Thoughts on the Election

I was determined not to say anything about the election. In a previous post (January 26, 2007, see archives), I told about how I didn’t want this blog to be a political diatribe, and about how I felt about Who is really in charge. Yet, as the evening ended on November 4, I felt that our Lord wanted me to say something, so I slept on it.

In the morning, I still felt that there was something God wanted to say to me, and in turn, to say to my readers. I didn’t know what.

That morning, as I finished my Bible reading (coincidentally, Romans, chapter 13), I noticed a copy of the MBU Magazine that had just arrived in the previous day’s mail. Looking inside, I quickly found an article that told how MBU (Missouri Baptist University) alum, Ray Bisher had received an unexpected visit from then presidential hopeful, Barack Obama.

I was particularly struck by this article, as Mr. Bisher and myself have several things in common. First, he is a brother in the Lord. Also, in addition to being an alumnus of MBU, he is a retired Police officer. So there are three things we have in common.

Mr. Bisher was a patient at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis at the time of the visit, and is pictured in the article laying in his hospital bed at the time that Mr. Obama stopped in to see him. The article went on to say:

"Despite his politically conservative views, Bisher says . . . ‘I plan to encourage him to ask God for wisdom and willingness to make the hard choices that are in the best interest of the United States if he becomes president.’
Bisher said that he even intends to support Obama through his prayers--just, perhaps, not by way of his voting ballot [that makes four things we have in common].
[Bisher said] ‘. . . I would [pray] that God would give him the wisdom to make the right decisions for my country-- the same as I would wish for any president.’ "

And there you have it! Paul said it this way:

"Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for . . . all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity." (2 Timothy 2:1-2. NLT)

This I resolve to do, and I hope you will too.

There is one other thing that got my attention during this last political season (besides the obscene amount of money that all of the candidates spent getting elected). That is how many Christian people there are that are putting their trust in politics to give us a better world!

Now don’t get me wrong. We are obligated to participate in the political process. In the United States, "government ‘r us", so we are particularly obligated as Christians to participate. Yet, we know, or at least we should, that God is sovereign over the political affairs of men, and He should be the One we look to.

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2. NLT)

So let us seek to not think as the world thinks, but to let Christ teach us to think as He thinks, regarding all things, and particularly in these matters.

Thanks for sharing this moment with me today.