2023: A Year of Waiting
In anticipation of 2024 we may hold our breath or we can learn to breathe deeply
“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8).
One of the disciplines we must cultivate is the ability to see the horizon clearly and then focus on our three-foot world. Our immediate surroundings should occupy the majority of our effort. This is the balance between strategy and tactics or planning and implementation. As Christians, we should take the long-term perspective that our triumph is secure in Christ and work toward the fruition of the gospel. We will celebrate our ultimate success when God is glorified on this earth — therefore our task remains incomplete until his return or our deaths should he tarry.
We have a lot of work to do. “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35). Today we can praise and worship God in hardship, trials, and tribulation because this is part of the journey. We anticipate a peace on the other side of God’s ultimate victory and we work to secure greater victories along the way. We can walk and chew gum at the same time. This year felt like one where slow and dilberate progress was made. But it was as if we were on a people mover and it leaves us wondering if we are going faster or the world is on pause. Around us crashes and debacles happened that might serve to slow some people down if they are caught in the mess. Or, worse still, some people enjoy playing moral bumper cars and cultural demolition derby as if that is the game.
Rather than just cataloging the events of 2023 or any other year, this blog is dedicated to the big-picture view of Western Civilization. Therefore, I must assess if Christendom gained or lost ground last year. Spoiler alert: we are not collectively moving the ball yet and therefore the losses are compounded. Some churches may be thriving but the Church is under attack from without and within. If we are not paddling together then our nation will be taken downstream. It may be hard to gauge the advancement of the Kingdom of God locally — some cities are experiencing a revival. But, globally we believe that Christ is on the move and taking ground in the hearts and minds of people everywhere, especially in Africa and Asia. However, the USA is proving to be apostate through lawless degradation and perversion.
In 2023, Christian nationalism made a splash in the United States but this likely represents the leading edge of a burgeoning movement. With the succession of Mike Johnson to the speaker of the House there was a glimmer of a Biblical Worldview in our capital but it was fool’s gold. It does not appear that Christian leadership is taking hold across the nation in these disjointed times. We can hope and pray that as strong Christian leaders gain steam their influence will be felt. But, if history is our guide then the political prospects of Republicans who dishonor God with their deeds is bleak.
One area that has not gotten enough press is the growing school choice movement. For American students, this has been a landmark year for educational opportunities. Legislators are now paying attention to families. Victories in state legislation have been substantial as laws for existing and new programs now fund students instead of public school systems and teachers' unions. School choice programs nationwide have expanded in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Utah. Progress was made across the country — 73% of parents nationwide support the right to determine where their children attend school. As support for school choice grows more opportunities for higher quality grade school education from parochial, cyber, private, and home schools will exist.
This is related to a recognition of the reformation needed in the evangelical church in America and a revival of our commitment to orthodox doctrine and definition of the fundamental beliefs needed to advance the Kingdom of God. The intersection of religion and politics remains nearly as heated as the crossroads between theology, philosophy, and science. All these spheres of knowledge and the application of wisdom are under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Books such as The Case for Christian Nationalism, Mere Christendom, and Christian Nationalism: A Biblical Guide For Taking Dominion And Discipling Nations were published. I believe that this rise in Christian leaders will follow revival and is a precursor to Christianity reasserting authority in America. In other nations, this may follow a similar pattern, if there is a foundation of Christian belief to restore, or it may occur through conversion and evangelism where newer Christian leaders rise.
The tone of 2023 was one of waiting, anticipating something bigger. Part of this is due to the political cycle where the presidential election campaign gets going in earnest in 2024. We had some debates and polls none of which we decisive, helpful, or useful. Trump did not participate in the debates. He essentially wants the nomination defacto because he is the titular head of the party as the most recent Republican President. He is running again and therefore expects at least the same level of support he received last time. But, he has been hamstrung by 91 indictments in four cases, two by Federal Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, in Manhattan, one by NY District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, and one in Fulton County, GA by District Attorney Fani Willis. Legal processes grind slowly. Attacks on Donald Trump on topics ranging from taxes, January 6th, and ballot elimination are ongoing. Various committees, judges, and hearings take time to make decisions which will have a marked impact this year.
Many Christians remain steadfast in their support of our former President over and above a capable rival in Ron Desantis. Yet nothing Donald Trump said or did this year was expressly Christian. In fact, his modified position on abortion (that the states should decide - good - and that a 16-week ban is unrealistic - bad) was more akin to snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. He bragged that he nominated judges who would overturn Roe v. Wade. And, he accomplished this monumental task but he did not promote anti-abortion laws. Dobbs does return the issue to the states, but leadership is required to secure victories in each jurisdiction. We need to consolidate wins and build on our victories. Instead, Trump leaves this issue as an open gaping wound to fester throughout American politics. I want a leader who is overtly Christian and lives like it. I pray that Trump, who has had his moments, will find his footing and stand firm in the faith. These are spiritual battles in physical reality.
Even international events were extensions of ongoing conflict. The Ukraine War fully commenced in 2022 (it started with Crimea in 2014) and continued unabated. Russia is slowly making progress to consolidate gains despite the West’s insistence that one more offensive from Kyiv will break the back of the bear. Russia’s antiquated war machine is capable of maintaining its position in a limited fashion. China continued to reposition assets (including corporations and congressmen) in Southeast Asia and around the world (including spy balloons floating over the US heartland — ah we long of the era of Soviet Red Dawn-style threats). Certainly, the Hamas attack on October 7 was horrific and the Israeli response has been fairly measured and effective. But, when over 1000 citizens are slaughtered by terrorists you would expect a full-scale and unified declaration of war. Instead, Israel has been patiently working up to dismantling Hamas in Gaza but not restructuring Palestine both in Sinai and the West Bank. The status quo is not working yet fixing it requires courage to call out all enemies of Israel. So instead in Europe and America, we get pro-Hamas protest marches and congressional hearings about anti-Semitic rhetoric and violence. Thus, we experienced a middle game without a finishing blow or coupe de grace, unless you count firing the presidents of MIT and Harvard (which just took place in 2024).
It seems like we shook up the pop, and the bottle will explode in 2024.1 I do not want chaos to be unleashed but I fear that weak leaders will create hard times for us. Surely, we must only trust in the Lord, for He is good and His love endures forever (Psalm 136). “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26) in 2024. Still, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14).
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