Fifty percent of the American population woke up today in a nation where they don’t feel they belong. Some are fearful for their and their children’s future. There is a great need for reconciliation, a restoration of the United nature of these American states. That is an opportunity for Christians today. As we walk as Christ’s ambassadors in a post-election world, we must be walking in prayer. Prayer for President-elect Donald Trump, prayer for Hillary Clinton and her supporters and prayer for all those who must now somehow work together to govern this divided country.
Step up to the responsibility of the ministry of reconciliation.
Christians know the reality of reconciliation. Once at enmity with God, Christians are now reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ. There is no greater division than that which has already been bridged. We then turn to be ministers of that reconciling influence in the world.
Reconciliation requires leaving the safety and security of our communities of comfort and intentionally engaging with people who are the world differently. If every person you know or read on social media thinks and votes the same way you do, then it is time to widen your circle. If you think this is some kumbaya exercise, you could not be more wrong. Reconciliation is the very heart of the gospel.
The New York Times/CBS conducted a poll before the election and found 8 in 10 voters feel repulsed by the election, and feel the toxicity threatens the ability of (winner) to govern
People are feeling disenfranchised and need a place to belong. They also need hope, reconciliation and a restoration of joy. Who does that sound like? It sounds like The Church at its best.
This includes what is happening inside family of Christ. Four out of five white evangelicals voted for Trump, while evangelicals of color largely preferred Clinton. Does this difference define us? Or does the gospel. Let grace abound in how we interact and treat each other. Let our reconciliation to each other be a witness to the outside world. This could be the greatest call to the Church today. The world is looking for peace today— will they find it in the people who are called to be ambassadors for the Prince of Peace?
Let’s make our homes and churches THE place to find peace, hope and community. And let us lean into our calling as ministers of reconciliation.
Separate your Voter ID from your Christian identity.
A takeaway from this entire cycle has been the Christian has no “home” in a political party today. That is not a bad thing because our calling has never been political influence or power. Christians live in the freedom of Christ under every variety of government, more often as an oppressed minority than as the power brokers. This election has exposed a need for Christians in America to recenter their identity on Christ, alone.
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Reconciliation as a political process usually involves matters of compromise, give and take, finding common ground. Reconciliation as a theological or faith process in the Christian faith is one of submission and surrender to the Will of God, confession of sin and a humbleness of spirit. The re-engagement of Man and God.
On both fronts, political, social, theological the PCUSA proves to be the last, the last place one would either see or emulate as a source of reconciliation. The PCUSA is nothing more than a repository of ethnic, class warfare, race baiting, self-loathing and blatant political stunts and opportunism. Be it beating drums and embracing New Age, pagan motifs in North Dakota to its co-moderators religious hate speech directed to those she has utter contempt and disrespect for. The contemporary PCUSA seems old, tired and spent. Dominated by self-appointed elites who live in their own ideological bubble, out of touch with their church, who see those in their own pews as either unregenerated racists and misogynists. One can feel many things about Louisville, but the overriding sense if one of pity. Sad, angry, small people who sit around and see their denomination implode around them and wonder why.
And so why is it up to me to reconcile with someone who calls me and my church “a repository of ethnic, class warfare, race baiting, self-loathing and blatant political stunts and opportunism” ?? Also I can assure you that my church does not have “unregenerated racists and misogynists”. I just did a thorough cleaning of my Facebook friends list and now it DOES contain people who basically think like I do, with two exceptions. Those two are people who can have a rational conversation without name calling. Why in the world would I want to sit down and “reconcile” with someone like Peter Gregory who sees absolutely no value in me?
Good post. Point well made. I always knew that the Kingdom is not of this realm. We need to lower the noise and volume and reduce the discord and find a way forward as a Nation.
Well said, Peter Gregory!!