Editor’s Note: The complete version of this blog post was originally published by the Gospel Coalition. Read it in its entirety here.
During the closing weeks of the 2016 campaign a prominent Southern Baptist layman, publicly complaining about the never-Trump stance of a seminary president, warned: “There is no tomorrow after a Hillary Clinton presidency.”
We’ll never know if these prophecies of doom were justified. But I firmly believe American democracy is stronger than these fears portrayed. I also believe such apocalyptic rhetoric, while often sincere and motivating for the moment, will ultimately exhaust and disillusion the target audience.
Threats to religious liberty were absolutely a legitimate concern in this election and will be again in future elections. But dark Manichaean rhetoric that demands complete Christian loyalty to one political party is theologically dubious and will ultimately yield political failure.
Continue reading here.
Comment by Pudentiana on December 5, 2016 at 3:18 pm
Political Correctness has essentially gutted the platform for political and ethical debate in this country. Deep thought has left the gray matter of those who prefer popular culture over reality. It is so much easier to deal with easy solutions and trends than questioning how to do the “most good” as the Salvation Army Ad suggests. How can We The People make good decisions with so much daily chaos and 24 hours news cycles, personal pan pizzas, American Idols and Bachelors to choose from? When we consider the vitality of American Democracy, don’t we also have to consider our understanding of what is possible in our future?
Comment by Roger on December 5, 2016 at 5:50 pm
As we consider our Nation and Church there are certain factors we need to consider. Country: Blue and Crimson and White it shines over the steel tipped ordered lines. Hats Off! The colors before us fly, but more than the flag is passing by. Church: Our Bibles are in our hands and to Church off we go, but more than a book is going before us as we inter in. Let us now praise famous men and our Fathers that begat us. The Lord manifested them in great glory; even His mighty power from the beginning.All these were honored in their generations, and were the glory of their times. There be of them, that have left a name behind them, to declare their praises..And some there be who have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been. But these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds hath not been forgotten. We have forgot to reflect upon whose shoulders we now stand from our Country and Church. The Honor, Strength, and Faith in the Vision of the Future must be lifted up once again. There really are no great men, but only great challenges that must be met by ordinary people as you and I. How shall we respond to these challenges today?
footnotes: parts from The Methodist Hymnal, Wm Bennett poem and quote from Adm. Halsey.