1.6.21
January 6, 2021 has turned out to be a historic day. A group of protesters opposed to Joe Biden becoming president gathered outside of the Capitol as the electoral results were discussed and debated in preparation for final certification.
This protest erupted into a hostile takeover of the nation’s Capitol, resulting in vandalism, terror and the death of four people. In the ranks of the mob that stormed the Capitol there were people wearing shirts celebrating Auschwitz, wearing full KKK garb and waving Confederate flags.
Regardless of your preference in Presidential candidate, or your thoughts on the outcome of the election, I hope these events have caused you to stop and think; and if you are are a Christian, I hope that you are discerning the danger of what we have seen today.
There is something much more insidious that we need to be aware of and standing against. Intermingled with the hate and white supremacy, is a false shadow of Christianity. Today saw a noose and a Cross erected in front of the Capitol building. The same group that waved the confederate flag, waved a “Jesus Saves” flag.
While much has been said about the marriage of Evangelicalism and Nationalism — or more recently Trumpism — I’m concerned and grieved, when my siblings in Christ choose not to acknowledge this erroneous amalgamation, or worse subscribe to it.
To be clear, I’m not saying that all Trump supporters claim to be Christians, or that all of the white supremacist and hate groups that support Trump, claim alignment with Jesus. That said, to overlook the distinct relationship between Trump and particularly White Evangelicals is not honest; the reality is that the longer this association has been perpetuated, the more the lines between Evangelicalism and the general body of Trump supporters has blurred, such that, to a watching world there is little distinction.
If you are truly a follower of Jesus, the United States does not — and should not — hold your primary allegiance. The president is not our hope: present or future. If Jesus ever takes second seat to your political party or a person in power, you’ve opened the door to a dangerous form of idolatry.
Brandon Washington shared the following last year in his response to the death of George Floyd, and it remains relevant and powerful:
“Jesus said, all authority, in heaven and on earth has been given unto me. I’m not just King there, I’m King here; and He said, in light of that: go and make disciples. You are to replicate the Kingdom agenda, here; because while my Kingdom has not been consummated …it has been inaugurated. We’re not waiting on a King, we have one; and He’s not the King somewhere, He’s the King everywhere; and that King values justice.” (1)
If you are okay with what happened today, ask yourself why? How does this align with your belief that Jesus is King?
If you are not in support of what happened, but find your self defending or excusing it, ask yourself why? How does this align with your belief that Jesus is King?
Jesus is our only hope, and He is the only hope for the world; but when we claim association with those who mingle the name of our King with a misplaced faith in our very temporary country and its leaders — or stay silent in the face of their words and actions — we fail to present a faithful witness to who Jesus really is.
References
(1) Washington, Brandon (@BrandonWashington), Facebook; May 27th 2020
