A New Low

Have we really sunken so low?

In less than 48 hours, we will know whether we have elected a crass, rude, jerk, who has so much money he has lost touch with reality; or a lying, cheating socialist.

Okay…now that I’ve offended everyone, let me continue to lament.

Watching television the other night, there was a story about how all other countries are watching our elections.  I for one was rather embarrassed.  We must look like a joke to the rest of the world. 

How is it in 2016, we don’t have more qualified people to vote for?  In a nation of 319 million people, we can’t find a handful of candidates who have the moral and ethical fiber we need? 

For the past several elections, it has come down to me voting for the candidate I dislike the least.  It’s no longer a matter of who I think it best for our country; it is who is NOT the worst?

I came up with some reasons why we are lacking decent qualified people:

•        If you don’t have enough money, there is no need to even consider running.  That rules out the vast majority of everyone.
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•       If you don’t want your family subjected to countless hours of mud-slinging hatred, you have no desire to run.
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•             If you are concerned with offending people, you likely aren’t even elected to office anywhere, and the chances of even getting on a ballot are slim and none.
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•         Unfortunately, if you are a decent, honest person, who believes in a moral right and wrong, and tries to live a principled lifestyle, the vocal minority will raise enough money to insure you never get anywhere.

Let me just step up on my soap box for a moment and get something off my chest…

If you don’t vote in the election, I don’t want to hear you complaining about anything.  If you vote, and your candidate loses, you have the right to be unhappy.  You have the right to complain.  These are guaranteed by the first amendment.  But if you don’t vote, I don’t want to hear it. 

In 2012, it is reported that 57.5% of eligible voters actually voted.  For whatever reason, 42.5% decided it was not worth their time.  Yes, I know; there are reasons some people are unable to vote.  But that number is nowhere near 42%.  And I understand some of it at least.  If there isn’t anyone worth voting for, what’s the point?  The point is we have a right and a responsibility to do so.  Countless men and women have died to protect that right.  So if you don’t vote; shut up.

I feel a little better.  What?  I offended someone else?  That’s okay.  I’m offended by watching and listening to the crud being broadcast about the elections and the candidates.  I don’t want either one of them to win.  I had the option to vote for someone else, of course.  But to vote for a third party was to almost insure my vote went for the candidate I dislike the most.

And this is where, as a Christian, I run into part of my calling where it is really hard.  I’m told that no matter who wins, I am to support them, pray for them, and respect them.

Ouch.

I have the right and responsibility to vote my conscience (though no candidates seem to care what my conscience says anymore).  And I did.  But if the worst one wins, I don’t get to hate, or even disrespect them.  I don’t have the right to wish them harm or hope for some kind of tragic circumstance to happen to them. 

When our last president won his first election, I comforted myself by saying that I respect the office, even if I don’t respect the person.  But I can’t justify that anymore, either. 

It isn’t as if God will sit on His throne, and throw back His head, saying, “I can’t believe won.”

He knew before He ever formed the Earth who was going to win the elections in 2016.  And whether we understand it or not, it is all within His plan.  And I confess, I seldom understand it.  But I don’t have to.  And neither do you.

If you are a Christian, I trust you voted.  It doesn’t matter whom you voted for.  Now I believe we will stand accountable for our actions, including voting.  But you owe me no explanation.  You merely need to be able to justify it to Him on the day we face Him.  And I trust you have been praying for our country. 

Earnestly.

Are we standing in the gap between a country that has fallen so far from where it began, and the Holy God who has blessed us so abundantly?   Or have we become like Jonah; waiting expectantly for God to destroy the evil?  God has called us to pray for our leaders.  We are to honor and respect authority.

Romans 13 tells us we are to be subject to governing authorities.  It tells us that all authority is instituted by God, and if we resist that authority, we are resisting what God has appointed. 

I will be disappointed by whichever candidate wins.  One a little less than the other.  But no matter what the outcome of the election, one of them will be my new President.  I will honor them.  I will respect them.  And I will lift them up in prayer. 

To do anything else, is to go against what my Holy God has commanded me to do.