My Thoughts on the Election
I am still in South Asia (thus the sparce blog updates). I plan to return tomorrow.
Well, it's over and Barack Obama is our new president. As you (at the Summit Church) know, I have refrained from giving public support, either explicit or implicit, to either candidate. As I have explained before, I have chosen not to do that--not because I don't believe the Christian worldview applies to politics or because I don't think Christians should be in politics (they very much should!). It is just that God has called me to the preaching of the Gospel and the leading of a local church. As a pastor, I represent a Gospel community and that one identifying mark must remain crystal clear to the community I am seeking to reach. If I obscure that one thing with the overtones of political partisanship--even if it's good politics--I will have failed to live according to the mission God has given to me for now. Personally, I have to say no to many good things that would keep me from the fulfilling the one thing I have been given to do.
I do not intend to renege on that commitment here. What I do want to do is make the following observations concerning our role as Christians in the culture in light of this election:
2. Politics aside, I rejoice that our nation has elected an African-American man as president. In a nation scarred with the hideous sin of slavery, it marks an important milestone of healing in our country.
3. There will be a peaceable transfer of power, even though opinions on how to govern are at a fever pitch. Being here in S. Asia makes me realize just how rare that is in the world. That is a blessing we probably take for granted.
4. Abortion is an horrific practice, which, as John Piper says, "the true horrors of which are recognized by very few of us." It is an unmitigated slaughter of the weak, and a worse scourge on our country than was slavery--it is more evil, and just as racist (it affects more African-American children than others. 12 million murdered African-American children since Roe vs Wade in 1973!)
I am troubled by President Obama's stand on this issue, as up until now he has been the most pro-choice member of Congress and most pro-choice candidate to ever run for executive office. While I am grateful he is committed to reducing the number of abortions, I am troubled that he will not speak with conviction about the full humanity of the unborn baby and that he has pledged to ensure that the willful disposal of human life shall remain an option in our culture. I pray Obama will change his heart on this issue.
Abortion is something I believe we must unequivocally condemn as murder. For both those who voted and who did not vote for Obama, we must pray and work to bless our country by bringing an end to this great tragedy. Ending abortion will include not only seeking justice and legal protection by law for those who cannot protect themselves, but also praying for our leaders; working to end the poverty that sometimes makes abortion seem like a good alternative; being clear on the immorality of the pratice; loving and sharing the forgiveness of Jesus with those who have had an abortion; offering hope to those who are considering abortion; and being involved in adoption. You can be involved right here locally, through our church and our partner, Pregnancy Support Services. For more info, click here.
5. Our citizenship as Christians is not ultimately in the United States of America, but in heaven. Our hopes and our loyalties lie first and foremost there.
The work of the Gospel is not dependent on who is in office. I love our country and I desire her peace and prosperity. But I care more about the spread of the Gospel, and my first prayer about this election has been that it will result in the spiritual prosperity of the churches in America and the promulgation of the healing Gospel of Jesus into all the world. Paul told us to pray for freedom of speech (1 Tim 2:1-4) that we might freely teach the Gospel. Jeremiah tells us to pray for the prosperity of our city (Jer 29:7), which also contributes to the preaching of the Gospel. I pray for both continued freedom in our country and prosperity, not just as ends unto themselves, but as means to spread the Gospel. Ultimately, because I am a citizen of heaven it is the spread of the Gospel to which I am most committed. God promises that, to that end, He that begun a good work in us will complete it regardless of who is in office (Philippians 1:6).
If you are one of the ones that was discouraged by this election, don't be. Our true King is always on the throne and His purposes He promises will go ever forward.
A much more eloquent and insightful articulation of these points and many others can be found here, by John Piper. While there are some things in his analysis I might have said differently, or maybe not have said at all, it is full of biblical wisdom. (I love the statement he makes right toward the end: "Christians sometimes talk as if God will judge us as a country if we elect a President who supports gay marriage and abortion. Those things are the judgment of God." Our country's greatest need is not new laws, but to return to humility before God. Church, we must pray that our nation comes back to Jesus so that we might be delivered from these judgments. Abortion alone has been a sign of judgment to us that we must return to Jesus, and that starts first in the church.)
I have turned the "comments" function on this blog off, because I do not wish for this to become a political forum. Thanks for respecting that (i.e. don't wait until I post something else tomorrow and then post your comment under that.)
Now, church, let's get on with our work of preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and bringing the healing of Jesus in every nation on earth, starting in RDU.
