Just Breath
Post election - can we breathe yet? Most of you know I am, by political nature, a social conservative. I believe in the power of the individual rather than the power of the institution. I wasn't always that way however. Back in 2008 I worked on Barack Obama's campaign team. I was a card carrying member of the Huntington Beach Democratic Society. Dad took me out there on a business trip and while he worked all day I handed out fliers on the beach and passed out free "Hope/Change" stickers.
I had hope then that our system of Gov't could change and that Mr. Obama was the one to begin that process. But that was back before I became a Christian. I didn't know the differences in Biblical Christianity and political policyToday a New Message
Four years later we're re-electing the most anti-Christian president in our modern history. In “Audacity of Hope” he writes: “I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.” The quote comes from page 261 of the paperback edition of “The Audacity of Hope.. I had hope four years ago and I had hope in this election too. But now I'm faced to reassess my view of America, politics, our future and the Church knowing what true Islam stands for. Take this passage from the Koran for example:
“O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.” (Sura 5, verse 51).
God's Word
In the Bible there is a clear side of life: 1) Righteous 2) Unrighteous. On the side of righteousness are those who put there faith and trust in the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus. Out of that trust comes an obedience to His commands for "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments." (1 John 2:3) The second are the unrighteous, "The one who says, 'I have come to know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4)
Let us not be fooled into thinking that this president is anything other than a deceiver. He openly promotes the godless act of killing children, quote, "But if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby." The context of that statement was in regards to the hypothetical question of him allowing his daughters to get an abortion. This conversation alone should have had us screaming for his impeachment but it is obvious that we have lost our respect for human life as well as respect for God's Word. For if you believe in a Sovereign Creator than you believe he makes no, "mistakes" when it comes to a child's life. Fiscal responsibility is a Biblical issue as well. Our current administration has added more debt than nearly all of the past presidents combined. What we have failed to even realize is that most of it has gone to special interest groups who've either gone under, sent their money overseas or have wasted that money creating zero jobs here in America.
The Future
So what does this all mean for me? I'm a federally convicted felon who has forfeited his right to vote. But I'm not talking politics here - I'm talking fundamental Christianity that lines itself up with the Bible and not popular opinion. I take the Bible in its entirety, not just the mushy parts that fit my agenda or hold sway with popular opinion. With that said.We must take a step back and assess the situation with the view in mind that the only hope we have is in Christ, His bride the Church and readiness for when the end draws near. I have decided that this election has shown one thing so clearly and that is Barack Obama and the American populace are furthering the outcome God has already told us would happen (1 Timothy 3:1-7).
Obedience to Authority
Jesus said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's" and 2 apostles in their letters implored us to obey all authority. So we mustn't "buy guns, canned food, gold, land and disappear into the mountains" as I heard one guy say.
We must obey the authority of this President and do our best to treat him with love, compassion and pray for his salvation and right leadership. In sum, we must give him - like it or not - our very best.
The Scriptures are clear, we must preach Jesus and His return while we have today; we have no other task as important as this. Politics, partisan bickering and slander must give way to Biblical truths. We must awaken people's hearts to Jesus and Him crucified helping people to understand that the actions they take, whether popular or not, have a consequence. "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another..." (1 John 1:6-7)
Move Forward
This is not a time to cover ourselves in sackcloth and ashes while mourning the plight of America. We mustn't weep and wail at the thought of what the President might do. That should not be our focus. We already know the outcome, we already know what's going to happen to this world (which, by the way, is not our home!). One mere man will not stop the progress of God. What we must take into account is that this loving Creator has told us to do one thing and do it well: Obey Jesus Christ. That means speaking the truth in love, obeying authority, caring for the poor and the sick, preaching repentance and salvation, and offering our lives for the sake of the Church.
If we veer from that path, we are in danger of missing out on the whole point of our lives here on this earth. And no president can interfere with the mission of bringing Jesus to light.
