"It makes no sense," was one child's response to the election results this morning. We're a political family, and we followed this election closely, all the way back to the Republican debates. This child, only 18 at the time, cast his first vote ever in the Republican primary. He recognizes the importance of his duty of living as a citizen in America even at this tender age. He understands that the principles by which a president operates have consequences.
What can I say? It makes no sense to me, either. We're all a little subdued at our house today. We've reminded him (and myself a thousand times) that God is in control; God tells us that "by me, kings reign" (Prov. 8:15). We know that his purposes are good and true. Why it is God's will to put an arrogant golf-playing, abortion-loving, celebrity-seeking Islamic sympathizer who supports gay marriage and who believes that debt brings prosperity and the government is the sovereign that should control our lives is a mystery that I must place in the "known only to God" categories and believe him when he tells us that all things work together for the good of those who love him.
And so I've had several thoughts as I've reflected on the election of 2012 and the implications it has for us as Christian citizens in a country that moves "forward" toward a world where gay marriage is becoming more and more acceptable, where the media becomes a part of the liberal candidate's campaign, where the lives of children in the womb and the lives of American diplomats and soldiers fighting terrorists in Arab Spring nations become equally disposable because they are inconvenient for someone who would rather they die.
This morning I received an email from my doctor, who uses holistic methods of treatment and has addressed certain physical issues for me effectively. I have not found this help from other medical doctors. The email announced that my doctor would not be accepting new patients because now Obamacare would not be repealed: "We are sorry that we have to close the practice, but the current and near future medical reimbursement climate does not allow us to make any other choice." They don't know how long they will be able to continue their practice for current patients.The other child (incidentally the one who had the honor of being the last person in our precinct to vote last night as the poll workers were closing up shop) also is a patient. She observed that because some women were being offered the "freedom" of free contraception via Obamacare, her freedom to seek the kind of medical care that helps her with her heath issues could now be limited. And I realized again--certainly not for the first time--that a big government of entitlements offering freedoms to some inevitably strips away the freedoms of others, whether it's the "wealthy" who need to pay their "fair share," religious organizations who are now forced to deny their convictions, or owners of small businesses who can't afford to grow because the financial burdens of growth will be greater than whatever prosperity they might achieve. And in the end, freedom is a myth, because the government owns us all. This is what the majority of Americans chose on election day.
Another harsh realization: This is the kind of country and government that more than half of Americans want. And yet unthinking citizens being drawn to superficial political leaders who obviously crave power and are motivated only by self-interest is not a new phenomenon. David's son Absalom demonstrates that playing to those who believe they are victims brings political victory. Here was a man who was scandalous (he killed his own brother) and arrogant. He was well-known for his good looks and beautiful hair. Because he had no sons, he erected a monument to himself. He won the people's hearts by sitting in the city gates and sympathizing with those who came with disputes for the king, telling them there was no one to hear them and promising justice if only he were in charge. He nearly successfully stole the kingdom from his father and certainly had the popular support of the people. I've never (not even for a moment in 2008) understood the charisma of Obama. But apparently manufacturing wars on women, attempting to achieve "fairness" for those who live in our country illegally, and promoting the rights of those who wish legal status for their immorality is great political strategy. It works.
But probably my last, and most important, realization has been that as Christians living in the kingdom of this world, we can expect rulers who are unjust. If there is a candidate who runs on the policies of defending our nation and creating a climate where the gospel may be freely preached (Belgic Confession art. 36), I'll certainly vote for him or her. But a quick glance at any instructions to Christians-as-citizens in the New Testament demonstrates that they are to be submissive to those who rule over them, and the types ruling over them in those days were Roman emperors, who were not exactly known for their sympathy for Christians. An unjust, faithless ruler does not excuse us from submitting to the government's authority--because the government that we have has been given to us by God. The church often flourishes in affliction, and perhaps we Christians in America will be finding that out firsthand. Our help is in the name of the Lord, maker of the heavens and the earth. "The best is yet to come," President Obama said to his supporters last night in his victory speech. I rarely agree with him, but on this I do. It won't happen in his four more years, though, and not while any of us Christians live on this earth.
As Christians, then, this must be our prayer as we face, for many of us, the disappointing results of another presidential election: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).
