President Trump: A response from Spokane’s faith community

No denying the country is shocked by the election results. The predictions were wrong. Today many citizens are grieving, while others are celebrating.

SpokaneFāVS writers have been asked to share their response here throughout the day, and we ask you, readers, to comment as well and join in this important discussion.

Admir Rasic: Uncertainty is Uncomfortable

I am surprised Donald Trump won the presidency. I was hoping he would lose because his rhetoric and proposals were frightening for many minority groups, including Muslims. There is a great deal of uncertainty about him since he has never held public office and we do not have a great way to predict how he will act in any given scenario. I’m sure many minority groups are uncertain about laws that may be proposed or enacted that restrict their rights. Trump has used hateful language when describing Muslims, and hateful language breeds hateful actions. I’m uncertain if my family and I will be targets for violence and greater surveillance because of our religion.

I am also uncertain about the reaction from the Democratic party. Will it move further to the right to capture Trump’s voters, or will it move further to the left in an effort to reject moderate policies? Maybe most analysts and pundits have it wrong (as they have so far) and Donald Trump’s policies truly will make America greater. There is a silver lining to this result for me personally. I finally understand how many conservatives probably felt when Obama won. There was a sense of hopelessness, fear, and anger from conservatives and I am working through all of those emotions myself this time.

Rob Bryceson: God is in control

In the week prior to yesterday’s election, my Facebook thread was full of fellow Christian’s reminding each other that God is in control. That no matter the outcome of our elections, there is a heavenly father who still is the ultimate authority and power over our nation and our elections. Most of my friends and fellow Christians were at peace even before yesterday, because Scripture does indeed tell us this truth.

That being said, it’s now the morning after. My friends are split in whom they supported for president. Most all of them agreed that neither candidate represented their best interests or ideals but Trump seemed to be the more supported candidate, mostly because they desire to dismantle the present political order. Hillary represented everything about corrupt Washington D.C politics and ruling elitism that has frustrated us. The wiki leaks of late and the failure of the mainstream media to act as impartial journalists have also been a factor. I know people who voted for Trump simply as a vote against mainstream media which behaved as if in the pocket of the DNC. Most of my democrat party friends have not gotten over what they saw as a rigged nomination process. Trump for all his faults represents the end of 35 years of Bush Republicans and Clinton Democrats in the political order.

In overall life we Evangelical Christians are guided by the Bible, in politics we Christians tend to want our constitution to be the center focus, guided by principles of fairness and compassion. Many of us believe executive orders and court decisions and big money political insiders have undermined the legislative branch of our government and the overall rule of law. Most of my conservative friends want smaller federal government and more power to the states and local governments. It’s time for change. That being said, we evangelicals are not a homogenous electorate. We’re black, Asian, Hispanic, White, immigrant and national born. If my social network and magazine article threads are an indicator, we have grown discontent. Some 25 million Evangelicals didn’t vote in 2012. I wonder what the difference is this time? We have not liked the direction of our country or the political process in WA DC over the last several years. We know Trump is not one of us. He doesn’t share our values, but for most of us, Hillary even less so. Trump is a risk but Hillary was a known quantity – one we did not want.

Our economy is $19 trillion in debt, 48 million people are on food stamps, we have a part-time job employment rate because small businesses can’t afford to offer benefits, affordable healthcare has proved to offer reduced healthcare at twice the cost, civil unrest has fallen to rioting like we haven’t seen since the 1960s, and Washington DC is stuck. It was time to jar it loose.

We wait in hope to see what kind of cabinet Trump puts together and we wait with some caution to see what he really will do. But we remind ourselves, God is still in control and prayer really can change things.

Nicholas Damascus: Lots of uncertainty

Interesting, surprising outcome and a lot of uncertainty prevails. One could say the majority has spoken, however the means does not always justify the ends. Perhaps this is a wake up call for many complacent citizens to become participants rather than spectators. I have no answers, only questions and in any experience there is always opportunity and challenges. We are not always dealt a winning hand however uncertainty may provide the catalyst to be more involved in OUR future.

Ernesto Tinajero: Called to peacemaking

Democracy means to accept the will of the people. As Christians we are called to work and pray for the welfare of the  place God puts us in. I will continue to pray for Donald Trump as Jesus calls me and continue to work for the welfare of the nation even if I did not vote for him. And yes he fills me with fear for my son, my wife and family and country. We are again reminded how little we have control; we are called to peacemaking and to take up the cross of suffering. What the future holds, we must now work and pray for the best… for that is all we can do. May God have mercy upon us.

Hyphen Parent: I don’t feel safe

It’s the 78th anniversary of Kristallnacht and, for the first time in my life, I can no longer say, “Never again,” with confidence.

