It’s election night. Facebook is abuzz with people leaving their commentary on Obama’s win, and here are some quotes from friends who were obviously looking for a different outcome:
“I am moving out of the country”
“I am about to drive off a cliff”
“Come quickly, Lord Jesus”
“I feel like the floodgates of war have just been unlocked”
“I am buying a gun tomorrow”
“I hope American doesn’t implode”
“I am fearful of things to come”
Oh boy.
Sorry to call you out, my dear Facebook friends. I’m sure you didn’t want me quoting you on my blog. But when you post this “the sky is falling” drama, it’s like you are just begging me to comment on it.
I am annoyed by these comments not because I am a Democrat. (’cause I’m not). I am annoyed by these comments as a Christian and as an American. I realize that some people are disappointed, and that may prone them towards a little dramatic license right now. But this is ridiculous.
First of all, as a Christian, I know that God is in control. I know that the president will not change my faith or how I practice it. The government will not dictate what values I give my children, who I call my friends, or where I go to church. And (gasp), from what I’ve heard, Obama does not have an agenda to drive the church underground, persecute Christians, throw us into war or usher in the end days. Sure, it might suck if our taxes go up, or if Roe vs. Wade doesn’t get overturned anytime soon, or if there is a new supreme court justice who doesn’t think just like us. But is that a reason to live in fear? Sorry to rain on the alarmist parade, but this stuff didn’t radically change with our previous presidents, either.
But more than that . . . People. Get some perspective!!! Are you really scared about the future of the United States because our president just changed? If so, I encourage you to get off your spoiled American hiney and go visit Haiti. Or Burma. Or Taiwan or the Congo. Talk to someone who lives in a country ruled by Robert Mgabe. And then come back and tell us all how freakin’ good we have it here, and what an oppressive and corrupt government really feels like. We have had liberal and conservative presidents in the past 30 years. We have had democrats and republicans. Do you really think that our country, and the way we live our daily lives, changes that much with a change in the presidency? Do you really the the government is in charge of our moral fiber? I mean, seriously, look at the history books. I sure as heck didn’t want Clinton to be president. But do I look back on those years of my life with fear and trembling, remembering the horrors of life in the US and how I wanted to flee the country? No. I have full confidence that our country is and will continue to be the greatest place to live.
America is awesome. God is good. I thank God I live in this country, and I refuse to live in fear. Stop shaking in your boots and say a little prayer for the new leader. I think we’re all gonna be okay.
LOVE LOVE LOVE what you wrote. You wrote exactly what I have felt for the past 4 months. THANK YOU!!!!! I am inspired and relieved by the OPTIMISM I feel tonight.
so well-written. my heart shouted an “indeed!” when i got to the end.
i agree wholeheartedly!
Amen, sister. I’m REALLY getting tired of the melodrama…and it breaks my heart that so much of it comes from Christians, who for some reason believe that Obama will inevitably usher in the systematic deconstruction of the American church and somehow, in just four years, transform the United States into Sodom. Does Obama really have more power than God? Or is it possible that yesterday was not Armageddon? That it could be much much worse?
Kristen, thank you for voicing that. I agree 100%. My DH and I have never done so much head-shaking as we have this past year. God bless America!
Kristen i was thinking the exact same thing last night.
Amen!
How ridiculous we are when we respond in fear. God is sovereign, and yes, many may be disappointed, but how about we respond by praying that God would change the hearts of the people (even our new leader):
“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” -Ezekiel 11:19-20
And how about we practice the whole the process of meditating on whatever is true, good, noble, trustworthy…
-We are blessed to live in this nation.
-God is the ultimate source of power and has the ability to soften or harden any leader’s heart (I pray he would soften Obama’s heart towards abortion so that GOD would be glorified!)
-God has allowed for Obama to be elected – therefore, it is part of His plan and I am thankful that HE knows what this nation and world needs in order to move us closer to His plan!
Great post, Kristen!
Good points. Well said! 🙂 Julie Lawrence
Oh you PREACH it, sister! I was struck by the tears of the African-Americans in the audience. Did you see Jesse Jackson? Tears just pouring down his face. One of the pundits on CNN, an African American, was so overcome he couldn’t speak for a few minutes…….Awesome job calling people out for their riduculousness!
Great post. I dislike politics so much it’s kind of amazing I’m commenting (to me, that is).
But you sum it up so well. And the other point that is also on my mind… So I am not a Democrat and I didn’t vote for Obama for a but a couple of key issues. Skin color never played a part (for or against). I would rather have a more conservative/moderate president on the moral issues that matter to me…but I can also respect and be proud of a nation of people who didn’t hold back a candidate based on his skin color.
You really helped me put my thoughts around all of this. Thanks!
and a big AMEN to that, sister!!!
EEK! It’s Wednesday at 4pm (Atlantic time 😉 ) and I just looked up at the sky. It did not fall!
Great post 🙂
thank you SO much for this. And congratulations on your peanut – too adorable 🙂
AMEN! I SO agree with you and have been shaking my head at the extreme reactions I am seeing and reading.
You had me doing the “oh yeah, oh yeah, here it comes, here she goes, OOOOH, yeah!!!”
I love love love it.
Thank you.
I mean – Obama is a Christian himself.
Thank you for your wonderful perspective. I wish some people would just stop and take a minute to reflect on past Presidencies and realize that even if it didn’t go the way you wanted at the time that we made it through and we all survived…the nation did not cease to exist becuase of it. Wonderful post.
http://livingtomyutmost.blogspot.com
WOW! I want to copy and paste on my blog because I feel EXACTLY the same way! My Pastor was saying the same thing last night. We were praying for the President and he looked up and said, “If it’s hard for you to pray for our President-elect, get over it.” Love it! Yeah God. Our NEVER CHANGING GOD! Praise Him! He has/will annoint the leader!
thank you for this much-needed perspective!
FANTASTIC post! I love it. I honestly couldn’t have said it better.
Amen!! My thoughts exactly!! I’ve actually thought the same thing the past 40+ years of elections. Amazing we are still standing!! I was very impressed with both McCain’s and Obama’s speeches on Tuesday night. I feel strangely optimistic and hopeful!!