Yup, this is the problem with Trump. He empowered some of these extreme nativist racist xenophobes. That's bad news and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. If Trump really wants to reach across the aisle, he should set the public straight that such hate crimes must never be accepted.
How is Trump or any politician supposed to address this? I'm tired of this reliance on and expectancy for our leaders to deal with matters that needs to be dealt with at a personal level. Yes, Trump should say something, but will anyone listen? No one is going to stop doing things of this nature because a politician tells them it's bad and unacceptable (one can't reason with a fool with a hard heart by telling them to stop behaving badly). People are responsible for their own actions and have to be willing to change their ways of their own volition. You'll never be able to stop this sort of thing from happening by condemning people. That just empowers them and makes them more defiant. We need to try to change people with love (as hard as this is). Perhaps--and I know that most here will laugh--but, if people
really looked at the way Jesus lived (shedding their prejudices/biases/skepticism), and more importantly, what he did for the human race in his death and resurrection (the greatest sign of love) instead of mocking this idea and or distancing themselves from this notion, we might--scratch that--we
would live in a kinder world where people love their neighbours and even their enemies (as they are commanded to). This would require great discernment, however, when reading scripture. Look at Desmond Tutu as an example/the end of apartheid in South Africa, with little blood shed. Additionally, look at what Martin Luther King Jr. did for black people in America through his convicted love for and obedience to God (likewise what Abraham Lincoln, William Wilberforce and John Woolman did for the slaves before him). And he (King) paid the ultimate price for it by losing his life. He was driven by God's love and spirit and look at the positive impact his mission had. What a great legacy he is to not just to black people, but the human race. What a great example for anyone to follow. Too bad Obama didn't heed his unifying message and instead continued to drive a wedge between us, as have many of his predecessors have (Trump and Clinton as well). Unfortunately, King had to be stopped because he really was bringing about a change in America and that threatened many. Such a shame.
The power of the Holy Spirit working through human lives is greater than anything we can muster on our own. Anything is possible with God if we sacrifice our lives to do His will. The more we shut our mind and ears to His voice, the murkier our judgement becomes.
This utopia we've been dreaming about is never going to happen with the way our world is currently structured (politically and otherwise) where power, money, lust, greed, etc. are our main objectives. Nothing good can ever arise from these principles if they are the foundation by which we run our lives and the world. It is because of this that we live in a world where brokenness is so prevalent, fairness doesn't exist and love is an old fashioned idea. We are no closer to ridding the world of war, child pornography, drug crime, broken relationships, etc. We (our leaders) have no real plan on how to seriously deal with these things. Though, if the scriptures are true (they hold up remarkably well if you approach them without cynicism and study them thoroughly with discernment) it (utopia/paradise, whatever you want to call it) will actually happen by God using us as His instruments (not by us on our own), and He will complete it when He promises to renew the heavens and the earth upon Jesus' return; where those who have the Holy Spirit living in them will be resurrected in an embodied state, on a replenished earth (as opposed to the traditional view of living eternally in a disembodied state in God's dimension: heaven. The former actually being rooted in scripture); in which He will dwell here with us in His rescued creation.
Only then will everything be as it was originally intended to be before we fell into sin and corrupted all of creation. That is the hope we are offered by following Him. The current mess in the world is temporary and it will be put to rights. Those whom God dwells in will inherit the new earth and never be subject to death, decay, sadness or pain ever again, as the current order will pass and the former things will not be remembered. That is the great hope we are offered through the Easter story (where the groundwork was laid for all things to be made new). I know, I can hear the snickering and envision the crooked brows already. I would urge those that are skeptical to read some books by N.T. Wright: namely, Simply Christian or Surprised by Hope; and maybe Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. They address, in much greater and articulate detail, the questions, doubts and historical events that are probably bubbling up in many minds as they have read this. I'm not trying to be a salesman for Christianity, or trying to convert, but I think that the wisdom and love that Jesus offered for us all (even though we are unworthy of it) is the best example we can follow (it's anyone's choice to embrace this or reject it). I challenge anyone to find a better alternative.
God is love and
nothing is more powerful than love.
I think the world desperately needs a spiritual awakening. The bleak secular world of the last 200 years or so (not to discount the good things that have occurred within the post enlightenment age) has been the bloodiest and darkest in history. God is a threat to men that crave power, thus, I believe, that is why He has been mostly expunged by our leaders (only mentioning Him occasionally to satisfy citizens during speeches); He's been removed from the schools/universities (remember the Lord's Prayer was removed from public schools even though the majority of people wanted it to remain). I think there was great effort made to remove God from our culture, as much as possible, because people stand more united in their service to God. This unity lends itself to stronger families as well who are less dependent on a social safety net. People that are tightly bound are difficult to control, and that interrupts the selfish desires our politicians hunger for and it dilutes their power over us. With God, largely, out of the picture in our culture, are we really doing all that well? Why does evil persist, unabated? Why is there famine and poverty, perpetual war, rape, torture, animal cruelty, human trafficking, slavery, etc.? What strategy have we and our leaders developed to stop these things from occurring? The answer is: we can't stop them on our own. We haven't made a dent since we disavowed God; nor have we all been united in belief to see what good might come. Why do we accept Einstein's definition of insanity? There is no peace and justice and fairness if we continue as we have for so long. I don't mean to oversimplify, but what is going to change, and when is this change going to happen? How can we ever bring goodness to this world if we can't even find common ground on the small things? Our own city is divided between suburbs and the old city. We can't even work together to form a sensible transit plan. How else are we going to learn to get along and love one another without looking at the source of all love? If we deny this, we will go on in a muddled state with no clear direction.
We must stop judging each other (that includes myself) and bind together and want prosperity for
all rather than worrying about what
we can reap from the world on an individual basis. The myth of progress is overstated (not that we haven't made genuine progress in many areas). Without any formidable plan on how to deal with evil and injustice all we're left with is having our feelings appeased with hollow sentiments from the same, hackneyed politicians and celebrities. Emotional appeals might warm our hearts transiently, but they aren't solutions to real, lasting problems (why should anyone be homeless with the wealth and resources we possess?). Our leaders and whomever is pulling their strings are deliberately turning us against each other and we have to resist this if we are to ever bring about
real change in the world. We have nothing to unify us, despite each of us being different. With no common goal, what hope or strategy can we develop to address iniquity? How are we to transform the world to be a place where justice is carried out, where beauty permeates and radiates throughout the earth and cosmos and most importantly, love rules? If we can't even agree that love and selflessness count the most (we're all brothers and sisters), then how can we come together and tackle big problems and find positive, peaceful solutions? The political system we have is broken and ineffectual and it leaves us stumbling to a foggy, uncertain future. Unfortunately, many leaders have disingenuously used God as a means of exploitation (basically every president/candidate, and politician does this in the U.S.) This sort of feigned spirituality is dangerous and ultimately useless as it doesn't come from the heart and it provides no energy for renewal or any wisdom to teach. It is my opinion that a sincere faith in God is the signpost we need to follow and through Him our path to peace, love and understanding will be made clear. Feel free to disagree with me, but I don't see any other way for us to ever overcome the chaos and cruelty in this current world without acknowledging and emulating the only perfect example we have in human history: Jesus of Nazareth.
