Monday, November 3, 2008

My Perspective: Election '08


This year's election has been one of the most heated America has ever seen, and with the media discussing the election 24/7, election ads running on television and being sent both in the mail and through e-mail, as well as some pastors even being so bold as to proclaim from the pulpit the candidate they support, many Christians are struggling over who they should vote for tomorrow when the polls open. The question being asked across the board seems to be: What is the Christian way to vote? And many authors and televangelists are quick to offer their responses. For this reason, I would like to make just a short note concerning this year's elections and attempt to offer a reality check as to what a Christian's priorities ought to be concerning politics.

The bottom line is, it isn't our job as Christians to change the world through politics. Just look at the government Israel was under in the New Testament - believe it or not, Rome was far worse than anything we're facing today. Yet Jesus still never once told his disciples to overthrow the government and establish a new, more biblical one. That being said, it's still good to do what we can to keep our country from declining morally even more than it already has. But rather than throw my support behind a particular candidate (as I'm not particularly impressed with any of them, Democrat, Republican, or Independent), I'm proposing a different focus. I propose that we as Christians pray not for change in Washington, but for salvation in Washington. Pray that whoever wins the elections on November 4th will come to know Christ, and that He will change him into a man after His own heart - that would be a far better influence than simply voting for whoever you deem to be the "lesser of evils" out of the current pool of candidates.

In Christ's Love,
Matthew

Pray for Salvation in Washington

2 comments:

Red Letter Believers said...

Great post...i agree. Government will not save us!

www.redletterbelievers.com

Matthew said...

Certainly not... and it was never intended to! Yet don't you find it interesting how so many Christians get so worked up over the elections? I mean, it's as if for 6 months or so leading up to the elections we all forget that it is God who establishes kings upon their thrones (i.e. not us), and that it is all according to His plan and for His purposes. I really think that we as Christians all need to just take a deep breath and a step back and realize that, contrary to what the media might lead us to believe, it isn't up to us.

In Christ,
Matthew

The Way of the Master