Kurt Bubna: We are called to love

I’ll keep this short, but if I’m your pastor (or friend) then I beg you to read this slowly and thoughtfully.

Regardless of whether you are happy or not about the election results—if you are a Christ-follower you are called to love.

• We are never given the option to pick and choose whom we will love.
• We are to love our neighbors (even the grumpy ones).
• We are to love our family (even the dysfunctional ones).
• We are to love those who are right and those who are wrong (perfection and performance are never a basis for love).
• We are to love those who persecute us.
• We are to love our enemies.

And yes, we are to love Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, and all.

For those who follow Jesus there is no wiggle room here. Love is not an option, a suggestion, or even just a good idea. Love is a command.

We love as we are loved by the father. A love that embraced us at our absolute worst by the way.

And for the record, love is a choice not just an emotion.

• A choice to care for another whether they care for or about us or not.
• A choice to serve with humility, and do what is best for someone else.
• A choice to surrender our rights and our needs, and to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

And dare I say it, a choice to place our political views below, well below, our call to treat one another with honor, compassion, gentleness, and forbearance (Gal. 5:22-23).

So whether you are terrified or thrilled about the election results of 2016, I implore you to love one another. Love is the one command which encompasses all (yes, all) of our relationships.

Those around you are watching and listening.

• Are you demonstrating faith?
• Are you modeling love for the unloveable?
• Are you being kind with your words and in your actions?
• Are you gloating or perhaps the opposite extreme, being consumed by fear?

If you follow Jesus, you have chosen a different and better path.

Love.

Enough said.

Matthew Sewell: Better to have a Trump in the White House

As I rolled the words “President Donald Trump” around in my brain last night, I must admit I was at a loss for what to think. At no point have I been a Trump supporter (I voted third party for the first time ever), and I have always been staunchly opposed to Hillary Clinton, so I really had no dog in the fight on Election Night.

That said, I’m more satisfied with a Trump presidency that with a Clinton one. Although we really don’t know what Trump will do in office, there exists at least a much greater chance that the basic right to life for all human beings — from conception to natural death — will be protected under him than it would under her. Even if it gags me to say it, I’m thankful to have Trump in the White House, if only because he isn’t Hillary, and I intend to pray that he can become a capable leader for all Americans.

Emily Geddes: We all have work to do

A few days ago I posted my support for Hillary Clinton on Facebook and closed with this: “My deepest desire is that next Wednesday, whatever the outcome, we will all wake up determined to work together, to find common ground, to be a bit more compassionate, to draw fewer lines separating people into “us” and “them”, and to help make the future a bit brighter for ourselves, our children, and the entire world. I’ll do my best. Will you?”

It’s devastating to be so disappointed in the country I love, but I still mean what I said.

If you did not support Trump, take time to mourn, hurt, rage, process your fear and grief. I stand with you, my LGBTQIA friends, my Muslim friends, my Latina and African American friends, my disabled friends, my friends who have survived sexual assault, all of you who were targeted and belittled and mocked by this man or his supporters, all who were told that you don’t belong here or that you are part of what’s wrong with America. You do belong here, you make this country better. I will do everything in my power to be a safe space for you, to speak up and to fight to protect your rights. This is not the end. You are not alone.

If you did support Trump, take a good hard look at what you really want our country to be. We have now elected a man who has demonstrated that he represents the very worst elements of our culture: sexism, racism, bullying, mocking others, a “might is right” philosophy, fear-mongering, dishonesty, narcissistic self-interest, ignorance, vicious revenge for even the smallest imagined slight, a lack of integrity and decency, to name just a few.

If those are not your values, prove it. Reach out to those who sincerely and legitimately are afraid of what a Trump presidency will mean to them personally and assure them by your actions that you will not stand for any erosion of their rights. Refuse – and refuse loudly – to support any policies that will marginalize the vulnerable, that will enrich the privileged at the expense of others, that will elevate and celebrate the lowest and basest characteristics of human nature.

For America to be truly great, we must be good. We must be kind and compassionate and loving and thoughtful, especially toward those with whom we disagree. And that means all of us have work to do. The Prayer of Saint Francis has been running through my mind.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.

God help us to do so.

Patricia Bruininks: Channeling the anger

“Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.” — St. Augustine

I am angry right now. I am also dismayed, confused, and heartbroken. I hurt for my students and friends who are marginalized every day because of their race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. I fear for my undocumented students. I’m disgusted by so-called “Christian” leaders who sold their soul to the devil. I’m livid at the media for choosing profit over doing their damn job. And I’m mad as hell at white male privilege, the only thing that made this outcome possible.

