There is no doubt that we just went through one of the historic moments of our lifetimes with the election of Barack Obama to President of the United States. As a believer, I am conflicted about my feelings on this. On the one hand, it is a great testament to our country - that anyone, from any background, race, etc. can achieve their dreams. It is a tremendous exclamation point on the civil rights movement that started not so long ago. And he is certainly a motivational and inspirational juggernaut.
However...who is he and what does he stand for? Below is a transcript from a commentator I heard on Fox News last night during the election coverage. It helps capture some of my thoughts:
KRAUTHAMMER: Obama, the Charismatic New American Leader
As seen on FOX News on November 4:CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST/FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR:
He’s almost entirely a self-made man. Here’s a man that nobody had heard of a few years ago, with no special resources or with “machines” or background or history. And who created himself. He beat the Clinton machine entirely on his own — with the force of his intelligence and charisma, of a kind I don’t think anybody has seen since Pierre Elliot Trudeau did it in Canada 50 years ago. It’s absolutely remarkable. And he carried himself all the way to the presidency. I think it’s that force of personality which is so interesting and so important about him. But it’s also what makes him opaque and unknown. Which way will he go as president, nobody knows. Because we really don’t still know who he is and we’ll discover that after he occupies the Oval Office. We don’t really know who he is and what he believes but we know of his intelligence and ambition. And I think that will probably lead him to be a president who is pragmatic, not ideological. And who may act as a restraint on the ideologues who will now be running the House and the Senate.
What’s so interesting is that all of this is speculation. And the reason is that he has so little history. I don’t think we’ve ever had a president as unknown, as new, as untested as him. And we will see.
My concern is will he be the man and President that he says he will be? Or will he be the man that he has shown himself to be in the short time we have known about him? A man who has stood with his party, leans very far to the left, who is able to drop life-long relationships and beliefs to suit his needs (Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, primary campaign remarks)?
Thanks be to our God that only He is in control. As for the rest, indeed, we shall see.
What I do know is that is our duty to support our President when we can and to look for solutions when we don't. I am praying for God's will to be done and for his hand to guide our great country.
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Good comments. I too am conflicted. I didn't think McCain would be very effective, though I liked his policies better. The world will immediately give the USA a more positive image because of him. But how will he govern? He shows an ability to bring people to join with him in a cause...but with little substance or history to say what that is or will be.
ReplyDeleteWith the way the economy totally tanked at such a last minute I can't help but to think that despite my reservations about Obama, things were orchestrated by God to bring about this result.
Is this because of judgment? His mercy? A setting the stage for a future something else that makes this election non consequential in its own? Regardless, it is in our best interests and our duty to pray for him and not seek to malign him.
I am feeling very hopeful about an Obama administration.
ReplyDeleteI think his big-picture values are more aligned with the values of God's kingdom. I have no illusions that everything he does will be perfectly aligned with biblical values. But I do believe that his actions toward peace, justice, stewardship, and reconciliation will further God's kingdom beyond what would have happened under McCain.
You might be interested in the prayer/pledge found here:
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/prayerandpledge
Not to get too down-and-dirty, but the questions and concerns about character in terms of politically expedient policy changes, questionable associations, etc. seemed to me much higher on the McCain side than the Obama side. Obama was incredibly gracious (I thought) to not return fire on the Ayers/Wright stuff by bringing up the far more relevant Keating 5 issue.
I don't think God orchestrates massive economic failure and the inevitable destructive impact that has on human lives. I hope that Christians will begin to question the weaving together of laissez faire capitalism, patriotism, and Christianity.