Of This I Am Sure
Watching candidates who are interested in becoming President of the United States is more interesting, though depressing, than reading newspaper comics, which I gave up half a lifetime ago. They hope to be elected to the most powerful political office in the world. They hope to lead the world’s most powerful army. They hope to lead the world’s most powerful economy.
Yet, they look like Fifth Graders trying to decide whose team they want to be on during morning recess. They answer questions affecting the lives of millions raising their hands or keeping them down as if on cue. One wonders if they are trying to remember the latest political poll to be sure they are answering to the most votes. If there is certainty in expression it is that they feel strongly they can do a better job as President than whoever is in office.
Maybe I did not listen to the Eighth Grade Civics Teacher. But I thought part of the lesson was that the Office of President is to be respected and the person holding the Office of President is to be respected. The idea is that if the person or office is denigrated, degraded, disrespected, or shamed the OFFICE and PERSON both lose value. One might suggest that if the president of a bank is seen as being less than able, folks lose trust in the bank. Does anyone get the idea?
Moving along. Whoever gets elected will inherit the Office of President of the United States with all the White House bruises of stones cast to shame office and person. The launch of a new presidency will be flawed, battered, with negative minds expecting no better than has been delivered in the past. And the person gaining the Office of President will be held accountable to the specific words or deeds he/she has said/done to gain office. Mercy will be withdrawn. When a pariah offers paradise, paradise is expected. When persons proclaim their own wisdom, they are held to guru standards.
This morning another minister and I walked past three Buddhist monks in a construction area. Workers stopped the monks to ask them questions and talk. Oh, they were curious…the monks. Rust-colored cloth wrapped around their bodies, sandals, and heads shaved. We were in suits. We greeted the workers politely. However, the interest of the workers was with the monks.
I thought how true it is that folks seem to be drawn to the curious, the odd, the esoteric, the bizarre, the never-seen-that-before, the weird, the strange, the new. Many a man has passed up a good wife in search of Goldilocks, so cute, so fun, and so dazzling---only to realize too late that pretty on the outside does not mean pretty on the inside.
Going with emotions or wherever the wind blows is dangerous…no, disastrous. I am sure that at the end of the day whoever becomes President will have to answer to abortion, war, the economy, homosexuality, immigration, a divided Congress, international trade, global warming, crime, and many other issues more difficult than sitting in front of a TV camera.
I am also sure that Christians will have to answer to what God’s Word says about righteousness and holiness. Christians will have to answer to what God says about abortion, sexuality, marriage, and issues that the Bible clearly indicates God’s character and holiness. What is the responsibility of Christians to be salt and light? What is the biblical duty of those who have been rescued from sin?
Shall we take our values from TV candidates and pollsters, or shall we form our lives and purpose in prayer and study of the life of Christ?
Of this I am sure: The road ahead will require hard decisions based on character and integrity. The road ahead will challenge every Christ follower to choose between evil and good based on Truth, not public opinion.
Of this I am sure: The road ahead will be traveled with greatest victory by those who keep their eyes on Jesus, not public polls. Making tough decisions about right and wrong is best done when one has traveled in paths of warfare, learned the difference between truth and error, and persisted in obedience to the Truth.
Keep your eyes on Jesus,
Pastor Bare
John 14:14