Now What?

The election is over, and the American people have chosen our next president who is preparing to enter office in January.

What happens now is beyond our control. The extent of our control over who rules our nation ended once we cast our vote. Prior to that day, we had the opportunity to learn what each candidate believes on important moral issues, as well as their fiscal plans for our country. We learned about their backgrounds, their associations, and their mentors. At least we should have learned these things, but for many, the information either didn't get processed or was sloughed off as irrelevant and unimportant.

Decision-making requires knowledge, thought, and reasoning skills. Flippant decisions often result in dangerous consequences – consequences that may be impossible to change.

So what happened with all the information some media outlets reported on Barack Obama? It apparently fell by the wayside with approximately 52% of Americans who voted for Obama anyway. For those of us who understood what an Obama presidency could mean for our freedom and our nation as a whole, we mourned the election results.

Because of Obama’s support for immoral behaviors (such as abortion and homosexuality), and because of his Socialist ideals, America stands to lose a lot, perhaps even suffer – and that includes Christians. For these reasons, I mourn.

I have been chastised and ridiculed for my reaction to the election results. What has been overlooked is my expression of complete faith and trust in God no matter what happens. Prior to the election, the results were within our control. By casting a vote, we participated in a rare treat in this world's history - the power to have a say in what man (or woman) leads our nation and which men and women enact the laws of the land. But now that the votes have been counted and the winner declared, the consequences are beyond our control. What we can do, however, is follow God's instructions by

* Praying for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2). The purpose of those prayers is so that we may “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” If we know that a candidate’s beliefs may interfere with our ability to lead a quiet life with godliness, should we vote for him?

*Be subject to the governing authorities (Romans 13:1). We are to obey those in authority and the laws of our land unless they conflict with God’s law, which is supreme (Acts 5:29).

*Give what is due to those in authority: pay taxes, customs, fear, honor (Romans 13:7).

Following God’s guidelines does not conflict with our disappointment in who won the election, and mourning the impending consequences is not an excuse to be disobedient to God’s will.

Did God through His providence allow Obama to win the election? Possibly. Possibly not. Some argue that God does control who rules based on Romans 13:1: “For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” I do not believe this verse teaches that God appoints specific individuals to positions of authority anymore than he appoints specific individuals for salvation. In general, God has established ruling authorities and they are “appointed” by God in the same way Christians are “chosen” by God or “appointed” to eternal life.

However, God has raised rulers to accomplish His purposes – both to bless nations and to punish nations. Is it possible that Obama was allowed to come into a position of authority in order to punish our nation? Sure, it is. It’s not a far-fetched, hairbrained idea. If it’s happened in the past, and we believe God still works in the lives of men, why ridicule the notion that it could happen today? If you understand the consequences of rulers who support immoral behavior and promise to enact proven fiscally irresponsible policies, then you can understand how the next four years could spank every American. Dutch Sheets’ Ministries issued an interesting response to last week’s election results. He writes,

Was what happened Tuesday God's will? I am quite confident it was not.
America was offered a very clear choice between moving further toward protecting
the unborn or further away; between a Supreme Court that would move toward
honoring God, life and morality or away from it. The stakes couldn't have
been higher nor the cost greater. As a nation we put on blinders concerning
Barack Obama's background, associations, beliefs and practices, and set these
causes back years, possibly decades. And in doing so we took another step
away from God and His plans for America, and another step toward judgment.

God is in control. He’s also in control when we make poor decisions or sin. But we still suffer the consequences. Regardless of who wins a presidential election, God is in control, but can we not suffer the consequences if we make a poor decision? Again, Dutch Sheets writes,

Though I understand our reasons, we must be careful in our attempts to placate
our feelings and calm our fears through religious phrases like "God is still on
the throne" or "God has a plan". He was on His throne 35 years and 50
million babies ago. And He had a plan back then. The problem is, it
was us. I understand our reasons for waving high the banner of God's
sovereignty at times like these-it gives us hope. I will wave it, as
well. But please be careful with this. Too much emphasis on God's
sovereignty and we're worthless; too little and we're hopeless. Maybe we
should say, "we lost a critical battle but God will give us strategy to win the
war." Then find the strategy.

So what is the Christian’s strategy? While the Republican Party argues over whether or not to move further right or more to the center, we should be concentrating on moving closer to God and teaching others to do the same. “Conservative values” are not dead because of the actions of a political party. They are dead because of the hardness of peoples’ hearts.