Last week on November 5th, I felt a mix of emotions following the presidential results from the night before. I awoke that morning to find the news media, the internet blogosphere, and everyone on campus talking about Barack Obama, our new president-elect. I heard and read people from both sides bad mouthing the other, I read about people accusing the other side of ruining the election. It was almost too much to handle, especially since I had my own thoughts on the election.

I decided to take a vow of silence on all things politics last week while I gathered my thoughts on the election. I was very torn as to how I should feel about everything. While I do not agree with Obama on many of his proposed policy issues (most importantly his stance on abortion), I also saw the deep significance of electing our first black president, an issue for which I did not want to be on the wrong side of history. However, I decided that acting on my conviction about abortion rested in the fear of my Lord; a fear which was more important than my fear of man (for which I had already been looked down upon by some earlier that week for supporting John McCain). And so, because I am not ashamed of Christ, I humbly stand against the culture when it does not square with Scripture.

There is a great victory in electing Barack Obama. I celebrate the fact that a man who has inspired and impressed many including me, and who also is African-American, has been elected to the greatest office in the land. There is a great victory in living under a government where democracy is allowed and people are free to have a voice on either side of an issue. This same government allows me to write on my thoughts here without fear of censorship. I am proud to be an American today even though the candidate I voted for did not win. That is democracy, and democracy ran its course through this election.

I've heard some Christians say that they refuse to support Obama, or that they feel angry about the results of the election. However, the Bible instructs us to honor and respect all of our leaders (Romans 13:7, 1 Peter 2:13-18), to thank God and pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:18), as well as to submit to those in authority (Titus 3:1). For me not to do these things would be to go against Scripture.

But in the same vein, I realize the need to be respectful to those who may not share the same view as me. It does not benefit anyone when I talk to someone who disagrees with me on an issue and I call them an "idiot" for believing what they believe. Instead, I believe that I would be more receptive to listen to someone who disagrees but respects my view by also listening to me, and can engage in a mature discussion on the issues. I respect my friend Geoff all the more because though we disagree on many things, he listens to me about my views and conclusions on issues. On Facebook, I saw a number of posts attacking candidates and supporters, accusing people of "not knowing the Bible", "not being Christian", "not being moral", "sleazy Republicans", "sleazy Democrats". It was enough to make me close my browser that day.

I am hopeful of the future, not because of a president-elect whose motto was "HOPE", but because of a God who is sovereign over all of creation.

Thanks for reading through my thoughts here.



For further reading, read some posts from some of my present-day heroes:
Al Mohler - America has chosen a president
John Piper - Grateful for (almost) any government
Eric Redmond - Living Soli Deo Gloria Under Obama
Joshua Harris - Pray for President Obama