My grandson Max was apparently looking at the TV this morning when the news showed Donald Trump walking onto the stage. Max asked his mum, "Why are people following that man, mummy?" Mummy replied, "His name is Donald Trump and he's the new President of America." To which Max responded, "Is that 'cause he trumps a lot, mum?" That's a bit of an aside to the main point of this blog, but it caused me to chuckle so I thought I'd pass it on!
In some respects the Trump victory mirrors the victory of the Brexiteers a few months ago. The polls got it badly wrong in both cases, and many commentators have made the point that what seems to have happened in both cases is that there was a huge and unpredicted vote against "the establishment" by ordinary people who felt that their voices were being overlooked. Whatever the rights and wrongs of either vote, the fact is that our democratic systems have produced an unexpected outcomes, whether we like it or not.
The point I really wanted to make is that I have been deeply saddened by some of the the reactions to the votes, particularly from fellow Christians. Sadly, there have been some who have poured scorn on anyone with the temerity to see things in a different way; sometimes seeming to suggest that those who don't agree with them are mindless idiots. Also, whatever we may think of the two candidates for the US Presidency, I see absolutely no justification for the mass of abusive personal vilification which has poured forth in recent months. We may greatly disagree with the policies of the candidates, and strongly object to much of what they say and how they have conducted their campaigns, but personal abuse of any kind can never be justified.
Perhaps most worryingly of all, there have been many Christians who almost seem to have thought, both in terms of the Brexit vote and the Trump victory, that with either of these scenarios the world will come to an end! They seem petrified of an outcome which goes against their wishes, and I have to wonder where is the God-element to such thinking.
A couple of Sundays ago we sang a song in church which has the chorus "Our God reigns," and I made the point that the song is a real statement of faith. When we look around the world today and see the mess it is in, the huge inequality, suffering, conflict and many other problems we face as a human race, it can be hard to hang on to the belief that God still does have "the whole world in his hands." Yet we are called to believe that somehow God is able to work even the worst things for good. The apostle Paul stated this in his letter to the Christians in Rome as they faced terrible persecution from Caesar and the Roman authorities, and if they could believe it, so should we!
I like a Facebook comment from a friend, who wrote yesterday, "Praying for our dear friends across the pond on this Election Day. Whatever the outcome is of the election I am reminded that alongside a Pharaoh, God raised up a Joseph and alongside Nebuchadnezzar, God raised up a Daniel. God can win with a pair of twos. He loves the people of the USA and He is not about to let you down now whoever wins. We love you dearly and May God Bless the United States Of America."
Yes, in human terms we live in very uncertain times in all sorts of ways. Yet in God we can know peace and security in the most uncertain and troubling of times. This coming Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, when we remember the huge cost of war and the great sacrifice paid by so many. We will read Psalm 46, which begins with these words, 'God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. And so we need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea.' Twice in the Psalm we read this great faith statement, 'The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.' Through the Psalmist, God speaks, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’
Jesus' promise to his disciples is a promise to all who will receive it, 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid' (John 14.27).
We are called, as followers of Jesus, to believe that even though the world around seems to be crumbling and all seems so uncertain and worrying, ultimately God is in control and will work his purposes out. We are also called to pray; to pray for all those in authority (including the Donald Trumps of this world), and to pray for this beautiful world which God has given us, and for its people, each one loved extravagantly by our Creator God. And finally, we are called to love. I am currently reading a book by Martin Luther King, in which he so powerfully reminds us, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." I pray that the people of our world may hear and remember those words and act on them.
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