QUALIFICATION: I don’t care who you voted for. I didn’t (on principle) and DON’T vote (someday I’ll explain my theological reasons why…yes…such reasons actually exist). My own family was torn between the two candidates. And if I were to vote, I could have easily voted for one on Monday and changed my mind for the other on Tuesday. Truth is…I like both of them. Qualification now over.
The election is over and Barack Obama has won!!! Given the amount of “Christian crap” I heard prior to the election about Barack Obama and what this would mean for the country, the church, and the end times (seriously)…I’m curious how the church (specifically the white evangelical side of it) will now respond.
I remember months ago driving in the car with a fellow Pastor to lunch (that is what we do 
) and he let me know his great concern about Obama winning the election. He was concerned that we had turned so far in this country that we would actually vote for a Muslim to be the President. I interrupted him and said that Barack Obama wasn’t a Muslim. He insisted that he was, and further, it was a fact that he was sworn in on the Koran when taking his oath to enter the Senate. I again protested that neither was true. He insisted that it was, that he received it via e-mail from a very knowledgeable and reliable Christian source. In the end, I don’t think I convinced him, and his last warning to me was that I shouldn’t put it past him to be a closet Muslim who will come out once elected!!! [I did not make this story up.]
Prior to this election, I received A TON of e-mails (mostly forwarded), letters, faxes to the church, and messages of concern as to what would happen if Barack Obama were elected. More than at any other time I could remember. And most of the e-mails and messages were outrageous in regards to accusation, tone, and fear-mongering. And most were in defense of Christianity!
It has been disappointing to hear that Christian radio stations like WFRN after airing a Barack advertisement (which they are required to by law) would follow it up immediately with an apology from the President of WFRN to all their Christian listeners. WOW!! That gives me a rash.
It seems to me that when it comes to the New Testament’s teaching about gossip, slander, false accusations, etc. that somehow we have read it to mean that it applies to all with one major exception – POLITICIANS. And for predominantly white evangelicals, the exception seems to be even more narrowed to politicians who happen to be on the Democratic ticket. They are fair game. And we can say whatever we want, forward whatever we want, propagate and pass on as fact a juicy tidbit that none of us really checked out but passed along because our Uncle Bob from Utah forwarded it to his entire e-mail list saying “according to Snopes this is true.” In essense, if someone is running for office, we can suspend Christian morality and ethics in speech and attitude because God never intended for it to apply to them.
Well…Obama won. And Christians are now having to play the reluctant “God is in charge” rhetoric (which I wonder if we would have to say if McCain had won). But the country is still watching. Specifically, the African-American community is watching. And I think our response to this election will have great impact on how a large (it now seems majority) segment of America will be able to hear anything we have to say again…
More to come.
FACTS, JUST FACTS, ONLY FACTS
FACTS THAT SHOULD SCARE EVERYONE
http://ngoldfarb.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/barack-obamas-boss-and-mentor-william-ayres-group-killed-more-people-than-the-kkk-klu-lux-klan/
I did vote on Tuesday and the candidate for whom I voted (although he was not the preferred nominee by any stretch) lost. And I agree with all that you have written here.
I do have major concerns about policies of an Obama administration based on a lot of factors. The concerns have nothing to do with race, but it has a lot to do with ideology. And while it takes much more time to dig out from bad public policy, the reality is that our system provides a means of remedying bad policy.
More central to the question for me is: How should I react going forward, now that the election has been settled?
Yesterday, I had a little bit of an epiphany. Rather than getting bitter and grousing about what may come from the new President, why not pray for him (as Paul directed first century Christians to pray for rulers, etc.) ? Why not remember that God is really in charge and can overwhelm even wicked rulers like Nebuchadnezzar (not that I am making a comparison to Mr. Obama) to accomplish His will for His people? Our hope is not in the Republican or the Democrat parties. Our hope in God and His Christ.
So, I vow to pray for Mr. Obama for wisdom in leading and success in doing right. And let the One who is at the highest pay grade be the one on whom I append all my hopes for the future.
And this is why I LOVE that you are my pastor!
I have been appalled at the racist, outright lies and exaggerations that have been forwarded to my email box from “concerned Christians”. I prayed daily about my vote, I researched the candidates and chose the one whose stance most closely matched the issues important to me. These emails only made me feel embarrassed for Christians in general (and we wonder why people call us hypocritical).
I have never understood how Christians (or any one for that matter) can justify forwarding hateful, fear enticing emails that say nothing about what truly matters and do not in any way reflect the example of Jesus.
Long before the election happened, I prayed that God would take control of the election and help our future President lead us in the right direction (whoever it ended up being). I’m not afraid of what might happen now that it’s all over, because I have faith in a big God. I know that he is and always has been in control.
There is so much I could say on this topic.
But I will merely comment that much of this banter reflects how Christianity has allowed a “Constantinian cataract” to cloud its vision.
I really enjoyed your veiw about this, over the past 12 years I’ve been a union carpenter, and living in south bend since 1992 .worked non union and union, pros & cons either way. I will do anything to feed my family , But i support canidates who support the hard workers of this counrty! Thanks again
Honestly, I disagree with a lot of what you said.
