Wednesday, November 9, 2016

                It is incredible that Donald Trump has won the American presidential election. Hilary Clinton simply did not have the right stuff to address the deep anxiety and hard anger that seems to be lurking in the American soul and spirt. Trump tapped into it brilliantly, albeit crudely, brashly and insolently. The decline of the American Empire has taken a nasty turn for the worse. It is no longer “Gold bless America” but “God help America”.

                Speaking of God, I wonder what our God is thinking about all this, if anything. I really don’t believe that God necessarily interferes, intrudes and manipulates politics as much as some do. I fear that God leaves us to make these sorts of decisions for ourselves and make our own political messes. But I will confess that this morning I am wondering what God is planning to do with this.

There was an American group of conservative, evangelical Christians who worked with the Trump campaign, advising and praying for him. When some of the sexual misconduct allegations came out they were challenged by the press whether they would continue to support Trump. After some soul searching, they responded that they would because in the Bible God was seen supporting some unscrupulous rulers for divine ends and purposes. As one example, they cited King Darrius who helped the exiled Israelites to return to Jerusalem and begin to rebuild the city and the temple.

Personally, I think that the “Moral Majority” has compromised their morality for the sake of politics. But maybe that’s just me. But they make a valid enough point. Even Pharaoh was “used” by God to demonstrate his sacred relationship with the Hebrew people. We could certainly point out that there have been some horrific leaders in the modern world, far worse than Trump may ever be (we hope!). God has not stopped every tyrant, dictator or despot, so why would God worry too much about a pompous megalomaniac as dangerous as he might be?

This is not to say that God is indifferent to our mismanagement and abuse of politics, power, and governments. I think it can also be said, even more strongly than the point the evangelicals make, that God has little love for and little patience for bad, evil, cruel political leadership, either from external forces or especially those who rose to power within the Israelite nation itself. God anticipates and expects all world leaders to take the high ground, to lead with mercy, to show compassion for others, to defend justice, and to protect the best principles of God’s reign over the world. “Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness,” (Psalm 72:1). “Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure,” (Proverbs 20:28).

It is impossible yet to see into the future to know what kind of president Trump will make. My hope and prayer is that he will drop the celebrity character and there will be a hidden, if rough, gem inside. But I wouldn’t want to count on that happening or bet my house on its probability. I fear that what we see is what we get and is all we can continue to expect to one degree or another. But that does not stop any of us from looking for the gracious, loving signs of God working in the gaps, the shadows, or the brokenness if that is what prevails.

Meanwhile we pray and trust.

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God,” (Psalm 20:7).

Dale