Mercy and the Inauguration
Although most of us don't get to watch TV during the day, many of us somehow found a way to view the inauguration of our 44th President, Barack Obama. Even if we didn't vote for the president, we wanted to see him sworn in. After all this was an historic day in America. Shortly after noon, this country's first African-American president repeated the oath and took office. I doubt my deceased grandmother, Florence Olsen who would have been 103 tomorrow ever thought this day would come. But now the rhetoric ends and actual executive decisions have to be made. Based on his campaign not all Christians are excited about his presidency. But regardless of his decisions, Christians can be supportive and positive toward our president.
But you might ask why I say that? You can judge me and say I am not principled but sometimes we make more of a mess when we get all high and mighty about our political persuasions. For example, I remember “The Clinton Chronicles.” It was advertised on cable late at night. Constantly, there were 30 minute infomercials for this video. But do you know who sponsored it? Rev. Jerry Falwell, pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church and founder of Liberty University. He championed the evangelical agenda in the public square and became the poster pastor for a brand of mean-spirited Christianity. Every time I turned on cable there he was larger than life hawking this video, telling me how morally bankrupt President Clinton was.
In Reverend Falwell's defense, I believe he actually apologized for making that video about President Clinton. Apparently, he realized Jesus didn't spend his time attacking political leaders and neither should he. But before we chastise him, let's look at ourselves. Didn't most Christians sit in their homes watching Ken Starr grill the president? And didn't we hope to watch President Clinton's political demise right in front of us? Yes, let's admit it. Most Christians wanted President Clinton to go down in history as a profligate president at best. Evangelical Christians displayed none of the grace and mercy that Jesus showed to political leaders while on earth. He knew his kingdom wasn't of this world. He knew political leaders were sinners just like everybody else. He knew their only hope was in a relationship with him. He knew jumping all over them for every moral dalliance wouldn't further his kingdom. In fact, we don't really see Jesus jumping on anyone for those kind of sins ( John 4- woman at the well & John 8 – woman caught committing adultery come to mind). So before we paint a big red A on the front of those who we believe are morally bankrupt and to whom we are morally superior, let's take a look at one king in Scripture who fell into terrible sin and what God said about him.
Christians conveniently forget about a king named David who committed adultery and murder. You remember don't you? The headlines in the Jerusalem Times read, “Bathsheebagate – How a Philandering King Broke Two of the Ten.” Yet God considered King David a man after his own heart (I Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22). How inconsistent is that? He murdered Uriah and impregnated Bathsheeba but he was a man after God's own heart? And even though he had broken two of the big 10, God still let him lead the nation of Israel. Maybe God is full of mercy and grace?
Fact is we are all sinners. Even though we are, sin should never be what we want to do (Romans 6:2) but we do nonetheless. No matter how hard we try to master sin (Romans 7), it masters us. President Clinton and many other government officials have struggled with a “besetting sin.” But we all have Achilles heels when it comes to sin and all of us need help resisting whatever it is. We need each other in the battle. As Paul says at the end of his famous chapter on spiritual warfare, Ephesians 6, “With this in mind (spiritual warfare), be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” So I ask all of us including myself, do we pray for each other that we might be victorious or do we secretly look for ways others are involved in sin so we feel good about ourselves?
From my perspective, God seems more concerned that political and religious leaders involve themselves in acting justly than he does with political leaders lives being perfect. We see that in the Old Testament in Amos 5: 15, where God says, “Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts” and in the New Testament in Mt. 23:23 where Jesus said, “Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices --- mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law --- justice, mercy and faithfulness.”
Whatever conservative evangelicals want to say about President Obama, they cannot deny that he is for justice. As I read his book, The Anatomy of Hope, I did pick that up. His book lacked a certain cogency. I never was quite sure where he was going other than to say everyone deserved an equal chance. But a need for and sense of justice undergirded all that he had to say.
Now, we might not readily agree with how he wants to administer justice or give everyone that equal chance i. e. redistributing wealth as some have called his plan. Yet, I have to say that I did not see President Bush make good on his calling himself and the Republican party “compassionate conservatives.” And I think because he and the Republicans failed to live up to that moniker, the Democrats won it all in 2008. But that's not to knock President Bush. Who knows what obstacles the president faces? And we should extend the same mercy and grace to President Obama.
His ideals are lofty but they might be more biblical than you think. After all, didn't God say through the prophet, Micah, “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Now, if you don't agree with President Obama about the way he and his administration initiate justice , you can send him an email. He welcomes your feedback. You might be a Rush Limbaugh fanatic so all you will do is listen to him until the next republican is in office. But that isn't what God wants you to do for President Obama.
So you ask, what does he want me to do? He tells us quite clearly in I Timothy 2:1- 6. There Paul sets some priorities for Timothy's pastorate that he is about to start. Paul lines them out this way: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone --- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men – the testimony given in proper time.” Remember the wicked Roman emperor, Nero, ruled when Paul said this. He didn't say only listen to talk radio or make political diatribes against Nero or make a video entitled “Nero's Nasties.” He said, “pray for kings and all those in authority.”
God wants evangelical Christians to do the same now. Listen to Rush all you want if you must but don't forget to pray. God's agenda is that no one should perish (2 Peter 3:9). If we are able to live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness, more will have the opportunity to enter into a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Remember, God is not a Republican, although some evangelicals think he is, nor is he a democrat. God doesn't really care about parties. We know God puts whom he wants in office through our votes. Daniel living in Babylon had to deal with a crazy king. His name was Nebuchadnezzar. He ordered all the wise men killed in Babylon and Daniel was fearful that would happen to friends as well. In chapter 2 verses 20, 21 we read David's words in response to God giving him insight into Neb's dream. Daniel says this, “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and season; he sets up kings and deposes them.”
Let's remember God has put President Obama in office. Let's not waste our time attempting to put President Obama under the microscope, finding out all his flaws because we are angry McCain isn't our president. Let's not spend our time making a video, “Obama Observations” that justify our anger. Let's not spend any more time as evangelical Christians misrepresenting our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to a hurting world. Let's pray for our president that he would act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. And let's pray for each other that we might have the courage to stop our political rants and instead be more concerned about more important matters like justice, mercy and faithfulness as Jesus would have us to be.
By His Mercy,
Bruce