Hart's Memories - Post 2

So I, Hart, have been cleaning up my Google Reader (deleting blogs I no longer read, or blogs that people no longer update, etc) and I came across 2 blogs I had actually forgotten about because they haven't been updated in forever. What a punk right? Start a blog, post some decent things, and then never update it again. Lame. Oh but wait. Those 2 blogs were blogs I started and never kept up with! Actually most of the posts in them are not that good, but there were a couple that I thought would be fun if over the next coming days I post (or I guess re-post) them for you to read. To read past memories, click here.

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President...gulp...Obama?
(Originally Posted on November 5, 2008)

Well, another election has come and gone. It’s funny, elections are a lot like a sporting event. I find myself flipping on the tv to see the latest reports, and I either am cheering on my candidate for “winning” a state, or I become nervous when the other team scores some vital points. However, unlike sports, these elections have a big impact on our daily living for the next 4 to 8 years.

So, as you can gather from the title, I didn’t vote for our President-elect. Now, I am excited that a black president has been elected. I guarantee you 50 years ago during the Civil Rights movement no one would have believed you if you said 50 years later America would elect an African American for president. So it’s exciting that barrier has been broken down. But sadly, I don’t agree with Obama on really anything (except that college football needs a playoff system!), and so I’m not thrilled that he is our president.

Well I have the right to complain about him now, right? Some people would say I do. I’ve heard a lot of times from people that you don’t have the right to complain about politics if you didn’t vote…so therefore, you do have the right to complain if you did vote. But is that how Christians should view it? NO. As a Christian we are given clear guidelines from God what role we should play, and what we should be doing. We must be praying for our leaders (I Tim. 2:1-8), honoring them (1 Pet. 2:13-18), submitting to them (Rom. 13:1-7; Tit. 3:1), and seeking righteousness for the entire citizenry (Prov. 14:34).

I also want to quickly look to Habakkuk 1. I read this last week during a quiet time, and the Lord has continued to bring it back to my mind these last few days. In that passage God declares He would raise up the Babylonians to conquer the Israelites. The Babylonians god was not Yahweh, but rather their strength (vs. 11). And yet, God promised He would raise up a people who did not belong to Him to bring about His will. Perhaps God is doing that today? Perhaps God raised up Obama to bring about His will? America is crying for change right now. Only God can give them that true change they need. But right now most Americans are looking to a man to give them what they need. Perhaps we need to be led just a little further into darkness before God will begin to stir within Americans hearts and allow them to see that their hope must not be placed in creation, but in the Creator! I pray November 4th, 2008 will be a day people look back on and compare to October 31st, 1517 (Martin Luther nailing the 95 thesis)…perhaps God will use Barak’s election as another step that pushes America into a revival?

Lastly, I’d like to share some other links with you. These are really good articles written in regards to either the election in general, or President Obama:

• “Living Soli Deo Gloria Under Obama”. This is a guest post by Eric Redmond over at Justin Taylor’s Between Two Worlds blog. Mr. Redmond shares his struggles as a Christian and African-American, who celebrates the election of our first black president, but, because of his Christian beliefs, does not support Obama. Very interesting read. He also looks at our duties as Christians…one major one being prayer for Obama.
• Albert Mohler looks at the election of Obama from a Christian perspective in, “America Has Chosen a President”. Dr. Mohler looks at the monumental moment this is, but also reminds us Christians of the huge battle that is now before us, as well as the importance of us praying for President-elect Obama.
• “Praying for President Obama”. Josh Harris reminds us of the importance of praying for our new president. (If you haven’t caught on yet, I think prayer for Obama is something that is so crucial…we Christians must be lifiting up Obama to the Lord…praying for either his salvation [if he's not a Christian] or a lot of maturing in his walk with the Lord [if he is a Christian], and for a Heavenly wisdom.)
• “In God We Do Not Trust”. This is an article from Mark Driscoll (pastor at Mars Hill Church in Seattle) that he sent out on election day. It is a good reminder that politicians are not our savior. Politicians are men…therefore they are sinners…therefore they will let us down. Are you looking to Obama to save you? If so, be warned: He WILL fail you. Or are you looking to Jesus to save you? Only Jesus can save you!