Dear St. John’s,
I decided to stay up past my bedtime last night to watch the midterm election results. Like many Americans, I was surprised by the historical night the Democrats had. As pundits analyze the outcome and its implications for the political landscape, I have been reflecting on what it means for us as Christians.
And quite honestly, I’m not entirely sure.
For a long time, I viewed our country as suffering from a split personality: one moment moving forward toward progressive change, and the next pulling back and going in reverse.
While I still think there is merit to that view, I now see our nation as similar to every other throughout history—eternally locked in a struggle between change (liberal/progressive) and tradition (conservative/fundamental).
Things were no different during the time of Christ. For those of us who lean left theologically, it is easy to view Jesus as a champion of change or a radical rabbi looking to shake up the status quo in the Roman Empire. Yet, the same Jesus who flipped the money changers' tables in righteous indignation also observed the Sabbath and kept traditions like the Passover.
Jesus said he “did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it” (Matthew 5:17). In other words, he did not come to discard the old ways, but to breathe full life into them and center them on what matters most: loving God with all one's heart, soul, and mind, and loving one's neighbor as oneself.
Yesterday’s outcome—historic as it was—is simply another swing of the pendulum in the eternal shift between faith and fear, diversity and homogeneity, war and peace. It serves as a reminder of the power of democracy, the necessity of balance and accountability, and a fresh opportunity for our public servants to prioritize the common good.
In Christ,
Anthony+
