Election Results

By Shelly Burke, Editor

How do you feel about the election? Are you happy? Disappointed? Fearful of the future? I’ve always been humbled by how the words of the Bible apply to ANY situation and today I realized that that includes presidential elections.

Here is what I found:

God instructs us to pray for our leaders:

                “…I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions…”

                                1 Timothy 2:1-2

God does not want us to fear:

                “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.”

                                2 Timothy 1:7

                “For the righteous…is not afraid of bad news: his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.”

                                Psalm 112:7

God wants us to be faithful to Him:

                “So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”

                                Deuteronomy 5:32-33

“Blessed is man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.”

                James 1:12

God hears our prayers—even if He does not answer them as we want them to be answered:

                “Give ear to my words, o Lord;

                consider my groaning.

                Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God,

for to You do I pray.”

                Psalm 5:1-2

God has a plan for those who love Him:

                “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, who God has prepared for those who love Him.”

                                1 Corinthians 2:9

                “And now, o Lord, for what do I wait? My hope in in You.”

                                Psalm 39:7

God gives us hope:

                “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may about in hope.”

                                Romans 15:13

I urge you to study these verses. They apply to the results of the election and to so many other circumstances.

Thank You, Lord, for Your wise words that we can depend on for guidance, direction, encouragement, and reassurance. Amen.

(I’m also blogging at www.achristianmomsguide.blogspot.com.

Today you can read my thoughts about this quote: “Enjoy the little things in life,

 for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”) 

Cautions for Christians in a Political Season

By Daniel Darling

In America, politics is all around us, whether you want it to be or not. But as we anticipate the election of 2012, it is reaching a fever pitch. Being a political junkie myself, I find myself being, at times, so consumed by it that it distracts me from my main calling as a follower of Christ. So I thought perhaps it would be good to consider a few guidelines that might govern our conversations, activism and online discussions in this political season.

1) Don't convince yourself that one election will solve everything. Elections do have consequences and good leadership can effect social change. Still, the root of our problems in America is as old as civilization itself: it’s the problem of sin. And the solution is not a politician or a platform. It's not the Tea Party or the Republican party or the Democratic party or any party. The solution is the Gospel. And as good as we try to make life on earth, it will never be the utopia we desire. This longing will only be fulfilled when Jesus returns as King and establishes the New Heaven and Earth.

2) It's Ok to favor a candidate, but don't do it at the expense of the others. Politics is strange in that you not only line up behind a candidate you like, you have to do so by convincing yourself and others that the other candidates are inept, incompetent, dangerous, malicious and the cousin of Hitler. It could be that good men and women are running on all sides, but you favor the polices, experience, and character of one in particular. Can you do that without tearing down the opponent? That may seem impossible in this environment, but I think it’s worth a try.

3) Remember there is more to life than politics. I know some people (myself the chief), who can't have a single conversation without it breaking into a political discussion. Every social ill is traced back to the ideology they oppose. But everything doesn't have a political component and every single wrong thing in the world isn't the fault of the politicians you despise. And remember that while politics is important, it's not ultimate.

4) Remember you are a Christian. Yes, even in your political discussions and activism, you're a follower of Christ. Is your faith so intrinsically tied in with your politics that people think the gospel equals low taxes, less government, and ending Obamacare? And do you obey the Scripture's commands to love, forgive, honor, respect,and pray while you're discussing political leaders with whom you disagree? It doesn't really matter that "the other side does it." Christians don't play by this calculus. We're different. We're followers of Jesus, called to a higher standard. In this, we demonstrate the gospel.

5) Reaffirm your belief in the sovereignty of God over all things. Every year they tell me this is the most important election of my lifetime. And maybe this election is really that vital. We want to elect and appoint men of character and competence. But ultimately God holds all things in his hands. He's not limited by voter turnout. He can work with rulers of all kinds and ultimately will use what happens to bring about his Kingdom. In other words, God won't be in Heaven on Tuesday night, November 6th, nervously watching CNN. (And no, my conservative friends, he won't be watching Fox either.)

6) Remember that the most important thing already happened. Elections may be hugely important in America. But the most important and most consequential event in history already happened. Jesus rose from the dead. He's alive. He's coming back as King. And Christians live in light of this profound reality. So in spite of the decaying world around us, we have hope. So we can smile. We can shed cynicism. We don't have to give in to the anger and despair of our age.

Daniel Darling is the Senior Pastor of Gages Lake Bible Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and is the author of Teen People of the Bible, Crash Course, iFaith, and Real. Read more at www.danieldarling.com. www.danieldarling.com Reprinted with permission. 

Election Results

History was made in Presidential Election last week!

Perhaps the election didn't turn out the way you'd voted and prayed for. I encourage you to read this Breakpoint commentary, which offers insight as to the positives of the election as well as what all Christians should be doing during the next four years.

http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=9484

Election Day

I'm ready for election day! It is an honor and privilege to have a say in not only the next president of the United States, but state and local officials as well.

No matter the results, history will be made!

I hope all of my readers feel the same way and exercise that right and privilege. Of course no candidate is perfect . . . but I hope you will weigh the positive and negative points of each, consider their values as related to your values, pray about your decision, and consider whether or not each candidate will do what they swear to do when inaugurated, which is uphold the Constitution of the United States of America.

Please pray for the election to go smoothly . . . for election officials to be honest and efficient . . . for voters to be patient and honest . . . and for all Americans to accept the results.

As you prepare to vote, please consider the following verse:

"But select capable men (and women!) from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate honest gain--and appoint them as officials . . . " Exodus 18:21