February began unusually chaotic even for American politics. The results of the much anticipated Iowa Caucuses held on the first Monday in February were not reported in full as we went to press on Wednesday. Even the most loyal liberals were calling it a complete disaster.
Then President Trump became only the second president to deliver the State of the Union Address while under impeachment. The atmosphere in the room was unusually tense and partisan. The president handed copies of his speech to Vice President Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She extended her hand, but he turned away without shaking it. She then introduced him, but not with the customary, “Members of Congress, I have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you the president of the United States.” Instead, she said simply, “Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States.”
Trump’s speech touted his many accomplishments as president including: the nations best ever economy, a rebuilt military, the creation of 7 million new jobs, unemployment at the lowest level in 50 years, African- American, Hispanic, veterans and women’s unemployment the lowest ever, wages rising, landmark criminal justice reform, oil and gas independence, 12,000 new factories, Isis territory destroyed, and the two leading terrorist killed.
He also talked about the fight to uphold religious liberty and took a powerful pro-life stand. He stated, “We do not tear down crosses. We do not ban symbols of faith. We do not muzzle our preachers and pastors. In America, we celebrate faith. We cherish religion. We lift our voices in prayer, and we raise our sights to the Glory of God!”
Some Democrats didn’t even show up and others like Rashida Tlaib walked out tweeting: “I walked out of that speech. The lies, the bigotry, and the shameless bragging about taking away food stamps that people depend on to live — it was all beneath the dignity of the office he occupies. Shame on this forever impeached president.”
My apologies, Rep. Tlaib, but helping people find meaningful employment so that they do not need food stamps is hardly “taking away food stamps that people depend on to live.” And empowering the poor is not bigotry.
Then, at the conclusion of the speech, Nancy Pelosi stood and showed her disdain by tearing apart the pages of his speech while the president was saying “God Bless America.”
Franklin Graham slammed Pelosi for her actions. He stated that Pelosi and her Democrat’s disdain “felt like a personal resentment and hatred for the success of America.”
“How could leaders in Congress be so indignant about good news for the people of this country (in reference to many Democrats refusal to applaud or stand for Trump’s honored guests and accomplishments)? Why would they not celebrate seeing increases in wages, a young girl receiving a scholarship, a military hero reunited with his family, a 100-year-old, three-war veteran honored and other great news? They showed contempt for the heart of America.”
The day after The State of the Union address, the Senate voted to acquit President Trump of both articles of impeachment brought against him by the House. This hopefully ended the attempt to oust the president from office that really began the day after he was elected. Impeachment has always been about the fact that Trump won an election in 2016 that the Dems didn’t expect him to win and now he is poised to win an election in 2020 that they are desperate to keep him from winning.
It was a virtual certainty from day one that the Republican-led Senate would not vote to remove the president. Many political pundits warned that the House’s vote to impeach would only make Trump stronger.
Despite all of the negative press and countless hours of attacks by his opponents, Trump’s job approval has risen to 49%, his personal best according to the latest Gallup poll. His rating among independents is up 5 points. American’s confidence in the economy is higher than any point in the past two decades. As Trump’s job approval rating has improved, so has the image of the Republican Party. Now, 51% of Americans view The Republican Party favorably, up from 43% in September. Meanwhile, 45% of Americans have a positive opinion of Democrats, a slight dip from 48%. So it looks like the impeachment charade has proven the pundits right and the Democrats have suffered for it.
In such a bitterly divided culture, we need to consider biblical ways to deal with disagreements as a nation and as individuals.
First, we must honor the position of president even if we disagree with the person. Peter instructed us: “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good” (1 Peter 2:13-14). In light of God’s word, it was wrong for Republican Congressman Joe Wilson to cry out “You lie!” when President Obama was delivering a joint address to Congress in 2009. It was also wrong for Speaker Pelosi to rip up President Trump’s speech.
Second, when we discuss public figures, we must avoid slander (Psalm 101:5; James 4:11) and gossip (Proverbs 20:19; 1 Timothy 5:13), only saying about them what we would say to them. These commitments break the cycle of retribution and initiate the process of healing. If the person will not respond to our initiative, we will know that we have done what we can.
The third principle may be the hardest: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45). “Love” translates agape, the unconditional commitment to put the other person first. We demonstrate this commitment when we pray for “those who persecute you”—the Greek syntax is translated literally, “for them as they are persecuting you.”
Discussion of the divisiveness on display during the State of the Union and the impeachment trial are likely to continue for days. In response, let’s model Christian behavior for a post-Christian culture. Let’s choose to honor the position of those with whom we disagree. Let’s refuse to slander them, speaking to them rather than about them. And let’s pray for God’s best for them as we share the forgiveness we have received.
Imagine the difference in our country if everyone followed these biblical principles. Let’s model the behavior we ask others to exhibit.