Last night, history was made. In a landslide vote, Barack Obama was elected our 44th President of the United States of America. I have tried to stay out of politics on my blog...it's been a purposeful choice. But, today I want to acknowledge this amazing event.
Through tears I watched McCain give his succession speech. He sincerely pointed out what many of us have known all along--Barack Obama is an honorable man. McCain showed himself to be the true statesman that he is...even quieting the negative reactions. Years of sacrifice and service to his country were seen in his eyes as he so graciously addressed the crowd. Even though he must have felt tremendous disappointment, he pledged his support to Obama for the days ahead. I was impressed by him as I have been in times past. It was awesome!
Then, through more tears, I watched as Obama gave his speech. I will never forget that moment. So many worlds collided there...past sins of our country, snuffed out hopes of those who have been considered even "non-human", dreams of those who have been slain in the fight for civil rights, and a good man (a Jesus follower), his wife, and two adoring children accepting this historic moment into their lives. What must they have been feeling? WOW!
Over the course of the last year, all of us have been privy to hateful email forwards, accusations, and lies spread by supporters of both candidates. After the announcement was made, I was at first surprised and then disappointed as I saw Facebook members changing their status reports. So many Christian men and women, many who I respect, making outrageous, ridiculous remarks. It's not that different from some of the unbelievable email forwards I have received during this campaign. The best word for it to me is simply "disappointing". For, whatever your politics, aren't we governed by something bigger? Regardless of what we agree or disagree with in each candidate, aren't we called to something bigger? Yes, we can speak out--and should! Yes, we should be an advocate for the things we believe in. But, isn't there a way to go about it that doesn't breed hatred?
I realize that in just about every election we deal with these things...and it bugged me just as much when the democrats did it to the republicans when they won the Presidency in 2000 and 2004. Man...these things can be so emotional and it can be way too easy to lose ourselves in the emotion of it. I've definitely felt that myself. I guess the thing that has bothered me most has been that in this particular election, so much of the poison and fear mongering I've heard has come from Christians. It's been frustrating. But, we all need grace to move forward, don't we? All of us. I need it for sure. Even my reaction to reactions has been convicting. GEEZ!
Maybe a good way to end this blog entry today is by quoting my favorite book of the New Testament- 1 John.
This comes from 1 John 4:
God's Love and Ours
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone
who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not
know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He
sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one
another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us
and his love is made complete in us.
13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God,"
yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother,
whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us
this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
17 comments:
I would add to that Mark 3:24-25 "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house id divided against itself, that house cannot stand."
We have GOT to come together as a nation before we tear ourselves apart!!!
Chris...perhaps you missed the last half of the blog. I will not post rude, un-Christlike remarks. Disagreement is absolutely fine...and expected...but you'll have to look elsewhere to get your hate messages published.
It's always interesting and humorous to me that Mark 3 is quoted by liberals when their side wins. The democrats have failed to embrace that scripture over the years as they have delivered hate speech after hate speech against our Republican president. I've seen more vicious, outrageous hate speech spewed by commentors over at Mike Cope's blog than should have ever been allowed.
It should be a two sided coin. I am deeply disappointed in the election results. I fear for our freedom of religion to be perfectly honest. I'm very concerned that it will be revealed that we gave up our constitutional right to freedom of religion and expression to the Barack Obama Presidency. I hope I am wrong.
I won't on the other hand be disrespectful to a sitting president. I can respectfully disagree and can only imagine what Chris' hateful comments must have said. Whoever Chris is, they need to realize that they do more harm than good to a cause they so obviously believe deeply in when they spew venom.
I fear that we have some serious lessons to learn through this Presidency and they won't be easy to bear. But through it all, God is in control and will never fail to be faithful. Even through the difficult times.
I just wish this euphoria of being united had rung true when the liberals were out of power. Funny how that works. I watched through tears as well, but for much different reasons.
I watched with sadness as well today as the market's plunged with the realization of who is going to the the next president. We will certainly have less and less funds to give to the poor under this administration.
