The Election of President Barack Obama

By Pastor Gregg Matte

November 5, 2008

Just like you, I sat on the couch to watch the map I learned in grade school turn either blue or red.  Funny, how entertaining the media has made it all.  But the truth is the map symbolizes serious issues. 

The election map of 2008 left the majority in glee and others with a lurking fear of the direction of the US of A.  So if you are a bit shell-shocked wondering how we got here and what do we do now, read on…

How did we get here?

(1)  Over the last decades, government policy has stepped into theology.  The beginning of life and definition of marriage are theological issues, not political.  Therefore, they are more important than the policy decisions of energy, military, and taxation.  But just like in biblical days, many choose the contrary broad road on issues that God has spoken on.  God created the church, the family and government – but our country doesn’t want the church involved.  We redefine family and look to government as the lone savior – and here we sit.

(2)  The Builder generation (those over 65) has been America’s compass for Judeo-Christian values.  They saw the value of church and family.

Then the Baby Boomers moved from biblical values to “do your own thing” which included raising their kids to enjoy a lazy Sunday morning instead of church, removing prayer from school and Roe v. Wade.  

Enter Generation X (my crew).   We followed technology instead of the Lord, embraced sexual preferences, chose our own morals, and lived by a “whatever you believe is right is up to you” mentality.  We now raise our kids on the sporting fields while shoe polishing our SUVs each weekend with “Go Team! On to the ‘ships!” instead of teaching the difference between eternal rewards and plastic trophies.  

So now the number of people who have grown up without a Christian memory far out number the ones who grew up loving the Lord on Sundays and Wednesdays in the pews and the rest of the days in their homes.  We are becoming a post-Christian culture.  Today, Hollywood is our pastor, technology is our Bible, charisma is our value, and Barack Obama is our President.

(3)  To end this section on a positive note, I’m excited to see the first African-American president.  We have divided along color lines for too long.  The embracing of racial diversity is wonderfully pleasing to the Lord.


So what are our thoughts to be, as believers in Christ, in response to the 2008 election:

(1)  Pray:  Begin today praying for President-Elect Obama, whether you like it or not that he will be the next president.  Pray for the will of the Lord to prosper and things contrary to God to be thwarted. I Timothy 2:1-2 calls us to pray for our leaders.
 
(2)  Trust:  God is in control.  God controls not only the world but the heart of the King says Proverbs 21:1.

(3)  Remember:  No matter who is president, we have a King that is higher.  Revelation 1:5 states that Jesus is the ruler of kings and Philippians 3:20 says we are citizens of heaven.

(4)  Realize:  God desires changed hearts as well as changed laws.  The ceasing of abortions and gay rights is to come primarily from the demand side of things, not supply.  This means that the best way to end abortion is not the courtroom but the gospel of Christ.  We need the gospel on the front side of the pregnancy, not just a law on the backside.  By all means I pray that Roe v. Wade would be overturned and that the homosexual agenda fails, but this will come from the decrease of the demand of sin—not only the decrease of supply.  I Corinthians 6:9-11 speaks of the life change Christ can bring.

Believers in Christ, we are to look at life with an eternal perspective—not in four year increments.

“Lord, I pray for President-Elect Obama.  May he turn to you both personally and on behalf of our country.  May any agenda contrary to Yours fall hastily to the ground or become trapped in DC bureaucracy, never seeing the light of day.  Lord, we need You and we call out to You.  Return the hearts of our nation to You one soul at a time.  Not in national decree but by personal salvation.  May we as Christians pray more than we chatter, love those who are bitter toward the church, and shine with hope and change based in the cross not on a stump speech. Jesus, You are our King, and we desire to be Your people.”