On God's Election of Obama

I have kept an eye on what people are saying in my circles about Obama’s re-election. Things don’t look too good there. Fear, anger, frustration, and hopelessness are filling the thoughts of those of us who are supposed to have the most hope. There is no time that the sin of idolatry comes to light more than after a Presidential election. One person I know says that they are taking off a week of work to recover. Another says they are leaving the country. Yet another says this is the downfall of America. It is the end. The downfall of America? The end? Really?

It is hard for me to get too upset about these elections. Sure, there are implications. These implications extend to my family and my job. They make me look at the people in my country and think, “Really, is this who we are now? Is this what it has come down to?” Were I to place the full weight of my body (which is getting lighter every day!) on the chair of human achievement, I suppose I would feel less secure today than I did yesterday. But I don’t and I can’t. In fact, I found myself rejoicing once the results came in.

Obama is our president for the next four years. How bad is that? I suppose I could talk about all the issues involved, both economic and moral. I suppose I could talk about how much worse it is now going to get. I suppose that I could get ready for the most bleak outcome: increased unemployment, higher taxes, less pay, fewer donations to Credo House, waiting in line for health care, homosexual marriage, increased toleration for the death of the unborn, increased intoleration for Christianity, and a thousand other things. But this would lack perspective. Whether it is Obama or Romney, I pause and take account of this fact: I live in the most secure, free, and moral country that has probably ever existed. And we are a long way from giving up this title. Are we heading toward a “fall”? Maybe, but we are still a long way from the cliff. In fact, it is not even in sight yet.

But let us say for the sake of argument that Obama is the iconic president who will lead the charge off the cliff. Let us say that America is heading for disaster. Let us say that in ten years our teeth will be on edge due to the sour grapes that Obama is handing out. Let us say that Obama will be the cause for an imminent loss of security, freedom, and morality. What then? If we knew this without a doubt, what then? Is it then time to despair? Is it then time for us to tear our cloaks, shave our heads, and go into mourning? How could it be?

My favorite theologian and philosopher, Bono, once said in a song about Christ’s death, “I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword. I threw the dice and they pierced his side. But I have seen love conquer the great divide” (“When Love Comes to Town”). The worst event in the history of the world is when we hung our Creator on a tree and let him die. We all went to the polling booth and said, “We will not have this man to rule over us.” We voted against the very incarnation of goodness, righteousness, and truth. We held the scabbard of the soldier’s sword as he killed our savior. Yet, while this was the worst event in the history of humanity, it was also the best. While it was a day for the greatest mourning in the history of the world, it was also a day for the greatest rejoicing in the history of the world. While angels gawked at the arrogance of man, they gawked more at the love of God. God drew the sword on himself that day. He was in charge. I held the scabbard as the King of Kings was unelected from office. Yet God’s plan was that through evil greatness might be revealed. Have we not learned? Do we stand in the crowd in front of the cross with hopeless despair or with great anticipation and excitement of what God is doing?

We all stand in front of the cross on election day, not knowing what God’s plan is. Will righteousness be delivered or killed? Will evil triumph or be smothered? Will we begin to heal or continue to be beaten? Who knows? But what we don’t have the right to do is keep from rejoicing in anticipation that our Father is going about his business and he has something in mind.

Obama has been reelected. Please don’t come down too hard on me as I rejoice. Me and my kids got down on our knees tonight and prayed that Romney would win. He did not. Yet, in a very real way, I am excited. No, I don’t agree with Obama, his policies, his plans, or his dreams. Yet I have this really awesome Father who does incredible things like kill his own Son. I have this Father who knows what he is doing and is in complete control. I have this Father who elected Barack Obama as his man and you are not going to believe what comes next. Yes, it looks bad. Yes, there are a lot of people in this crowd crying. Yes, they are without hope. But let me tell you about the way he works. It is too cool.

I am in the crowd tonight listening. Dashed dreams and hopelessness are topics of conversation. But I can’t join in. I know the Guy in charge of all this. And because I know his M.O., I will hold the scabbard with great anticipation and joy. God’s will has been done tonight and I can’t wait to see what he does next. Don’t fault me for rejoicing in the unexpected and unwanted. I can’t help it. This is Christianity 101.

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” –Titus 3:1-2

Pray for my president that God elected tonight. I commit to loving and encouraging him. I will speak no ill-will of him. He is the man God elected and my arms are laid down. There is no authority except from God and who am I not to hold the scabbard of God’s mission? Selah.

This is tough medicine, but the encouragement and hope that it gives me has helped make this a wonderful Friday! Let us unite as Believers in Christ to be faithful followers of the King of Kings regardless of what perplexes these mortal frames of clay.

God gave us free will. Obama is on us, not God.

God did not put Stalin or Hitler in power as part of His plan. He gave man free will, and man chose a path divergent from God.

