History Lessons for the Next Term
History Lessons for the Next Term
Johann Christoph Arnold
The long awaited presidential election is over. The American people have spoken and given our president another four years to govern the country. Unlike the last election, he won the popular vote and now has a clear mandate. And although we have just been through the most polarizing campaign in recent memory, Democrats and Republicans agree on one thing—that our nation now needs to be united.
In a recent CNN poll a majority of Americans were hopeful that President Bush would do more to unite our country than to divide it. To do this, he must lead the country in truly seeking God’s will, not his human will. This will require bipartisan action, openness, and even more importantly, humility, prayer, and sacrifice. Although he won the election, there are still millions who disagree strongly with him on many points. Their views must be listened to with respect. Blindly forging ahead with policies that barely half the nation supports is no way to win the hearts of the opposition. To serve the country, our president must go beyond protecting the American people from terror. He has to address the many social ills plaguing our nation, which divide its citizens from one another and from the rest of the world.
But whether we are saddened or elated by the prospect of another four years, now is not the time for depression or gloating. How can we help our country in a world of war, terror, and fear? Jesus reminds us that we should give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. Possibly, in these last four years, we have done neither. We have not respected our president enough and we have not cared enough for our neighbor and for the great need of the world. The time of greed and materialism has to come to an end. We have to start caring for other people, other nations, and especially our children. And whether or not we agree with him, we should pray for our president that God gives him the wisdom to guide our nation through these turbulent times.
Let us remind one another that regardless of who is president, God is ultimately in control. It is to Him that we as a nation should turn. Our president says that he is a man of faith. Perhaps he can learn important military and spiritual lessons by studying the history of the founder of his faith. Jesus himself said that the days of an eye for an eye are over. This Old Testament teaching has never worked, and only increased violence, fear and death. Instead, he told us not to resist an evil man, “but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also, and if anyone compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” Such words were not a sermon, but a way of life for Jesus; he was born in Bethlehem, under Roman occupation and under the fear of war and terror. Yet still he instructed us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and do good to those who hate us.
Interestingly, many people looked to Jesus as a military leader who would free the Jewish people from their oppressors. To their surprise and dismay, Jesus offered humankind a weapon that would destroy all enemies and all fear: the weapon of love and of prayer. This weapon has never failed. Today the whole world is watching our president. He has the chance of a lifetime to become a true leader, such as our nation has not had in decades. He can leave a legacy that will be hard to surpass by future presidents, if he truly acts on the faith he professes to have. This is a moment of God’s history. May our president, and all of us, be found worthy.
Jesus called on his followers to be peacemakers, and told them that they would be called the sons of God. This promise still exists for us today. These are simple but powerful words. If they worked in Christ’s time, why shouldn't they work today as we struggle to rid the world of terror? It is easy to pay our taxes, abide by the rule of law, and otherwise dutifully give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But what about the second half of that commandment? That is harder to fulfill. In the end, only when we each become a peacemaker will we achieve the unity that politicians of all stripes are fond of giving lip service to. Then we will have given to God what belongs to God.
Johann Christoph Arnold
The long awaited presidential election is over. The American people have spoken and given our president another four years to govern the country. Unlike the last election, he won the popular vote and now has a clear mandate. And although we have just been through the most polarizing campaign in recent memory, Democrats and Republicans agree on one thing—that our nation now needs to be united.
In a recent CNN poll a majority of Americans were hopeful that President Bush would do more to unite our country than to divide it. To do this, he must lead the country in truly seeking God’s will, not his human will. This will require bipartisan action, openness, and even more importantly, humility, prayer, and sacrifice. Although he won the election, there are still millions who disagree strongly with him on many points. Their views must be listened to with respect. Blindly forging ahead with policies that barely half the nation supports is no way to win the hearts of the opposition. To serve the country, our president must go beyond protecting the American people from terror. He has to address the many social ills plaguing our nation, which divide its citizens from one another and from the rest of the world.
But whether we are saddened or elated by the prospect of another four years, now is not the time for depression or gloating. How can we help our country in a world of war, terror, and fear? Jesus reminds us that we should give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. Possibly, in these last four years, we have done neither. We have not respected our president enough and we have not cared enough for our neighbor and for the great need of the world. The time of greed and materialism has to come to an end. We have to start caring for other people, other nations, and especially our children. And whether or not we agree with him, we should pray for our president that God gives him the wisdom to guide our nation through these turbulent times.
Let us remind one another that regardless of who is president, God is ultimately in control. It is to Him that we as a nation should turn. Our president says that he is a man of faith. Perhaps he can learn important military and spiritual lessons by studying the history of the founder of his faith. Jesus himself said that the days of an eye for an eye are over. This Old Testament teaching has never worked, and only increased violence, fear and death. Instead, he told us not to resist an evil man, “but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also, and if anyone compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” Such words were not a sermon, but a way of life for Jesus; he was born in Bethlehem, under Roman occupation and under the fear of war and terror. Yet still he instructed us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and do good to those who hate us.
Interestingly, many people looked to Jesus as a military leader who would free the Jewish people from their oppressors. To their surprise and dismay, Jesus offered humankind a weapon that would destroy all enemies and all fear: the weapon of love and of prayer. This weapon has never failed. Today the whole world is watching our president. He has the chance of a lifetime to become a true leader, such as our nation has not had in decades. He can leave a legacy that will be hard to surpass by future presidents, if he truly acts on the faith he professes to have. This is a moment of God’s history. May our president, and all of us, be found worthy.
Jesus called on his followers to be peacemakers, and told them that they would be called the sons of God. This promise still exists for us today. These are simple but powerful words. If they worked in Christ’s time, why shouldn't they work today as we struggle to rid the world of terror? It is easy to pay our taxes, abide by the rule of law, and otherwise dutifully give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But what about the second half of that commandment? That is harder to fulfill. In the end, only when we each become a peacemaker will we achieve the unity that politicians of all stripes are fond of giving lip service to. Then we will have given to God what belongs to God.
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