Cyrus 08.

the thing that really bums me out about politics and the church is that it seems like some people believe that if the person they're not voting for gets elected that God's plan is crap. as if God isn't able to work through the person you may or may not have wanted in office.

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. [1 Tim 2:1-3 MSG]

pretty self-explanatory really. pray for those in power so that they will rule well. thats what God wants.

so i think - why so much disdain toward elected officials? this country seems to be leaning toward electing Barack Obama for president in 08. as someone who grew up in an upper-middle-class predominately white church in the suburbs of kc, i realize that this decision (if Obama wins) is not necessarily going to be what the majority of the church would've considered the "best" choice*. but that's where we have to catch ourselves - is it our agenda that determine's the best man for the job? is it our opinion that matters?

this morning i listened to a sermon about Cyrus, king of the Persian Empire. a pagan king who did not have God in mind when he took the throne, yet he was God's instrument in liberating the Jews and rebuilding their temple in Israel. the pagan king of Persia was probably not who most expected to deliver the Jews; in fact, he was the only non-Jewish messiah to Israel. but did God use him anyway? you bet he did. [Ezra 1]

imagine if we truly lived by that verse in 1 timothy. what if we gathered together post-election and prayed for our new government leaders? what message would that send? a positive one? it's a thought that could cause a serious rift in a lot of congregations - mine included. its biblical though. it doesn't mean we're endorsing a particular candidate, or choosing party lines; it's simply a statement of faith in our God's ability to govern this nation. heck, while we're at it we ought to be praying for the leaders of nations around the world too. friends and foes. it's an idea i'd like to pursue in the near future (probably around mid- to late-november.)

grumbling post-election is a slap in God's face. it's limiting Him; as if the moment the 'other guy' is sworn into office, God says, "well. we're sure screwed now. way to vote for him guys. i'm stumped now." no way. we shouldn't sit around and bicker about how so-and-so doesn't deserve it or how much he** is going to ruin the country. we shouldn't just sit back and hope he blows it. instead, we pray.

that having been said - this is just way too funny to keep out of this post.

-ap.

* - i am not, however, claiming to be a part of that majority. in fact, i'll go ahead and say it publicly: the chance of me voting Obama in 08 is extremely high. almost certain.
** - or she, i suppose.