Just Do It!

When you are sick, it seems like the days just drag on and on. The worse you feel, the slower time passes. In a way, America has been suffering from the election flu. The Election Flu season started about 100 years ago (or so it seems) and keeps getting worse and worse. But, hope is just around the corner.

Tuesday, November 4th is election day. That's right, it is time for us to get off of our "sick" beds and go to vote. The prediction I heard today was that 90% of the registered voters would vote. So expect long lines and be patient.

There have been two election related trends that have reared their ugly heads this year--both of which relate directly to the church. First, there was a national move to get pastor's to endores candidates from the pulpit. I don't believe that is appropriate. I believe that worship is a time we are to praise and glorify God. To talk partisan politics during worship shifts the focus from God to us--and that's just not right. Also, when a pastor speaks from the pulpit during a sermon, he or she is speaking on behalf of God. And personally, I don't think any pastor is knowledgible enough to say who God supports in any given election. The pastor is endorsing who he or she supports, but is then giving the supposed backing of God to that choice. Whether liberal or conservative, that isn't right.

Now, in response to that, some say that church and politics shouldn't mix. I disagree with that. I believe that the church has a role in educating the people about issues and encouraging them to vote. And when it comes to local, grass roots problems, we have an obligation to work with our neighbors to try and make our part of the city better--that means through politics. But it should always be issue oriented and never partisan.

The second trend I have noticed is forwarded e-mail that say to pray to God so that Candidate X will win (because we all know that all "good" Christians support Candidate X and God supports him/her too). The problem, of course, is that not all Christians support the same candidate and again, I can't pretend to know with certainty that God supports Candidate X. By praying for a specific candidate, I believe that we are potentially praying against the will of God! That's what happens if God just happens to support Candidate Y. And the idea that we are praying for something counter to the will of God bothers me.

Instead, I would encourage you to pray for wisdom, that you might fully know God's will. And then remember the words of the Lord's Prayer--"Thy Will Be Done". Pray that way. And then maybe you can pray that the Lord will use whomever we elect. That He will open their heart to his leading and that they (our elected leaders) might always focus on how we, as a nation, can be more Christ-like in how we govern our nation.

And the last thing to think about is the possibility that God doesn't support either candidate for office (or any of the 3rd party candidates, as well). God sees the big picture and is waiting for us to do the right thing--which is to seek his will and vote accordingly. And remember, no matter who wins on November 4th, God will still be God and we will be His children!