In
1996 the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan, expressed his concern
of overly valued assets in the economy calling it “irrational exuberance,” as he alluded primarily to the housing market. Financial institutions did not
heed the call for caution and in 2008 our markets fell into the “Great
Recession,” the biggest loss since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Assets and
portfolios dropped instantly over 40% as panic and hysteria ensued in the
marketplace. I remember it intimately as we were fully invested in equities and
looking at selling our home that dropped precipitously in value. So did
everyone else’s home value, creating a banking crisis for which we had a
Federal bailout of $1Trillion. Of course, we the taxpayers paid for it all!
There was a rebound affect of what we might call irrational hatred for those
who had allowed it to happen, even as many experts knew of the inevitable.
Some
2000 years earlier Jesus walked the known world preaching the “Good News” of
peace, hope and healing through His love. He preached the Kingdom of God and
that He was the prophesied Messiah of the all people. Christmas, as His birth
has become known, began to be a swear word amongst the religious elite at the
time. Their positions and power were threatened by the concept of a broader
chosen generation and “royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own
special people that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). This was a big-time threat to
the establishment. Some thought He would overthrow Rome; others received Him as
Savior and Lord. But He knew that He would have to die a gruesome death on the
cross because He was a “stumbling block” rejected, even
though He was and is the “Cornerstone.” Hatred for Jesus was arising to a fever pitch
as assassination attempts failed, because it was not yet His time. God in
Christ Jesus would and does control all events and time.
He
would be arrested and be scorned and flogged. Pontius Pilot who found Him
innocent was too weak to follow the law and let the organized crowd mania reign
as they responded to his question, saying,“Crucify him,” and they did. Yes,
they took His blood and so would we all, because all of our sins made it
essential that Jesus die a substitutionary death for us all on the cross so
that we might have peace with God. Our sins and the religious ones’ hatred
killed the Messiah. But we know the rest of the story. On Easter morning, three
days later, He arose again and is seated at the right hand of the Father in
heaven to rule and reign over all the earth.
So I
come to today and the post-election sentiment in our country. Irrational
exuberance by many has turned to exuberant and even irrational hatred by many.
It is a concept that seems to be flowing like in the days of irrational exuberance
before the collapse of financial markets in 2008. “It is an intense feeling of opposition
against an object for which there is no rational explanation” (Urban
Dictionary). I see an unhinging of people, angry that they did not get what
they wanted. I see a crowd mentality that exudes hatred. I believe that it is
irrational and based in fear. “Fear is
the mind killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration”
(Urban Dictionary). It seems that a hatred that was present from the right for
former President Obama, even though his election was accepted, has now been
replaced by an exuberant and irrational hatred for President Trump. He was
legally elected to represent our nation, something that seems to have been lost
on many. Division is one thing, hatred and organized efforts to destroy a
presidency and therefore perhaps our nation by extension is another. This is
not only civil disobedience but chaos. I turn to the Bible, “If you bite and devour each other, watch
out or you will be destroyed by each
other” (Galatians 5:15). I see a strong
admonition that battling to get our own way is not only selfish, but will lead
to the destruction of all.
I wonder
if Russian President Putin is amused at the conflict as it can play into his
hands for an emerging new Soviet Union. Do not be ignorant, “ Be alert and of sober mind. Your
enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to
devour” (1 Peter 5:8). This is not some ridiculous
thought. This is founded in Scripture for those who do battle. Stay alert,
Scripture also says stand firm and resist for even if we suffer for a little
while, Christ Jesus will establish, strengthen and settle us.
This is
the Lenten Season, a time for repentance, quiet meditation and the humbling of
ourselves. This is the time of the pilgrimage to the cross for believers. May we
heed Jesus’ admonition as He washed the disciples feet. He said, “Now
that I your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one
another’s feet. I have left you an example that you should do as I have done
for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than His master, nor is a
messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things,
you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:14-17).
May we
all turn from our own destruction before it is too late, and turn to the truth
of gospel, even if we don’t yet believe it. It is “The way, the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.