Regardless of how I voted, I had the biggest grin from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, Tuesday night! Yes, proud to be an American, but even more touched to be a Christian and know that somebody’s prayers had been answered that night- in front of the whole world! Praise, God! Who’s next in line? I say it’s something to shout about! God is good!
Today is not what it was just a few days ago. We’ve reached a glorious milestone in America’s History. The election of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th president of these United States has been inspiring not only to many American citizens, but also to countless others around this world. Different races, different nationalities, different ethnicities and even those who hold different philosphies can be excited about America and this milestone. Even so, some seem to have had the wind knocked out of them- and I’m talking about a part of the Christian community. It’s been a season of bitterness to many. Personally, I was saddened at words/comments of poison and bitterness I had witnessed in the comments of some Christian blogs in the last few months. Politics really gets some people fired up. They seem to easily demonize the candidates of the party of which they are not supporting. I think it’s a shame and I believe God does as well. He is so much bigger than our American politics… God is neither Republican nor Democrat. He doesn’t expect His children to walk in love only when it’s convenient. We’re to walk in Love always… whether or not the politics at hand agrees with our own.
Love endures long and is patient and kind; Love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].
It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s Love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes not account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is everready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
Love is what we all need to walk in. Christians have no excuse not to. This season of the political process has shed a great deal of light on the great divide in the Christian Church in America. I’ve heard Sunday morning is one of the most segregated times in America… for the most part, each race retreating to the safety of their own church in order to worship the God who created all races. A black church here, a white church there, etc. Of course, there are more and more integrated churches. Yet, there is still a great divide in attitudes of those in the church in this country. Those often repeated words of the president- elect’s former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, should have served as a wake-up call to the church. Even if you have never given it much thought, I know God has. Bitterness is a pill that’s been swallowed for too long in our churches. I can honestly say, because I have been a member of a predominantly black church before, that too many times we allow cetain thoughts and attitudes to reside in our heart simply because of past pain and indignities. As Christians, we have to proceed with our lives and give it to God- He cares so much for us and he cares about that pain. If we’ll only trust Him with our pains and sorrows, He’ll take them. He’ll give us so much more in return. I believe last Tuesday night was evidence of that. I pray that those in the church wont’ miss the significance of that night. Whether a die-hard conservative Repbulican or a passionate devout Democrat, if you’re a Christian, I believe you should be joyful of at least one thing. God answered and honored the prayers of many that night… those who were enslaved, beaten, tormented with fear to ever dare to dream for anything better- those who were told they were less than and treated as if they were 2nd class citizens…those who wept for loved ones who were taken away by the cruelties of the slave trade…those who cried out to God for justice and peace and a chance for the American dream even though they were not really considered to be a true citizen of this country…even though they were thought of as no more than another person’s property… their labor… their chattel…
God answered the prayer of a people that night and all Christians can rejoice about that. It should be a reminder to you that your prayer that you’ve been believing God for will be realized as well. Faith and patience make up the breakfast of champions, and we are truly that- we are champions. With the recognition of this truth, we are all victors. Please don’t let this moment and this time pass you by without rejoicing. God is good and faithful and true. I urge each one of you not to miss out on this moment and the recognition of the goodness of our loving, prayer- answering, God. Now, let’s pray and agree on that! Let’s pray for healing and reconciliation in the Christian church. Let’s continue to believe God for the fruit of the dream He planted in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s heart those many years ago- and let’s pray for that for God’s own church. It’s time to remove the barriers and proceed into a new season within the body of Christ. It’s time to let God love through us and renew our minds to the promise of His Word. Then and only then can we as Christians affect nations.
It’s time to put pettiness and bitterness and gloom and doom aside and pray for and support the president-elect who, for all you know, was called for such a time as this. I, for one, am more than happy to do so. Be blessed!
Photo courtesy of Time Magazine
P.S.- I also saw some inspiring posts on some of the following blogs as well… the night before the elections ragamuffinsoul.com had an interactive online prayer meeting called Praying Backwards where the participants were asked to pray for the candidates of the party they were not going to vote for. I think they had approximately two hundred people to join in. Way to go Carlos!
This Christian sister had a great attitude regarding the elections. This strong man of God also wrote an inspiring post on his blog after his candidate of choice did not win- and I also found some other blogs with some encouraging attitudes like this one from Kelli who urged the church to rise up! and these from Kevin, Abbye, and this one from Brad Ruggles. I appreciated all of your posts and your spirit!
Through Hazel's Eyes 