The tables have turned in a fascinating way in the country of Chile, as millions of voters went to the polls to decide who would represent them in a new constitutional assembly. The country voted 80-20 a few years ago to rewrite their constitution, which stemmed from the reign of Augusto Pinochet. Following that, they voted for a very leftwing majority to compose a new constitution, hoping to right the wrongs they saw in the current one. It seemed as if Chile were on the verge of a new era in its politics.
The delegation cobbled together a constitution that focused mostly on things such as environmental issues, gender parity, etc., but various indiscretions by the members, as well as certain aspects of the text, soon turned the majority of Chileans against it. They voted down the newly proposed constitution by a 62-38 majority.
This past Sunday, voters went to elect a new constitutional assembly, and this time chose a majority of the representatives from right-wing parties. What started as a push to rewrite the constitution to reflect a more leftwing worldview has now turned into an opportunity for the conservative wing of Chile to revise aspects of it to fit their own vision. Whether or not the voters will approve the newly written constitution in December remains to be seen, but if the past few years are any indication, anything is possible. Chile has indeed come full circle from where it started.
Ultimately, as believers, our hope is not in the political situation of a country, but in the Lord. Our desire is that the gospel would still be able to shine forth in Chile so that many would come to know Him. Would you pray to that end?