and

Because I believe that God calls individuals into politics and that this call can situate a person in a wide range of places on the political spectrum.

and

Because I believe it is unwise to have Christian political parties, or to have Christian churches, denominations and institutions endorsing one political party over another.

and

Because I believe that the church throughout history has been at its worst – corrupt, idolatrous and syncretistic – when it has sought political, judicial and/or military power and placed its hope in such power as the key to bringing change in our world.

and

Because I believe that the hope for transformation in a society lies with local churches living as intriguing and counter-cultural communities, demonstrating ‘a third way’, beyond the Right or the Left and often doing so in the margins and on the ‘lower-rungs’ of society.

Because of these beliefs I’ve never been too concerned about whether a Democrat or a Republican is in the White House. This is not the critical issue in the purposes of God.

BUT

Because, as the saying goes, ‘methinks he doth protest too much’, I wonder whether the vociferous shouting about ‘fake news’ reveals more about the incumbent than it does the ‘mainstream media’.

and

Because nationhood and nationalism have not made the headlines in the purposes of God since Old Testament times, I wonder about the incumbent’s obsessive focus on America and making it great again (especially when he and his supporters consider him to be God’s appointed man for the times).

and

Because character is such a central issue in leadership and cannot be excused, I wonder whether the incumbent’s narcissistic, unpredictable, delusional and childish behaviour fits him for the office of president.

and

Because there is so much that is so good about America, attracting people to come within its borders and inspiring other people beyond its borders, I wonder about the level of embarassment and shame which the incumbent has brought on his own people.

and

Because ‘evangelical’ has been the best way to describe biblical faith and because those who gather around the incumbent continue to sabotage the word, marrying it again to the fundamentalism from which it separated ‘three score and ten’ years ago, I wonder about the wisdom of such ‘evangelicals’ having so much power. Maybe a season in political exile, focusing instead on recalibrating their local churches to be intriguing and counter-cultural communities, demonstrating ‘a third way’, beyond the Right or the Left, is a better option.

Because of these wonderings, I’m relieved to see Donald Trump departing the White House.

nice chatting

Paul