However, I’m with you 100% on your statements “The country is still watching.” and “More to come.”
Time will tell. I HOPE it proves all my thoughts and opinions wrong. I hope Obama is all the wonderful things that people believe he is. I hope he’s the best president we’ve ever had.
And whether he is or isn’t… there is NO reluctancy in my voice when I say, “God is still in charge!”
Be careful, it’s all connected.
Americans voluntarily join the military in the United States to defend our freedoms with their lives if necessary. Their sacrifice and dedication allow our Constitution to exist.
Consider the First Amendment –
Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Not voting seems wrong to me. It’s my right and privilege as an American citizen. Knowing there are troops throughout history and all over the world fighting for that right to choose the leadership of this country, the idea of not voting seems disrespectful. When I hear that people don’t vote for one reason or another, it surprises me. In this case, when your job and purpose in life is directly involved, ignoring a responsibility and admitting it as a leader in the community is interesting to say the least.
I prayed about my decision on who to vote for. I watched the debates and discussed the candidates with my peers. I feel confident in who I voted for. I did not vote for the person I voted for based on his religious belief because, as much as that matters to me and my family, it doesn’t, necessarily, matter to what will be good for the country.
The reason that I voted for who I voted for is because I believe he will do what is best for the country as a whole and it is an added bonus that he just happens to be a Christian, which in my opinion benefits me and my family further.
Yes, Barack Obama was taught the muslim belief when he was a child. But see, I was raised by an Aethist, that doesn’t mean that I am an Aethist. Just like Obama, I was not given any other option as a child. As a young adult I was able to make my decision to follow Christ. Obama now follows the Christian faith. So, Obama is just as much Muslim as I am Aethist.
One more note, my family and I no longer listen to WFRN because of those side notes from the president of the station stating that they are forced to air Obama’s ads. Just because you are a Christian does not mean that you have to be a Republican and just because you are a Democrat does not mean that you aren’t a Christian! We were greatly offended by this side note airing every time an Obama ad ran.
Dana- you’ll have to explain the connection because I didn’t get it. I wasn’t making a constitutional argument asking the government to change anything in regards to its citizens having the freedom to express themselves in religion, press, or expression. I was making a moral argument about Christians who seem to so freely pass around information regardless of its false, gossipy, or misleading character. Is it not possible to slander a politician? To gossip about a politician? To falsely accuse a politician? (e.g., he is really a muslim who was sworn in on the Koran.) And are we to say that the constitution frees us as Christians from acting according to the ways of Jesus (which I know you aren’t saying…right?)
That’s OK if not voting seems wrong to you. You’ve never heard my reasons. And it is your right and privilege as an American citizen. Nor am I saying that people shouldn’t vote. My wife and every other member of my family voted and I don’t consider them less Christians because of it.
I do not see voting as my responsibility but as my right. And I choose to exercise my right on principle (something the constitution gives me the right to do as well) and do so knowing it isn’t a lack of interest, laziness, didn’t have time, etc. So I don’t “ignore my responsibility” – I exercise my rights…very specifically because I’m a leader, not just of any community, but the community of Jesus who has an entirely different allegiance than any nationalistic, or partisan party.
I agree with the Bishop.
I keep remembering that scene where the kingdoms collide. Where Jesus, representing the kingdom of God meets with Pilate, representing the kingdom of Rome. What Jesus does in that moment is very simple — he speaks truth to power.
I think our responsibility as followers of his is simple, we are called to speak truth to power as well. Not just vote to try and choose who has power, (which is a basic right and I would agree, moral responsibility) but also, to hold them accountable for how they wield that power. To remind them, that power is a privelege meant to benefit those they have power over. To remember as we do that, as Jesus said, “[they] would not have have any power over [us] if it were not given to [them] from above.” (this does not mean I believe God chose Obama to be president, but I do believe he made it possible for Obama to be elected as president)
As Christians, I believe we fail miserably on that account. And no matter WHO gets elected, that should continue to be our responsibility as his followers.
Sam! Sam! Sam! I AGREE that there were lots of falsehoods out there about Mr Obama. However there was enough questions about the factual record of his associations , about his policy record as the most Liberal Senator in the congress or his Razor thin Resume that any Christian Black, White or Yellow should have been a bit nauseated to vote for him. I hope he is The man he changed into for the election and not the one hes been his whole adult life till then.
As for the implications concerning the end times, It concerns me that if you believe there is or will be an ” Antichrist ” you can really see how almost the entire world will worship him just by watching how people react when Mr. Obama speaks. He almost convinced me to vote for him and I disagree with just about eveything he stands for. He almost made a Obamabot out of me.
Mark! Mark! Mark! If you AGREE that there were a lot of falsehoods out there about Mr Obama…then that is it. That was my only point. I never said one can’t ask questions about his record. It is purely an issue of Christians acting in the manner of Christ and speaking truthfully…even if one doesn’t vote for Mr. Obama.