Phones stop ringing, political ads cease, lawns no longer sport signs and a collective sigh envelopes the land. The election is finally over and we can return to life as usual...
Maybe you're happy with the way the election turned out.
Then again, maybe you're not.
Or maybe you never really liked the choices to begin with...
When I was writing my pre-election post, I looked for Bible verses pertaining to doing one's civic duty and voting, but of course there weren't any. Why? Because at the time the Bible was written, the average person had no choice in who ruled the land. Regardless of how we feel about the winner of the election, we can be thankful that we live in a time and place where we have the privilege of voting and our voice is heard.
While Scripture doesn't have anything to say about elections, it does have a lot to say about our attitude toward our leaders.
“Do
not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.”~ Exodus 22:28
“Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious,”~ Proverbs 24:21
How often does our tongue get away from us and we find ourselves "joining with the rebellious," criticizing the authorities that God has placed over us? We get so caught up in the here and now; we forget that ultimately it is God who places people in positions of leadership, not men.
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there
is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that
exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently,
he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has
instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves…~ Romans 13:1-2
Rather than allowing the grumbling around us steal our peace, we should stand out by following Jesus' example and allowing His peace within us to quiet those around us.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.” ~ 1 Peter 2:13-15
“I
urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving
be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live
peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,” ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-3
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” ~ Proverbs 21:1
Father, forgive me for those times I've grumbled, forgetting that all those in positions of authority have been placed there by You. Help me to be faithful in praying for the men and women You have chosen to lead and remember that ultimately You are the One in control. Lord, we ask for a revival in this land, that one person at a time, this nation will return to You.
Father, forgive me for those times I've grumbled, forgetting that all those in positions of authority have been placed there by You. Help me to be faithful in praying for the men and women You have chosen to lead and remember that ultimately You are the One in control. Lord, we ask for a revival in this land, that one person at a time, this nation will return to You.
Lisa
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This SO much goes along with what God has been showing me, and reminding me of my failures in forgetting to pray and neglecting to respect our leaders.
The book above about battling a corrupt system in the Ukraine probably includes battling some leaders in that system. That can be done with prayer and respect, but also with courage to confront them with the evil of their ways. This is also what Jesus did as he confronted Jewish leaders, especially the scribes and Pharisees, who were national leaders in Israel, ruling over the synagogues, where they taught and enforced the law of Moses. Because Jesus challenged them, they decided to kill him. Then the apostles in Acts challenged those same leaders (especially the Sanhedrin, but also Pilate) as those who crucified Jesus.
The temptation is for Christians who have been persecuted to take the law (of revenge, or "justice") into their own hands. Since Jesus said to love enemies, which Paul repeats in Rom. 12:14-21, the point of Rom. 13:1f. (and 1 Pet. 2:13f.) is that persecuted Christians should let (nonChristian) rulers do any punishing of evil, not themselves.
That really puts things into perspective.
I am not Christian, so I hope you are ok with me commenting. I believe in God and while I will sometimes question authority, or hope that things go in a certain direction, regardless of who won the election, I would have respect for that individual as the President of the United States. While I feel that you used verse to create a positive message about what our responsibility as citizens should be, I feel saddened by the very "ungodly" things that some people have been saying, especially post election. I do not believe that if Jesus or Allah or Krishna or Buddha (whatever anyone's beliefs) would be ok with the hateful messages, comments like "bring white back to the white house" and so many other terrible, terrible things I felt that I have heard. I hope that people who really believe, as you do, take the positive messages from their scripture and bring this country forward and remember that at the end of this, we are all God's children - even when we don't like each other during an election! ;-) - and that we move beyond color, party (yeah, wishful thinking) to create progress. That is my hope.
Kiran
This is a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing it. This grand experiment we call America is messy and imperfect, but it is an extraordinary gift from God.
I am so tired of people twisting God's word to promote prejudice and hatred and their own causes. This was a refreshing reminder that we should turn to prayer far more often than we do.
--When I first saw your blog title, I assumed your post would be negative and judgemental.
I am please it was not!
Yes, I too, believe in the POWER of prayer.
Our world needs a gigantic dose of GOD.
Amen.
There is a fine line to walk I believe. Of course we should not resort to violence, but neither should we accept corrupt leaders without speaking out. Everything Hitler did was legal. Should everyone have respected him just because he was their "president"? I believe much prayer is needed to know exactly how to respond. There is much to "ponder."
Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Charlotte
Here in the Philippines we also have a lot of leaders we are not happy with. I believe we have to really pray for our country every day. As Christians it is our responsibility! God hears our every cry! Patsy from
HeARTworks