I could go on and on, but there’s no point in it. I’m going to stay angry, but I will find a way to channel that anger into action that shows the world that LOVE wins. Maybe not every battle, and maybe not every heart, but it does win, and it will win. As MLK said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

At this moment, I wish I could just curl up in a corner and call in sick. But I can’t because that is not what 49-year-old women do. I will be in my office tomorrow grading papers, answering emails, and most importantly listening to and commiserating with any student or colleague who wants to stop by.

Finally, I want to express my compassion for Secretary Clinton. To work that hard – not just in this campaign, but through decades – only to be beaten by an unbelievably unqualified bully seems too much to bear. And yet I know you will not only bear it, you will rise above it. Thank you for being a model of hard work, perseverance, and self control. Thank you for never giving up hope.

Joe Newby: The voters won

I’m relieved the election is finally over and I’m both thankful and happy to see that Hillary Clinton lost.

I’ve minced no words in expressing my dislike for her candidacy at my own blog and while I had concerns about Trump during the primary, I think he has grown and is ready to take on the job.

Plus, I remember the last time Clinton was in the White House and I would hate to see us go through that again.

Bottom line:  The voters won.

As for “unity,” sure, I’m always down for some of that, but never at the expense of my principles.

Carrie Lockhert: We are all connected

I’m so very sad, disappointed and amazed. The election results have illustrated how people behave when they are uneducated and afraid. People say lets just get along and don’t worry, we can bounce back and things just keep going. While I want to remain optimistic, I have grave concerns for the trajectory of the planet given our ticking time-bomb on climate change. It is apparent that people don’t truly understand how this decision could irrevocably change the fate of our world. Some folks say we need to worry about our country before we worry about the world, but we are all interconnected. When Florida property washes away as the ocean rises; when Oklahoma and Kansas turn again to dust-bowls; when more towns lose drinking water due to fracking; when increasing fires ravage our forests – people will be in more despair than yesterday or today. Perhaps we need to be truly on our knees, at the end of our human rope before we can see the folly of our decisions and make changes that will save all of humanity, not just our own hides for the next four to eight years.

Kelly Rae Mathews: Time for strategy

“But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!” “I tell you, He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.” As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it” (Luke 19:40)

Now is not the time to be silent. It is time for real strategy, and to put away the things of a babe. I am a stone. I cry out.

My feelings are multiple. I want to be there for everyone I love, offering up hugs, and being a source of strength in a time of grief and mourning and fear. I cried, yesterday, even before the results were in, during the day. It was an intense time. I know this though: I feel I was made for this time. While I cry as I write this, some, I reassure everyone that I am here, and am ready for what’s next. I see so much blame being thrown around. This is not the time for blame. I feel no respect, at all, for people who would be leaders who are writing incendiary posts on social media upbraiding in their ideological purity while refusing to take responsibility. There are those who wanted a revolution who are now showing that what they really want is to be the next aristocracy, themselves. There are a few extremists who concern me, and I will watch as their political careers take shape, who care more about ideological purity than actual human beings. This disgusts me to my core. I feel this is a fight I’m in for the long run, and it’s another day in a long-running war. I feel that those who voted Trump in have lost connection with understanding that Obama in fact, stabilized our economy, and it was on the road to wellness. Trump, who they have voted in as polls showed afterwards, overwhelmingly because of economic reasons, those in the poor rural areas, don’t realize he is not the leader they think. Trump bring stability, economic growth? We’ll see.  Those who voted for him, think they made a moral choice, but ironically have popularized the idea it is OK to be a jerk as long as you’re their kind of jerk. They’ve effectively shot themselves in the foot, even more. Trump is big business and corporations in this country. He has a history of being cruel and vengeful in every way. Who does he actually respect? Think about that. I’m glad they can’t claim now, that Trump couldn’t get through because Hillary or some conspiracy theory stopped him. I feel, right now energized and anticipate what’s coming next. I feel that it’s time for America to wake up and stop bleeding out the rural areas, and re-energize those places. There is no excuse for the impoverished conditions in rural America, the suicide rates. These are what needed to be addressed but were ignored.  I feel the way forward will not be as some imagined. People who are mourning and despairing, that’s how we will lose the war. Mourn, grieve, but do not despair. Find whatever you need, take care of yourself, and then, get up and keep up the fight, damn you, fight! Fight with love, nurture those around you. Help change our culture. Reason alone isn’t going to work, to get people to know what the truth is. Too many educated people voted wrong, too.  We can’t stop now. Do what you can to hold people accountable. Those with privilege, have to step up to the plate to protect those without. Selfishness in this country has led us here, and greed. Time for some selflessness and sacrifice, to do what’s right and bear up.

