I AM RESOLVED TO LIVE OUT THE GOSPEL!
By Jonathan David Faulkner
Let me set this out right now so there can be no confusion; I was not nor will I ever be a Trump supporter. I did not vote for him and this website was very open in its opposition to him and support of another candidate who did not make it out of the Republican Primary. I cannot justify voting for someone who would degrade women or speak so condescendingly to those who disagree with him. I am not qualified to judge his heart, but the fruit of division, anger and fear that he has gardened is enough to turn me and those around me off to him.
That being said, I have seen more than one person make the joke that Friday, January 20th 2017 is a day to be dreaded because, that morning, Donald J. Trump will take office. I have listened and read various articles in both the Washington Post and other news outlines that are little more than fear-mongering and seen those around me spout off angry tweets and facebook posts, some of which would make The Donald blush. I have seen posts by the most Liberal of the my friends predicting all sorts of disasters and evil deeds. Everyone is telling me that I should be terrified of this man.
But, I am not, in fact as the Inauguration of our 45th president approaches I have a great and lasting peace. A greater peace than that which I had after the election of a man who’s every policy I have mostly disagreed with. I have a peace about Friday, I am not afraid, I am at rest.
Do I sense the uneasiness of my friends? Yes, I feel all of it. Am I living in some privileged position because I have this peace and to some that might seem like I am “Shutting it off?” I assure you, nothing could be further from the truth. Do I want to invalidate concerns about our incoming president? No, at least not the reasonable ones, but those which are unreasonable and the result of fear-mongering and hate speech from those who so strongly appose him that they would say anything to cause others to cast doubt on him, I would if it meant my brothers and sisters getting to rest their weary, worried souls.
No, I am not afraid of Donald J. Trump, I am resolved. I have a task, and I am going to carry it out.
My task is this; to live a life that first and foremost reflects Christ and, while holding to the Orthodox doctrines of my faith practice living a life that cares for and builds up all around me whether they be LGBTQ+, Black, Muslin, Disabled, Trump Supporter, Trump Hater. Those I agree with and most-definitely those, I disagree with. To find the healthy tension between what I believe and how I practice it and to practice it well. To live out my calling as an image-bearer and Disciple of the Triune God for the benefit and blessing of all I come in contact with, whoever they may be. It is my job now to do the work that Scripture has laid out for me to do and to do that work well.
I do believe, that the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah can apply to us today, that now that we are in an unfavorable position and with an unfavorable ruler we should: “Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. 6‘Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. 7‘Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’ 8“For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream. 9‘For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,’ declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 29:6-9).
The time has come for us to be the blessing we were called to be, to be salt and light to an increasingly darkening world. Right now, as a direct result of displacement, fear, persecution and the pain of death. Thousands of Arabs are turning to Christ because a light has met them in the darkness. We can have the same result here if we just stop fighting and go about doing the work we are called, by God, in Christ to do. The fields are ready for planting of the true seed. People are questioning, afraid, alone, starring into the immense darkness and beginning to lose their minds. Brother and Sisters, now is the time for us to stand up and work for the betterment of our nation. Not merely because we live here and are planted here, but because others are with us.
Now we must be the people of God. Now we must lay aside our differences and come together as a living, Worshiping, Serving, Missional Body with the Cross and the Word of Truth going before us. A Word that we have learned to rightly divide by the Power of the Holy Spirit so that we may teach and preach it with our words but also with our lives; we must now carry out the greatest two commandments. To Love God and Love our Neighbor. Let us set aside our opinions and cast off that which divides us and be united as one body of Christ, One Church.
No, I am not afraid of Donald J. Trump, I am resolved and at peace for I know that my God is the God who parted the Red Sea, who brought down the walls of Jericho, who made the sun stand still in the sky, who defended Jerusalem. My God is the God who created the world, who sent His only son to die on the cross for the worlds sins. My God is the God of Peace, The God of Mercy, the God of Love, The God of grace, The God of Justice, The God of Righteousness. He is; to use the words of Pastor Matt Chandler: “Immensely Powerful and Intensely Personal.”
This is my God and there’s so much more to Him than this.
This is why I do not have to fear a man and have no fear of who is in the White House. Because my hope is built in nothing less than God himself and my faith will not be shaken by fear mongering or hate-speech from either side.
I am not afraid of Donald J. Trump; I am Resolved to live the Gospel.
And if that makes me a Sissy Preacher, then so be it.
Jonathan D
avid Faulkner is a student at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a Pastor, Musician and Writer. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Education & Administration with a concentration in Urban Ministry
