The End of the Trail

The Campaign Trail has certainly been trod upon heavily this past year, its dust kicked up all over the place so that scarcely a single American can see two feet in front of himself. Indeed, quite a few of have breathed in one too many dust clouds and are hacking to the point of doubling over. It is just too thick. However, if we can squint hard enough, peering in the right direction through the rhetoric haze, we see what must be a mirage. No, no, it is. A small sign reading, End of Trail. I think we'll make it.



This whole Presidential race leading up to the November 2008 vote has been frought with emotional frenzy. Everyone is either bubbling over with excitement or mad as blazes. On 20/20 a couple weeks ago, John Stossel was doing a piece on all of the bordering-on-ridiculous things that canditates and their followers say. No wonder, he said, that we become so quickly disenchanted with them during their terms, when they don't live up to the completely unrealistic expectations that they have put upon themselves. They'll bring freedom back to America. They'll make us secure. They'll pave the way for prosperity to return to this great nation that has lost it because of the previous President. It really was funny. But it would have been funnier if I hadn't known in the back of my mind that so many Americans were falling prey to these "lofty" ideas and promises. The question is, then, what can we expect of a single person in a position of power? Can one person make us safe or feel more secure? Can we blame them personally, wholeheartedly, feeling justified, when the price of gas goes up or the economy fails or a terrorist strikes? Is that our job? Is that the best use of our time?



In a nation where democracy has spoiled so many, it is hard to escape the constant ranting. So much of it is not profitable in any way. So what of the Christ follower? We don't expect society at large to behave in ways that reflect wisdom, though sometimes it does due to the influence of the Spirit of God in the world and in believers. But we are to be "transformed by the renewing of our minds." What does that mean as we seek to be involved in the political process- a true blessing and privilege- and let our voices be heard, while still representing Christ first and foremost?

The more I've learned over the years about history and the other world leaders of this generation, the more thankful I've become for our system of government. It really is remarkable that things have gone so well for so long. For all of the verbal fighting, our elections have been non-violent for a long time. We haven't seen any coups in the US or abusive dictators or facist tyrants bound by corrupt forces. Has there been corruption? Yes. Like there is in much of the world today? Not even close.

What I want to teach my children in this election year is that we need to be thankful for our government leaders and to respect them, whoever they are, for the position they hold. We can talk about issues and know the facts and agree or disagree, but in our house, we're going to honor people who God has set in authority. We may note that they have acted in a way that displeases God, if we're certain they've done that, and pray for a heart of repentence in them, for God to speak to them clearly and work through them. But our trust is not in any man. Our faith will not be laid on the strength of our armed forces to protect us. Freedom is not granted foremost by people. We trust in the Name of the Lord our God. That's all. I heard Tony Evans and Irwin Lutzer both give sermon series this past month on these issues, and they both noted that there is not any political platform that fully encapsulates the agenda of God's Kingdom work. Nor any politician. This is why we ought not hang our allegiance so heavily on a political party, but rather should speak to the passions of God's heart, and if those overlap with political issues, so be it. That gave me clarity. The world and all that's in it is securely in his hand. He raises up leaders to bless his people, chastize his people, even judge them (dare I say it?)

I started writing this before election day, but now it is past. It was yesterday. Barack Obama will be our new president. He's very charismatic. He's our first African American president. It's a historic day, as everyone is aware. The Barna group said that the evangelical vote was split right down the middle almost. They said that many voting on the Democratic ticket who profess Christ were indeed pro-life, but thought that Obama was pro-life in ways besides the abortion issue. For instance, he was and is against the war in Iraq. I've also heard a Christian Obama supporter say that they thought Obama would save the lives of more babies by improving the lives (via better health care) of the poor and needy, so that more women would be willing to have their babies and not abort. Interesting thought. Anyway, I will not get into more issues. But we are at the end of the trail, and most of us are glad of that. There's a new trail just off in the distance a ways, and all of us Americans are getting over to its head. We'll pray for a straight path.