Last night, President Barack Obama was re-elected as
President of the United States. As a
pastor, there are some observations I want to make about last night's election (Please read
through the entire piece before reaching any conclusions):
1.
God
Is Sovereign. Some (out of emotion)
spoke as if the world was going to end last night (who cares what the Mayan calendar
says awaits us in December). But for
believers, may we be comforted by the fact that what happened last night was
not an afterthought in the plan of God; He didn’t passively sit back and watch
it happen. No, he decreed it before the
world began. God didn’t relinquish one
ounce of His sovereign control last night.
Scripture is clear: “He (God) changes times and seasons; He removes kings
and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:21);
“But our God is in the heavens; He does
whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3);
“The king’s heart is a stream of water in
the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). Trusting in
God’s sovereignty means that even the results of last night’s presidential
election fits under the “all things” of Romans
11:36: “For FROM him and THROUGH him
and TO him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (emphasis added)
2.
President
Obama Is My President. While I did
not vote for President Obama, he, nonetheless, is my President today and (Lord
willing) for the next four years. I wish
Christians would learn to pray as much as we complain. No, I’m not talking about praying Psalm 109:8 (“May his days be few; may another take his office!”) for him. Do I think Christians have prayed for
President Obama over the past four years as much as they have complained about
him? Probably not. This is disobedience. Again, scripture is clear: “First of all, then, I urge that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all
people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a
peaceable and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
3.
I Am
Concerned For The Area In Which I Pastor.
Many of the jobs in the place I pastor are tied to the coal
industry. Shelley and I have friends,
neighbors and family members who depend on coal for their way of life. People in the congregation God has entrusted
to me depend on coal for their way of life.
They are filled with concern and fear for the future, not knowing if the
coal industry will survive in eastern Kentucky.
For them, I am praying for peace, strength and wisdom.
4.
America
Has Shifted Culturally. First, in last night’s election, two
states (Maryland and Maine) approved same-sex marriage via popular vote (we are
still awaiting Washington’s results because voters had to mail in their
votes). Supporters likened this issue to
segregation and racial hatred. To vote
against same-sex marriage (at least to them) is to be filled with hate, bigotry
and intolerance. Even President Obama
blasphemously used Jesus’ words when he came out in support of same-sex
marriage. However, this is an issue
scripture speaks clearly about. Do you
want to know what Jesus said about marriage?
You can find it in Matthew
19:1-12. Want to know what Paul said
about the sin of homosexuality? You can
find it in Romans 1; 1 Corinthians 6; and Galatians 5. Secondly,
the issue of abortion was front and center.
When Gov. Romney began cutting into President Obama’s lead among women,
the President’s campaign decided to make abortion a major issue, describing it
as a woman’s (not a baby’s) healthcare issue.
It wasn’t as if President Obama has been secret on where he stands on
this issue: He is without a doubt the most pro-abortion President this country
has ever seen. [To say one opposes
abortion yet supports the President is almost as logical as someone in the 1940’s
opposing the Holocaust yet supporting Hitler (this is just a historic parallel…I
am by no means calling President Obama Hitler)]. And with the possibility of appointing more
Supreme Court Justices in the next four years, the hope of overturning Roe v.
Wade seems like it is out of reach. Again,
scripture is clear about the taking of innocent life. Proverbs 6 says that God “hates…hands that
shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:17). The message was loud and clear: America has
shifted culturally.
5.
Christians
Run The Risk Of Looking Like Hypocrites Every Election Cycle. This hurts, but it undeniable. I say this for the following reasons…
- Many Christians are more passionate about winning an election than they are the gospel. That hurts, I know it does, but it is the truth nonetheless. As a pastor, it breaks my heart to hear Christians clearly articulate both candidates’ positions, debate them, and passionately defend them, when they can’t give you a clear presentation of the Gospel. They will passionately discuss abortion, taxes, marriage, the military, and foreign policy, but they can’t distinguish the difference between the Old and New Covenants, describe the doctrine of the Trinity, or articulate a biblical view of the atonement. Want to know if this is you (if you are a professing Christian)? Here’s how you can tell: Did you “debate” politics more in the past 4 weeks than you shared Jesus with others in the past 4 years? Did your heart hurt more last night that President Obama won or that over 2 billion people are on their way to Hell, having never heard the name “Jesus”?
- Many Christians don’t believe in Biblical Marriage; they just oppose same-sex marriage. It may shock you to know this: Just opposing same-sex marriage is NOT the same as supporting Biblical marriage. When the divorce rate among Christians in America is as high – and in some years higher – than the divorce rate of non-Christians, we look hypocritical to say we support biblical marriage by opposing same-sex marriage. Let me explain: when professing Christians marry, divorce over non-biblical issues (Remember that the only biblical grounds for divorce and remarriage is unrepentant adultery or desertion of an unbelieving spouse), and remarry, that is detrimental to biblical marriage – and it is sin. So, don’t be disillusioned to think you support biblical marriage by simply opposing same-sex marriage. It is impossible to support biblical marriage by condoning same-sex marriage, but it is also possible to oppose same-sex marriage and still not support biblical marriage.
- Christians must oppose abortion while offering forgiveness to those who have had an abortion. While we must defend the innocent life God has sovereignly placed in the womb, we must not forget about those who have had an abortion and are haunted by their sin. For some, every Christmas, every time the due date arrives on the calendar, and every time they think of their past action, they are filled with remorse, regret and sorrow, but when they look for forgiveness, they often hear Christians proclaim part of God’s truth: Abortion is sin. If we proclaim sin without offering grace and forgiveness, we have not proclaimed the gospel. Is abortion sin? Yes. Are people who have abortions sinners? Yes (as are we). Can they be forgiven? Yes, but only through the atoning work of Christ. Abortion is not the unforgiveable sin. The glory of the gospel is that God loved His enemies (cf. Romans 5:10) and sent Christ to die for sinners so that they, through repentance and faith, will be reconciled to God. Be sure to offer grace and forgiveness to others, especially those haunted by a past abortion.
As Christians, we must be clear on where we stand. But while we are clear, we must also be
consistent with scripture – all of scripture.
