President-Elect Obama
Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 09:19AM 
I didn't vote for him. But he is our new president. Given the angst so many Christians feel about an Obama presidency, it may be a good idea to take a step back and consider the following . . .
First, this is not the end of the world. It is not even the end of the Republic. Yes, the city of man has lurched hard-left. That happens once in a while. And then over time it drifts back to the center, and then lurches right again. This is what the city of man does. The reality is that the city of man is not any more amenable to Christianity when the lurch is toward the right than it is when it is lurching left. That is the nature of the city of man.
I am old enough to remember a fair bit of this lurching: Kennedy (center-left), Johnson (left), Nixon (right-center), Ford (center-right) Carter (left), Reagan (right), Bush 41 (center-right), Clinton (center-left), Bush 43 (right-center), and now Obama (left? left-center?). Life goes on folks.
Second, since we are simultaneously citizens of two kingdoms (the kingdom of God and the city of man) I certainly hope we find it within ourselves to sincerely wish our new president well, and fervently pray for God's blessing upon him and his new administration (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Our nation is facing a severe economic crisis. We are deeply divided along political and racial lines. There is great resentment about the war in Iraq, and great uncertainty about what to do about Iran and Israel. Our new president faces a daunting task in leading a divided nation in a very uncertain time. He truly needs our prayers. The American presidency is one huge job.
Third, if Obama isn't up to the job, then all of us will suffer. If he is everything that his most ardent supporters claim that he is, he still faces a task which can overwhelm the even greatest of men. So, let us hope and pray that Obama will capably fulfill his office and lead our nation forward through this tough time. There is too much at stake here for the partisans among us to cynically wish that Obama will fail so that Republicans can get the White House back in 2012. Now is the time for partisan politics to go on hiatus. We don't yet know what Obama will do. But we do owe President-Elect Obama the benefit of the doubt for the time being.
Far and away, the worst president of my life-time was Jimmy Carter. He wasn't an ideological leftist or a socialist (although he governed as one). Carter was a nice man (and a professing Christian) who was an inept president. But his ineptitude hurt all Americans--remember gas lines, hostages left in Iran for 444 days, and stagflation? So, I hope Obama is all that is advertised, because I don't want to suffer through that stuff again. It was a horrible time for many Americans.
Fourth, now that we have our first African-American president, let us also hope and pray for real and lasting racial reconciliation. May the Obama presidency heal the wounds that so many African-Americans deeply feel and which white Americans can't truly understand. That said, while there will always be racism in the city of man, I hope African-Americans realize that it was white Americans who elected the first black president. That is huge. Just twenty years ago, such a thing was unthinkable. This is a real chance to heal old wounds, right old wrongs, and then move on. Let us pray this happens!
Fifth, there is every possibility that Obama will seek to implement a far-left, socialist agenda. But there is also the possibility that Obama will be a centrist, and that he will govern from the left-center like Bill Clinton did. Remember, it is far easier to run for president and make all kinds of outlandish promises to your various constituencies, than it is to actually govern. The struggle to keep power will pull Obama back to the center, even if his instincts are to go hard-left. This what happens once you live inside the beltway and you grow to like that address @ 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Should Obama actually succeed in pushing forward the socialist, pro-abortion agenda which so many fear, many of the anti-Bush and union voters who elected him will turn on him, and his "rock-star" popularity will quickly evaporate. The mid-term elections will likely see that huge Democrat majority bounced right out of Congress. Weakness in a national crisis, or a prolonged recession and/or a deepening economic crisis will also really hurt Obama--along with the rest of us. It won't be long before we find out whether or not that suit was empty, or if Obama has the mettle for the job.
Finally, there is a fundamental question here. Why wouldn't we want Obama to succeed? Are partisan politics really more important than the well-being of the nation? This is one of those periods when there are great national changes afoot, and this is truly a time to hope for the best (in terms of God's providence) for our beloved country. But we also need to hold Obama's feet to the fire (in terms of his campaign promises) and not be so naive as to think that the city of man (or President Obama) has any real answers to life's ultimate problems. I doubt very seriously that if John McCain had been elected president the millennium would begin on January 21, 2009.
This is going to be a very tough term of office for any president. So, it is our duty to pray for our new president, and wish him and our nation well. Meanwhile let us go about our callings and vocations as Christian citizens doing what Paul told us to do, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (Romans 12:18), all the while not forgetting the words of the Psalmist (143), "Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish."
Reader Comments (76)
But what's done is done and Dr. Riddlebarger's commentary on the election is probably the best statement we can expect to hear from anyone - either in the public domain or otherwise.
