SECURITY & TRUST:
I’m often amazed at how seemingly disparate streams of thought tend to become knit together in the writing process. It’s as if God throws dart after dart in my direction, until one of them eventually finds its mark and – once my attention is secured – I begin to find the others.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the relationship between liberty and trust, the connection between common, unwritten, standards that govern our conduct, and being able to enjoy the freedom that is ours.
Walking through our neighborhood yesterday, it occurred to me that it’s not some security system that keeps my house and family safe, not armed police roaming the streets, not a handy weapon within arm’s reach, but simple trust that people allow one another to live in peace.
It’s that common expectation of “doing right” that makes freedom work.
Then, in a rare example of a television preacher worth listening to, Rebekah and I listened to a message from Andy Stanley (who always seems to be on the ball) that included this insightful quote from founding father John Adams. Read it, let it sink in, and then we’ll talk about it a little:
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” – John Adams
The point Adams makes reinforces the idea Jesus articulated when he pointed out that everything the law addressed would be covered if only we love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind – and love one another the same way. (Matthew 22, Mark 12, Luke 10).
CONSTITUTION: The Constitution of the United States implicitly recognizes the truth Jesus tells. It’s the truth that no law, no legal code, no set of rules, no legislation, no constitution, can create the conditions necessary for human beings to flourish in a secure, encouraging, productive, compassionate, mutually beneficial, progressive society. The framers of the U.S. Constitution assumed as de facto exactly what Jesus touts as central to life together as God’s children – they assumed a mutual trust, and the common moral grounding of a people rooted in something beyond and greater than themselves.
All this leads me to two important points this day before the conclusion of this election.
- First, no candidate for president can offer the kind of security that comes from loving God, loving our neighbor, trusting one another, and living unselfishly.
- Then, this “Great Experiment” that is our nation cannot long endure unless we turn, as a people, to a more intentional, practiced, life-transforming faith in God (I’m not talking about a nationalistic, God wrapped in the flag, state religion, but a transformational faith in God).
TRUST:
Simply put, friends, we need to love and trust God, and we need to love and trust one another. Neither of which requires your candidate – or anyone else’s – to win this election!
So go out there and vote, certainly; but – more importantly – let the light of Jesus shine in and through you in every way.
Peace – and I mean that in every way – DEREK