When an adult allows their child to take the car, after specifically forbidding speeding and alcohol, it is not part of the adults greater plan that the child gets drunk, rolls the car, and dies.

We (America) own this.

Dear Mr. Patton,
Oh do rejoice. Yes, God is in control. I believe that. I know that.

I also know that some seasons are awful. The Holocaust was awful. WWI and WWII were awful. Some people’s assignment from God are really terrible assignments. I think we are called to faith always, but not rejoicing always. We are called to know the seasons, to have eyes to see and ears to hear.

I suspect your friends who are leaving the country are called to do so. I suspect your friends shutting things down in their life are called to do so.

In fact, I have more trust in how they are walking out their faith that I have in you rejoicing. Having said that, maybe that is your call. I just submit that perhaps you not assume that is everybody’s assignment.

Just sayin...

I am a born again Christian, who always votes, and I am disgusted with Obama, and very worried we will soon not have a country left. I think a civil war is coming, I just do not know when. I do not plan to go quietly into the night.

God gave us free will. Obama is on us, not God.

Exactly. I get sick to death of hearing, "How could God have let this happen?"
"Why did God let such a good person die?"
...ad nauseum.

There is a Supreme Being folks but quality of life on this rock is up to us. Just get your arse and your soul ready for life after this rock. Then you will see the much bigger picture. Many will not like what they see that awaits them.

Well said. This pretty much aligns with my gut instinct that we are approaching an Old Testament level tough love period from our Father.

Re-reading the OT may be give us some perspective. Repeatedly, God would allow Israel to suffer when they lost their way.

I would say that the moral decline we have in the USA is close to the declines in Israel that caused them to head into bondage, defeat and destruction.

There is an old saying: "the only way some people will look up is when they are knocked on their back".

I agree that God is in control and His plan will go forth no matter what insolent man will do. However...

This election tells us exactly where the American public is. It has turned it's back on God. It once again has turned from God's principles and moral law. They cheer everything that God calls evil. They have made the golden calf once again. They sit down to feast and rise up to play. We are now in the wilderness and the promised land is out of view.

What next? God sends them 'great delusion' that they would believe the LIE that have rejected the TRUTH. Read 2 Thess. 2. Obama is just a symptom of the underlying moral cancer. Give us a King. Here he is. Reap what you sow. The wicked shall wax worse and worse. This is a time for Christians to really reflect on what being a follower of Christ means. Time to take up your cross and follow HIM.

Sorry God did not elect Obama Satan did. If God put Obama in power then he put Hitler in power too...

The God of Israel turned his back on Israel when they forsook him. He is doing the same to America . You cannot sanction the murder of 50 million babies and assume Gods grace. We live in a country amoung a people that made Hitler look like an amateur.

That which you do unto the least of these you do unto me.....

God will NEVER do for us what we can do for ourselves. We have brought this on our selves true enough. Praying for Romney to win is an interesting response....what did you DO to defeat the destroyer in chief???? I am so tired of the Christian who is meek and mild and says ‘Oh well it must be God’s will so I’ll just sit here and wait for what’s next.”

Jews who thought of themselves as good Germans found themselves in the same concentration camps as others. They went meekly and mildly saying oh well it must be God’s will.

This is bad theology on sooooo many levels

I’m sure you’re a very nice person, but I wish you not publish this stuff. If this is God’s will, then everything is God’s will. Then we can’t punish people who murder others because IT’S GOD’S WILL. Understand?

The article is half right. Obama’ reelection was ordained by God. Scripture indicates God’s sovereignty over everything, including elections. And the powers that be are ordained by God whether they be personally righteous or not. Still, the idea that we are to be silent in the face of evil is not biblical. Where at all possible live in peace, stand for the truth even if the stars fall, and you’re doing God’s work.

That’s exactly right. When Israel spent 200 years worshiping other gods and were being attacked, they THEN cried out to God. And He said “Go get the other ones that you loved so much.”

My favorite theologian and philosopher, Bono, once said in a song about Christ’s death

Tactfully expressed, nothing else needs to be said about the author. He has already summarized his position.

It is ENTIRELY possible that we DID NOT re-elect Obama. As each story is posted about serious voter fraud -— drip, drip, drip -— it is becoming more and more obvious that the election was stolen instead of won.

The saddest thing of all is that our elected leaders who CLAIM to be CONSERVATIVE will brush all this off and not do a single thing about it. The Republican Party should SUE each and every voting district where Obama received 99%-100%-108% of the vote. Surely there are TRUE PATRIOT lawyers who would take up this gauntlet pro bono.

I will watch and wait to see if anything is done -— but I must confess my expectations are low. Like many others, the criminal element of the Democrat party has tried us and pushed us, and found us to be a soft target. Who can blame them for taking advantage of an adversary who refuses to fight back from even the most blatant provocation!?!

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