They Are, Indeed, Crazy

Reflecting on President Trump's words at the State of the Union Address

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“Look, nobody stands up,” President Trump remarked when not one Democrat stood in support of his proposal to bar states from allowing teenagers to undergo gender transition treatment without parental consent. “These people are crazy. I’m telling you, they’re crazy.”

I’ll be the first to tell you I wish the president’s speech was more, well, presidential. You’ve read previously that I think he needs to issue a presidential apology for his social media blunder (and calling it a “blunder” is an understatement). Our president needs to be more presidential—I don’t think that’s controversial.

And though the words he used in his State of the Union address were not presidential—"these people are crazy”—they were most certainly accurate (though I would go further). I have many opinions about our president—some positive, some negative—but even though I wish he spoke more presidential here, he did hit the nail on its ideological head.

These people are, indeed, crazy. In fact, they’re wicked. That’s what the Bible says (Gen. 6:5; Ps. 51:5; Ps. 14:2-3).

It’s wicked to not stand up for this proposal. To be honest with you, I hope many of them remained seated simply because they don’t want to side with President Trump in any fashion. Petty, yes. But that would be better. But reality says they truly don’t support that proposition. Reality says they really want teenagers to be able to “transition” without parental consent.

Yes . . that’s wicked. Demonic, even. It’s demonic because they are fine with teenagers mutilating their genitals, most certainly without the parent(s) knowing. Friends, we live in a dark time. But now is not the time to retreat. Now is not the time to backtrack, to dance around an issue, to serve up word salad that dodges hard questions or topics. This is something we must confront and do so with clarity. It is wicked. And those who support that are wicked. (Let’s be clear: we too were once wicked, following our sinful passions. We were no different . . . But God!)

Not only are our days dark in the United States of America, but they’re divisive. So what we must do is stand firm in the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, proclaim his finished work to the masses, and let God be God. Let God save his people. Let God regenerate hearts from stone to flesh. Let God justify, sanctify, and one day glorify. It’s quite easy to dwell on how divided and wicked our world is. There’s something depressing and scary everywhere we look. But we must remember God is on his throne. His throne isn’t vacant; he’s not aloof, unaware of what’s happening in the world. He’s here and actively working everything out according to his good pleasure. He has planned everything.

God is in control even when it seems like everything is out of control. We must plant our feet firmly in Scripture and not budge. If there’s any reflection here it is this: don’t become weary of what’s happening in our world. It is indeed crazy that many support “gender transitioning,” even for minors. And there’s much more to that craziness and wickedness. But we cannot lose heart. We’re not losing; we’re on the right side. The darkness hates the light, but Christ has overcome it through his finished work, and the war has already been won.

Keep charging, friends. Keep believing in the promises of God. One day he’s going to make everything right. Until then, we engage the culture with the reality of our sin and the hope of the gospel.