What 2021 Needs Most

This has been another tough week for our nation. President Trump appeared overwhelmed by resentment of the election loss and he double-downed on his accusations of fraud. His language seemed to incite the subsequent attack on the capital by extremists. A woman was shot and killed by Capital Police in the assault, and a couple of others involved also lost their lives due to medical conditions during the chaos. A police officer defending the capital has since died from injuries he sustained. The whole thing will be seen as a stain on American history, and it was hard to watch.Then the rhetoric by those eager to pummel their political “enemies” eroded into viscous words on both sides. All the while, our nation and the world is still reeling from the COVID-19 threat, and attempting to come back from an all-out economic collapse due to ongoing quarantine measures. At the same time, there is fear over major looming conflict with China. It feels like the world is burning around us.How do Christians speak into chaos and be good neighbors in the middle of upheaval, violence, and peril?Our New Testament was produced in a world with much greater tumult than our own. Rome was a ruthless tyrant and Christians were facing unjust threatenings from her, as well as local leaders in Israel and beyond. Societal ills were too numerous to name. Compared to life in America, it was a horrible existence, especially for persecuted Christians. And how did they speak into their culture? Paul tells us. After reiterating the demand of what message those around them wanted to hear, Paul said plainly in 1 Corinthians 1:23-24, “But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”It is not a trite saying for us that “Jesus is the answer.” He really is and we really believe it. Jesus is the answer for politicians who are obsessed with power. Jesus is the answer for people with prejudice and hate. Jesus is the answer for those taking to the streets in angry protest. Jesus is the answer for those threatened by a virus. Jesus is the answer for an atheist dictatorship attempting to take over the world. When you find the fulfillment that only Jesus can give, his presence overwhelms the chaos in our lives and the world around us. Where Jesus is king, there is no oppression, injustice, hatred, thievery, rampage, or disorder. He is the fix to our greatest ills.So how do we speak into the chaos, injustice, and upheaval around us? “We preach Christ.”