Posted by
ProudAmericanJesusFreak on Friday, November 07, 2008 11:35:39 PM
November 6, 2008
I feel certain that many in
my stream of the Church want a statement from me concerning Tuesday's
presidential election. I will be frank in my remarks but I do not,
however, intend to vent anger or attack anyone. I have read several
statements from friends and colleagues I respect very much.
Their
thoughts are well stated and, for the most part, insightful. None of
them, however, seem to want to say some things that I believe need to
be said. I do not claim infallibility or to have the final word, but my
convictions run deep and I believe I bear a God-given responsibility to
share them.
Was This God's Will?
Was what happened
Tuesday God's will? I am quite confident it was not. America was
offered a very clear choice between moving further toward protecting
the unborn or further away; between a Supreme Court that would move
toward honoring God, life and morality or away from it. The stakes
couldn't have been higher nor the cost greater. As a nation we put on
blinders concerning Barak Obama's background, associations, beliefs and
practices, and set these causes back years, possibly decades.
And in doing so we took another step away from God and His plans for America, and another step toward judgment.
Judgment Will Increase
This is not a fire and brimstone warning from an angry, legalistic
preacher. In fact, I feel more sadness and grief than anything else.
Perhaps
I feel what Jesus felt as He wept for Jerusalem while announcing its
judgment. I am not hoping for judgment; I am saying it is inevitable. I
don't know where the unbiblical belief comes from that says a nation
can live any way it pleases, can reject God and His ways-even mock
Him-and not receive His judgments. Nor do I know when the belief came
that it is always mean-spirited or judgmental to warn of these things.
To the contrary, I believe it is our responsibility.
In
warning of judgment, I am not suggesting that God is going to
intentially and directly hurt people. Much judgment is simply the
absence of God's protection and provision, caused by a rejection of His
laws and ways. We have been experiencing some forms of judgment in
America for years, but God in His incredible patience and mercy has
kept us from the level we've deserved. I believe this will change to a
degree and judgment will now
increase:
* For those in the Church who aligned themselves with pro-abortion forces, I believe judgment will result.
* For leaders in the Body of Christ who refused to take a stand for
fear of losing people, money, and tax-exempt status-I believe there
will be a degree of judgment.
* For those, both within the
Church and without, who voted money over morality-a potential raise or
better health insurance over the life of a baby-there will be judgment.
(The irony is that this decision to base one's vote on the hopes of a
better economy won't produce the hoped for result anyway. The
scriptures teach that it is righteousness which exalts a nation and
that the nation is blessed whose God is the Lord.)
I have heard
the argument that God cares as much about social justice issues (such
as poverty and racism) as He does abortion, making a vote for Obama OK.
I certainly believe God puts a very high priority on caring for the
poor and I, too, have wanted to see equality demonstrated through a
"minority" president. But to equate having a better income or the
desire for a first black president, regardless of his positions on
abortion and morality, to the issue of killing 50 million babies is not
justice-it is a gross distortion of justice and great deception. I fear
that we have been desensitized to this issue of abortion. I believe it
kills babies and takes innocent life. I also believe it is blood
sacrifice that empowers demons. Let's not forget this in our noble
attempts to be kind and conciliatory.
For African Americans I can
easily see how it could bring healing to have a first black president,
just as it would be for Native Americans to achieve this or for women
if a woman were elected president. Again, I have wanted to see justice
in this way. I am only saddened that the price for this healing ended
up being Barak Obama, a man that will set the cause of life and,
most-likely, our God-given destiny as a nation back so drastically. (I
also realize there are some who interpret any criticism of Obama as
racism. Racism is so NOT what I am about nor what I live, that I will
not even dignify any such accusations with a response.)
What Can We Expect?
What are some of the judgments we can expect on our nation from this election?
* More economic woes
* More violence in an already violent nation
* Disease and death (satan, who is responsible for these things will have greater inroads to our nation.)
* Natural disasters (weather-tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, drought; fires; earthquakes; etc.)
* Terrorism (they will fear us much less now)
* War, perhaps on our own soil
* Judgments relating to the Court. The stacking of the Supreme Court
against the sanctity of life and God's influence on America will occur,
which will in turn cause the shedding of more innocent blood, more
rejection of God's laws and the stealing from us of our godly
heritage-all of which will perpetuate a cycle of even more judgment.
