January, 1977, western Kenya. Twenty-year-old Coty Pinckney arrives to begin teaching secondary school days after Jimmy Carter has been inaugurated president.<\/p>\n
Students gather around to discuss the American election. One asks: \u201cWhy did Gerald Ford leave office?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he lost the election.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know he lost the election. But why did he leave office?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thirteen years after Kenya\u2019s independence, with their first president still in power, these students had never witnessed a peaceful transition between presidents of opposing parties. Indeed, the great majority of Kenyans had much more faith in a party or a leader than they had in the democratic system. When informed that 99 percent of Ford\u2019s supporters would have abandoned him if he had tried to remain in office, the students were astounded.<\/p>\n
Over the last 44 years many in the US have lost faith in that system. I have no idea what percentage of Trump voters would support his staying in office despite the election results, but it is surely several multiples of one percent. Similarly, had President Obama tried to remain in office in 2016, citing the dangers of a Trump presidency, several multiples of one percent of his voters would have supported him.<\/p>\n
One of the primary strengths of the US constitution is its recognition of man\u2019s sinful nature and the corrupting effect of power. Through constitutional checks and balances and, with the 22nd<\/sup> amendment, a limit on a president\u2019s time in office, we weaken the authority vested in one man and encourage greater faith in the system for those holding opposing political views.<\/p>\n But over the last century, as the power of the presidency and the impact of the national government on our lives have grown, we have placed relatively more of our faith in political parties and particular leaders, and less in the democratic system. Thus the trends cited above.<\/p>\n Of all people, Christians should be especially wary of such trends. For we know that \u201call have sinned and fall short of the glory of God\u201d (Romans 3:23). We know that \u201cthere is no one righteous, no, not one\u201d (Romans 3:10). We know that \u201cman in his pomp, yet without understanding, is like the beasts that perish\u201d (Psalm 49:20). We know that our Lord Jesus says, \u201cApart from me, you can do nothing\u201d (John 15:5). \u00a0And yet many professing Christians saw Donald Trump as something of a savior \u2013 just as, eight years earlier, many professing Christians of a different political bent saw Barack Obama as something of a savior.<\/p>\n Scripture is clear: \u201cPut not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation\u2026. Blessed is he \u2026 whose hope is in the LORD his God\u201d (from Psalm 146:3-5).<\/p>\n These last few days provide us with a valuable spiritual lesson in this regard. Consider: What does Donald Trump love? His supporters believe he loves this country. Most recognize that he loves his children. His opponents say he loves power, and (to use biblical language) he loves magnifying his own name.<\/p>\n But in the weeks leading up to the assault on the Capitol, and especially in his speech to the protesters, what did he accomplish? He harmed his country. He seriously damaged his legacy. He effectively destroyed any chance of his receiving the Republican nomination for president in four years (unless the party splits and he\u2019s nominated by the Trump rump for a quixotic final campaign). Compared to a week ago, today his family members are much less likely to hold future political office.<\/p>\n That is: Donald Trump harmed what he loved most.<\/p>\n Some are deeply disappointed in the man. Others point to these events, saying, \u201cHe acted as I always knew he would! He is evil and dangerous!\u201d<\/p>\n But, friends, these last days just give us a very public example of what all of us sinners do. We harm what we love most. We think that sin will lead to joy and fulfillment \u2013 but it always, always leads to the destruction of joy, and, left unchecked, to the loss of what we love most.<\/p>\n