I consider myself a politically responsible adult. I watch the news, listen to talk radio and follow the current issues of our nation to the best of my ability. It being election season, I have been following the news even more closely.
But in all honesty, I have become beyond frustrated with the options. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an election season with more scandal and absurdity. I feel like I have been hearing more about the candidate’s personal issues, than I have the political issues.
Every day seems to produce more and more proof of just how unfit this field of candidates is for the title of commander in chief. In case you aren’t aware of all of the dirty laundry that has been aired out so far, here is a quick summary:
- Donald Trump has mocked a disabled man and spoken offensive profanities from the public stage.
- Hilary Clinton is dodging criminal charges for an email scandal.
- Bernie Sanders has been accused for tossing out the homeless into the cold for a campaign rally and has a past which includes the authorship of dark, sexually explicit material.
- Ted Cruz, an evangelical favorite, has been exposed for his lack of tithing.
As I’ve listened to these reports and many others, I’ve become frustrated and frankly fed up with this election season. I’m a Christian, and while I try not to condemn someone based on their mistakes, I do hold a conviction to make an educated decision for who I think will be the best leader for our nation.
The more I try to find the “perfect” candidate though the more I realize how impossible of a task it is. I don’t think I’m alone either. Christians are all over the place with their support this election.
Personally, this slate of candidates combined with all of the controversy has led me to a place of political bitterness. And it’s almost tempted me to give up on this election season.
However, after reading Romans 13:1-2 I realize that I can’t do that and neither should you.
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1-2
The verse states that there is no authority except from God. Therefore, regardless of who is elected, their authority still comes from the same place – God.
As strongly as I disagree with some of the candidates it doesn’t make this scripture any less true. Most of the campaign season is spent analyzing the public image of each candidate, when in reality we shouldn’t expect the candidates to be perfect.
We need a new President not a new savior.
God has proven time after time that He can and will use those in authority to carry out good – regardless of their character. As badly as I dislike the idea of some of the candidates being our nation’s leader this isn’t a time to swear off support, dump patriotism and facetiously vow to move to another country if a certain candidate wins the presidency.
We can’t simply write off any of the candidates as unusable. Doing so denies God’s supreme authority and ability to do “far above and beyond anything we could ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20)
We must pray and intercede for these candidates so that whatever the outcome, they govern in a manner that allows for believers to “lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Please don’t mistake – I’m not encouraging an attitude of indifference or passivity. Pushing away from the table will do nothing to bring about the change we so desperately need as a nation. We must pursue activism and reject apathy.
Revivals and revolutions don’t take place through a person; they take place through a people. The President is a powerful position, but the changes that we need cannot possibly come through the hands of one man.
We must stop reacting and start acting. As Christians we have a responsibility to exercise both our freedom to pray and our freedom to vote this year. And I would recommend exercising them together.
We don’t just need a Christian president, we need a nation of Christians praying for him.
Good post. It is also to accept that presidents, popes, kings, queens and leaders are not always Christians. They have said that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. I don’t think that is always true, but the basest sort of patriotism is usually pretty vile. It is in the UK. I would say that also, some of the biggest charlatans and power mongers hide behind a professed Christian faith, particularly in the US and the Middle East.
Faith cannot be a private thing, it must affect the way you treat other people and your ambitions, but more and more, the desire for being president and wielding enormous political, social and economic power in the world, all in one man, seems a frightening prospect. Ben Carson calling national health service slavery shows how out of touch some of them are, and the vile comments of Trump sound like something at a private party of bigots, not something a hopeful presidential incumbent should be spouting.
Accept that many of these things are part of the world, and many of them use ‘faith’ just as another leverage to gain power. Not all of them, but more and more it seems to be the case that they are wolves in sheep’s clothing.
I meant to say faith, in the Middle Eastern case! Sorry.
Awesome article,, very well written and so true. I myself wanted to just give up on this election, but like you, I realized that is not what we are to do.
Thanks, Richard!