Election thoughts - Cause you know I have 'em!

I've been silent this year when it's come to politics.  Especially compared to the last election!  Mainly because I haven't been blogging much but also because I've seen mean and hurtful comments coming from both sides of the aisle and it turned me so off to posting anything (although I refuse to be mean and hurtful).  But today, the day after this big election that has inundated our lives, our TVs, our radios and newspapers for over a year, I have a thought to share.

I am a Republican.  No secret there.  I vote Republican, not because I dislike Democrats, but because I agree with much of what Republicans stand for.  Notice I said much - not all.  There are also many things that I like and respect about the Democratic platform (just more that I disagree with in the end).  And as an American I am proud to be able to vote and will exercise that right for as long as I have it.

That being said, I was disappointed in the outcome of yet another election.  Obama isn't a horrible person but I don't trust him, nor do I like his politics.  But it was even more than just "my guy didn't win".  I felt like it was okay but not...Hard to explain I know. Today a friend suggested something to me that made so much sense in my spirit.  It was like I needed the words for my thoughts and there they were. 

I think if Romney had won the election, Republican Christians may have thought "Okay good.  The right guy won.  We don't have to worry anymore."  (And many Democrat Christians may be right now thinking the exact same thing) And just like that we would have trusted and put our hope of our future into the hands of a man rather than God.  Something a man does not ever deserve.  Even a good one.  

As Christians, no matter who you voted for, we are called to turn to God, not politics or government, to solve our problems.  Our government can sometimes provide temporary solutions but nothing they do - no matter Republican or Democrat - will give us eternal solutions.  They are incapable of bringing about lasting change in the hearts of Americans.  They are incapable of solving our lust for power or money.  They are incapable of repairing the damage done to families and communities because of sin.  They are incapable of taking care of the sick in spirit.  They are incapable of turning this nation towards God in 4 short years (or 8!).

Those responsibilities are up to God and therefore up to His followers.  We are responsible to be the hands and feet of THE God who is very capable of changing the hearts of Americans and the world!  He is more than capable to heal our lust for power and money.  He is more than capable of repairing damage done to families and communities because of sin.  He is the prescription for sin.  The only One who can heal us and turn our hearts towards Him.  And we, as Christians, are called to submit to authority, to love God and love others, to repent and remember that God is who we put our hope and trust in and not a government.

I certainly am not saying don't care about politics and give up.  Not at all.  But what I am saying is that the president has been elected.  No matter how you feel about it it's done. Now lets get to our purpose of loving God and loving people!

I think we have an opportunity to remember to be in prayer for our country and our world.  I think we have an opportunity to stop relying on our government for answers and begin to look to ourselves as the hands and feet of Christ and see REAL hope and change.  For eternity!