YeKengalé

‘But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.’

The thing about sacerdotalism is that it obscured the personhood of Jesus, and the ONE he represents.  Priests called to represent Christ, replaced him in function. No wonder the lot of them  were corrupted. Christ, the standard and Chief ambassador of heaven had been usurped, and those claiming his authority presented false credentials.

While the US institutions of law and governance  seem to have passed their stress test under Trump –  clearly someone forgot to pray ‘lead us not into temptation’, with the Mueller report now concluded; and that nation now  seems healthy enough to last at least another decade; (that was far from certain in 2016); and Jamaica having takèn the same test a little sooner (Dudus) and now similarly renewed, and seemingly  set on a steady path of socio-economic revival; Ruel’s ruin and what has been called the Faustian bargain of the white church  in anointing Trump a contemporary Cyrus should give us, who claim to be a royal priesthood, pause to reflect on the state of our holy nation.

When Justice and Truth are reduced to a game of chess or checkers, with the moral outrage card, just another ploy to gain ascendency in the game, the greater truth is lost that all have sinned and are in need both of a Savior and a Standard that remains faithful and true whoever is in earthly power.

God forbid that Christ and his kingdom should now become ‘of this world’. Even when kings fail, as David did (and Ruel’s hands even if they are found to be dirty have no bloodstains as did David’s);  if the prophetic church is free to use its index finger correctly and deal with  issues first, people and parties second (note how long it took Nathan the prophet to get to the ‘Thou art the man!’ part of the prophecy, then that is the sign that separates the power games on earth from the truth concerns of heaven..

Kings and kingdoms,  Politicians and parties come and go, but the throne of God and of his Christ is established on judgment and justice.

It is tragic to see a great king fall…or a tyrant ascend the throne, but as long as the eyes of the Bride of Christ behold her true husband, she will be fine. There is repentance and restoration in Him for all who fail. But when the church starts playing kingmaker, ignoring the filth of her own garments, she has become herself a whore and an enemy of him upon whose shoulders all government rests.

The enemies of the church do rejoice in the failure of her leaders but our salt and light are not derived only from the living. We have a silent but powerful cloud of witness from those who have not only run an excellent race, but are now safely beyond the pale of temptation, and their critics also finally muffled by the grave, among them, our own Father Sherlock, encouraging us from heaven’s grandstands to get up, shake ourselves off, bawl like a baby before our God like David if we must, but get back in the race and respond to duty’s call.

We are not called to win a popularity contest. We are not competing for an academy award. Let the church be the church….in vigilance and humility. Faithful Service has its own reward in a pure conscience and a pleased Lord, no matter what the headlines are saying.