Adventism has an addiction to conspiracies and cynical apocalypticism:

I heard it throughout my entire youth —

“Reagan will bring about the New World Order!”

“Clinton will unite church and state!”

“Bush will usher in the Sunday Law!”

“Obama is the final president!”

And of course, let’s not forget all the Catholic-Panic rhetoric:

“John Paul the 2nd just sneezed! It’s a sign of the end!”

“Benedict looks like Emperor Palpatine. It’s because he’s the final evil pope to bring about the end!”

Whelp… he retired…

“BUT… DID YOU HEAR? THE NEW GUY (FRANCIS) IS A JESUIT!”

Let’s just say, after nearly 40 years of hearing this same recycled nonsense, the temptation to throw it all in the bin and be done with anything remotely resembling end time events is very strong.

But 2 things keep me from doing so.

First, the knowledge that Jewish Apocalypticism (Daniel & Revelation) is a long tradition of protest to the imperial powers that colonize and marginalize…

And I sure do hope that my annoyance at emotionally unstable Adventists looking for a devil under every bush doesn’t deter me from continuing in this ancient tradition that gives a voice to the voiceless while speaking truth to power…

Second, the conviction that misuing something is not an excuse for throwing that thing away. Afterall, I don’t throw away my towels (made to dry me nicely after a warm shower) just because some teenage bozo in the locker room decided to go “tower snap” crazy on everyone…

(OK, I admit I was the bozo… but moving on…)

The prophetic voice of scripture is too beautiful, too rich, too drenched in social and civil resistance, too rooted in the soil of the oppressed for me to ever give it up.

And with that in mind, I turn my attention to current events… Donald Trump won… decisively… so now what?

To be frank, I am not a republican or a democrat. I don’t trust either party. I have no faith in the systems of men. Of course, I am not knocking anyone who identifies with either party. I’m just saying - I don’t trust empire. No matter how pretty its speech or how eloquent its promises, there is a reason why the Bible calls empire a “beast.”

Beasts are neither good nor evil. They simply exist with one instinct: self-preservation and perpetuation of their species.

That is the primal instinct of the lion, the tiger, and the leopard.

These beasts don’t care what your goals and dreams are. They have zero interest in all the good things you have done or what degree you got or how much you love your kids.

When they see you, they see food. Because their instinct is merely this: eat to survive.

Jewish apocalypticism refers to empires as “beasts” because this is precicely how they function. Despite all the good motives, brilliant ideals, and philosophical dreams they might have… in the end they have to eat to survive… and eat they will.

I don’t mean to oversimplify politics. It’s messy and complicated. But in the end, empire is empire. And empire likes to empire.

Donald Trump is now president. Where to from here?

There are too many opinions and estimations on this question.

But the one thing that is clear to me is that this administration has the backing and support of the religious right…

Christian nationalism is on the rise.

Emboldened by Trump, evangelicalism chases power in Washington like never before.

And if things materialize the way some of these evangelicals want - there are some beastly days ahead.

Ellen White warned of this when she wrote,

“the union of the church with the state… while it may appear to bring the world nearer to the church, does in reality but bring the church nearer to the world.”1

She goes on to say:

When Protestant churches shall unite with the secular power to sustain a false religion… when the state shall use its power to enforce the decrees and sustain the institutions of the church—then will Protestant America have formed an image to the papacy [a church-state union].”2

And while this may tick off some SDA Trumpers out there…

The above scenario is not something that a secular, post-modern left will enact. It is something that will come, and is already in motion (see Project 2025), through the political right.

I don’t meant to imply the left is innocent. I think the pull of the one fuels the tug of the other.

But in the end, a church-state alliance will not come from the post-religious left. It will come via the policies of a very, very religious right.

So, how shall we then live?

Here are 3 thoughts that cross my mind:

1. Don’t expect empire to be what the church alone has been called to be. Empire isn’t supposed to be welcoming, inclusive, vulnerable, relational, and safe. Don’t get me wrong - I wish it could be. But it simply can’t. As Machiavelli once said, stability is an empires chief goal and it must accomplish this via subterfuge, espionage, deception, and if need be… violence… But the church is Christ’s alternative community, his humanity 2.0, and it is up to us to live out the kingdom of love in the here and now.

2. Plant, plant, plant. Because of this, my encouragement to Adventists everywhere is to plant new churches that reflect the rhythms of the kingdom thus bringing its beauty into the center of our polarized and despondent communities. You don’t need a building or even a pastor to do this. You just need a passion for cultivating warm spaces of belonging for people to encounter God’s heart and you can plant a church.

3. Speak truth to power. I love Adventism’s prophetic heritage and focus. My encouragement though? We need to decolonize our apocalyptic preaching. We have made it too much about religio-centric and individualistic/ pietistic themes. We have lost the true vision of prophecy as a protest of systems of power that marginalize, oppress, and harm the voiceless and forgotten. In both word and action, our local communities must become centers of prophetic protest that advocate on behalf of the suffering.

Regardless of whether Trump and the right hold power or not…

Our mission remains the same.

To be the alternative community. The home of the other. The space of belonging. The voice in the wilderness. The center of healing that points to Jesus.

Not the appropriated Jesus with an American flag and a rifle…

The authentic Jesus who laid down his life for his enemies and friends.

Let’s be that church.

PS. Join the Mission Collective and learn the art of transforming your church, reaching your youth, connecting with the secular world, and planting new, creative & innovative churches designed for post-religious mission! TAP HERE

_____

1. Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1911),p. 297.

2. Ellen G. White, Last Day Events (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1992), p. 134. (Italics supplied.)