A "Magnificent Victory" and the magnificent Way
some post-election thoughts
This piece was written for my 4500 subscribers to my Sister Birth email newsletter. The “audience” there is probably entirely women in their childbearing years who are Christians and “crunchy.” This context will probably make some of what follows make more sense.
It represents probably 1/10th of what I have to say on the subject of Trump and the Church but it’s all I’ve thus far felt released to share outside private conversation with trusted friends.
I'm back this week and I want to write about what's on my mind regarding the idea of MAGNIFICENCE.
For a long time, the password I used on my business email account contained the word "magnificent."
The Cambridge Dictionary defines magnificent as "very good, beautiful, or deserving to be admired". There are many other definitions, depending on the dictionary.
But magnificent is exactly how I see the act of women giving birth in surrendered trust and confident autonomy. It's tied in with my mission of changing the perspective our culture holds on birth.
The word magnificent popped up in a major US event earlier this week. Did you catch it?
Trump labeled his political win as a "magnificent victory." He's never shy about giving himself accolades, is he? 😏
This morning, whilst driving a few of my kids to their agile learning center, I was interceding and worshipping in response to all my swirling feelings about this major moment in US politics and its implications for those who profess Christ.
I had The Helsers channel playing on Spotify and these lines immediately struck me when they poured through the minivan speakers:
In the wake of the "magnificent" accomplishment by the DTJ of securing rights, freedom, and political power for Christians (and crunchy homeschool moms!), let us not lose touch with Jesus's magnificent way.
What is the magnificent way of Jesus? Get ready for a Bible study.
He washed my sin away, as the Helsers wrote: he brought all God's children home to the eternal love of the Trinity through the incredible sacrifice of his unbroken communion with the Father, his power, his heavenly position, and his very life.
Being in very nature God, he did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing.... becoming obedient unto death (Phil 2:6-8).
Knowing who he was and where he was going, he took off his garments, knelt before his disciples, and washed their feet (embarrassingly lowly behavior!), even those of the one he knew would betray him (John 13:2-7). Talk about being secure in his identity!
He stopped the stoning of a uncontested adultress by reminding those who would stone her that they, too, deserved to be stoned, albeit for less obvious or grossly immoral reasons. Those who would stone her were proficient in "good religious person" sins like hypocrisy and greed, and Jesus called that the same as her sexual immorality (John 8:7-11).
When his disciples were vying for places of position beside him in the political kingdom they were sure Jesus was about to establish, Jesus exhorted them to remember that in his kingdom the greatest would be the one who serves and that the authority He would gain would come from willingly walking into death (Mark 10:35-44, Matthew 2:20-28)
He was famous for eating with sinners and "detestables", from prostitutes to tax collectors. In fact, he said that's exactly who he came for! (Mark 2:17)
He taught his followers to love their enemies and pray for them (Matt 5:43-44) and instead of taking retaliation to give more than was being demanded (Matt 5:38-42). Plus all the rest of the earth-shaking contents of the sermon on the mount.
Sisters, I recognize that as a homeschooling, crunchy, sorta-rural, Christian woman Trump's leadership is in many ways a "perk" for me; he offers shelter from various persecutions (whether real or perceived) that my family might encounter. I'm especially thrilled about what RFK is going to have a chance to accomplish in the areas of health under this administration (truth be told: he's the one who got my vote).
AND. If I'm honest, I recognize that Trump's promises are eerily similar to the three temptations of Jesus by Satan in the desert after his baptism (Matthew 4). Trump and his team are offering me (us) power, position, security, and a lord in which to put my trust.
A Trump presidency has the potential to be an insidious infiltration of our collective soul. Yes, those are strong words, but they're burning in my spirit.
So let's celebrate the benefits coming our way under this new administration while being diligent to guard our souls against walking in any "magnificent" path other than the one Jesus laid out for us.
Couldn't agree more! Love from the tip of Africa.