Oh my.
Over the past couple of days, as the polls closed and the numbers poured in and the blue outweighed the red, I've heard mostly strong reactions from my friends. Some are elated. Some say they need a strong, stiff drink. Some called Tuesday night "fantastic and historic" and used words like "hope" and "change". Some are convinced our country is going to hell in a handbasket.
I've heard all the arguments. I've heard all the reasons why I'm a bad Christian if I vote for Obama, or why I'm a bad Christian if I vote for McCain. I've read all sorts of articles, speech transcripts, and even Scripture supporting or opposing the candidates. I've heard someone claim that Jesus himself would not vote for Obama. I've heard McCain repeatedly called "McSame". And above all, I've heard a universal decry of hate against Bush and his performance in office over the past 8 years.
I'm TIRED of it. I'm so glad this election is over.
Why? Because as a Christian, I am told over and over again not to trust in man, but to trust in Him. And yet, I see so many Christians forgetting the sovereignty of God and allowing despair to overtake them because the candidate they voted for did not win Tuesday night. My wise husband noted this on his blog today:
Several friends on social networks have made updates similar to "despite the election results, trusting in the sovereignty of God." If the election had turned out differently, would you have made that statement today? We often make that kind of statement when we are in the middle of circumstances we see as BAD. The fact is, God is in control no matter who is president. If McCain had won, we would still need to trust in the sovereignty of God. Don't put your trust in princes, but in the King of Kings.
I won't lie: I'm kind of jazzed that Obama won. I like him. I do believe that he'll be a positive force in our country and even our world. If you want to know why I supported Obama in this election, you can read articles like this one and this one and this one and, from the horse's mouth himself, this one.
But I could very well be wrong. I'm very aware of that. Frankly, both candidates had positions on issues opposite of my own beliefs. There was no perfect candidate, and there never will be.
Though it is a daily exercise I must do, and often do not accomplish as much as I would like, I choose to put my total faith in God. I vote to the best of my knowledge, and the rest... the rest I have to put in His hands, regardless of whether my chosen candidate wins or loses.
Though I am hopeful in our President-elect and his abilities, I do not put all my trust in him. I do not see him as the salvation of America. I see him as a man who has inherited a HUGE amount of responsibility. A man greatly in need of our prayers.
And I'll be the first to admit, when I see the economy taking a huge nose-dive, when homes all around me are falling into foreclosure, when dear friends of mine work so hard and yet still cannot afford to buy groceries, when our soldiers continue to die overseas, when decent healthcare becomes less and less affordable, when government continues to spew out corruption and greed... I want to blame someone. And I want someone to come in and fix it. And I want to hope with all my might that someone charismatic enough, smart enough, educated enough, and honest enough would come in and save the day. I look to man and not to God. But He is always on the throne, no matter who is President. Even if we voted for a totally corrupt, ignorant, atheistic moron, God is still sovereign. He is still in control. He is bigger than any man or woman we elect into office. He is GOD. And He will always save the day.
I'm tired of the divisiveness among us. I'm tired of feeling as though I have to defend my choice for President in order to prove my worth as a Christian, particularly in the hot-spot issues of abortion and homosexuality. I'm tired of holding my tongue and deliberately evading the "who ya votin' for?" question because I'm just too overwhelmed with life in general to get sucked into a heated political argument. I'm tired of listening to people tearing each other apart in the name of "justice" and politics. I watched, recently, as two friends literally ripped each other to shreds on Facebook, complete with some horrid name-calling and personal attacks, because they were voting for different candidates. It was completely obvious that they would need to "agree to disagree", but instead, they just wouldn't let up. They kept verbally prodding each other, insisting on their own righteousness, only to further inflame the other person. It was bordering on the ridiculous and would have almost been funny had they not been throwing their faith into the argument as well. It broke my heart, because it's the same scene that's been playing out all over the country for so long.
I pray that we can go out into the world and speak of Jesus with the same fervent optimism and passion as I've heard many people speak of their presidential candidate of choice. I pray that we would not let politics compartmentalize, falsely categorize, and divide us, but that we would stand united with humility and compassion and not allow the circumstances of this world - political or otherwise - dictate whether we were in despair or jubilation. Our President-elect, though granted great responsibility and power, is only human. He is only a man, one man. If we put all our hope in Barack Obama, or any other President, we will inevitably be disappointed, let down, failed.
Our God reigns, forever and ever. He is constant. He is sovereign. He is the God of love, of justice, of life eternal. And He will never, ever be voted out.
And He LIVES, my dear friends. Go out into the world, dance in the streets, throw the parades, and proclaim the Good News.
