Dear Jennifer,

This is a great question. It is natural and normal for us to feel cynical and a bit nihilistic in a time like this. It is incredibly disheartening to see so many so-called Christians abandoning the way of Jesus to support policies and leaders that seek only to preserve their own self-interest at great cost to others. We should feel distressed and perplexed. But we must also keep ourselves grounded, reminding ourselves that what we’re experiencing is not new.

Throughout history, countless moments have looked just like this—nations torn apart by immoral leaders and a seemingly entranced mass of citizens falling in lockstep with their agendas. At the same time, countless nations, including our own, have been spared utter destruction by people of goodwill coming together to resist and work for a better future.

I have always believed that God is most palpably experienced in and through other people. In times like this, when we stand shoulder to shoulder with like-minded neighbors in our communities who are ready and willing to resist the destructive forces tearing our country apart, I believe we will sense the presence of God. We will be reminded that the future is not guaranteed—that love, justice, and equity still have a fighting chance to win.

After all, this is the central story at the heart of our tradition: things get very dark, the opposition seems to win, and then resurrection happens. That is where our faith needs to rest in this moment—the hope that resurrection can happen, that blinders can fall from people’s eyes, and that our world can be set back on the right path. If we keep our eyes aimed in this direction, and get to work with real people in our communities, I trust that any cynicism and despair we feel will be transformed into subversive hope- and that is where our power lies.

Rev. Brandan Robertson