We're grieving the loss of what we believed America is all about.
That a mob would batter their way into our U.S. Capitol building makes us heartsick. "This is America!" we want to scream. "That does not happen here!
Except it did. On January 6, 2021.
Many of the folks in that mob no doubt considered themselves "good people," who were upholding truth, justice and what is right.
Reportedly, many were Christians. Yet everyone with even a smidgen of Bible knowledge knows that Jesus taught his followers to obey the laws.
Standing to show support is one thing. The actions of those who stormed the Capitol went way beyond that, to breaking the law.
The Apostle Paul got specific about how Christians are to relate to those in charge.
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Romans 13:1-2 ESV
Paul offered no exceptions such as "unless you don't agree," or "unless you didn't vote for them" or even "unless you don't like the way they exert their authority."
Our call as the people of God is to "be subject" to those who were elected or appointed to their positions of authority. They are where they are because our all-knowing God put them there.
(It also doesn't matter if we can't figure out how or why.)
Freedom always carries risks
Freedom and democracy only work if we citizens govern ourselves first of all and live as law-abiding people.
President Abraham Lincoln said it long ago:
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
If the citizenry as a whole becomes cynical and trusts no one in Government or in any position of authority it will erode our Nation from the inside.
It's the same for us as individuals. If we become bitter and distrustful we begin to die on the inside. Our call as Christians is to live by what we say we believe, what the Bible teaches.
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
Where do we go from here?
President John F. Kennedy offered timeless good advice:
"Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democrat answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future."
Whether or not we realize it, we're part of what the future will be, not only for ourselves but for the people around us. Let's be up-builders.
Jesus summed up how we're to live:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. this is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39 ESV
It's time to refresh and refuel
A steady diet of TV news or Internet articles causes malnutrition of our hearts and minds.
The way to nourish and uplift our spirits is by making time to read our Bibles and pray. Pray for our loved ones and ourselves and also asking God's guidance for our leaders and that there will be peace within our Nation.
Here are three Bible verses to keep close to our hearts:
[Jesus said] "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me." John 14:1 ESV
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 ESV
The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7-8 ESV
How shall we live from now on?
First, we're to remember who we are as Americans and even more, as God's people.
Beyond that, we're to speak and work for the good of our family, our community and our Nation. Once again, the Bible tells us how:
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:7-9 NIV
Now's the time to let the anger and sadness melt away in God's love. If we are Christians through the love of Jesus, let's live that way. Let's rejoice because we know HE has the last word.
Our merciful God was there before the beginning of the world and he will be there after the end. It's all in his hands and we are safe.