 

Jan Shannon: Selfishness, sin won

What happened yesterday was an example of the worst of humanity’s treatment of one another. Caring only about themselves and their agenda, they have elected a man who will do just that, exactly what he wants. Selfishness and sin has won. But that is not unexpected. Selfishness and sin often win. Usually win. On earth, yeah. But what happened yesterday is just politics. Just humanity’s attempt to organize themselves. This is what it looks like when we do that. That is what it looked like when we did it to Christ. It was brutal, horrific, and the worst example of humanity’s treatment of one another.

But there is more to this life than politics. We are not merely physical creatures. We are also living souls. Christ rose from the grave to prove to us that we can rise again. We CAN overcome hate and fear and brutality. We CAN live above our base, bestial selves. We CAN be people of faith. People of hope. We CAN rise again. The question remains – will we?

Andy CastroLang: We need to be a sanctuary

So, we become ever more what we believe we are called to be: a radically welcoming inclusive community of Jesus followers who believe ALL are welcome. We believe in all the children of God, and will strive to love, cherish, honor and respect all of them.  
And hey, we still have lots of buttons in the office that say, “I’ll go with you” which were purchased to support our Transgender friends, but will be needed even more, by even more.

We will truly need to be “sanctuary”, more than ever!

I am sick and sad, but “I rise”.  (Maya Angelou).

We will stand and we will fight with the power of love and courage, I will not be silent.  The doors of my church will stay open, and our sanctuary will be that safe place.

Naghmana Ahmed-Sherazi: History is repeating

In a country where racial and gender divides matter, history is repeating itself. Black men were given the vote before women were. A black president was elected but we are still far away from electing a woman president it seems. SNP is already down 800 points with predictions of Trump winning the presidency. “He is the antidote to everything so far!! Even if he burns everything down, it will be a change from what was”, newsanchor/analyst on NBC. Question is, will America rise from the ashes?? Will I find people more accepting of me as a middle-aged, single, Muslim woman of color, or will I find there are even fewer opportunities than before? Despite being upset at the result, I am hopeful. People are innately good, and I value human relationships.

Elizabeth Backstrom: Are these ‘our’ people?

In our distaste for political correctness, we’ve allowed the pendulum to swing to the other extreme. The people have spoken, and this is who they want. I think many of us today are asking ourselves this – are these our people? Are we so far removed that we can really say – this is not us, or that it can’t happen here? Clearly, it can. America is just as vulnerable to fear and divisiveness as any other group of human beings. We are exceptional because we thought we were different. A skim of history shows otherwise. We’ve survived a civil war, two world wars, our own internment camps, slavery and decades of Jim Crow. We’ve had worse, and we can do better. We cannot change the past, but we can shape the future.

Mark Azzara:  Rejected the political elites

The short answer to my editor’s query: I am thrilled that the loser lost but I am also sickened that the winner won. And I would have said that no matter who had won and lost. Now I wonder which will last longer – the elation or the nausea?

I was genuinely astounded that The New York Times’ daily email news summary perfectly reflected my reaction via headlines talking about the “Stunning Repudiation of the Establishment” and how the “News Media Yet Again Misreads America’s Complex Pulse.

Perhaps most prescient was the subhead, “[N]ations begin bracing for the possibility of an upending of the world order.” By the millions, Americans have upended the world political order by rejecting the political establishment – i.e., the cabal of clueless, egocentric career politicians and the equally clueless, egocentric analysts and journalists who follow them around like sycophants. It’s “Brexit” all over again.

This new anti-establishment majority was so incensed and insulted by these elites that they were willing to elect anyone who wasn’t among the elite – even Donald Trump, who is a misogynist and moron, a huckster and hypocrite, and maybe even a criminal, depending on the outcome of the Trump University investigation.

This new majority rejected “the establishment” partly because those non-church-going elites can’t fathom what it’s like to be connected to a God who is greater than a nation. But that’s not backhanded praise for this anti-establishment majority because those who created it don’t “get” themselves any better than the elites they detest.

This election will be good for America and the world if it finally forces elites and non-elites alike, here and elsewhere, to confess that our “intelligence” is really just shared stupidity, and that there are repercussions for acting on it. That’s the only way to prove to ourselves that we desperately need God, who knows us far better than we pretend to know ourselves.

Just in case you’re curious, when I voted I wrote in the name of Ohio Gov. John Kasich for president and Maine Sen. Susan Collins for vice president. At least my conscience knows I did what was right.

Toni Niemic: What to do?

Last night I went to bed fearing the results. Today I am dealing with my feelings (they run the gamut).

I am deeply appreciative of friends and colleagues who remind me of what I know to be true.

I ask God, once again, what is mine to do?