When I woke up on Wednesday morning, I checked the news, 

and was disappointed but not too surprised, frankly.

My next thought was, oh boy, 

I’ll have to dig a lot deeper for this Sunday’s sermon,

And change directions.

So, fasten your seatbelts.

As some of you might recall, 

I preached a sermon before the pandemic 

about the “Way of the wicked” from Psalm 1.

I argued that the behaviour of the 45th President, 

could be described as being wicked.

And I think since then, I have become even more convinced.

After I preached that sermon,I got a phone call from someone who criticized me for being quote “too political”. 

I suspect if I had used the leader of another party as an example 

then I wouldn’t have gotten that call.

So it was less about which leader I chose, 

but about whether the person agreed or disagreed with my assessment.

Let’s be clear, as a registered charity, 

we are prohibited from partisan, political activity. 

We’re not allowed as an organization to openly support one Canadian party or another, 

and that would include sermons. 

However, we are allowed to discuss ethics and morals and religious concepts and use examples from real present-day life. 

And so that’s the context for my sermon.

Elections have real-life consequences for people.

Issues brought up in politics need to be examined from a Christian perspective.

What does Jesus or the Biblical authors say about this or that social topic?

Are we supposed to glorify the billionaire, or admire the poor widow?

Are we supposed to love and protect the alien and orphan, or not?

Now current socio-economic conditions as you well know, are mixed these days…

Home-owners are getting wealthier while those renting are losing hope of getting a home of their own.

Esp. in the USA, income inequality is a huge issue, with

Billionaires hoarding resources, while there are very poor segments of the population.

Many people are feeling worse off than 5 years ago, esp. with

Inflation driving up food prices, wages stagnating,

And we notice the effects of the drug and mental health epidemic.

Large portions of the population are feeling left out and isolated and so they

Turn to the fringe and the radical in search of new hope or maybe just chaos to turn the tides.

Society has become much more polarized in the last decade.

And within this context we now have the new president-elect.

Some people are very afraid right now; esp. illegal immigrants, the trans community, women.

And I think there are some real, legitimate concerns,

As he has promised:

Revenge on his enemies

Mass deportation of undocumented migrants

A rollback of 2SLGBT+ rights,

And he supported a decrease to women’s access to health care.

Furthermore his 

Authoritarian, anti-democratic tendencies

Divisive rhetoric

Policies favouring the wealthy

Indifference to climate change

As well as frequent false or misleading statements

Are worsening social divides and contributing to a sense of chaos and mistrust in government,

As well as enabling bigotry and hatred, 

making some feel like they have free license to do and say horrible things.

These are scary times indeed for some.

That being said…

As Lutherans we have to remember our founding belief that everyone, and even Trump, 

is at the same time saint and sinner, 

nobody is ever all evil or good.

Jesus tells us to love our enemies and though it is hard, we must try.

Those Christians whom we disagree with are baptized, loved by God, 

justified by grace through faith, just as we are.

I agree that’s a little hard to swallow this week for some of us, 

myself included.

It’s difficult and challenging to recognize our common humanity even in enemies or those we are at odds with.

Demonizing the other doesn’t help in the long run,

Even though our first reaction may be to lash out, 

Rather, reaching out in compassion and kindness 

is Jesus’ way.

And with this in mind we move to today’s texts…

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In our Gospel Reading from Mark,

We hear Jesus: being critical of the religious establishment,

“Beware the scribes, pastors, bishops, presidents 

who are pretentious, —just for show!!

They like to walk around in long fancy robes

And like to be greeted with respect in the arenas and public spaces.

In the eyes of God these self-important folks are not as amazing as in our human eyes.

God sees the human heart, which is often not as apparent for us.

These winners take what is not theirs, and 

They will receive greater condemnation, they should know better,

Their privilege and education should have taught them.

But contrast that with the 

Humility and generosity of the widow;

Who according to Jesus put in more than all the others.

While the rich and proud folks

contributed out of their abundance,

The widow put in everything she had to live on, she gave literally her whole life.

—-

Jesus reminds us that our role models shouldn’t be those the world deems to be successful, rather we should emulate those who exhibit full and true devotion to God’s way.

—

We also had Psalm 146 this morning

Which clarifies who is this God we adore and praise.

Is it a God who tramples on and demonizes the marginalized?

No, our God is one who

Executes justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry,

sets the prisoner free

Opens the eyes of the blind

Lifts up those who are bowed down

Watches over the stranger and

Upholds the widow and orphan!

Any Christian leader should take this description of God to heart,

But for the rest of us, 

Do not put your trust in princes or heads of government,

In mortals in whom there is no help, they will ultimately pass away,

Instead put your trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

—

So what is our role as Christians in the midst of current world events?

Where do we fit in?

I think we need to continue to condemn Christian nationalism,

Which is a perversion of Jesus’ message

And praises a triumphalism of domination and imperialism and putting others down,

And ascribing Messianic qualities to charlatans and strongmen.

Instead, we need to remember Jesus’ way was that of servanthood, 

The suffering servant is lifted up on a cross, the tree of shame,

Where God comes nearest identifying with the distressed and the outcast.

We need to condemn: xenophobia, racism, and transphobia,

We must criticize the demeaning or belittling of women,

We must denounce the demonization of those at the margins.

We need to clearer about calling things a sin,

Like lying, cheating, killing, stealing.

In 2017 incidents of hatred in society increased as some groups became more bold in their attacks against visible minorities, with xenophobic graffiti and open harassment.

We need to again be on the lookout and condemn hatred and bigotry, because it’s happening again.

—

Anger and fear are strong motivators as we saw recently leading up to Wednesday’s results.

Yet we need to choose faith, hope and love amidst all that we see and discuss.

We will get through this.

We must keep following Jesus, reminding ourselves of the essentials of his teaching and how he lived his life, lost it and triumphed over sin, death and the devil.

No matter the election result, we need to trust in God first.

People will disappoint, but God doesn’t.

We must have confidence and hope that God is greater than any ruler.

Ultimately all is in God’s hands.

—

No matter what happens in the world and in our life 

we should consecrate ourselves fully to God and God’s reign,

And be emboldened to greater action

Like our role model of the widow at the temple.

Let us not be content with half-measures, 

But full of humility and generosity 

Dedicate ourselves and give our lives to God. Amen.

*Hymn of the Day 685 “Take My Life That I May Be”`

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