Mea Culpa

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

Ugg…sometimes I hate when my dad is right, which is pretty often…okay, almost all the time.

You see, I have found myself to be very worked up about the election. Yeah, you might have noticed that an tiny bit. :) Not because I thought McCain was better than Obama (see earlier posts), but because of the abortion issue. To be dramatic about it…it hurts my heart. The idea of so many people being without regard for human life floors me.

The knowledge that come January we will have a President that isn’t just pro-choice, but is PRO-abortion, was painful to me. As someone wrote, “Our next president has the most liberal views and voting record on abortion of any president in American history. As a state senator in Illinois, he led opposition three years in a row (2001-2003) to a bill similar to the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which prevents the killing of babies unintentionally left alive by abortions. He also opposed the ban on partial-birth abortion and strongly disapproved of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the partial-birth ban. He also voted to block a bill that would have required a doctor to notify at least one parent before performing an abortion on a minor from another state. He does not support the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding of abortion through Medicaid. Before a Planned Parenthood Action Fund last year, Obama promised to give first priority as president to the signing of the Freedom of Choice Act, which would make partial-birth abortion legal again. Strangely, Obama even once said he would not want his daughters to be "punished with a baby" caused by an unwanted pregnancy. With the next president likely adding two justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, it is clear that as president, Obama would appoint and support the most liberal judges and legal eagles, resulting in a pro-abortion advantage in our courts that would push abortion liberties to every extent of the law and land.”

To see church member’s status updates on Facebook touting how wonderful it was that he was elected shocked me. On some level I understand their excitement, and that this is history making in our time, but I couldn’t help wondering if they understood who this man is that they are excited about. Yes, he is the first black president, which is amazing…but his stance on abortion alone should have brethren disgusted to their gut!

So, there I was writhing with indignation and confusion, and then I talked to my dad. Leave it to the daddy to put things in perspective. He said, “We are NOT of this world! We are not to be involved or worry about the things of this world. We are called out, and need to act like it.”

As simple as that. Whether or not Obama is the president is not something we need to worry about. Worry is for people that do not trust in God. Just as we need to make sure that we are not being deceived into taking too much interest, or placing too much value on someone of any race being president.

I was allowing myself to get worked up and fooled by Satan. I was so upset about the abortion issue that I started to worry, and that is not right. This is not our world, and we are to be striving for the Kingdom. I am sorry that I got so caught up in the moment that I forgot that God’s will was being done. God knows that Obama is pro-abortion, and he was elected anyway. God has a plan for all mankind, innocent babies included. They will have their chance, just as all people will.

I needed to be concentrating on the coming Kingdom and a lot less on the things of this world. I pray I don’t forget this lesson. I could have gotten through this period in our history with a way better attitude and I feel like I squandered it a bit. Sigh.

We live to learn, right?

My friend Stacey also pointed out that when she gets caught up in the moment and things that are happening in her life she thinks of Peter’s conversation with Christ about John’s future. Christ told Peter, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” We are to follow Him regardless of anyone else’s doings or goings on. Our place is in the Kingdom of God, not this world.

I will be praying fervently for our president-elect Obama, as we are commanded to do. That God might reveal to him the truth about abortion, but also that he might be given the wisdom to lead our country forward. He is going to need all prayers he can get, if this article called President Elect Obama’s Honeymoon In A Hurricane is anything to go by.

Some other things of interest:

Aaron Booth pointed out this really great article called Does God Ever Determine Election Outcomes.

This is from the church’s study paper on Voting and Involvement in Politics.

Colossians 1:12-13: “Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”

The Greek for “conveyed” (methistemi) means “‘to change,’ remove (meta, implying ‘change,’ histemi, ‘to cause to stand’), is rendered ‘hath translated’ in Col 1:13” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, “translate, translation,” 1985). Formerly we may have supported a candidate who chose to run for elective office as president. Now we support the Candidate of the Kingdom of God. Christians are not alone in switching to another candidate and party. Politicians switch to another political party when they become disenchanted with the beliefs and practices of the first party. They no longer give their allegiance to or support the first party. That’s what a Christian does.

There are many things that can preoccupy our minds and even become divisive elements in God’s Church. Secular political systems can easily cause one to be mindful of the things of men. Church unity concerns the things of God and is of primary importance. God has called us to be part of His Church and His government.

I Corinthians 14:33: “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the
churches of the saints.”...

Does it make sense to give voting support to a political leader whose “faith-based” programs oppose those of God’s Church? For instance, both Democrats and Republicans have official organizations that support the gay lifestyle—National Stonewall Democrats and Log Cabin Republicans. What political fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness (2 Corinthians 6:14)? It seems as though for every positive political view there is one or more views contrary to God’s way of life. A vote for a politician is applied toward everything he endorses, despite the voter’s preference.

Verses that caught my attention:

Hebrews 11:13-16: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

I Timothy 2:1-2: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence"

John 18:36: “‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’”