash each other’s feet. (John 13:14)
Give to those in need. (Acts 2:45)
Do not work for food that spoils, but food that endures to eternal life. (John 6:27)
Grasp that the secret to being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, free or in chains... is the peace of Christ. (Phil 4:12)
Live as citizens of the Kingdom of God and God’s ambassadors in the kingdom of America. (Phil 3:20)

We are so tired, aren't we? 
Let me speak for myself. The political circus and obsession with power in the United States takes a big toll on me personally, and probably many of you. It's not hard to get tears flowing lately for a number of reasons. It is now the air we breathe and the water we drink. We can hardly get away from it if we try (though I do have a few friends contemplating moving abroad for these reasons).

But our energy comes from God, and our hope remains in God. And that is where the strength continues to come from to live faithfully in a world divided. Empires rise and fall. It happened with Babylon, Persia, and Rome. The US is not exempt from history. Yet we live with the knowledge that we are citizens of an unshakeable kingdom- a kingdom that has given hope and perseverance to generations across history and across the globe with far more difficult experiences than most of us have ever experienced. God is faithful and will continue to work in our world- in and through us, and sometimes in spite of us (thank God). The church has an embarrassing history with power, violence, and cuddling up to national systems. We have long been a country that uses constant language about God without actually knowing God. But the church has also been a subversive movement of God's call to justice, reconciliation, and forgiveness. And the Spirit is drawing us into that all the time. 

So I ask you right now- beg you, actually, to be known by the characteristics of Jesus, and not the pseudo-Christian identities led by politics. Certainly, good and kingdom-like things can happen through political action (they can), but the third way of Jesus transcends tribalism and protectionism. And it rejects the notion that the only way to change things is to have all of the power. We cannot read the temptations of Jesus and somehow believe that “our party" (yuck) in the white house is the main way that the kingdom of God will advance. 

Remember friends, Jesus’ political platform was a wooden cross. 

Christians have joined in some unholy alliances, and we must walk carefully. As Tony Campolo said of a Christianity that becomes enmeshed with political allegiance… it’s like mixing ice cream and manure. It doesn’t do much to the manure… but it sure ruins the ice cream. 

So friends, neither gloat nor despair as you consider your feelings on how our government ought to function and who our latest caesar is. Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God’s (Mark 12:17). You know what Jesus meant with that, right? Caesar can have his money and power with his image imprinted on it. It will not last. But God’s image is imprinted on your very bodies and souls. You belong to God. Never forget that- and give yourselves fully and completely to the work of God in your life. God has placed his image on something far more valuable than anything our government could give or take away. You are sacred to God. So is your neighbor. So is your enemy. 

Come, Lord Jesus. 

Peace,
Keith