Election Response

As Americans, we have the responsibility to vote our conscience. As Christians, our conscience is formed by the Word of God. Therefore, as American Christians, we try to vote in a way that is guided by our discipled conscience. That is not always easy. Sometimes the lines are blurred and neither side fully represents our values. One side holds to one of our values; the other side holds to another. In such times, believers find themselves on differing sides. Nonetheless, we each vote our conscience.

When the election is over, as Americans we are either delighted or disappointed, depending on whether our side won or lost the election. As Christians we know that “the dice is in the hand of the man but the outcome is in the hands of the Lord.” So we turn from our pre-election passion and turn toward our spiritual responsibility to pray for and support in every way our conscience allows, the person whom God has seen fit to make the leader of the nation.

St. Paul tell us to pray for kings and those in authority. When he wrote this, the emperor Nero was killing Christians. How were Christians to pray for Nero? That he would come to faith, surely. That he would learn the ways of God and lead in a just way. In the end though, “God puts up kings and puts down kings.” We do our part: we vote. Before the election, we make our beliefs known. After the election, we pray.

Yesterday, young Senator Obama became president of the United States. We are unsure of what sort of president he will become. He may become a wicked and despicable leader; he may become a godly and great leader. We all have our opinions but the story is not yet told. We have to wait. We have to pray. As Americans, none of us will benefit from him becoming a bad leader. As Christians, we are forbidden to anticipate that he will become bad. Rather, we are called to do all we can to help him become good.

Yesterday, the new president began his day in prayer with T.D. Jakes. They were together a long time. We don’t know what was said or done. We do know that he invited a godly and a good man to pray with him. Lets pray that this sort of influence will grow and that this president, like Lincoln whom he admires, will bow his knee to God and seek His direction for our nation.