But what if He does?

A number of my Facebook friends shared the Huffington Post column, “What If God Doesn’t Want to Make America Great Again?” by Chris Gilmore.

I read it.  A few times actually.  And after reading it, each and every time, I landed at this question in my head:

But what if He does?

I’m not suggesting that we ask this question as a rah-rah “Vote For Trump because he can Make America Great Again” kind of way.  That’s another topic entirely.

But what I am suggesting is: when did Christians allow their not understanding God’s path to cause them to let go of the believing He does indeed want goodness for us?

Many of us have encountered these negating questions in our lives…from well-meaning and good intentioned people.  What if God doesn’t want (fill in the blank of not-yet fulfilled dream) for you?

But what if He does?  

It’s my guess that these dear Christian people think that by asking these counter-questions, they are somehow pointing out something the rest of us haven’t thought of.  Like somehow we missed Being a Christian 101.

I know and trust God is sovereign.  Of course, He is.

And of course, in the long-run of any story – our own personal ones or the story of this country – His ultimate plan will unfold perfectly and according to His will.  Of course, it will.

But just for consideration: can you imagine if – in the face of losing battles – George Washington allowed the questions of What if God doesn’t want us to be free?…What if God does not want America to exist? to consume him?  Or if those on either side of the battle field in the Civil War – those men who fought their own people on behalf of this nation – chose not to fight for what they believed in? Or when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, if our leaders  decided to answer the question What if this is the end of America? with a resounding YES?

I think it is likely that generations of American citizens have faced these similar questions we face in 2016.

But we sit here today in part because, when the people before us faced these questions, they did not give up on this country.

Most historians land collectively on this fact: America was built by many – albeit, imperfect – God-fearing people. And God allowed these imperfect God-fearing men and women to create a democracy that – while not always perfect – has been successful for over 200 years and has provided goodness for many around the world.

And their God is our God.

He is the same God.

And what I can hear those people saying – men and women alike throughout the generations – as they internally processed the questions about God’s direction for this country was: “Until God shuts this down, we will fight.”

Pointing out that God may not want America to be great again does not make anyone more spiritual or more heavenly-minded.  And while perhaps not his intention, Mr. Gilmore, demeans those of us who do believe in God’s sovereignty, who do believe His perfect will will be done, and yet who also do believe that we are called to fight for this great land until He shuts it down.

In his article, Mr. Gilmore pointed out Scripture’s call on our life to pursue being like Jesus.  I agree whole-heartedly.  But I don’t believe it is spiritually incorrect to do both.  Yes, we are called to daily strive to live and love like Jesus on a deeply interpersonal level in our most imperfect ways.  And yes, we can do this while also being citizens of a country that we a) believe God played a role in divinely inspiring and designing and – as such – that we b) believe we have a responsibility to help preserve.  Until He shuts it down.

 

What if Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton and a warped government are not some divine sign that God does not want to make the country great again?  What if instead He is calling us to pray for this country like we never have before?  What if He wants us to cry out to Him and ask Him to help us make this country great again? What if He is asking us to learn and know and understand as much as we possibly can about the founding of this great nation…to get involved somehow or to simply make the most informed voting decision?  What if He is calling Christians not to unite specifically around a candidate but to instead unite around the privilege to be Americans and the privilege to live free to serve the Lord in this great land?

 

Whether you agree with every sentence in this blog or not, may we consider this: Serving Christ daily and fighting for our country do not have to be mutually exclusive.  Does Scripture call us to strive to be like Jesus in our day-to-day living? No question. Fortunately, we aren’t the first set of people to strive to do that. Can we perhaps agree that “our country has lost its way…” Absolutely.  Yet I doubt we are the first generation to think that.  And can we sit here and think that our government and politics are more screwed up than ever before?  Definitely.  That may even be true…although I doubt we are the first generation to think that either.

 

But in the end, most importantly: I do NOT want to be the first generation of Christians that stopped fighting for this country.

 

Because what if God DOES want America to be great again?