I gave this reflection at ICUJP today, and will be leading an adult study on this topic at Orange Grove Meeting on Sunday. Jill will be preaching at the First United Methodist Church this Sunday. Her topic: "Lady Wisdom and the Call to Housing Justice. We helped start a peace and justice committee at the Methodist Church that is thriving. We're pleased to be activists in two faith communities, the Methodists and Quakers, that have been working together for social justice for over 200 years!
“We the
People Have No King”:
What We Can Do to Preserve Democracy
The Bible makes it clear that it was not
God’s intention that people be ruled by a king. According to 1 Samuel 8-21, the
Israelites went to Samuel (a judge, soon to become a prophet) asking for a king
so they could be like other nations. Samuel warned them of the dire
consequences of having a king rule over them (such as war, exploitation, excessive
taxation), but the people insisted, and God reluctantly granted their request.
For the next 600 years, the Israelites were ruled mostly by bad kings, finally
culminating in the destruction of Israel and the Babylonian captivity. God also sent prophets to hold kings
accountable, to remind them to show mercy, practice justice and be faithful to
God’s commandments, especially to care for the poor and immigrants. That has
been the role of prophets to this day.
Prophets are needed now more than ever. We
are living at a time when 49.8% of Americans voted
for a would-be king, a man who said he would be a dictator on Day 1 if elected,
and who seems intent on ruling like an autocrat. On February 19, 2025, he even posted about
himself on Truth Social: “LONG LIVE THE KING!” This message was reinforced when
the White House recirculated it on Instagram and X with an illustration of Trump wearing a crown
on a cover resembling Time magazine. The founders of our nation, who
risked their lives to oppose kings and tyranny, must be rolling over in their
graves!
Trump has made his autocratic intentions clear. He
is aggressively seeking to take control of schools, universities and the media
and crush any form of dissent. He has attacked our legal system, ignored the
Supreme Court and cowed many major law firms into doing his bidding. He is
sending the National Guard and Marines into our city. Finally, he is planning an
immense military parade in Washington DC to commemorate his birthday.
Millions of Americans have taken to the
street to protest. Quakers in the Pacific Northwest recognized the need to be
prophetic, with these compelling words: “We are called to live in the
brave faith that our prophetic voice is the most powerful force available to us
in our times.”
What can we do individually and
collectively to be a prophetic voice for our times?
Here are some ways we can demonstrate a
brave faith:
1)
Support
organizations that are resisting assaults on our democracy like the ACLU and FCNL
makes is super easy to write our elected officials simply by going to www.fcnl.org/act . They are our best defense until
voters choose candidates who support democracy.
2)
Support
progressive leaders who are launching a “fight the oligarchs” campaign. Rallies
are what galvanized the Maga movement. When I go to rallies and see thousands
of like-minded protesters, I feel a surge of hope and I strongly suspect that those
in power feel uneasy (though they are loath to admit it). Tesla profits have dropped
71% since January, 2025, in large part because of protests. The documentary The
Madman and Movement, produced by Quaker Robert Levering, shows that when
millions protested in 1969, President Nixon gave up his plan to use nuclear
weapons to subdue North Vietnam. In the Commons: Social Change website George
Lakey has documented 40 cases in which mass movements have toppled
dictatorships nonviolently. Those in power want us to feel we are powerless,
but when we the people are united, we can overcome. Si, se puede!
3)
Stand in solidarity with those who are under
attack: the LGBTQ+trans community, immigrants, the disabled, federal workers,
and people of color.
4)
Choose
to be joyful. Sing. Dance. Rejoice. Even if you feel discouraged or depressed! Freedom
songs helped empower people during the Civil Rights and the anti-war movements
of the 1960s. Take to heart the
words of Dr. King: the struggle for a new world is long and bitter, but also
beautiful!
To act collectively and effectively, we need a vision. The far-right movement
has a vision, embodied in Project 2025 and Project Ester; and they also have a
plan to implement their vision. That’s why they are effective. As progressive
people of faith, we need a vision for the kind of future we seek, and we need a
plan for making this vision a reality. The Bible says, “Without a vision the
people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). The crucial question for us at this critical
time is: What is our vision, and how can we come together to realize it?
***
I am thrilled that young Quaker adults at Orange Grove Meeting have organized this and I plan to attend. I also plan to attend the "No Kings" event in Pasadena which will take place on the corner of Colorado and Lake Ave from 2:00-4:00 pm.
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