It's been over a day since the capital was stormed by angry conservatives who support President Trump. Not a lot of time to reflect but enough to make some observations. Something I've always been fascinated by is human behavior. This is probably one of the reasons I studied Psychology. In considering human behavior in light of the Bible there is a vast predictability in what actions people will take. When people feel unheard, they get louder. If they continue to feel unheard they get animated, or they can get violent. That is what many of the folks who marched in the BLM protests said this last Summer. Now we could certainly argue the depravity of the organization called BLM, and we would be right in doing so. But I'm guessing a lot of the folks who didn't feel heard during the marches that often turned to riots this Summer, wouldn't necessarily align with the core tenets of the BLM organization. And yet in large part, if I hear right, they continue to feel unheard. In all honesty, I have had a hard time understanding what they were wanting to communicate. I earnestly tried, I asked questions, I sought answers but I couldn't fully grasp what was being said. So I sat still not fully grasping what was being shouted. And then yesterday.
In response to the apparent nationalists that stormed the capital, I completely understand how they feel (and yes, you can understand how they feel without supporting what they did Karen). For a long time, simply for voting for Donald Trump because I'd prefer if our nation didn't support killing babies and upheld policies that support Biblical family values. I've been called a bigot, racist, fascist, homophobe, deplorable, told to check my privilege, that my opinion doesn't matter because of the color of my skin and my sex, told I'm stupid, mocked because of my religion, and on and on. It would be one thing if this was just the last four years, but let's be honest white guys, we've heard this over the last decade and a half at least.
So now we have two sides of people that feel unheard by those in charge. One side feels marginalized because of the color of their skin, the other side also feels marginalized by the color of their skin; both sides are tired of being belittled, mocked, disparaged, and being taken advantage of. It's interesting because some in both sides have yelled pretty loudly, and what has come down from the leadership. "Impeach Trump!," "Get rid of Trump!" As if Trump were the cause of the way the two sides feel. Trump is more than likely a result of that feeling.
As I said above, human behavior is interesting and predictable. Those who are in positions of power, more often than not, seek to maintain power and get more power. It's a predictable song that is sung out of the sinful human condition. The writer of 2 Peter is correct when he says of false prophets in 2 Peter 2:19 "They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved." Many in leadership are simply blind guides and false prophets that have personal vested interest in power. What if the two sides feeling marginalized started looking together to hold the elected officials accountable to actually work toward unity? What if instead of looking at one another as the cause of each other's civil problems, we raised the bar on expectations and held leaders accountable to focus on policies that will unify both sides. What if rather than looking at the letter behind the name on the ballot we look to both the policies and character of the individuals running? I think a lot of people in office would be out of a job. But above even these things, what if we began to look at one another as broken sinners muddling through a fallen world, in need of a savior? And Christian, what if in our peace we find in Christ, we were less about politics and more about the Gospel. Broken, hurting people, need the hope and comfort of a savior and we know Him. For those looking for hope in the government, politicians, or any other human system; you won't find it. People are sinful; only Christ can give you the peace, comfort, and hope you seek.
But what would I know? I'm just a foolish pastor who loves Jesus and can't wait for His Kingdom.
Civil Unity
It's been over a day since the capital was stormed by angry conservatives who support President Trump. Not a lot of time to reflect but enough to make some observations. Something I've always been fascinated by is human behavior. This is probably one of the reasons I studied Psychology. In considering human behavior in light of the Bible there is a vast predictability in what actions people will take. When people feel unheard, they get louder. If they continue to feel unheard they get animated, or they can get violent. That is what many of the folks who marched in the BLM protests said this last Summer. Now we could certainly argue the depravity of the organization called BLM, and we would be right in doing so. But I'm guessing a lot of the folks who didn't feel heard during the marches that often turned to riots this Summer, wouldn't necessarily align with the core tenets of the BLM organization. And yet in large part, if I hear right, they continue to feel unheard. In all honesty, I have had a hard time understanding what they were wanting to communicate. I earnestly tried, I asked questions, I sought answers but I couldn't fully grasp what was being said. So I sat still not fully grasping what was being shouted. And then yesterday.
In response to the apparent nationalists that stormed the capital, I completely understand how they feel (and yes, you can understand how they feel without supporting what they did Karen). For a long time, simply for voting for Donald Trump because I'd prefer if our nation didn't support killing babies and upheld policies that support Biblical family values. I've been called a bigot, racist, fascist, homophobe, deplorable, told to check my privilege, that my opinion doesn't matter because of the color of my skin and my sex, told I'm stupid, mocked because of my religion, and on and on. It would be one thing if this was just the last four years, but let's be honest white guys, we've heard this over the last decade and a half at least.
So now we have two sides of people that feel unheard by those in charge. One side feels marginalized because of the color of their skin, the other side also feels marginalized by the color of their skin; both sides are tired of being belittled, mocked, disparaged, and being taken advantage of. It's interesting because some in both sides have yelled pretty loudly, and what has come down from the leadership. "Impeach Trump!," "Get rid of Trump!" As if Trump were the cause of the way the two sides feel. Trump is more than likely a result of that feeling.
As I said above, human behavior is interesting and predictable. Those who are in positions of power, more often than not, seek to maintain power and get more power. It's a predictable song that is sung out of the sinful human condition. The writer of 2 Peter is correct when he says of false prophets in 2 Peter 2:19 "They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved." Many in leadership are simply blind guides and false prophets that have personal vested interest in power. What if the two sides feeling marginalized started looking together to hold the elected officials accountable to actually work toward unity? What if instead of looking at one another as the cause of each other's civil problems, we raised the bar on expectations and held leaders accountable to focus on policies that will unify both sides. What if rather than looking at the letter behind the name on the ballot we look to both the policies and character of the individuals running? I think a lot of people in office would be out of a job. But above even these things, what if we began to look at one another as broken sinners muddling through a fallen world, in need of a savior? And Christian, what if in our peace we find in Christ, we were less about politics and more about the Gospel. Broken, hurting people, need the hope and comfort of a savior and we know Him. For those looking for hope in the government, politicians, or any other human system; you won't find it. People are sinful; only Christ can give you the peace, comfort, and hope you seek.
But what would I know? I'm just a foolish pastor who loves Jesus and can't wait for His Kingdom.