Actually, as is so often the case, Hiltz offers his political opinions to God – who must have been waiting to hear them with bated breath – and us in this statement, thinly disguised as an invitation to prayer:
Next week, the eyes and ears of all Americans and indeed many other people around the world will be turned toward Capitol Hill in Washington as Donald Trump takes the Oath of Office as the 45th President of the United States.
Many of course will be rejoicing in his inauguration and eagerly anticipating his administration. Many others are anxious. Given some of the rhetoric in his campaign for election, they are wondering how tolerant he will be of the multi-racial, -cultural and -religious textures with which the fabric of the United States of America is woven.
In the face of an ever-growing gulf between Americans who are rich and Americans who are poor, there is considerable angst as to how the Trump administration will address this concern. Many eagerly await initiatives that will be in the form of laying firm foundations ensuring equality of access to health care, education, and employment opportunities for all Americans.
Mexicans wonder about the nature of future relationships with the United States and so too do many Canadians. World leaders will be watching to see how he takes his place in the gatherings where they take counsel together for peace and security of the world, and for the care of the earth itself.
It’s instructive to compare the scolding tone of the above with the gushing sycophancy on display in this letter to Justin Trudeau after he was elected Prime Minister:
On behalf of the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), we extend our heartfelt congratulations to you as our new Prime Minister.
You have set a bold vision for our country. The times in which we live call for visionary leadership in Canada and in the world so that we may build a truly just, healthy and peaceful world.
We welcome your approach to governance and your commitment to work closely with all levels of government on issues such as homelessness, lifting children and seniors out of poverty, improving our welcome of refugees, and refocusing development assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable. Anglicans and Lutherans from coast to coast to coast share a deep concern and profound hope for justice, peace and the well-being of creation. Your invitation to Provincial Premiers and to representatives of other political parties to participate in the Climate Change Conference in Paris is an important sign of the kind of partnership needed to address critical issues.
We support your commitment to implementing the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. We share the goal to build and strengthen relationships across Canada—with Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians—grounded in right relationships, compassion and justice.
We assure you that week by week, members of our churches are praying for you, for all Members of Parliament, and for the Government of Canada. May your service to this country be a blessing to many, and may God guide us in the better future we intend to foster together.
Yours in Christ,
The Most Rev. Fred J. Hiltz
Pity the poor heretic: he wants to pray but has nobody to pray to. Or nobody whom he believes in much, and certainly nobody who he believes can do anything.
Most Christians pray for their national leaders, good or evil.
I expect he is inviting prayer not for, but against Donald Trump
There is an unpleasant mixture here – in dear Freddy’s statement – of sanctimonius hand wringing and obsequious groveling. His stock in trade I would say.
I was pleasantly surprised to see this from a Luxton. His father ordained me and later ordered me out of his Diocese. I ended up for nearly nine years in Venezuela.
The ACoC pays these clowns 6-figure salaries, to pontificate their BS from their bully-pulpits…they desperately want to appear relevant.
When we Canadians had our last election and the truly dismal results were announced, nobody offered us either counselling or therapy puppies. But we pray for our leaders anyway. (I hadn’t seen the nauseating grovelling you mentioned.)
Christians believe that God is in charge of all things. The goal of prayer is the transformation of the world for the glory of God.
These bishops are beyond parody. Our Lord gave a blistering malediction against the Pharisees for a similar promotion of hypocrisy and blindness.
The true church is meant to regard authority with a wise mixture of respect and scepticism. Respect because all authority is ordained by God, but scepticism since one’s trust must never be in the “chariots and horses” of the state.
When leaders align themselves so nakedly to one politician, party, persuasion, they seem to think this will make them relevant to the society. But what madness is this?
They ape the worldview and politics of the most ungodly and atheistic segment of society and wonder why their churches shrink. Rather than appealing first to those who are “not far from the kingdom” at least in terms of morals and outlook, they bend themselves in knots to please those most implacably hostile to the kingdom.
And in the process they reject scripture and sell again the Lord they claim to speak for. One trembles, lest one should fall into a similar level of blindness, to be brought to a state of self-knowledge only in the courtroom of the eternal Judge.
To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, those who change to become relevant to one generation will be irrelevant to the next. If the Lord tarries the pendulum will swing. The Church may become smaller but it will be purer. The old order will pass away, the faithful remnant will remain.
God can use a national leader to make her nation great. Or, God can allow a national leader to destroy his nation. We do not ask God to change His mind. We pray that our wills will conform to God’s will. God is the Boss. We do not tell Him what to do.