God is still on the throne.
We are living in an unprecedented social and political climate. Political parties aside, what we are witnessing unfold is antithetical to the radically loving and liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ. As Christ followers, we cannot turn a blind eye to what is happening because God is on the Throne, nor can we become so consumed by it that we lose sight of the fact that God is on the Throne. When I was growing up, the elder saints would say, “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good.” The elders were on to something...
So what do we do? I would encourage each of us, myself included, to stay abreast of the news, to be informed citizens, and to navigate this season with great care. When it comes to news and policy, I primarily lead and read with my heart. That is part of my pastoral sensibilities. However in this season, I have learned a great deal from Bro. Joseph. As an accountant, he is more methodical in his approach.
Be sure that your news sources are reliable and varied;
Be sure to read with a critical eye and an engaged mind;
Limit your exposure to sensationalized/salacious stories;
Reflect on the long and short term implications and;
Allow your emotions to fuel action based on the facts.
I must caution us: Even if we do all of that, what we are dealing with will still, in the words of Marvin Gaye, “Make you wanna holler and throw up both your hands...” So allow me to suggest one more practice to implement in your consumption of the news. After reading or watching the news, especially the news on our current political reality, I encourage you to read aloud (or listen to) the entirety of Psalm 37. Let the word of God wash over you and permeate your heart and mind as a reminder that our God is still on the throne and that our God will have the final say.
1 Do not fret because of the wicked;
do not be envious of wrongdoers,
2 for they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
live in the land and enjoy security.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will make your vindication shine like the light
and the justice of your cause like the noonday.
7 Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;
do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
over those who carry out evil devices.
8 Refrain from anger and forsake wrath.
Do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For the wicked shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them,
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to kill those who walk uprightly;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is a little that the righteous person has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will abide forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance.
20 But the wicked perish,
and the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrow and do not pay back,
but the righteous are generous and keep giving;
22 surely those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 Our steps[a] are made firm by the Lord
when he delights in our[b] way;
24 though we stumble, we[c] shall not fall headlong,
for the Lord holds us[d] by the hand.
25 I have been young and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26 They are ever giving liberally and lending,
and their children become a blessing.
27 Depart from evil, and do good;
so you shall abide forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice;
he will not forsake his faithful ones.
The righteous shall be kept safe forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
and live in it forever.
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
and their tongues speak justice.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;
their steps do not slip.
32 The wicked watch for the righteous
and seek to kill them.
33 The Lord will not abandon them to their power
or let them be condemned when they are brought to trial.
34 Wait for the Lord and keep to his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on the destruction of the wicked.
35 I have seen the wicked oppressing
and towering like a cedar of Lebanon.[e]
36 Again I[f] passed by, and they were no more;
though I sought them, they could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is posterity for the peaceable.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
he is their refuge in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and rescues them;
he rescues them from the wicked and saves them
because they take refuge in him.
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah