I've been to the Mountain Top by BRAD JERSAK

Did MLK foresee this night? While would-be prophets co-opted by the neo-con right may mourn the evening of Nov. 4, 2008; after their many projections, proclamations and presumptions proved them to be false; and though we ought not expect any retractions from them, one wonders if one of America's last true prophets, Martin Luther King Jr, caught a glimpse of what was coming from afar. 

While many who claim to know Christ personally cried with conviction,'Terrorist! Muslim! Socialist!' and told us that no true Christian could vote for Obama, one wonders if he will not only redefine America, but also, to their chagrin, redefine 'Christian' in America.

What comes to mind first is the primacy of hope and reconciliation over global dominance as the true Christian mindset. While our prophetic round tables conspire their next take-over bid in empty plans to legislate morality, we may see the godly virtues of peacemaking and commonweal get a chance to breathe for a few weeks. Perhaps we'll eventually even make some headway in a consistent life-ethic across political lines (from abortion to capital punishment; from war to euthenasia) by appealing to America's alleged humanism and equality on behalf of the children instead of appealing to the Supreme Court to make us behave.

Naive? Likely. At the end of the day, the Empire has simply exchanged Emperors, freedom and security will still trump genuine peace and justice, and Obama will do what Presidents must do: call for loyalty to his flag ahead of Christ's Cross. He is no saviour of the world or prince of peace. But in the coming days, perhaps the face of America will be a little less trigger-happy and vengeful. Maybe nations who can't distinguish 'America' and 'Christian' (including the USA) will at least begin to associate 'Christian' with a more generous and clearminded head of state.

I leave you with Thomas Merton, another true American prophet, whose words shed light on the moment:

Will you end wars by asking men to trust men who evidently cannot be trusted? No. Teach them to love and trust God; then they will be able to love the men they cannot trust, and will dare to make peace with them, not trusting in them but in God. For only love - which means humility - can cast out the fear, which is the root of all war. 

Comments

[Sarah]

As an American charismatic Christian (who voted absentee from her residence in India) I couldn't disagree with this more. Jersak's tone, first of all, is condescending. I AM one of those who "claim to know Christ personally" (in part, of course, as we all do) and who felt that, as a Christian, I could not in good conscience vote for a man whose position on unborn children's right to life (an issue that seems to have been brought repeatedly to the forefront by the Holy Spirit through movie releases, prophecies, anointed movements, etc.) is so far from Biblical. By immediately removing restrictions on the funding with US taxpayer (MY!) money of overseas abortion-performing and -promoting organizations, Pres. Obama opened up a horrible pandora's box. I personally care for children with special needs who have been abandoned. They are precious individuals of value whose contribution to this world is, like Jesus Christ's own, really recognizable only later through the lives of those they've changed.
Back to the condescension, it burns me that Jersak labels those who predicted a different outcome "false prophets". Was Jonah a false prophet or was he expressing a deeper value of God's (that He demands righteousness)? Sometimes true prophets may pick up on God's intentions, but there is often an "unless" or an "if" attached to these. If the condition is not met, the prophecies are not fulfilled.
Besides, from my own (undoubtedly limited) understanding of scripture, one unfulfilled prophecy does not a (New Testament) false prophet make.
Just my 2 cents as a good friend who really does love you at Antioch and agrees with nearly everything else you do and say!