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 his support of abortion is incomprehensible. How can someone who seeks justice for one segment of the population that is vulnerable to oppression, turn a blind eye to another, even more vulnerable segment, the unborn? What's more, even the most oppressed in America are not as oppressed as the babies who are aborted. You have to wonder, then, how serious a guy is when he talks about justice but remains pro-abortion.
It reminds me of Dr Morgentaler, an abortion doctor here in Canada. He was a survivor of the Holocaust. Witnessed untold deaths at the hands of fellow human beings. He yearned for justice. So what does he do when he's liberated? He comes to a free nation and starts his own one-man holocaust of babies. Calls it justice for the mothers. Okay, but what about the babies whose lives he destroys. Talk about bizarre.
You have posted a couple of good ideas, one Obama needs our prayers.
He has proven he cant be trusted, but what is new not any of the
last 40 presidents could be completely trusted. He is not the first person
of mixed culture to live in the whitehouse, maybe the first black male in
the oval office so be it. The white people did put him in it. I am afraid
the Muslin countries will really test him as Biden has said, even as strong
as both of the Kennedys were. If Muslin countries can create riots and unrest in the US they will and they can. Look out america, 4 years is a long time, but we have fought other wars that lasted longer, just not too many of them on the homeland.
The media has a very short memory and they have been known to eat their young. Ask Bill and Hillary. You are right, Pastor, America will dump the left as fast as it dumped the right if results are not forthcoming.
I remember one Christian author in 1989 stating that, if we did not work furiously to pay down our national debt (then approaching one trillion dollars) it would be mathematically impossible to pay it off. Now we are at ten trillion, soon to be fifteen trillion if even half of the President's promises are mandated. At this point it's fasten your seatbelt and put your trust in the Lord and not in princes!
I appreciated your thoughtful comments. The two kingdoms concept is a very helpful way of framing our perspective on life.
I believe God has a good purpose for His people by bringing Obama to power. Daniel is a good example to look to as he was a faithful public servant under some of the most idolatrous kings in the history of mankind. We need to be graceful as we endure these difficult times (I am speaking mostly to myself here) and to seek God's help to obey Him and to love His enemies, knowing we ourselves were such before we were reconcile by His dear Son.
I am a Christian before I am a Republican, Independent, or Democrat. I also have no trust in a son of man. I simply want to be true to the Gospel of our Savior and I look forward to the words of Christ: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." on the last day.
A lot of us are upset and shell shocked. That is fine. Be angry but do not sin and simply look to our Savior for help during these difficult times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep2u4xvYhjw
We are also commanded to pray for those who hate or abuse us (Luke 6:28). However, when it comes to praying for those who openly lie, cheat, murder and steal and boast of their intentions to continue doing so, there is absolutely no biblical warrant for prayers that God would bless them in the administration of their wicked schemes.
We should pray that they would repent, shun evil, speak the truth, act with humility and do what is right so that their actions would cause God’s name to be lifted up.
It is an empirically verifiable fact that Obama, Bush, Clinton and 99% of all elected representatives are profoundly corrupt. They are puppets who decide absolutely nothing of importance in the city of man. They are bought and paid for by a tiny circle of globalist bankers whose interests are diametrically opposed to the common good. They demonstrate by their actions that they have nothing but contempt for the constitution and the oath of office.
We are witnessing the gradual, deliberate and carefully controlled demolition of the economy, constitution and good name of this republic and both of the main parties are shamelessly committed to policies that will advance this criminal enterprise. Last week, every individual with a vote had an opportunity to say "not in my name" by voting for the independent candidate of their choice. Sadly, most of them chose the lesser of two great evils.
Think about all the outrages that have been perpetrated in our name in the last twelve months alone: wars of aggression, kidnapping, rape and torture as instruments of policy, false flag operations, secret legislation, secret prisons, secret evidence, warrantless surveillance, suppression of free speech, denial of due process, media manipulation, the corruption and militarization of local police, election fraud, confiscation of guns and other property, gross financial malfeasance, the list goes on and on.
None of this makes any sense if we assume that our elected officials are well-meaning and/or incompetent altruists who struggle valiantly to control an unfortunate series of events.
But everything makes shockingly good sense if we assume they are taking orders from trans-national corporations that thrive on war, famine and misery and which have means, motive and opportunity to destroy economies on a global scale so that they can buy up all the real assets in the world at fire sale prices using stolen and inherently fraudulent fiat currency, and then demand that future generations reimburse them with interest for doing so!
If people think there is the slightest chance that Obama can or will save us from any of this, or that Christians can remain aloof amid the increasingly brazen depradations of an openly fascist police state, I respectfully suggest that they wake up.
Obama was the globalists' first choice and received three times more Wall Street money than McCain. The corporate fascists groomed him and now they own him and can easily destroy him if they ever need to. He will do exactly as he is told. If you were appalled by what Bush or Clinton did to this country, you have seen nothing yet. Just wait.
Admonitions to meekly “wish him well” and “hope for the best” are not helpful. Claims that we don’t know what Obama will do or that we owe him “the benefit of the doubt” are delusional. There is no doubt.
