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Religion 101: Why Obama is not the antichrist
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMOiZB6KNko
President Obama, on his recent visit to Turkey, declared that the United States is “not a Christian nation.” This caused some negative reactions from folks back home, especially Evangelicals and other Christians. Also, Newsweek published a story that shows Christianity is on the decline:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/192583/page/1
Finally, the Obama team last week requested that the name of Jesus be covered in the background of the podium where he spoke from at Georgetown University:
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=46667
I have a question about all of this. Are we no longer a Christian nation because Christianity is supposedly on the decline, or is our government becoming so secular that it is actually causing of the decline in Christianity? In my observation, the interest and acceptance of Christianity is still quite high on “Main Street, USA.” However, in the halls of local, state, and federal government offices, in the corridors of academia, and on the streets of Hollywood, Christianity is intentionally being marginalized. The affect is to create a cultural appearance of a decline in Christianity. But just because these cultural influences have turned so secular that doesn’t mean that the average person on Main Street is buying it. Sure, some are affected by by it, but don’t discount the ability of Christians, especially Evangelicals, to look for new ways to influence our culture with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They have adjusted their methods in the past and they will surely do so now and in the future. All Christians need at times is a little spark of motivation, and recent comments by politicians and stories in news magazines might just provide that spark.
As I sit here and type, the election has in no way been decided yet. So, what is the truth I am referring to? As I watch the pundits on television and the internet spout their mind, seeking to tell the truth as they see it, what are they missing? As I listen to them debate over who will be in control of our government and how large a majority they will have, I have not heard one mention of Who is ultimately in control. Ok, I understand that network news is not religious programming. Fine, I’ll concede that. But what strikes me is how man-centered the nature of our national conversation has been this election year. It’s certainly magnified on this climatic night.
God’s Holy Word says this: “For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Phillipians 3:18-21, NIV)
Sure, I believe that the USA is the greatest place in this world to be a citizen. I love being an American. However, God says that His Kingdom is “home” for those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior. Jesus Christ has the power to “bring everything under his control.” That includes our country, our elections, and our very lives. As I was standing in line to vote today, one woman ahead of me made this statement: “All I know is that God has already figured it out and whoever wins is who He wants to win.” Now I understand that she was trying to calm some tensions around her, but she made a statement that I don’t know is true. Let’s say Barack Obama wins the election. Does that mean that God both knew that outcome in advance and determined that outcome? It seems to be what the lady voter was saying. But is that what God’s Word says? I’m not so sure it is. I have no doubts that God knows the beginning and end of all things. Nothing gets through the filter of His knowledge. However, does that also mean that God determines all things as well? I don’t think so. He gives us free will to choose Him or not (although there is some theological debate regarding that as well). Certainly He also gives us free will to choose our own political leaders. At times we choose wisely and please God; other times we choose poorly and suffer hardships because of it. I won’t say how I see it playing out this year because I can’t see into the future.
The truth of this night is that God is sovereign, God has the power to bring everything under His control, and we deceive ourselves to approach life from any other perspective. Elections tend to magnify humans (politicians), and in the process the God who created these humans gets shoved to the sidelines, or worse, never mentioned at all. Problems in our country and their potential solutions get tossed around, but the God who has the power to bring these situations under control gets left out of the discussion. We’ll wake up tomorrow, if God allows us to, and we’ll continue on with our lives no matter which men or women “rule” the political process. The real question is this: will you and I bow to the ultimate Ruler and His Truth, or will we focus our minds on humans and their failed solutions. God gives us freedom to follow Him or follow earthly things. Although we live among earthly things, we don’t have to bow down to them. Take heart, trust in God, live like the eternal citizen of heaven you are.
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