The country we happen to live in

“The country we happen to live in.”

     We are happy to be a part of a church like this one. When I say church, I am talking about the people that live and worship together, that meet in living rooms and dining rooms, coffee shops and parks… we are raising our child(ren) among the church. Anyhow, our church which is in the Chicago area held a prayer meeting tonight. We weren’t praying for any certain turn out in the election (though a few miles from here there are about a million people piling into a park). We gathered to pray for focus and to remember that our King is Jesus and he is our hope and our security, NOT any elected figurehead.

     I would have told you that eight years ago, but I think I would not have had the words for it that I have today. Four years ago I was plain angry by the time I voted. I felt like I was the odd one for how I interpreted my citizenship in the US and my allegiance to GOD ALONE. Tonight we praised the King with true worship in a candlelight room, and remembered that any security we can vote on is false-security. I am grateful that there was a room full of people of all ages declaring together that the significance of tonight’s election will not shake our Kingdom.

     We did cast absentee ballots in New Mexico’s election by the way. But we don’t want to dwell on that.

     This fellowship is teaching me about taking scripture seriously, and about living in the Kingdom of God.

 

     “I really felt like tonight’s service was like practice for heaven…when we will be in his Kingdom in a more visible way, and I just sensed that. And how I need to be thinking about my God instead of worrying about the kingdoms of this world.” ~ Candace

 

     There was a hand-written invitation to this service sent out this week, and an email that said something about the valid and diverse expressions of faith in politics. The email was talking about “the country we happen to live in,” and I like that. Not painting it as the country every other country wishes it was, or the best dang place to live… it isn’t a perfect place, but it’s the country we happen to live in. Jesus is Lord. (People have been killed for saying that, but it’s true tonight. And tomorrow.)