Presidential Election

Barack Obama, and our hope
Today Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. I didn’t vote for him, and I disagree with him on many issues. This being said, he is my president and I will pray for him, and I pray he will be the greatest president our great country has ever had. No matter what anyone’s opinion is of the man, one thing is undeniable. Barack Obama has inspired a nation, and a world. Today was a day of hope for all Americans, and peoples all over the world. Hope is a good thing, hope is a great thing, but we must be very careful where we place that hope. Barack Obama is not the savior of America or the World, Jesus Christ is. Barack Obama will not bring America or the World peace. One day Jesus Christ will. As I watched the inauguration ceremony, and the festivities that followed today I noticed the excitement, the sense of confidence, hope, and faith that the people had in this man, and I couldn’t help but wonder, what if those people had those feelings towards Jesus. How great a place this would truly be. It made my heart sad, that so many are so willing to place that much hope and trust in a man, but not in God. Again, hope is a good thing, but please be careful where you place that hope.

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” Psalm 118:8-9
“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.” Psalm 146:3
“Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord…Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:5, 7-8

Faith in Politics

So many times in politics I’ve heard a politician say something like,”Well thats my belief, but I can’t let my beliefs, or my faith determine my policy.” My answer is..why not?!?!

If you are a person of faith, and your faith does not determine who you are, how you think, what you do..is that faith? If your beliefs and faith does not effect your policies, and how you govern. Then those aren’t really beliefs. That isn’t faith. It may be an ideal, but that is different from faith and really believing in something.

One of the candidates in this presidential election is a self professed christian. It almost seems to me like he has played the “religion card” in order to appeal to the evangelical christian voter. The problem is this candidate supports abortion. He has talked about how people cling to “religion and guns”. He has also made the case that christians ought not to argue their points based on what the bible says.

As a christian, what is more important than what the bible says? I do agree we shouldn’t cling to “religion”, but we must cling to Christ and our God. No Christian should be able to support abortion rights with a good conscience. The Bible is clear that life begins in the womb. I happen to believe the scientific definition of life supports this view as well.

The other candidate, ironically within a party that is typically the more “religious” of the two. Has not done a lot to tout his own faith. He has refused to use this religion card to appeal to the voters. I respect that. I believe this man to be a man of faith, but I respect the fact that he hasn’t used his religion to try to win votes. To what extent his faith plays into his public policies, I cant say. But I can say that he hasn’t tried to play that card.

I do pray that God would strengthen his faith, as I pray the same for his opponent. I pray that both candidates would turn to God, and rely on His wisdom and guidance, both in this election, and as they govern and determine policy. I also pray that if either candidate is not saved, that God would save their souls and fill them with His Spirit.

God bless America!