Lectionary: 492For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.
Voting day is a kind of judgment day. Each one is critically important; each one challenges us with ethical and moral decisions; but only the simple-minded would think the choice is obvious. During this particular election cycle, Mrs. Clinton is pro-choice and pro-gay marriage and Mr. Trump is remarkably incompetent. Both arouse strong feelings of revulsion in the electorate and yet we must choose.
Some religious
leaders have taken strong stands about their preferred candidate and made
equally violent denunciations against those who disagree. They seem to have
eaten more than one bite of that Forbidden Fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge
of Good and Evil, more than is good for a human being. They’ve become a bit
deranged. Having sampled of that tree myself, I have compassion for their pain
but cannot agree with them.
When the Lord
chose to live among us he recognized there are many sides to every moral
decision, and unforeseen consequences to every choice. Every decision is
irrevocable and yet none is made with perfect clarity. While we do have some insight
about our moral choices – our progenitors did manage to steal a single meal off
that Forbidden Tree – we cannot rely solely upon that crude instinct. We must also ask
for wisdom, courage, patience and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
But even
then, honest people will disagree. The Holy Spirit will advise one person to
vote this way, and another to vote that way. Or so it seems. As my Baptist
friend used to say, “God is still in charge.”
So hold your
nose and vote.
In the
meanwhile, we must “live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we
await the blessed hope.” If we are truly guided by the Spirit of God we can be
assured this will not be the last Judgment Day, there are many yet to come.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.