This is no time to cut any slack for the latest silver-tongued Judas goat as he tries to entice us into the abattoir of a one world dictatorship.
I have the very highest regard for Dr Riddlebarger’s theological acumen, but in this matter, I believe he is mistaken.
Can you provide some references for some of your comments? In particular, I have been unable to find anything about the typical ideas/policies of the globalists/globalist bankers. Who are these people?
I agree that most politicians are corrupt, but it is likely the case that at least some of the policies that are put in place are done so with the intention of helping people. One of the best ways to prevent corruption is to become involved - write letters to your congressmen and congresswomen, and every other politician that is supposed to represent you. The only way to start chipping away at the level of corruptness is to get involved.
I expect that what is true for the King is also true for the President Elect. God is still in control. Let's continue to pray for the health and success of the Nation regardless of who is at the helm.
This "right" or "left" nonsense needs to stop. The mess we are in now was engineered by the "right" and their failed monetary policies as described by the Prophet Amos:
Amo 8:4-7 Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, (5) Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? (6) That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat? (7) The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.
Jimmy Carter was the last US President to tell the truth. Consider the "brilliant" republican strategists Lee Atwater and Karl Rove - there are a couple solid upright citizens for you (the first mudslingers). These two men are the "architects" of Bush (1&2) and Reagan who were the biggest monetary inflators in the history of the world. The Bible says you shall know them by their fruits, and the truly sad thing is Christians are so blinded by materialism they are unwilling to face the fact, the “Right” and just as, if not more so corrupt as the left.
The Reagan/ Bush policies of monetary inflation are now coming home to roost, and not only in your children’s lives, but yours as well.
He is justifying partisan politics with all his "lurching" rhetoric. (You others need to read that article to know what I'm talking about).
But now, the author is implying that this is somehow, all of a sudden, not the time for partisan politics. Give me a break. Christians should never "tow the party line", no matter which candidate we're talking about. We come at politics as Christians, not as Repubs or Dems, or as people pretending that what Obama might do, after all, is really not that important because he is from the "City of Man".
And we DO know, RIGHT NOW, what Obama will do if he gets his way! Why would Riddlebarger say that we don't? Is he that ignorant, or does he too, have some kind of an agenda? We need to pray against what Obama himself says he is going to do, such as *legalize infanticide, and a huge list of other ungodly and tyranical evils that he can't wait to implement. No encouragement from Riddlebarger there! HOW COME? Could even the likes of Riddlebarger be compromised somewhere? I sure hope not.
This article is typical soft-pedaling and typical "let-me-put-you-Christians-to-sleep" rhetoric that is rampant in our culture from the so-called "City of God". The City of God needs to WAKE UP, and NOT constantly look for "good-little Christian platitudes" to EXCUSE the evil that is destroying us, our families, and the Church... We must STOP saying that we need to give evil men the "benefit of the doubt". They do not DESERVE the benefit of the doubt. We do not OWE them the benefit of the doubt as Riddlebarger says. What utter absurdity! What we OWE them is the TRUTH, and the TRUTH comes from God's Word, and God's Word says that these men need to REPENT, and if they don't, they need to be STOPPED! Would we give a pastor in our own Church's pulpit the "benefit of the doubt" if he laughed at the Bible, publically, and week after week preached heresies? Or would we RIGHTLY and JUSTLY, do all we could to bring that evil man down with our prayers and everything we've got, for the sake of those who have to endure his EVIL?!!!
Well, you got it...that's my honest opinion. No offence meant against you Mr. Riddlebarger, none whatsoever...(but for evil men like Obama, and to the do-nothing, compromised portion of the Body of Christ, for you, yes, take offence; and then repent).
"If people think there is the slightest chance that Obama can or will save us from any of this, or that Christians can remain aloof amid the increasingly brazen depradations of an openly fascist police state, I respectfully suggest that they wake up."
I LOVED your post, btrclngr, (about 5 posts above mine). Your righteous indignation is becoming all too rare for a "holy" Church. Keep spreading the "tough love" needed so badly in our culture from the Church of the living God. Thank you.
My last comment is on all the hand-wringing about the heavy handedness of the Bush administration. My major complaint with George is how he caved in on our economy. The "police state" policy is borderline silly. We are at war. Those fanatical, sick, mindless and ultra cruel Muslims want only one thing: the death of America and the establishment of Islam and Sharia Law. One friend of mine, high, high up in the defense network told me three years ago, "If you knew what George knew, you would not be sleeping." If ten of those whack jobs can immobilize and terrorize a city bigger than New York (Mumbai) who are we kidding? There are still ten suitcase bombs missing from the Russian arsenal. So give George a break. Personally, I think history will give George a better review than the New York Times. If he makes it till January, that will be seven years without an attack on a country with porous borders. We are not going to sit down over the campfire with these inhumane zealots and sing Kumbaiya. They have one mission: kill all Americans - man, woman, and child. I pray the Psalms that the very evil they plan against us will fall on their own heads.