If the American Church repents and again preaches Christ faithfully we'll see some lasting change in the area of abortion and homosexuality. The American Church trusts the law, both man's law and God's Law to bring the change they crave (liberal or conservative) rather than the foolishness of Christ Crucified.
Correction. Barry is the first mulatto president.
Only if you are a Remonstrant who believes that Christ also died for the Pharisees and for Judas, but we digress.
Sometimes I wonder if certain religionists listen to themselves speak. All I hear is a boogey-man fright out of control, yet you want us all to believe your hope is in God. You sound awfully afraid.
Before the election I had asked my two teenage daughters a hypothetical question: On the day following the election (assuming that Obama won), what would they say if their teacher asked their class whether this portended good or evil for Christians and the Church? After their response I took them back to the Gospel (as I often do), and then to Romans 8:28. It is the awesome wonder of the Gospel in light our once unregenerate wickedness and rebellion, and our continued sinfulness that makes me realize how firm and substantial God’s promise is that “all things” work for our good. (Previously, when I (mis)understood the Gospel as something that my free will effected, this verse was a burden to bear; something I was supposed to do and not an indication of the way things were/are.)
Also in the context of the Gospel, Paul reminds us that Pharaoh was raised up for God’s glory. What leader of men, whether wise or foolish, just or unjust, that wasn’t raised up by God for his glory? And isn’t man’s primary purpose to glorify God and to enjoy him forever? No matter the party in charge, we can rejoice that God is being glorified.
Mr. Obama has been alluded to as an enemy and in a previous post we were rightly reminded to love our enemies (I do not claim that he is an enemy). Growing up in a fundamentalist evangelical Baptist church, I had heard this said from time-to-time. It always seemed that the enemy that I was supposed to love was the obnoxious neighbor/classmate, the back-stabbing co-worker or even that God hating atheist. But when I studied (and continue to study) Romans I found:
Rom 5:10
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
We are prone to forget that we were indeed enemies of God. Every time we look into the mirror of the Law we should be reminded of this fact. When I see myself as a former enemy of the One before whom no one can bear to stand, I can at least begin to understand what loving my neighbor is about. (We have found the enemy and he are us – Pogo.)
This election may or may not result is a more socialistic government, a weaker economy, less freedom, and perhaps even the onset of government persecution of Christians for the Gospel. But given the supremeness of God’s grace and mercy towards us how can we not truly rest in him in this small thing? (Obviously, we must not fail to exercise our rights and responsibilities as citizens of the city of man, too. Maybe it could be said that we “rest” but not “rust”.)
Perhaps God will use this to draw the Church back to a Christ-centered, cross-centered Christianity. (While I do not wish to lose what freedoms we have left, by God’s grace I would willingly trade them for the Church’s return to their “first-love”. Such is my grief for the Church.) May God grant us mercy, grace and peace.
Teaching politics in DC, I think the most interesting part of the next few years is going to be seeing how American political institutions hold up against the idealism of Obama and his followers. The American system is designed to moderate extremism and push everyone towards the common good (you gotta love the Federalists!). Because of how many different people and positions of power there are, no one ideology is supposed to be able to dominate. But the tendency of the past hundred years of so has been to tear down these barriers in order to get desired policies put into effect.
However the next few years unfold, it should be a fascinating and exciting time to be asking Abraham Kuyper's question: how do we interact with politics knowing that God is absolutely sovereign in our nation?
I know that it was white Americans that voted Obama in, but I think such a thought is more prevalent in the mind of white Americans than it is in the mind of black Americans. White Americans may view this as a large step towards a less racist and more tolerant society, but I think in general black Americans think of this more as black victory and progress. I don't know the kind of neighborhoods the readers live in, but I live in a largely black neighborhood where people were screaming for joy last night when Obama was declared the winner; I think some people were even using fireworks.
In general, young blacks view this country as fundamentally racist where I have grown up. Some emphasize this so much, they have no time to reflect their own racism which is very much open for others to see and is many times the type of racism they denounce in others. It has been a mystery to me how people can proclaim black power or brown power and view white power as being uniquely wrong. Don't get too hopeful about the future of race relations.
Withouit being specific about anyone so I don't get a response, it is clear that you can be in the right camp theologically, and yet still hold to foolish or even destructive beliefs in the civil realm. I think everyone can agree with this.
Apparently there are at least 2 of us. I too voted for Obama (not enthusiastically, but as the more palatable of the alternatives) and also am a reformed, born again Christian. Maybe your definition of Christian is too tied up with your political views and this world.