Theresa May today announced that London is the Capital of England. Yesterday, President Trump announced that Jerusalem was the capital of Israel. Surprised? Why should anyone be? Coincidentally, the Romans occupied and controlled both at one point. Jerusalem was founded by King David some 3000 years ago, and London, approximately 2000 years ago.
Today, London is occupied by many creeds, colors and cultures and by the rule of law, no one culture dominates or has the right to dominate. Jerusalem in a relatively smaller context is the same.
Washington, D.C., is the capital of the United States and shares a similar profile to London and Jerusalem. These are modern facts of life in a world that has learned to transport people around its circumference in hours and seeks to embrace multi-cultural societies.
In that sense, President Trump seeks to regularize, and titles and references can’t counter the realistic ground facts of what and how these cities have matured. There is no need to fight the sea of change but instead, to swim with the tide. The 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act set the initiative running, and 22 years on, Trump has sought to halt the six-month rollover, which makes little sense to continue. Yesterday finishes that perpetual rollover.
Meantime in Psalm 122, verse 6a, we are called to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” and that we must do. Those of sound mind do not want war. We should logically also pray for the peace of London and all capital cities.
When Abraham took his Jewish son, Issac, to the top of Mount Horeb, he did not know that one day there would be a mosque on the top, the house of worship for the religion that rose out of his other son, Ishmael. Abraham was called by God to make a sacrifice, but ultimately God spared him of the obligation and made a way for peace. In much the same way, despite presidential or other announcements and through prayer, peace can be maintained. Then we will see God’s hand again move and ensure that we do not persist with man’s calculations but trust Him to lead us.
A way to reconcile differences must be found or sought to be found and unless we do across every capital city, then darkness will fall and the light extinguished. It’s our choice. {eoa}
Martin Clarke is a London businessman and a member of Holy Trinity Brompton Anglican Church in London.
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