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| PentecostalTheology.com
The 2016 election shined a glaring light on a divided America. According to a November 21, 2016 Gallup poll, a record-high 77% of Americans believe the country is split over important values, while 21% see America as united. Americans are also split on whether President-elect Donald Trump can unite the country with 45% stating they believe he will and 49% believing he will further divide it.
A significant consideration for the faith community is whether these divisions will impact the church. Evangelicals stand at a defining moment in American history to be a voice of healing and unity to a nation wounded by an extremely divisive election. What is the role of the church in these divisive times and can the church facilitate reconciliation? It was Martin Luther King, Jr. who once said, “At 11:00 on Sunday morning when we stand and sing, and Christ has no east or west, we stand at the most segregated hour in this nation. This is tragic.”
Two Christian men recently embarked on a unique social experiment to explore their differences. Tony Scott, 49, an African-American entrepreneur in Los Angeles and Aron Railey, 24, a Caucasian millennial from Greenville, SC, met in a popular Christian group on Facebook. Railey traveled to Los Angeles and over the course of 40 days, the two engaged in compelling conversations about politics, church, race, generations and culture. They wrote about the experience in a newly released book titled “The Bridge: A Cross-Generational Conversation on Church, Race and Culture.”
In this conversational style book, Scott and Railey share how to build bridges towards unity, based on their individual experiences and perspectives. They discuss perceived divisions in the church and a growing divide between generations. When asked why they wrote the book, Scott commented, “This election season brought up many ugly and divisive issues, but in these divided times, people will ultimately look to the church as the catalyst for change.” Railey added, “People shouldn’t be afraid to connect with someone different from them. The bridges built through this experiment prove cultures and generations can unite. We’re all in this life together.”
“The Bridge” is published by nGAGE People via CreateSpace Independent Platform and is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online wherever books are sold. Visit www.readthebridge.com for more information.
Stan Wayne
No all opposed to Trump are united and outside the churches 😉
Charles Page
There are anti Trump people in COG educational institutions
Stan Wayne
Same in AG – I was joking a bit but I do think anti Trumpism is liberalism –
We should be rejoicing at our liberation
Charles Page
Liberals
Stan Wayne
I see liberals in Christian institutions as parasites – they don’t ever start their own schools – they come and infect what is established
Charles Page
Interesting
Was the SBC conservative resurgence a parasitic infection
Stan Wayne
Not really – it was merely fighting back to get the schools back to where they were when they were formed – it wasn’t liberals who started those schools and paid for them –
Same with Missouri Synod Lutherans – they fought back against the parasites taking over
Varnel Watson
Schools are of the least concern to any government thus far
Charles Page
Betsy DeVoss will be the education secretary under Trump!!!
Her family gave a lot of money to Lee University!!
Varnel Watson
Lee University? You seem to love that place dont ya?
Charles Page
That’s why i am so smart!! AmWay University!
Varnel Watson
Didnt they sing last time. Are they singing again at DC?
Charles Page
No, Missouri Chorale is singing a selection written by a Lee faculty.
Varnel Watson
Not the same. Epic fail. What a mess. Build them a wall
Charles Page
The Church and America are indivisible, incapable of being divided.
Scotty Ray Searan
Get your blinder off. Because both have been divided and they were divided even when the church started in Acts.
Do you remember saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” What did you find out. We we taught a lie. The Bible even teaches us that.
Varnel Watson
Copy Stan Wayne We should be rejoicing at our liberation and democracy while we still have it in America
Varnel Watson
Trump is President because unlike his predecessors (Obama, Bush II, Clinton, and Bush I), he is a nationalist. The previous four presidents were globalists. Hillary was a globalist.
My view of eschatology says the Anti-Christ will come from Europe, therefore the USA must diminish in it’s power and influence so the EU can rise. With a nationalist in the White House, this is exactly what is happening. Trump is pulling back financial and logistical support all over the world. The EU now realizes they must step up. Macron even says he would like to replace NATO with a European army.
Everything is falling in line for an increase of power and influence of the EU and the US is being sidelined due to Trump’s nationalist policies and his own divisive personality. Soon, we will need a new world leader since America doesn’t want that role anymore. Guess who HE will be! I think this is all in God’s plan.
Deacon Joseph Bell
The term antichrist is used only four times in the Bible. It is never used to name any world leader. John tells us clearly who the antichrist is: “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” John 4:3.
Varnel Watson
#INTERESTING I received this interesting comment from a Facebook follower Abel Praise who lives in Nigeria.
“Trump and Tea”
Warm Greetings Ma,
I write as a minister from Nigeria. I so appreciate your obedience in putting out The Prophetic Words, they have been extremely significant in the prayer leads I have had to follow.
Also, I feel to share a significant understanding I have been granted concerning the significant prophetic language used in your dreams.
* The Tea, certainly speaks of The USA.
In many experiences and in following the prayer leads from THE LORD; I was shown the map of USA as being shaped as a Tea Jug that prophetically speaks of the economic calling of The USA as an Economic Nation to the world.
* The First Tea Dream also showed Donald Trump as a Tea Bag [American Prince] set into the American Nation.
Jason Justus
It’s been divided that’s why it’s not standing
Varnel Watson
a house divided shall not stand
Hugh Lowrie
I’ve noticed that black & white Christians learned how to worship together during the divisive Obama administration, when racial tensions soared. Racial tensions have calmed some during 3 years of President Trump but black Christians admit it is still a challenge being part of a multiethnic church. This is forcing Christians to go deeper an to develop genuine community that isn’t based on political ideology.
Varnel Watson
It is NOT a question of race when we speak of democracy Not sure how your comment fits the mission of God for 21 century America? GOD is in complete control. He gives office and takes office away – same goes with elections in democracy. We either believe GOD is completely sovereign and in complete control or we blame it on the bipartisan model GOD allows it all for a reason Maybe just maybe GOD is done with Trump and is fixing to use someone else as a tool William DeArteaga Ray E Horton
William DeArteaga
God graciously handed over total control to allow human freedom. We cannot blme the evil of the world on God’s total control
Varnel Watson
William DeArteaga I believe that to be a fact Hugh Lowrie he also gets it back whenever he wants
Hugh Lowrie
Troy – Didn’t realize we were talking about Democracy as I thought we were talking about the church. I’m confident that President Trump will serve a 2nd term but it’s not clear what comes in 2024. King Jehu was used by God to stall judgment on the people of Israel, but judgment eventually did come. President Trump may be stalling judgment on America, but I don’t see our nation repenting.
Varnel Watson
Hugh Lowrie we are talking about the sovereign mission of GOD who rules the nations of the world
Salvatore Tropea Sr
No! The Church is already divided and falling away and it’s not because of President Trump who has done more for America and Israel in 3 years than any other president! 2 Thess, 2:3
Varnel Watson
you cite the man of lawlessness verse along with our President Trump’s name – not sure how to take that