America elected a new president.
Already this morning my Facebook feed carries word by some calling the outcome an answer to prayer, God’s hand stirring. Others name it a sign of something more sinister.
Regardless of where you stand, this election, any election, is a reminder of the limits of such things.
No doubt, the U.S. President wields enormous influence and power, for good or evil. He/she can affect lives around the world. He/she is the target of both the hopes and the hates of millions.
This is why so many are celebrating today. This is why so many are not.
Still, we do well to remember the limits of elections, presidents, and politics.
After all, it is the church’s privilege to be the gospel in the world–not the President’s.
The church alone carries the enormous commission to incarnate the good news in a world so desperate for it, regardless of who occupies the White House.
Whether Washington chooses walls or welcome mats, the church and her gospel always adopts a posture of intimacy rather than isolation with the people of the world, just as Jesus did.
Whether the Oval Office acts selflessly or selfishly, the church and her gospel consistently adopts a posture of dying to self to bring life to the world, just as Jesus did.
Whether the White House behaves inclusively or exclusively, the church and her gospel persistently adopts the posture of erasing lines between races, genders, ages, etc., just as Jesus did.
Whether the President plays it safe or not, the church and her gospel always adopts a posture of fearless risk taking for the sake of compassion and creation, just as Jesus did.
Yes, I know. Every one of us can point to churches that haven’t. That don’t. That won’t.
But at our best, this is what we are. We alone are called to be good news. We’ve been entrusted with a calling given to no politician–to become good news in the world.
The church is the one answer to Jesus’ prayer: “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is heaven.”
If heaven’s going to break onto earth, if patches of our neighborhoods, cities and nations are going to look more heavenly today, this month, this year than they did yesterday, last month, last year, governments and presidents can help. They can help a lot. But, ultimately, it’s going to happen through the church and her gospel.
Only the church has the Spirit-empowered ability to bring heaven to earth.
Only we have the divine capacity to bring and become good news.
Let’s pray for the President-elect. I’ve done so this morning.
But for all the disaffected, marginalized, forgotten, and forlorn, let’s step up. Let’s be the gospel. Let’s be the good news. Let’s be the church. For the next four years–and beyond.
