Keep Your Eyes Open

The first one hundred days of a presidency is so important; and the first one hundred days of President Trump’s time in the White House has stirred more fear in the nation than it has brought peace. It’s an emotional time for our country. It has stirred up a lot of anxiety and fear in people. Of course, it’s not the whole country. We would not have President Trump as our President if it wasn’t for the votes that put him in office. Though many would admit that this term they seemed to vote against a candidate rather than for one; there were and are plenty of President Trump supporters.

But this is almost beside the point. President Trump is the President of the United States- and that’s not something we are able to change right now.

Politics are a hot topic; and usually it’s not so positive these days. This is not new. Politics have always been a hot topic discussion for people around the office, the gym or the dinner table. And after our President was declared winner, there seemed to be a lot of rumbling from coworkers, social media acquaintances, and friends in general- of fear, of panic, of uncertain, of pain.

No matter what you think of President Trump and no matter what you believe about the choices that he has made, we cannot close our eyes. Four years is a long time to burry our heads into the sand. It’s a long time to disengage. And it’s a long time to feel bitter. What can we do to help keep our eyes open?

Let’s take a look at Romans 13:1–7. It reads:

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

We know from this passage and other examples in Scripture of the importance of respecting those with authority. We also know that the Lord calls us to love one another. This means no matter what our feelings are about our leadership, we need to have a spirit of respect and love. This does not mean we need to agree with everything or even anything that our leaders believe. We are called to love and respect- not to agree and please. I think we can do that.

So what does it look like as a Christian to respect a leader that’s hard to follow? How do we find the balance between being a good follower and not veering from our morals and values? I don’t think that’s an easy task, but I do think a lot of it goes back to our attitude.

Just because we can’t always solve a problem doesn’t mean we don’t try to help be a part of a solution. For example, just because we cannot solve the issue of poverty, doesn’t mean we don’t take steps to help. Similarly, just because we cannot change the views of a President that we don’t always agree with doesn’t mean we completely disengage. We follow and pay attention. I think that our role as Christians is to be discerning with every decision we come into contact with that we actually have a say in how we respond to. If the President is asking us personally to do something that doesn’t agree with our values, then I think it’s appropriate to respectfully push back. But I think that if we are distraught by a decision that the President is making that we personally are not impacted by, then I think we become a helper. We become a listening ear for the coworker who is affected. We become a light to the world when it feels scared. There’s a quote from Fred Rogers that comes to mind,

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”**

We’ve heard this quote during various tragedies our world has faced. My challenge for Christians is to recognize that no matter what our own opinions are on the state of our politics right now, many people in our paths are really struggling, and if we cannot change it- maybe we could be those helpers. Maybe we could be the people who help. It doesn’t need to be radical- it could just be being a light to someone who is heavy hearted in a time of uncertainty. Maybe our role is to show hope.

The beloved Mr. Rogers also said this, “How sad it is that we give up on people who are just like us.”** This quote struck me hard when I read it because I think we are often so quick to say “he/she is nothing like me” and bash on a person for their behavior. Though it’s true that we may not have made the same kinds of mistakes with the same kinds of consequences, at the end of the day- we are still dealing with human beings, which we are considered to be as well. And all human beings are imperfect. All make mistakes. All hurt other people here and there. Some of us, more than others. Some of us, less than others. But in the end- we are all human and we all make mistakes.

That being said, we know that the Bible says, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:28 Undoubtedly, we know that the leaders who are entrusted to lead a larger flock, will be required more and needs to take seriously the responsibility they are given. But, I think we should also consider that all of those decisions that we make that others don’t agree with or that we regret is not displayed for the world to see. At the end of the day, I think we need to remember the words of Mr. Rogers, “How sad it is that we give up on people who are just like us.” Let’s just not give up just yet.

Let’s choose to not burry our heads in the sand. Let’s choose to engage our hurting world and be a light. Let’s choose to not close our eyes.

I love this song from “For King and Country.” It’s called, “Fix Your Eyes.” Earlier this year, I played this song with a group of preteens at an overnight event at church. We talked about the importance to fix our eyes on Jesus and to be brave to act on what we are called to, while focusing on Him. I wonder what that would look like specifically in these next four years. What would it look like if we kept our eyes open? If we fixed them on Jesus; and then if we radically loved?