Ada
Thank you, Ada, for sharing your sincere concerns with us in a way that doesn't water down your stance and yet remains very respectful.
I can see how you're right about the Mark 3 passage. No one is free from guilt there. And, just for the record, as I stated in my blog it bugged me when the dems trashed W. these last 8 years. You are very right in saying that it should be a two sided coin. Party aside...disciples of Christ are called to a different level.
I am so sorry that you are worried over our freedom of religion being removed because of Obama. I hope you'll be able to (and willing) to admit you were wrong about that after the fact.
Either way...if God is in control, whyshould we fear?
Love this post Brandon. I, too, have been disappointed in all the Obama-bashing I have seen today. Even if he wasn't someone's choice for president, I don't understand all the disrespect and comments made out of ignorance. I am pretty sure Christ would not react the way I have seen some Christians react.
I'll admit that politically, I probably don't agree with you; however, I've read your blog for a while now and highly respect you.
Not that it's any more acceptable, but I think part of the reason people tend to get so hateful and emotional about the results is because of the candidates themselves. For months, we've heard jabs from both sides and both sides painting gloom and doom pictures of the term if the opponent is elected. McCain did try to shush the crowd during his speech last night when many of them booed at the mention of Obama's name. However, just the day before, the booing was acceptable and just part of the campaign rah-rah (on both sides!).
I truly hope that our country can find a way to unite.
It's frustrating as a Republican to have listened to the media for the past several years slam our President, and then wake up to the same media today telling us that *now* is the time to unite. Not that I disagree, but could we not have tried to unite during the past 8 years?
I wonder if the message would have been the same if McCain had been elected.
Courtney--
I completely agree! It IS frustrating! It has bugged me through Bush's terms. But, I guess, now is the time for Republicans everywhere to either treat "evil" for "evil" or to show what they're made of. I have a feeling it will be the last one. :)
When I saw the title of your post I thought you were going to write about The Parent Trap - "Let's get together yeah, yeah, yeah! We'll have lot's of fun!"
Anyway, Disney movies and politics aside, I'm proud of how far our country has come in regards to race relations. We still have a long way to go, but I was overwhelmed by the historical significance of this election. Regardless of how you cast your vote, please don't miss this moment. I hope my children ask me someday why it was such a big deal for a man of color to be elected president. Wouldn't that be something?
Christians have to be able to get along. We have to be able to talk with each other respectfully and with love. If we can't even do that with each other who bear the name of Christ together, how can we expect to show Jesus' love to the world?
As I posted on my blog, I hope that Obama's *recent* rhetoric wins over his record. Someone honorable can still be misguided and/or naive. I am personally still unsure of Obama's true convictions.
Regardless, I have worked to defuse any bashing. I have to agree with you, the Obama camp has been every bit as nasty re: Sarah Palin (for example) as the McCain camp has been re: Obama. I get concerned when Obama supporters remain blind to their camp's sins. I get concerned when McCain supporters remain blind to their camp's sins. Or worse, when they use the sins of the other camp to justify their own.
I say folks who put their hope in any political figure are being stupid. And I say that followers of Christ who put their hope in any political figure are being stupid and worldly.
God help us all to remember where our citizenship is - in the Kingdom of God. Period.
"This world is not my home..."
You remind me a lot of the Democratic congress in that everyone has to agree with you. Do you ever see Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi coming together with the other side?
Chris- after many attempts to post venomous comments, you finally were able to offer a comment that wasn't COMPLETELY hateful... So i published it. Having said that, you seem intent on not listening at all, which is your choice. Again, I'll say... I don't mind disagreement in the least. You're welcome to disagree with me all day long. I have never claimed to know everything... in fact, I know that is so hilariously far from true. But, you don't seem to offer much to a rational productive discussion. But... you're welcome here as long as the discussion doesn't get nasty as I have seen you do on countless other blogs... including my mom's. You don't help your cause by acting that way. Surely you can see that by now.
