Election 2012

Even though i lived in the States for the 2008 election, i'd only been here for a few months. I knew almost nothing of American culture and psyche. Tuesday night was very different. To be honest i'm not sure if i think more like an American or an Englishman these days, i'm probably a fish out of water on both sides of the Atlantic. But anyway, here are some reflection on one of the most surprising elections i can remember.

The Church can no longer claim to be the moral majority. Not only was the most pro abortion, anti marriage and family candidate ever elected by a huge majority, two other decisions were made on Tuesday night that illustrate this. Two states, Colorado and Washington state, voted to legalise marijuana (seriously) and three states voted not to define marriage as between one man and one woman. That's extraordinary to me. It's clear from these votes where the mainstream opinion in America is headed, and it's not in our direction. But you know, that's ok. Believers have always prospered as the remnant, as the faithful minority. Christianity ultimately doesn't need to be on the side of popular politics or culture to prosper.

The Church has a great opportunity. And we simply must take it. We can't think, even here in good ole North Carolina, that we don't need to be aggressively missional in our living and giving. I was shocked at how close the race between Obama and Romney was here. Just six months ago 93 of the 100 counties here voted against gay marriage. Thousands of those people, both in the cities and in the country, must have voted for Obama on Tuesday. We can either react by putting our fingers into our ears, or by finding, loving and reaching these people. This is our opportunity to drop the cultural baggage and preach the Gospel. We must take it.

The Church must disciple it's people better.  Something else was clear on Tuesday, a lot of people who sit in a church do not have a Biblical worldview. This, for me, was the most disheartening, discouraging and disappointing aspect of the result, that millions who call themselves Christians voted for Obama. Now, don't hear me say that Jesus is a Republican, or that Romney was God's anointed man for this hour. I would have had massive problems with a Romney presidency as well, starting with his Mormonism. But...but, you voted for a man who uses tax dollars to fund and support a company that makes money from abortion? You're happy to vote for someone whose views on marriage have 'evolved' in the last four years? I'm sorry, i don't get it. Explain it to me. Even if the economy was thriving and American troops were safe abroad that should've been enough for Christians to hold their nose and vote for Romney.  The Church must teach her people better.

So there we go. The sun rose on Wednesday morning. The Kingdom of God advances as Christ is proclaimed in the Gospel. Our Redeemer lives, and one day He will stand upon the Earth. Amen and amen. But it's possible to love and rejoice in these truths and still be deeply disappointed in Tuesdays results. And that's where I am.