Post Elections: Some Thoughts

It’s been 4 days since the November 8, 2008 elections, which included the presidential elections. A lot has seemingly changed in this country, on the surface at least. I’ve read several articles and a few blogs on this issue, some secular and some theological. I have talked to a few brothers in the Lord on this issue as well. I could go on a little, but I won’t.

I have been coming to several tentative conclusions and I think all of us as followers of Yeshua need to think on a few things. Here are a few of them in no particular order.

Economic: To get “out” of this economic mess will likely take considerable time. Things will never be the same and I am not sure that I would want it to be the same as it was. When the Depression and World War II ended there was a time of economic prosperity. Yet many of those that went through the Depression and the subsequent War Shortages maintained a mental attitude of frugality throughout the rest of their life. They remembered the hard times and never forgot them. They continued to save their shekels. An example was my paternal grandfather. In the future, it would seem likely, based on my previous example that after what might be several months or a few years of hard times, sacrifice and frugality that many people will maintain a lifestyle of thriftiness. There is therefore the possibility that things will never be the same. Pray for those under 30 as most of them have no idea what a recession is, let alone anything worse.

Rules, Regulations: There has been a lot of talk in the last 2 decades about a Free Market economy. I am not sure how everyone defines this term but here is something to consider. Does anyone still remember that a system with little or no rules is not biblical? It’s called Lawlessness, or if you are familiar with Messianic Jewish Terms: Torahlessness. If you don’t believe me than look at the book of Judges. You will see a phrase that is repeated several times – everyone did what is right in their own eyes. On the other hand, too much legalism will kill. Is it possible that some of us in the body of Messiah have bought into a philosophy that doesn’t line up with scripture-without even batting an eyelash? We need to find a balance in this country.

Which brings up the next statement.

Back to the basics: I wonder if we as the body of Messiah in America need to step back for a while and get back to remembering some of the biblical basics. It seems as if several weeds have been mixed in with the wheat and are growing together. Some people have gotten so involved with politics that it seems to me as if some of us have tried to take some of the values of the Republican Party and/or Conservative philosophy and believed that they could combine it with Biblical values, or worse, replace it. In the process, they seem to have gotten lost as to what are true biblical standards and what are man-made ideas. (I could easily say the same thing on the Democratic side). Don’t get me wrong, I am for followers of Yeshua to be involved in the political process, all the way up to running for president. I am for standing up for life and biblical values. Yet, I see some followers of Yeshua parrot (as in “repeat”) philosophies that aren’t biblical (see “Rules, Regulations”)

Change: It’s become an overused word of late. Yet, I can’t seem to shake it. It keeps coming up in front of me. Yes, politicians are using this word. Yes, our country needs to change in some areas, particularly the moral issues. I wonder though, if the Lord is speaking through the politicians to us as followers of Yeshua (like Balaam’s donkey) about change. Perhaps He is allowing the current series of crises to occur to get our attention. He has tried to communicate to us in other ways and yet we continue, largely, to ignore the warnings. God loves us. Yet He also loves us enough not to leave us where we are. We want revival in this country. Yet those that study revival repeatedly state that revival starts with each of us

I came across this quote recently:

Someone asked the famous revivalist Gypsy Smith how we get revival. He simply said, “Draw a circle on the ground. Sit in the circle and pray that God will start a revival in me.”

Kingdom vs. Democracy: I am throwing this paragraph in strictly to get you thinking. We, as Americans, have gotten so used to being in a democracy and all the things that we think belong in a democracy: Freedom of speech, disagreements, politics, elections, individualism, prosperity and so forth. We need to remember that the Kingdom of God is not a democracy. It is a kingdom run by a king. There are huge implications behind this statement. Study it for yourselves. I guarantee you will be studying it for a long time.

A Time To Reexamine?

With all the events happening in our country: politics, finances, elections and so on I have had several things rummaging through my mind. Here are a couple of them.

One of the local pastors and his church here in the Twin Cities is under federal investigation. While I won’t give an opinion for or against, there is one thing that keeps coming to mind. In the newspaper article on the subject there was a statement (I tried to find the quote online but couldn’t) to the effect that the pastor felt he and his church were being persecuted because of their increased wealth and power. I have no idea if that statement is true or not. However, I have to admit that his statement disturbs me somewhat, but not in the way you think. I don’t believe that followers of Yeshua should bury their head in the sand instead of being involved in the political process. However, is it wise as followers of Yeshua to tie your future into the accumulation of wealth and power? All one has to do is look at the Sadducees of 2nd temple time to see what happens to those that get too entangled in a process, thing or person. When the temple was destroyed, the Sadducees went with it. If the American political process were to change, maybe not to our benefit, what would happen to those in the body of Messiah that are too tied up in wealth and the accumulation of power? Would the same thing happen? Just a thought, not a conclusion

With the elections almost over, I am starting to wonder if we as followers of Yeshua need to reexamine our role in the process. Political elections have always included name-calling and the last couple of decades have been particularly nasty. I am not excusing it; the truth of the matter is, scripture clearly forbids calling anyone names. I have a good friend of mine and we discuss many subjects. He and I are as different as night and day, literally. We frequently disagree and sometimes we get a little angry, mostly he gets angry with me. Yet we never call each other nasty names and we have never called each other “Un-American” or of having Un-American beliefs. Even if it were true, we would never use the term. It is called RESPECT. I think we all need to relearn a basic principal. It is OK to have a different opinion from other people. It is not Un-American.