The nations were separated at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 10-11). They went their separate ways, and in the full course of time God created the nation of Israel to be His covenant people. Christ was predestined to be the Head of Israel and to inherit children of the nations who would be grafted into Israel (Ps. 2; Lk. 1:29-33; Jn. 19:3; Rom. 11). True unity, a true “brotherhood of man”, is only possible in Christ – not the United Nations, not the European Union, not NATO. If we can work through these institutions to produce good, moral outcomes that is one thing; but to believe that by themselves they are a solution, to put them in the place of the Saviour – that is folly.
The election of Donald Trump is consistent with these ideas. We cannot, like the ostrich, bury our head in the sand regarding globalism. But that does not mean that the nations should submit to every demand of the zeitgeist. While many decry Trump’s views and potential policies as “isolationist”, these views could also be understood as a course correction, a recognition of the fact that different nations have different needs, different cultures, different values. Trump is a realist (well…mostly) and recognizes that America’s national interests were being compromised and would continue to be so unless something changed at the highest levels of government.
No doubt some will say, “So what if her interests are being compromised? We have to share – America must give sometimes so that others may receive.” But how much has America given already? Ask NEO or Scoop to recount America’s campaigns against the Barbary Pirates, against Germany in WWI and the Axis Powers in WWII. Ask the South Koreans whether they would rather America had not come to their aid in their hour of need? Ask the recovering drug addicts if they are not thankful for every kilo of heroin destroyed by successful American operations. Ask the leaders of persecuted minorities if they are not thankful for every terrorist plot foiled by the hard work of American intelligence personnel.
You want a safe world? Then you need a strong America – at least until our Lord Jesus returns on the clouds in His glory. America is by no means perfect; but she is always the first to admit it. America’s Founding Fathers drafted the nation’s first laws and governing principles on the assumption that man was sinful and that measures would be necessary to prevent that sin gaining the power of tyranny (see John Locke on the role of the state as the guardian of man’s God-given rights). Are you breathing a sigh of relief that Hobbes has not prevailed in the West? Then thank America. Are you glad that your nation does not discriminate against you because of your religious beliefs or sexual orientation? Then thank the Founding Fathers who affirmed that what a person does in the privacy of their own home (so long as they are not hurting anyone) is his own business.
These are difficult times – there is no denying it. We are flawed human beings: it is unrealistic to expect our political leaders to be perfect. But God asks us to pray for those placed in authority over us (1 Tim. 2:2). Mr Pence is a Christian, who prays for the well-being of his country, and Mr Trump has asked for the intercessory prayers of the Church: let us oblige him.
Some closing words taken from Romans 13:
Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but from God: the powers that be are ordained by God. Therefore, whoever resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive condemnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? Do what is good, and you will receive praise for doing so. For he is the minister of God for your welfare. But if you do what is evil, be afraid: for he does not bear the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon the one who does evil. For this reason you must be subject, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake…Render, therefore, to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
All Along the Watchtower 
Not to mention that private philanthropical giving by country always shows the U.S. as the most generous of nations in our charitable contributions. We give about 2% of our anual GDP on charity. And note that although the Republicans earn less as a group than the Democrats [who are always big on pushing through giveaway programs that are funded by the people’s taxes – other people’s money] the Republicans contribute 3 times that of the Democrats in their personal charitable giving. But we conservatives susposed to be the haters and the uncaring deplorables that the Demcocratic Propaganda machine loves to point to for not caring about the poor etc. It is the exact opposite as is most of their accusations of other. As Shakespeare wrote; ‘methinks you [the Democrats] protest too much.’
Some interesting statistics: http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/almanac/statistics/
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I have held back from using the word ‘crusade’ as a model for describing what is happening or what will happen in the future for various reasons, not least the spectre of former President George Bush. Nevertheless, when this blog needs a post at some point to address that part of the current situation in relation to America and Trump’s leadership, then I shall be ready to do so. We need to learn the lessons of history and stop the path of appeasement of this outgoing administration. The Axis Redivivus appears already in the MENA.
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Good post, first and foremost.
Well, crusade has become a polarizing word, not that that is always bad. Here’s the thing, when you wage a jihad against the west, historically you get a crusade back. Use it as desired.
One thing to note, many like me were sickened by the administration’s inability to recognize that whether we wanted to be or not we were at war. Come right down to it, at this juncture, the cause doesn’t really matter. The aura of blind disbelief we’ve witnessed for the last few years is one of the reasons for Trump’s election. He’s far from a perfect man, so was FDR, so was Churchill, but both were a major improvement on Chamberlain, and that was the role that Obama chose for himself. And I am one of the few that recognizes that Chamberlain was actually a pretty good PM.
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Well said, Neo, I’m in complete agreement. Unless we acknowledge that Turkey is no longer a democracy and that Iran is a force for evil in the Middle East we will get nowhere.
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Exactly.
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