Not America First

Friends, I am quite distressed by the current political situation.

There are politicians out there who show all the signs of genuine mental health disorders. There are politicians out there saying and doing things that I find just inconceivable. There are politicians out there whom I think I might like and respect if I knew them personally . . . but they are standing with the crazies. And I can’t fathom it. I just can’t.

And you know what’s nuts? I suspect there are those of you reading this on both sides of the aisle who are nodding in agreement with me.

Everybody is crazy. And everybody thinks everybody else is the crazy one.

What is WRONG with us, people?? How did we get here? I’ve spent far too much time fretting about this lately . . . but I think I do have a pertinent insight.

When I first started directing plays with young people back in Sioux City, I quickly realized that I could not make it my primary goal to put on a great play. Because if that was the objective, then I ended up making decisions that were not necessarily in the best interests of the students I was teaching. Their growth was the primary goal . . . and I had to keep that in the forefront of my mind to stay on track.

Here's why I bring that up: I think we’re committing a similar mistake as a nation. We’ve made America too important. Over the history of humanity, nations have risen and fallen; I suspect America may fall at some point, too -- which will be tragic but not cataclysmic. The United States could crash and burn, and the Kingdom of God still survive -- it might, in fact, flourish all the more. Contrary to the belief of many on the Christian right, we are not a chosen people. We are not the hope of the world. Hope of the world? That would be Christ, friends. And the United States is not the Body of Christ; the Church is.

More than that, we’ve made the American government too important. We expect government to solve all the problems in our country. The American people are immoral and selfish and stupid, we say. So, how do we fix that? Pass laws so nobody sins anymore. Create social programs so nobody suffers anymore. Fix the educational system so everyone knows all the right things and none of the wrong things.

Excuse me?? When did morality become Congress’ domain? When did the President become the hope of the oppressed? When did the powers that be become the source of all truth? Again, I was under the impression these were Christ’s jobs. Yes, I’m quite sure of it, in fact.

We are focusing on the wrong goals, people. If our goal is to make America great (either greatness of the MAGA variety or of the Progressive variety), we will be tempted to do things that are not good for We the People . . . and things that are certainly not in line with God’s kingdom.  

I do fear for our nation. I love my country. But my primary citizenship is not in this young, experimental republic.

Can I be honest that I’m very afraid to post this? I don’t really think I’m afraid of what people will think of me. I’m afraid of what I will think of other people when they react. And I’m afraid of friends using my words (or, more likely, just a few of my words because they didn’t do me the courtesy of reading and digesting all of them) as fodder for more battle with their perceived enemies.

That’s not my desire. Nor is saving the country my desire. God’s kingdom is my desire – and let’s all remember that God’s kingdom is not the least bit dependent on the success of the United States of America. But it DOES require God’s people to behave like God’s people.