6 Things Christians Must Keep in Mind on Inauguration Day

1.    
The president was elected through a non-violent,
democratic process. This may seem like a given, but it’s a reality that many
people around the world long to share, and one for which we should always be
grateful.

2.    
As Christians, we are called to pray for our
leaders, a privilege made even sweeter by the fact that our president is also a
Christian.

3.    
On a day when we remember the work of Martin
Luther King Jr, we are struck by the fact that we have reelected an African
American for president of the United States. To celebrate the justice this
represents is right and good. May it be a catalyst that moves us toward more
acts of justice and mercy in our communities and in our culture. There is still
much work to be done.

4.    
As Christians, we are reminded today that our
ultimate allegiance belongs not to a political party or even a country, but to
the Kingdom of God, where the first is last and the last is first, where the
peacemakers and the poor are blessed, where enemies are forgiven and slaves are
set free, where our King washes feet, where abundant life grows from a tiny
seed into a tree—not by power or might but by the Spirit. If this Kingdom can
flourish under the Roman Empire, it can flourish under any government, in any
country, and in any circumstance. We are never without hope.

5.    
There is no place for followers of Jesus to be
consumed with either hate or adoration. Jesus teaches us to love even our
enemies, to bless and not curse, to reserve our adoration for God alone, and to
humble ourselves in the face of power. Responding to today’s events with either
despair or unbridled glee communicates to the world that our trust is in the
government, not in Christ.

6.    
Either way, if you don’t want to be tempted into
sinful anger, I recommend staying off Facebook.

(We’ll pick up our series on sexuality and the church tomorrow. Meanwhile, enjoy the day!)