House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church November 2020
An Election Reflection - Harvey Yoder
We’re hearing a lot about how all-important this US presidential race is, as though the very survival of civilization rested on the outcome.
I agree that the choices offered are important, and that how (or whether) to exercise the one vote each of us has deserves a lot of prayerful thought. The following is an attempt to put things in a larger perspective, to look at the bigger historical picture and not just that of our own small corner of the globe.
First, the United States is only one of 230 nations in the world, and represents less than 5% of the world's people--even though it currently controls the majority of the world's wealth and military might. From a biblical perspective, all nations are of minor consequence in comparison to God’s worldwide, eternal kingdom. As world citizens, we need to think less of governments simply ruling us and more about urging all of them to rule in more just and in less violent ways.
Second, we need to remind ourselves that a US president is the chief presider and leader of only one of three branches of a federal government, and that the judicial and legislative branches are equally important. This three-part federal system, in turn, shares power with 50 states and commonwealths, each made up of county and municipal governments, and each responsible to the people being governed.
In other words, we are electing administrator of one branch of one part of a democracy made up of citizens, not choosing a monarch or dictator over a kingdom of mere subjects. Each president's four-year term is less than 2% of this nation's relatively brief history, one that represents only 5% of the total span of civilization as we know it.
Finally, we (US Americans) are not a “chosen people” whose culture and way of life is superior to everyone else’s. Take our national language, for example. Our one official tongue is English, mostly the language of white Caucasians. While English is popular worldwide as a second language, it is still only one of nearly 7000 spoken around the world. There is no superior race, language or nationality.
Notes, Prayers and Praises
WE CONTINUE TO MEET ONLINE Sundays from 4-5:30. For a phone connection (audio only) dial 646-876-9923. For video click on https://zoom.us/j/2849269967. Problems? Call 574-606-8917.
PRAY FOR KENT PALMER, who is to have some reparative surgery done at the UVA Medical Center November 18.
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Neal Nelson 11/2, Paul Swarr 11/10 and Guy Vlasits 11/21. Neal and Elly Nelson’s anniversary is November 26! Let’s send cards to Neal Nelson, 512 Houston St, Staunton, VA 24401 and Paul Swarr at VMRC, 1401 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
November Study “Building on Solid Rock”
1 Matthew 7:13-23
8 Matthew 7:24-29
15 Matthew 5-7 summary
22 Leader’s choice
29 Leader’s choice
November Services, 4-5:30 pm
1 Location: on line
Worship and Sharing Lewis Overholt
Bible Study Harvey Yoder
8 Location: on line
Worship and Sharing Harvey Yoder
Bible Study Roy Hange
15 Location: on line
Worship and Sharing Kent Palmer
Bible Study: Wrap up of Sermon on the Mount Study c/o Harvey Yoder
22 Location: on line
Worship and Sharing Lois Rivera-Wenger
Bible Study Elly Nelson
29 Location: on line
Worship and Sharing James Stauffer
Bible Study Dick Dumas
Are we Americans a "chosen people"? Of course not. There is only one "people" designated as singled out for the purpose of bringing knowledge of the one God to the ancient world.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it's my Puritan ancestry speaking -- a people that, enduring great hardship, chose what would become America as their home so they could worship the One God as the Holy Spirit led them to, but I can't help but add to your statistics that seem to try to prove America has no merit in the scope of world citizenry.
Wishing I could find more recent numbers, but here is something that I found that warms my heart as an American --the United States still tops the chart by far in terms of total missionaries, sending 127,000 in 2010 compared to the 34,000 sent by No. 2-ranked Brazil.
Surely that says something, doesn't it?
Thanks for your comments, Elly! I certainly didn't mean to imply that the USA part of the Americas has no merit! My main concern is that we always see our primary loyalty and allegiance as being to the everlasting, worldwide, heaven-governed reign of God, and that we then live as productive and exemplary "resident aliens" ("exiles and strangers" I Peter 1:1) in whatever country we live in, as ambassadors who seek the best possible relationship with the country in which we live, seeking to influence it in the direction of alignment with our "home country." Meanwhile, I love the US and pray God will "mend her every flaw."
ReplyDelete