Election Day 2012 – It’s Almost Here
November 5, 2012 at 5:15 am 3 comments
Election Day is tomorrow. I am, as I’m sure you are, praying for our country and for her leaders. I am also praying that much of the fear that surrounds this election will be calmed by the peace of God that transcends all human understanding (cf. Philippians 4:7).
This week, my blog is a simple one. Yesterday in Adult Bible Class, I talked about Mark 12:13-17 with a special emphasis on what Jesus says about paying taxes and honoring God in verse 17: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” I wanted to put into transcript form (with some slight editing for the sake of readability) my conclusion from Adult Bible Class. For as we head into voting booths across our land, I think it’s important to reiterate what we talked about – that no matter who occupies the Oval Office, there is only one Occupant on the throne of heaven. And that alone should be enough to quell our fears and give us hope. Here is what I said:
I’m going to go on the record today and say that I think it’s time for us to have a smaller government. But when I say that – before you get too excited or too angry depending on your political persuasion – I’m not talking about tax policy and how we’re going to pay for this or that government program. I’m not talking about what social programs we should or should not keep. I’m not talking about whether we should be for or against the Affordable Health Care Act. I’m not talking about the size of government in Washington at all. I’m talking about the size of government in our imaginations. For government – and its attendant greatness or ghoulishness – has captured far too large a place in our hearts and minds.
Here’s what’s happened: whether Republican or Democrat, many people have bought into this myth that if the wrong guy makes it into office – which always happens to be the guy they’re not voting for – that’s the end of the line. That’s the demise of our nation. That’s the disintegration of everything good and moral and noble and righteous in our world. And people get all revved up and riled up, determined to save what is most important to them by getting their guy into office.
Folks, when this happens, you’re not voting for a president, you’re seeking a Messiah. And that job has already been filled.
I love what a New York Times columnist named Ross Douthat writes about this:
The party in power claims to be restoring American greatness; the party out of power insists that the current administration is actually deeply un-American – heretics in the holy temple of the U.S.A., you might say – and promises to take our country back…And the country keeps cycling through savior figures, hoping each time that this one will be the One that we’ve been waiting for.[1]
Folks, the One we’ve been waiting for has already come. And His name is not Barack Obama. His name is not Mitt Romney. His name is Jesus Christ. And, by the way, not only has He come, He’ll come again.
So cast your vote. Be a good citizen. But remember that even if Caesar gets the coins, Jesus holds your heart.
And that’s what matters most.
[1] Ross Douthat, Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics (New York: Free Press, 2012), 269.
Entry filed under: ABC Extra, Current Trends. Tags: Affordable Health Care Act, Barack Obama, Caesar, Christianity, Democrat, Election Day, Jesus, Mitt Romney, Politics, Religion, Republican, Ross Douthat, Spirituality, Theology.
Pastor Zach's Blog 
1.
Mom | November 5, 2012 at 8:32 am
Amen and amen. I’m old enough now to have been through a series of presidents. And although some turned out to be pretty good and others not so great, we survived. Our country is NOT dependent on one person. We do have checks and balances. It tickles me when I hear folks say, “If X gets into office, I’m leaving the country.” Really?
I agree with you Zach: no matter who holds office, our hearts belong to the Lord and no one can take that away.
2.
Shawn Sundsvold | November 5, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Zach! This is awesome man! As Christians, we must trust that no matter who leads our Country, that God still leads us as a people. This sums up my beliefs so much better than I have done it myself. You’ve always been good at making a point so clear. Love it man! I will definitely be sharing this, as it provides true perspective.
3. Newsweek Takes On the Bible | Pastor Zach's Blog | January 5, 2015 at 5:15 am
[…] of time, you know I can be somewhat skeptical of the political process in general, fearing that some expect out of politics what only Christ can give. I have also never gathered in a football stadium to pray for my country’s salvation, though I […]