How Did This Happen?
I've been asked if this could have been averted had there been more
prayer. I'm not sure. I believe there was a remnant of Christians
fervently praying over these elections-I don't think there was anything
more they could have done. Others, obviously, should have done more.
The complacency and lack of discernment concerning our real condition
in America-especially by the Church-is both appalling and horrifying.
America is in serious trouble and it seems no one wants to say it.
Fewer still are willing to do anything to change it.
Though I
understand our reasons, we must be careful in our attempts to placate
our feelings and calm our fears through religious phrases like "God is
still on the throne" or "God has a plan". He was on His throne 35 years
and 50 million babies ago. And He had a plan back then. The problem is,
it was us. I understand our reasons for waving high the banner of God's
sovereignty at times like these-it gives us hope. I will wave it, as
well.
But please be careful with this. Too much emphasis on God's
sovereignty and we're worthless; too little and we're hopeless. Maybe
we should say, "we lost a critical battle but God will give us strategy
to win the war." Then find the strategy.
But still yet, since
God is usually willing to work through a remnant, I thought we had
enough prayer. Obviously, God decided otherwise. There comes a time
when He will not forgive or bless the majority based on the prayers or
actions of only a few. America rejected God and asked for a king; I
believe we now have our Saul (see 1 Samuel 8:5-7)-a man who does not
have God's heart for America but his own. Like Israel in scripture, our
nation believes it can turn from God and still be blessed. In His mercy
and justice He will show us otherwise.
Like many, believing I
had many promises and confirmations that God would "grace" us with a
pro-life president in this election, I failed to consider strongly
enough that all promises-even scripture-are conditional 99.9% of the
time. Though I never prophesied or made guarantees that McCain-Palin
would win, failing to factor this principle in strongly enough no doubt
caused me to share my optimism with others inappropriately. If this
caused any harm or confusion, I apologize.
Has the fact that my
prayers weren't answered shaken my faith? No. I'm a little confused and
discouraged. I'm also somewhat angry at the nation in general and much
of the Church. Mostly I'm grieving over the nation and what this will
cost us. I am not, however, angry with God and do not question His
justice. And it is not true that we wasted our time, energy and money
in our efforts anymore than it is a waste when we share the gospel with
people who don't get saved. We must keep in the forefront of our
thinking the fact that ultimately we are doing this for Him and that He
will reward us for our faithfulness. And who knows, perhaps He will
store up all those prayers for the next battle (Revelation 5:8, 8:3-5).
A friend and fellow warrior said it well,
"We did 'give it our all.' I know the Lord was pleased with that. A
coach wants to know one thing at the end of a heartbreaking sports
loss: 'Did you leave it all on the field?' (your passion, your
commitment, your strength, your courage, etc.) I know that we 'left it
all on the field.' We didn't hold anything back until the game ended.
Tragically, it ended in defeat. We will rise for another day because
Jesus is worthy."
Where Do We Go from Here?
Does
this election outcome shake my faith that we can see a great awakening
and ultimately reformation in America? Absolutely not (and it
strengthens my resolve). We will simply get there through greater pain
and loss. Even my passion to see the Supreme Court shift is not from a
presupposition that there can be no spiritual awakening without it. It
is simply due to my deep conviction that their decisions bring so much
death, destruction, curses and judgment to America; and because our
full destiny as a nation is unquestionably linked to their decisions.
So, yes, we will get an awakening and reformation; but the reality is
that this reformation of the nation will reform the Supreme Court (and
government, in general), not vice-versa. My faith has never been in
people or a political party; my faith is in the God who works through
them.
I've been asked if my feelings about Sarah Palin have
changed. They have not. I believe she is an Esther, a Deborah, with a
huge mantle from God for reformation. God has a great destiny for her
related to this nation if she chooses to continue down this path.
So, in conclusion, we must re-group as an apostolic, praying church and
advance. We must maintain an immovable faith in God, His plans for
America and His mercy. And we must move beyond simply asking God for a
spiritual awakening and ask Him for strategy to produce reformation, as
well. I, for one, am just getting started!
For God and this great nation,
Dutch Sheets