The State Of Our Dis-Union

Like millions, I watched with great interest, President Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday night.

At first, I was encouraged.  Along with many in the chamber, I applauded as the President declared:

"...We meet..at a moment of unlimited potential...I stand here ready to work with you to achieve historic breakthroughs for all Americans. Millions...are watching us...hoping we will govern not as two parties, but as one nation...The agenda I will lay out...is not a Republican agenda or Democrat agenda, it is the agenda of the American people...There is a new opportunity in American politics, if only we have the courage together to seize it. Victory is not winning for our party, victory is winning for our country..."  https://www.vox.com/2019/2/5/18212533/president-trump-state-of-the-union-address-live-transcript

But, then, the President's speech -- and the whole House chamber -- went the route of most State of the Union episodes -- toward themes of partisan divide, self-promotion, and triumphalism.

Especially disconcerting were chants of "...USA, USA, USA..." repeated not only by established 'America-First' proponents (e.g., right-wing Republicans and Democrats) -- but Congressional women, as they celebrated their record numbers in the 116th Congress.

Now, celebrating one's country is not bad -- but -- when celebrating sounds like superiority and 'besting' other countries, it is problematic.

For at the heart of the American dream is Lincoln-like humility, that celebrates the beauty of America -- but not at the expense, of the beauty of other nation-states.

Such humble-nationalism is especially critical for Christ-followers.  For at the heart of the Christian movement -- historically -- is a dethroning of any Caesar, and an elevation of Jesus.

Somehow we've missed this radical realignment, gutting Jesus' Lordship of its required positioning and demands.  As Father Steve Grunow has noted:

"...The reason for Rome’s persecution of the Church is not always understood by Christians. It was not simply the case that the Roman system was intolerant of religion; as a point of fact, the Roman system was inherently religious and willing to sanction a diversity of cults. The reason for Rome’s persecution of the Church was that Christians proclaimed that Christ was an authority that was higher than that of Rome and its emperor. We call Christ “Lord and Savior” and do not realize that these terms are not just honorary titles or theological abstractions. Caesar held the titles “Lord and Savior” and would tolerate no rivals to this claim. That Christians would call Christ, who had died at the hands of Roman power, their “Lord and Savior” was an affront to Caesar’s status and authority..." (emphasis added)  https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/blog/the-saint-who-refused-to-bow-down-to-caesar/1339/

As so to wrap Jesus in the American flag -- or -- the flag of any nation-state -- is heretical, profoundly contrary to the biblical conclusion: that Jesus is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

And so if Jesus is Lord and not Caesar -- how might our approach change toward our dis-union?

Providentially, I am writing this blog in the midst of attending the National Prayer Breakfast (NPB), a gathering of thousands in Washington, DC, from around the world.

And, not surprisingly, the dominant theme at the NPB is/was the partisan divide and dis-union of our land -- and -- much of the world.  

And so the NPB called us back to basics -- in particular -- to the person of Jesus.  In fact, at each place setting at the NPB main event (featuring the President of the U.S.) there were testaments, featuring the four gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, or as the NPB termed it, the Acts of the Ambassadors.  

As the approach of Jesus was interpreted throughout the NPB, common themes emerged.  A few follow:

• All persons want to connect.  Partisan politics, however, encourage persons not to connect, but to run to tribes, that soon become ghettos.

• When we ghetto, we distance ourselves from each other.   But distance demonizes.  But there is a way forward.  As the old African proverb notes:  from a distance you're a monster -- coming closer, you become human -- coming even closer, you become a person -- coming face to face, you become a sister/brother.   

• The genocide of Rwanda is being duplicated in the U.S.  When asked how genocide happened in his country, the President of Rwanda remarked, it happened for three reasons:  1) Genocide happened when we no longer thought of ourselves as Rwandians, but Hutu's and Tutsi's; 2) Genocide happened when Hutu's concluded the Tutsi's had nothing to contribute and the Tutsi's concluded the Hutu's had nothing to contribute; 3) Genocide happened when a perceived lack of contribution by 'the other' (either Hutu or Tutsi) morphed into a devaluing of 'the other' -- and then -- a hatred of 'the other.'  And then hate became deeply rooted and normalized.

• Make a friend with the last person you'd ever imagine being a friend -- and find the face of   God. 

Strong 'stuff.'  But biblical 'stuff.'   

And so, who will break the cycle of hate, disunion, and genocide?

As the principal speaker at the NPB, Gary Haugen noted:  God will not be mocked. 

“...The great canopy of history is firmly held in the scarred hands of a God who speaks galaxies into being. We know the One who is seated upon the throne will one day wipe away every tear, and death and pain and mourning will be no more. The tricky part is this: while I’m eager to leverage this holy God for my consuming crusade of the day, I may not be listening as carefully to His voice about the good I am rushing past or the good I am trampling upon in my dash to the barricades..."  https://www.christianpost.com/news/national-prayer-breakfast-keynote-dont-let-tribal-divisions-stop-you-from-pursuing-the-good.html

We are all on some crusade.  

But in our 'crusading,' we do rush by 'the good' that often is found -- ironically -- in the very person we devalue, even demonize.  

And so, slow down your crusade -- just enough -- to see the good in your opponent, your adversary -- even your enemy.

For God is speaking about the good, in the very person I've labeled, ungood -- and -- ungodly.  

After another season of dis-union, the American Civil War, Varina Davis, the wife of Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, did the unthinkable:  she left the South, moving to New York City, after her husband's death.  While there, she became a columnist for the New York World, at the invitation of her friend, Joseph Pulitzer.  In due course, Varina visited a New York area resort, Cranston's-On-Hudson.  And while there, Varina stuck up a conversation with another guest, a most unexpected guest:  Julia Grant, the widow of the North's most esteemed general, Ulysses S. Grant.  That chance meeting, developed into a close friendship, astounding a still divided nation.  

In fact, the women continued meeting in resorts, vacationing with each other, on a recurring basis.  As the Kansas City Star reported:    

"...The widows of two...men who opposed each other and made American history...[are]...now staying in a little Canadian village called Coburg....on adjoining lots, and see each other every day... " https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/how-first-ladies-on-opposing-sides-of-the-civil-war-forged-an-unlikely-bond

Also, Varina and Julia would regularly correspond.  An ending sentence Varina once wrote to Julia, summarized well 'the reason for,' and 'the depth of,' their friendship:  “...with sympathy of one who has suffered in a like way," Varina wrote.  "I am affectionately your friend...”

That's how we finally union, our dis-union.  As we awaken to the fact, we've all suffered -- and thus -- we all have common ground, for friendship and affection.  

Given that reality, in the words of the Apostle Paul (made fresh through The Passion Translation)...

"... Lay aside your old Adam-self with its masquerade and disguise.  For you have acquired new creation life which is continually being renewed into the likeness of the One who created you...In this new creation life, your nationality makes no difference, or your ethnicity, education, or economic status—they matter nothing. For it is Christ that means everything as he lives in every one of us!...So robe yourself with virtues of God...Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others. Tolerate the weaknesses of [others]...forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark of true maturity. (Colossians 3:9-13, The Passion Translation, emphasis added)

Yes, love is the mark of true maturity, as we realize: we need each other, more than any cause or victory.

That's how a state of dis-union becomes a state of union -- as we lay aside a disguised life -- for a real life -- marked by surrender (not supremacy) -- to One who created us, loving us -- to love others.