Campus was eerie this morning. Quiet. Sad. Shocked. Apathetic. In Awe. Hungover. Something. You could feel it.
The lady in the elevator with me cried while streaming Hillary’s concession speech. She didn’t hide her tears or support. She didn’t even use headphones.
The line at Starbucks was filled with disbelief and stories of “where were you when Trump broke 270” comments.
This afternoon a protest/yelling match broke out in the center of campus. A Trump support group had red “MAGA” hats and signs and passerby’s shouted at them. I heard one girl yell, “Why do you hate me?”
For a lot of people, today is a tough day.
From a guy watching, here's one thought and two truths:
ONE THOUGHT:
Can we be honest: This was hard. These two Presidential options were brutal. It felt like racist nationalism vs liberal pluralism.
I know/love people who voted both ways. I know/love people who didn’t vote. I know/love people who voted third party. (including me)
Truth is... We should be saddened by the truth… these candidates are who we are. Or to say it worse, they are what we deserve. This election was madness and this election was a mirror.
Everything leading up to last night was chaos—dark on every side. And we did that.
TWO TRUTHS FOR THE DARKNESS:
1. REALLY TRULY TRUSTING THE BIBLICAL CHRIST CAN SHINE
We can’t just say God’s in control. We can’t just tweet bible verses. We’ve got to live this stuff. We’ve got to die for this stuff. We are all sinners, yet all created by and loved by God.
The refugee, the LGBT, the racist, the liberal, the hypocrite… these people are our neighbors. And God loves them. So much so, he sent Christ to die for them, while they were his enemies.
And we have to love them like Christ. I don’t mean soft. I mean the grace/truth love of Christ. That offensive/attractive love of Christ. That “I love you so much I want what is eternally best for you” kind of love.
And we have to love them when they reject us.
2. IN A DIVIDED COUNTRY GOSPEL UNITY CAN SHINE
The gospel of Jesus Christ creates more unity than patriotism. America is divided, sure, but the church shouldn’t be. Because we are not of this world. We are not citizens. We are foreigners, outcasts, awaiting our real home, with our true King, and that should give us such peace here.
Too many pastors and christians overly identified with this election. Maybe they were seeking to have a prophetic voice, or power, or something, but to me it's sad. It makes we want to walk around campus silent, hungover, and crying in elevators. We don't need pastor politicians. We need pastors. Real pastors. And real Christ followers. Because there are millions of people who need real hope. Hope beyond this election, and beyond this world. And we have it.
Let's give hope. Let's be other worldly. Let's represent an eternal kingdom, putting forth an eternal joy found in an eternal God who wants all people to know him and be unified with him forever.
America, you are not great, God is. And that's great news.
Turn to him, all you who are weary and heavy ladened and He will give you rest.