Decision '06

Today is election day here in the United States.  It is a wonderful thing to be able to choose our leaders freely.  The freedom is so great here in America that people are even free to not participate in electing their leaders. 

As I write this, I am getting ready to turn on the TV to start watching returns.  When this happens, I usually feel a bit of anxiety mixed with hope as I learn more about the outcome of this or that race.  I get excited about the implications of certain races and how it will affect which party has the majority, committee chairmanship, and general governance. 

Sometimes, its hard for me to go to sleep knowing that when I wake up, someone I like may loose and someone I dislike may win.  Kind of like Christmas as a double edged sword. 

Of late, the elections have elicited a lot of passion, particularly from the religous and anti-religous.  I recently wrote about a program Focus on the Family broadcast where the implication was made that God would judge America if we elected un-righteous leaders.  The thing that really bothers me about this is the hubris that is on display when we assume that God cares as much about politics as we do and in the way that we do. 

While I totally believe that God is interested in our decisions and does care about the corporate decisions of a nation, I get un-easy when we put our faith out like a political fleece.  Wet and God has blessed our country; dry and God will judge our country. 

You see, I don't believe our call as Christians in the political arena is to win.  It is, in my view, to be faithful.  If that is the case, what should our response be when we see politics going one way or another?  Should we wail and gnash our teeth because the unrighteous have prevailed?  What a childish, unredemptive response. 

Instead, I believe that our response should be the same regardless of which party or politician prevails.  I Tim 2:1-2 makes it clear:  pray for our elected officials, live as if your hope is in God not political parties, and seek to redeem our communities, nation and world. 

Here is the secret:  I made my decision years ago.  The decision to seek God above all else.  What we do in the meantime is as his agent of transformation and redemption in spite of all the circumstances.  Including elections.