Not quite the first 2026 post I was envisioning. I haven’t even wrapped up 2025! I’ve been trying to figure out what to make out of everything that’s been swirling around the US, the news and my head right now. Here’s my little attempt to make sense of it.
Labels are lazy. I am not a Trump supporter. I’ll probably
call myself apolitical, but I also recognize that we as Christians living in
the world, need to thoughtfully engage as lights for Jesus. No one knows
everything perfectly, only God does. So take these thoughts with a big grain of
salt.
Immigration
"[God] defends the cause of the fatherless and the
widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and
clothing. So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were
once foreigners in the land of Egypt" Deuteronomy 10:18-19
I understand the need to uphold the law and address undocumented
immigrants. And the issues can be wide ranging – from criminals to productive
workers who just need a chance to survive. The matter exists on both a macro
and micro level. The US has been a country that has been founded on immigrants,
welcomed foreigners, granted asylum, provided a refuge for refugees and
continues to provide opportunities even though it has become harder. I don’t
think it’s unreasonable for the law enforcers to enforce the law, and every
country has the right to exert its sovereign right to welcome or turn out
visitors. But I love the heart of so many who fights for the foreigner’s rights
in this country. It displays the heart of God’s design. If the system wasn’t so
broken, and people abuse them to an unsustainable level, wouldn’t it be wonderful
if we could all do our part to feed and clothe those in need?
When things go wrong
The recent casualties in MN is sad, but what has made it
harder is how those in authority have handled it. I understand that law
enforcers have somehow been villanized in recent years, and perhaps they acted
out of fear and pent up frustration, but I believe they do not mean for these
things to happen. When they do, the right thing to do is to admit wrong, engage
in due process and bring about justice and closure the best they can. Not to
spin tales, sweep things away, be high handed or use the law to cover things up.
That is what causes the breakdown in trust. Who will be a leader to admit when wrong has
been done? There are accidents and casualties, and bad things happen to “good
people”. We just need someone to speak the truth, take responsibility and do their
best to right the wrong.
Venezuela
“He removes kings and sets up kings” Daniel 2:21
I was a little shocked when Maduro was captured – “can they
do that?” But based on all that I’ve learnt about him, I was ok for the
Venezuelan President to be captured to be brought to justice. He is a bad egg. If
it takes Trump to do so, so be it. The question is whether the unknown devil
will be better than the known one, and whether this could be an opportunity for
the country to have hope for a better future or will it just be another corrupt
ruler who will sink things lower.
Greenland
This just seems like another Trump hubris. He views it like
a real estate deal, but is it really? What is behind this? Is there really
threat from Russia and China?
Church
In the end, we will remember not the words of our
enemies, but the silence of our friends" – MLK Jr.
It might have taken the Church and Christians to formulate
her thoughts, leading to the long silence. It might have been fatigue of all
the incessant fighting in social media over the last few years, that’s helped
more to exercise restraint. I’ve been resistant posting anything on social
media, as that’s not a helpful way to engage. But the silence can sometimes to take
to mean something unintended. Hence this blog post.
And personally, I am jealous for the Church to be equipping
her saints better to be cultural apologists. The place I go to for these things
now is the TGC. How is the church equipping her saints to process these events?
And if we don’t engage, how do we provide a defense for the faith that we hold
onto? That said, even if the local
church has not responded to in the way I desire, will I abandon it? No! She is
the Bride of Christ, and what holds us together is far more dear. Will I continue
to struggle and stay in conversation and love, or will I write them off because
of disappointments?
History
I want to acknowledge the fact that there are protests on
these painful situations, is not a given. How much more evil is done in other
countries and at other times, where alternative voices are never heard. Other
evils do not reduce the pain and excuse wrong in this situation, but it’s
sometimes helpful to put things in context that not all hope is lost.
Convictions
“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the
Lord; He turns it wherever He will.” Proverbs 21:1
No matter the circumstances, and as little as I understand
of what’s going on, I know my God is at work. He has placed the leaders where
they are, to do His will. He has given each of us convictions, to do His will. May
we be agents of peace and change for the greater good. May we seek God first
and then to act. May we have courage to hope against hope, and fight to bring a
glimpse of His Kingdom into this broken world.
No comments:
Post a Comment