Today Germans go to the polls and there is a strong possibility that Angela Merkel, the chancellor for the past twelve years will be re-elected. For a time this didn't seem possible because of the national grumpiness over the Christian Democrats' decision to allow upwards of a million migrants and refugees into the country over a relatively short period of time. Her party paid attention to the backlash and has developed more restrictive immigration policies, but it was an extraordinary response to a real and continuing crisis.
Angela Merkel has demonstrated a remarkably even leadership style which has made her arguably the most powerful woman in the world and someone with a moral compass which is woefully absent in the supposed role of leader of the free world to the south of us.
Some of this comes from her upbringing in a Christian family where her father was a pastor and seminary director, although he was emotionally and physically distant enough that she credits her mother as a strong early influence. They lived in what was East Germany until reunification in the early 90's and while her father became disaffected with communist rule he looked to the bible as source for his strong socialist convictions. He actually moved the family across the Iron Curtain with a mission to build a distinctly East German Protestantism but to separate state and church — rendering, as the scriptures taught, to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's. I encourage you to read this article from the Washington Post to gain insight into the roots of Merkel's social conscience.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/world/europe/the-pastors-daughter-how-a-striking-family-history-shaped-germanys-powerful-chancellor/2017/09/08/66b81140-88e1-11e7-96a7-d178cf3524eb_story.html
We can all pray for the outcome of today's election, knowing that the anti-immigration right may get a foothold in Germany. We can ask God to bless Merkel who was born in 1954, the same year as me, and she ain't ready to retire?!
What do you think of Angela Merkel? Were you aware of her religious background? Are you hoping she will be re-elected?
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