Tuesday, November 4, 2008, was a defining moment for our nation as Barack Obama was elected to be the 44th President of the United States of America. Regardless of whether you agree with his policies, President Elect Obama has made history as the first African American to ever hold the highest office in the USA. This presidency has the potential to help heal the racial divide that still exists in our nation today.
If you’re like me, you’re glad the Presidential Election is over. Even if your favored candidate was not elected, you’re ready to move on. By the time November 4th had rolled around, I was extremely tired of the calls, letters and emails, both from the campaign trail as well as individuals lobbying for their favorite candidate.
I remember several years ago, a new administration had taken over the White House, and I was quite frustrated with its direction. I began airing my negative opinions to a friend. I was being quite brutal toward our nation’s President. My friend listened as I slammed our governmental authorities. After a few moments, he looked at me and said, “Danny, I’m surprised at your attitude.”
“Why?”, I asked. “You mean to tell me that you agree with the President?”, I continued.
“I may not agree with him, but I don’t have the right to question God.”, he replied.
“Question God? I’m not questioning God. I just think the guy is an idiot!”, I said.
“Danny, don’t you know that God ordains the government and appoints the leaders that rule over us? You should pray for your president, not gossip about him!”, he said.
I was so humiliated. All of a sudden, I was looking in a mirror and repulsed by my reflection. I saw a gossip. I saw someone who had become a part of the problem and not the solution. I saw a very ungodly person. I spent time in prayer and read Romans 13:1-2.
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” -Romans 13:1-2
Recently, my pastor preached a sermon entitled, “Rethink Freedom.” He challenged us to rethink our perspective on the freedom that has been given to us by God as well as the freedom afforded to us by our government. To some, the message was both timely and right on target. But, to a few the message was a bit controversial and it made them uncomfortable. In today’s culture, anytime you mix politics and religion you’re asking for trouble.
At the end of his sermon, my pastor challenged each of us to write a letter of prayer to God, asking him to forgive our sin and heal our divided nation. Once the prayers were written, he invited us to make our way forward, onto the stage, and post them onto the back wall. The picture below was taken immediately following one of our worship services. It was quite a powerful experience that gave us a new perspective on both freedom and the government.
Over the last several years the United States has become the “Divided States”. A great chasm has gradually formed among the people of the USA. In our quest to preserve liberty and in our search for individualism, we’ve somehow managed to alienate one another politically, socially, ethnically, culturally, and spiritually.
How do we repair this break? How do we become the United States instead of the “Divided States”? Is it even possible?
My friend Carlos recently wrote a blog entitled, “Purple People.” In his blog, Carlos used humor to make the point that we should stop trying to be “Red States” or “Blue States.” Instead, we should come together and be “Purple States”. It’s really a profound message!
Remember that song, Come Together, by the Beatles? The lyrics are a bit “out there” but the overall message of the song was one of unity. It served as a battle-cry for a generation that had become quite divided politically.
The United States of America needs to “Come Together.” Scripture is clear that only one thing can unite our land; that one thing is God.
“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” -2 Chronicles 7:14-15
So, where do we begin? We must take an introspective journey into our own lives and hearts. We must ask God to reveal the areas that are ungodly. We must confess these things and then ask God to help us turn from them.
Unity and healing of our land doesn’t begin with who is on the throne in the White House. It begins with who is on the throne of our own individual lives. So, I ask, is God on the throne? Or, are you? Do you gossip about your leaders or do you pray for them? Do you trust that God has appointed the government and allows them to serve at this particular moment in time to fulfill His purpose?
Trust God to be God. Remember that He is in control of time and history. He has a perfect plan; His plan, not our plan.
Amen Danny! I feel the same way. I’m glad it’s over, now let’s get to work and back the man WE elected. If we voted in the system, somehow we believe in the system and the God who created it so it’s not over, it’s just the beginning of this particular season. I love new seasons. They bring change and stir things up a bit in our complacent lives. I love newness and freshness. New perspectives, new challenges, new horizons. What’s next for our country is in God’s hands and he happens to have an african american at the helm.
Yes it’s history, but history is exactly that. Let’s look forward and Come Together like Carlos said. As christian americans we have a responsibility (not a right!) to support our government, so let’s do it!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 – 06:56 AM
As a African-American who grew up in the 60’s, in the segregated south, it is a great honor to witness America voting and electing a African-American to the highest office in America. In the early years pastors used the pulpit to fuel hate and encourage the separation of people. I image alot of Black americans are singing “Aint no stopping us now” by Ray Goodman and Brown. Not that with a Barack in office, things will be better for African-American but that the country is moving forward, work still to be done, but the fathers of the past or not the fathers of the future. Politically, socially, ethically, culturally, and spiritually we are moving as a people. yes some voted for a change not caring if a black person was the one they were casting their vote for, and some voted because it was there turn to vote and maybe put a African-American in office. Overall we have to give glory to God for he is the master planner, the one who put things in our heart that move us in this world. Regardless, win or lose, we will move on as better country and people. Alot of people black and white died to see this day, let us pray for them and for our new leader.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 – 11:45 AM
My issue with Obama was never about what color his skin is or isn’t. I could care less if he is black, white, hispanic or whatever. My issue and disagreement with him is over what he represents and stands for–like partial birth abortion, connections to dangerous people, gun control, liberal agendas, and the list goes on. I believe it is wrong for Christians not to stand up against such evil influences–especially when he wants to lead our nation. So I’m not happy to have such a misguided man as our nations president. I will recognize him a president and pray for him, but I definitely will not agree to accept his liberal ways.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 – 11:59 AM
Can we come together? Sure! We’ve came together as a nation on September 11, 2001 and in August of 2005. Why does it take a great tragedy for people to turn to God and come together. You’re exactly right. God is who brings us together, because it seem the only time we come together is when we turn to God durring a contastrophe.
At times i’m feel a shamed to be a Christian, a shamed of Christianity, and often feel that a lot of Christians should be a shamed of their selves as well. I say this in a sense that us Christians aren’t living and representing Christ according to His will, therefor I should be a shamed of myself for that. We should shame ourselves for acknowledging us as Christians. We should shame ourselves for our salvation, knowing the sacrifice One made for us, and we take it for granted. We take it for granted because we acknowledge Him as everything except for who he really is. We tie Him into politics, and use scripture to convince others that Christ is a conservative. Or we share the Gospel and minister not for the soul purpose of winning souls, but promote our churches and add to the number of attendance.
Many preachers can be very pursuasive at times. From my own personal experience, they can preach a sermon on politics in order to convict you to vote for a certain party. I use to get many emails, nasty things said to me from my brothers and sisters in Christ because I didn’t vote for Bush. Big deal! Cry a river, build a bridge and get over it. It comes to find out that us Christians can be more republicans or democrats than Christians.
Okay, we have a black president. You know what, I don’t think it should be a big deal! Since it is, that shows us how far apart and divided our country is, and has been. As the pulpit preaches, our country is built upon God. If that’s the case and our For Fathers excersised Christian Faith on our countries foundation, then the day when an African American becomes the President of the United States shouldn’t become a big part of our nations history. I know that’s not a rational statement, but as far as Christianity goes, it should be. Us Christians have to get it together quick. Christianity is divided, and that’s why we’re losing our country’s hope in us.
We are so divided by religion first and foremost. If our religion is based of the ONLY doctrine called the Bible, then what’s all the discrimination about?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 – 02:27 AM