I know for me it felt so good to vote and make an historical difference in our nation. Yesterday I saw the racial divide in america fall. It was wonderful to see whites, blacks, hispanics, asians, and other races come together and elect the first African American in our nation. I believe that race can no longer be an excuse for not succeeding in life. The great thing now is that it does matter what race you are that you can dream and become anything you put your heart to and work hard to achieve. I believe the next four years are going to be great for America both domestically and internationally as well.
As believers let us strive to unify our nation and work together to make our country what it has always been, the greatest nation in the world. Let us as believers pray for Barack Obama, Joe Biden and all those in power. I know that that they definately need our prayers.
For those believers who are upset let us all remember that God is still God. He is in complete control of everything. No matter what happens in America we have a citizenship in heaven that we can look forward to one day.
Thank you for this great post. You do such a fantastic job with your blog. You, your family, Zoe, and all your other ministries are always in my thoughts and prayers.
Brandon, appreciated your post. I didn't vote for Obama but that's my choice. The great thing about this country is I can still love people from a different party if I CHOOSE to do so. Sometimes I don't see that in some (both sides create hatred and division) and it irritates me. It's like we let politics override the fact we have something bigger in common. One of my dearest Christian friends is a lesbian Democrat - there I admit it!! HA But the 2 of us admit we are not perfect and that's why we need Jesus.
So, while I hope Obama's 4 years are not successful for him (so we can have a Republican in 2012), I do respect him as the President-Elect of our great country. And he will be so much easier to listen to than Bush OR McCain would have been!!! (I'm a sucker for a good orator)
Regardless, I'm not fearful ... hmmm - sounds like a good title to a CD. What do you think (or am I too late!! HA)
And AMEN to Stephen's comment. Of course, my 7 yr. said he voted at school for Obama because "he was the brown guy who looks like Mace Windu from Star Wars" Hee Hee
While I voted with my head and therefore for McCain (solely on the issues as I see them), I've decided to choose the optimism of what Obama can do if he makes wise choices as our President. While how other countries view us isn't my main concern, Obama does have capital there now that McCain wouldn't have had. I hope he uses it wisely. It also definitely helps race relations in our country. A noted columnist said the other night that we've never elected someone we no so little about, but I'll choose to at this point to not see that as a negative, only a slight worry (again, on the issues).
My hope is that we don't see blame from him on W as we go through these tough times ahead economically and in foreign policy.
Country before party. God before country. I support our President, no matter who it is. May God go with him.
a friend posted this on her blog the day after the election. It is a reminder of what we should do and how we should act as Christians in spite of our political affiliations.
"Obama hasn't even been the president elect for 24 hours yet, and already christians around the world are mourning the death of a nation. I mean come on people. Chill out. Did God fall off His throne?????? I don't think so. Are we forgetting what was said in Romans 13:1-2?
"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. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."
God has allowed him to win this seat, and we should pray for and support him. I'm sick of all the "doom and gloom". Don't get me wrong, I didn't vote for him, and I am not defending his beliefs. but what about our beliefs, is our faith so tied to this nation, that we would say the world is over because the man we voted for wasn't elected. God is still in control. God has a plan. We should not hate Obama, or even bash him. We should not live in fear. So this man believes in things that are not Gods heart, God is still in control. Our country is in financial turmoil, God is still in control. So all the doom and gloom should stop. The hateful comments and snide remarks should stop. Instead fall to your knees. Pray. Pray for wisdom and strength for Obama, pray for peace. How will the lost be reached if we as christians are spewing hatred towards a leader that God allowed to win. Where is our faith, our courage, our hope? is it in Obama, or the stock market? The answer should be that it is in the Lord. He is bigger than this country, if it falls, He will still be in control. We will still be safe in His arms. For encouragement read Psalm 91.
And remember the scripture:
Proverbs 21: 1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
Trust in the Lord, because He does not make mistakes. Pray for our nation, Pray for our leaders, Pray for our unborn, and Pray for our troops. God did NOT fall off his throne last night."
by Sarah Leckie Hedlund
I was at the National Outreach Conference and haven't checked blogs in a few days. Your post makes me glad (once again and for a new reason) that you are my brother. See you in Fresno!
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