American’t
It’s the day after U.S. elections and the country seems stunned. The divisive campaigns are over (for now) and much work is in store for President-Elect Trump and elected officials across the nation. Evident is the genuine relief or incomprehensible tension that exists in the aftermath of it all. The tie that binds us as Americans seems to be the divide and visceral fear of the unknown. Uncertainty has, oddly enough, been the certain outcome of this political cycle. Whoever was to win the Oval Office inevitably would receive a plague of scrutiny.
Social media rages with with tyrannical monologues of plebeians and pop stars, pundits and politicians, of how disappointed in America they are right now. The narrative is mixed, even at times toting overtones of racism by white males. Was this the election of prejudice? Did the people, the communities who elected Barack Obama twice, bump their heads and wake up racist? Xenophobic? Homophobic? Unlikely. Clintophobic? Maybe.
[Insert post election line here:] Regardless of your political party, like or dislike of either major candidate, we’re sure glad it’s over. An awkward but collective sigh of relief comes as we now get back to the frequent Viagra commercials and as one person put it, people posting about their dinner not the debate on Facebook.
Still, the vitriol Americans have shown each other is undeniable. You can’t blame either candidate; like saying a gun kills people or that the devil made me do it. No, the hatred is finally yours, and if I’m able to take the log out of my own eye, mine too. The sentiment of disappointment and disapproval for the fellow man is intensified, even made visibly clear during an election. But truth be told, it burns even if only remaining kindled, while we wait between elections, protests, Supreme Court cases, you name it. The reaction today by many is American’t, but folks it can, does, and will continue. The America you want can’t be the America you get. We each must deal with the compromise that is called America, along with her elections and opportunities is defeat and misfortune.
I will not say that we live in a country that no matter who holds the presidency we will be well off. That hasn’t held true. We can say that, as Americans, our prosperity is unlike many other places around the globe. But what we can’t say is that, as Americans, it is just as well for us to take this for granted.
The certainty of uncertainty, and the unity we have in being divided is not a glowing reality we like to face, but it is fact. A one trip ticket to Canada solves nothing, neither does making a candidate your savior. I submit to you that Christianity has the answer to this uncertainty and a true unity for the divided. Jesus came to uncertain, compromised, people. People completely lost in sin and disheveled division. As the true Savior he shows you a better country, a heavenly home.
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.–Hebrews 11:16
Christ is different from our usual suspects, our politicians and us common Joes, he’s perfect. In a world caught up with moving forward, making progress, and gaining the upper hand; Jesus is content with being brought low, made a fool on the cross, and being crucified in hand and foot. Jesus gives us the way to life, not the false utopia of 270. If you want to be certain and yearn after unity, look no further than Jesus. But does’t Jesus make bold claims? Doesn’t Jesus call sins of what is so commonly accepted? How is he any different? How does he make certain the weak and unify the broken? Easy, Jesus is risen from the dead, True God and True Man, perfect and pure. And the best part is this, his grace is sufficient for you for his power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). No vote of yours sways his love for you, no sin too unforgivable for Jesus, no people too nasty or deplorable to save. To this I say, amen.