President Trump addresses nation amid growing controversy

President Trump defended his handling of the economy during a rare prime-time speech last night. He also announced a $1,776 “warrior dividend” check for active-duty servicemembers that he said would be paid for with tariff revenue. However, he did not address the headline-generating fallout from his recent very negative comments regarding the tragic deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner, statements even fellow Republicans have criticized.

In other political news, the president is defending his chief of staff Susie Wiles after her Vanity Fair interview in which she states that he has “an alcoholic’s personality” because he “operates [with] a view that there’s nothing he can’t do.” Mr. Trump agreed with her statement, noting that he doesn’t drink alcohol but that he would have a “very good chance of being an alcoholic if he did.” He criticized the magazine for a “very misguided” interview and stated his full confidence in Wiles.

Conflict has been a fact of political life in America from our first contested election in 1796 to the present. It has been a fact of human history since Cain murdered Abel. Neuroscientists are even trying to help us manage holiday conflicts by encouraging us to imagine positive scenarios in the belief that our brains will learn from them and be more likely to produce them.

Such advice is actually more biblically grounded than it may seem, pointing to the power that not only resolves conflict but changes culture in eternally significant ways.

Jesus “taught us to love him by first loving us”

In recent days, we have focused on the miracle by which the Son of God entered Mary’s body to inhabit his own and now lives “in” us by his indwelling Spirit (Colossians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 3:16). Now let’s apply this incarnational reality to the conflicts we face daily.

The first “fruit” of the Spirit is “love,” translating agape, the unconditional commitment to place another ahead of ourselves (Galatians 5:22). This love was first shown for us by our Father in the atoning death of his Son; consequently, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

What does this mean in practical terms?

Our first response is to love God: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).

Such love was modeled by Jesus in his obedient submission to his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–46). Now, as he indwells us by his Spirit, he empowers us to love him as he loves us. According to the French theologian William of Saint-Thierry (1085–1148), Jesus “taught us to love him by first loving us, even to death on the cross. By loving us and holding us so dear, he stirred us to love him who had first loved us to the end.”

Our second response is to “love your neighbor” as yourself (Mark 12:31a).

Jesus made no qualitative distinctions as to which kind of “neighbor” we happen to have and thus are required to love. As he demonstrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan, our neighbor is anyone we can help (Luke 10:25–37). In response to the cultural ethos of his day, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy,” our Lord stated emphatically: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43–44).

Jesus modeled such love by touching lepers, befriending sinners, and interceding for those who crucified him. Now, as he indwells us by his Spirit, he empowers us to love others as he does.

Our third response is to love your neighbor “as yourself” (Mark 12:31b).

Loving ourselves may be the hardest of the three. In a consumeristic, materialistic culture, we value people by their possessions, performance, and popularity. It is therefore common for us to value ourselves in the same way. A counselor friend expressed this ethos to me: “I am not who I think I am. I am not who you think I am. I am who I think you think I am.”

By contrast, Jesus knows us best and yet loves us most. Before he died for us, he knew every sin we would ever commit (Romans 5:8). As he intercedes for us, he knows our every failure and frustration (Romans 8:34), and yet he loves each of us as if there were only one of us (St. Augustine). Now, as he indwells us by his Spirit, he empowers us to love ourselves as he does.

The only path to “lasting peace”

However, if you’re like me, you often struggle in all three areas. You might not feel a deep love for God at this moment. You might not say that you truly love your neighbors, especially any who are your enemies. And knowing all your sins and failures, you might not feel any kind of deep love for yourself.

But if our love in Christ is to transform the world (cf. John 13:34–35), it must first transform us. What are we to do?

First, let’s reframe the issue. Love, as described in the Bible, is more an action than a feeling. To test this wisdom, take a moment to try to feel love in the abstract. Now attempt to feel love for God, another person, or yourself.

However, if you act toward your Lord and your neighbor (and yourself ) as if you loved them, you will often find that your feelings follow your actions. And they (and you) would much rather experience your love as an action than as a feeling. Do what love does, and you will often feel what love feels.

Second, let’s turn to the Source of true love. As we have seen, the indwelling Christ right now loves your Father, your neighbor, and you. If you try to manifest his love in your strength, you will fail. But if you ask him to empower you to love as he does, he will answer your prayer.

Billy Graham responded to our conflicted culture:

In the same proportion that the world has trusted Christ, it has peace. There can be no lasting peace until Christ has come into the hearts of all people and brought them his peace.

There is no discord in heaven, there is no strife in heaven, for Christ reigns supreme there. Similarly, in the heart where Christ abides and reigns, his words become a reality: “Peace I leave with you” (John 14:27).

If you are a Christian, Christ “abides” in your heart. Would those who know you say he “reigns” there today?

Quote for the day:

“We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then our world will know the blessings of peace.” —William E. Gladstone

Our latest website resources:

• Australia attack, Rob Reiner, Christmas movies, Candace Owens & football updates
• Do miracles still happen? A podcast interview with Lee Strobel
• A review of Lee Strobel’s “The Case for Miracles”
• Are you SAD? How to fight against the winter blues
• The real story of Christmas: The baby who was “from the beginning”