The last eight years of political leadership in the United States have brought a mixture of successes and disappointments. We have entered a recession some are likening to the Great Depression of the 30s. Corrupt bankers and CEOs have profited to the detriment of the people who entrusted them with their money.

God has been placed on the back burner in many lives, including the lives of some of our Christian leaders. In some cases the church has removed itself from leadership in the community for fear of losing tax exemption, upsetting the wrong people, or being politically incorrect. It is time to turn the page.

Our president-elect is a bit of an unknown. Some Christians and conservatives are worried he may be too liberal. None of us knows for sure what he stands for, but that does not necessarily have to be a bad thing. He could be just the man to lead the United States the next four years.

Even if he governs more liberally than some of us would like, it may serve to stir Christians into action in our great nation and God’s purpose will be served. Following the last two elections (2000 and 2004), I was surrounded by many friends who felt they had the right to moan and complain about our nation’s leader. Their complaining seemed inappropriate and couterproductive to me, and therefore, I will now put aside my feelings about our president-elect. I will turn the page and look with hope to the future. I will turn the page and pray for this man. I will pray that God grants him wisdom to lead this country. I will pray that he leads from a bipartisan White House and does not push through an agenda for an agenda’s sake, but instead will do what is best for the United States. We cannot worry or fear what will happen. God knows what he has in store and he will not lead us astray. God will protect us, guide us, love us, and help us. That will not change because of one leader. I urge all of you to join me in praying for God’s blessings on our new president.

The church has remained complacent too long. If the church remains silent, how can it complain when its rights to share the gospel of Christ are infringed upon? If the church is silent, how can Christians say the country is going down the wrong road?

Christians must turn the page. We must love everyone with the love of Jesus Christ regardless of race, gender, life choices, sinfulness (because we all sin), and political leanings. We must love everyone the way God loves everyone.

This does not mean we can condone sin. This means we are to love the sinner and show God’s love to everyone. The church must stand up and say the Bible is important and should be shared with everyone. The church must stand up and pray in public places. God must be the center of our country if we expect a bright future; but how can God lead us if the bride of Christ won’t march up the aisle and take his hand to minister in the dark corners of the world? The church must shine. If ever there were a time when the church’s light was needed, it is now. Stand up! Turn the page!

Please, stand up with me. I choose not to complain about our country’s leadership. What happened this past election day may not have been my plan, but God’s ways are higher than mine. I will pray for our new president. I will pray for our representatives in the House and the Senate. Please join me. Please, let us turn the page. Let us rejoice in the day the Lord has made. Let us praise God with every breath we have. In this praise, do not remain silent. |L

OTHER COLUMNS:
November 15, 2009 - Bringing Christ to French Guiana
November 1, 2009 - Walking the edge
October 18, 2009 - Watch what you say
October 4, 2009 - Proposing a new proverb
September 20, 2009 - Fear and trembling
September 6, 2009 - Elwyn
August 23, 2009 - Where did the Bible go?
August 9, 2009 - The public school: a local mission field
July 26, 2009 - Astonishing the judges
July 12, 2009 - Letting the past go
June 28, 2009 - Line up
June 14, 2009 - The path to spiritual growth
May 31, 2009 - A tribute to one of my heroes
May 17, 2009 - Silent soldier
April 19, 2009 - Operation Resensitization
April 5, 2009 - The temptations of ministers
March 8, 2009 - Conversation over shoes
February 22, 2009 - By their plurals you shall know them
February 8, 2009 - What is missing from your retirement plans?
December 28, 2008 - Abba, Father
December 14, 2008 - Elementary truths
November 30, 2008 - The illusion
October 19, 2008 - Acting like a toddler
October 5, 2008 - Don’t miss this
September 21, 2008 - Foolish schemes
September 7, 2008 - God’s hand is everywhere
August 24, 2008 - The dance
August 10, 2008 - Strange land
July 27, 2008 - God’s amazing grace
July 13, 2008 - A best seller
June 29, 2008 - My grandfather’s clock and worship
June 1, 2008 - Reclaiming the name
May 4, 2008 - God is not our fairy godmother
April 6, 2008 - Success: what is it and who can measure up?
March 9, 2008 - Need to know
February 10, 2008 - The top three myths of singleness
January 13, 2008 - By invitation only
December 5, 2007 - Yes, Abbie, there is a Jesus
November 18, 2007 - 10 Ways to be a good Christmas customer
October 21, 2007 - The dividing line
September 23, 2007 - What do you fear?
September 9, 2007 - A life well lived
August 26, 2007 - To murmur, or not to murmur
July 29, 2007 - The cross and the Christian
July 15, 2007 - Turning the other cheek: still a valuable biblical principle
July 1, 2007 - Why the tie?
June 3, 2007 - The death of a son
May 6, 2007 - A prayer for the dying
April 8, 2007 - The omnipresent God
March 11, 2007 - Do the Amish have superheroes?
February 11, 2007 - What’s your black history?
January 14, 2007 - The split branch
December 31, 2006 - The house of regret
December 10, 2006 - The redemption of the innkeeper
November 26, 2006 - Too many choices
November 12, 2006 - Break the bashing habit: Learning to love the unsaved like Christ does: November 12, 2006
October 15, 2006 - Be ‘salt and light’ this Christmas!: October 15, 2006
September 17, 2006 - Who is a legalist?: September 17, 2006 Issue 38
July 23, 2006 - God speaks through our brokenness: July 23, 2006 Issue 38
June 25, 2006 - 'What I am looking for in my church leaders'