INAUGURATION ANGST

As contentious as the presidential election campaign was, things have not gotten much better, have they?  Back then there was widespread consternation in one political party over presidential candidate Donald Trump’s assertion that he may not accept the results of the election without a challenge.  Some of his political opponents used words like “appalled” to describe their reaction.  His words, they claim, was a dire threat to our democracy.  Now it’s a growing number in the party of President-elect Trump’s opponent who claim that he is an illegitimate president.  There are voices now who claim that to acknowledge and accept him as president is a dire threat to our democracy.  Political winds shift, blowing opinions to places once condemned as beyond the pale.

On one hand, this is the kind of thing that seems to go on in politics these days.  But I think that’s only because people have lost some perspective.  By that I don’t just mean that things like this didn’t happen for much of the 20th century.  The election was held.  The new president was inaugurated in a peaceful transition of power.  People and political parties who disagreed about how best to chart the course for the nation then got busy competing in the arena of ideas, persuading voters and marshaling the formidable power of the ballot box for the next election.  Rather, I mean that it seems to me that we have lost some perspective as compared to the way much of the world transitions power.  In many places in the world the next ruler has that power by right of inheritance, the throne or dictatorship being passed from one generation to another.  We in America elect (choose) our leaders.  Imagine that!  Many in the world can’t imagine it – and never have the opportunity to do it.   In many places in the world it is a coup d’état that brings a change in leadership.  But here in America it isn’t the barrel of the gun that establishes our leaders; it’s the ballot.  I’m afraid we Americans get so caught up in the hyperbole of political competition and become so over-wrought with emotions that we don’t see how amazing our political process still is.  No tanks in the streets.  No political assassinations.  No civil wars.  Instead, it is citizens who vote. 

Ours is a system of government that would have made the apostle Paul go slack-jawed with amazement.  He lived under the Roman government.  Political intrigue, corruption – yes, Rome had that, too.  And that government could be brutally efficient in maintaining its power.  Eventually, Paul himself was the victim of bad decisions made by people in government who did bad things.  Even so, he understood the importance of peace and order.  He laid the responsibility for praying for leaders on the hearts of first century Christians.  Here’s how he said it, “I urge, first of all, that request, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth....I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.”  (1 Timothy 2:1-3, 8)

Did you notice his reason for calling on us to pray for those in authority?  It had everything to do with living our faith and spreading the gospel.  So let me second Paul’s call.  Go or don’t go to inauguration celebrations; that’s your choice. Disagree, if you wish, about how health care should be handled in the United States.  Have robust debates about foreign policy.  Express differences of opinion on how much tax is the right amount for people to pay.  Christians can disagree about such things.  But let’s all be in agreement about this:  pray for everyone in authority in local, state, and federal government.  Ask God to bless them, guide them, even thwart them as necessary to maintain the kind of nation where we can exercise our faith by living it as the Word directs us and by sharing the good news of what Jesus has done for all people.  Please pray.  That pleases God our Savior.