This past week saw great buzz and clamor in the world as yet another election has come and gone. The pundits and experts on both sides of the aisle tried to predict how our lives would change as a result. Many Americans felt a great sense of concern, and many others were euphoric. The question that we must ask ourselves, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, is how we should view the events of the election. Should we be joyous, for example, when a candidate who gives no thought to the life of the unborn is elected? Or should we view the Kingdom of God as taking a step back when a candidate who publicly professes faith in Jesus Christ is defeated? And how should we view coming developments, such as the rise of a national candidate on the Presidential scene who is conservative, committed to traditional marriage and fiscal responsibility, but who is also a member of the Mormon cult?

There is a famous saying attributed to Luther (which I have never seen in print, so it might not be true) that he would “rather be governed by a wise Turk than a foolish Christian.” In Europe, this appears to be slowly coming about. As the Nickles’ son, Bob, could tell you, historic Europe is seeing a vast influx of Muslims, who are even trying to have Islamic law put partly into place. For the first time, a Muslim was recently elected to Congress. This gentleman seems committed to pluralism and has disavowed the rhetoric of many Muslims.

At the same time, World Magazine recently ran an article about taxicab drivers who are seeking to have sharia Law enforced in the U.S. (at least in part). You can read an internet encyclopedia’s definition of sharia here, and there are several websites that describe why sharia must be opposed on human rights grounds, as well as the dangers of sharia.

So are we to lose hope, as we see difficulties in Iraq, changes in American politics, conflict over our culture? Is there nothing we can do?

We are not to grieve, as those who are without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We are also to remember that the Lord sits on His throne and that He is never surprised or caught unprepared (Psalm 2). He knows the very number of hairs on our heads, and cares for the least of His creatures – what makes us think that He could ever leave us or forsake us? (Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5)

But that does not mean that we are to abandon our nation, and to view any influence we might have on our culture as “polishing the brass railings on a sinking ship.” We are called as believers to be a city on a hill (Matthew 5:14), performing good works so that unbelievers will see them and “glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12) We need as the people of God to be in prayer for our Supreme Court, who this past week heard the case about banning partial birth abortions. We need to pray that God would turn the hearts of the king(s) in our land toward Himself (Proverbs 21:1), and that He would give us favor in the eyes of our enemies (Exodus 11:3; Exodus 12:36). We should be thankful that in this past election there were candidates of both parties that claimed the name of Jesus Christ.

But the most important thing that we can do as the people of God is to focus our eyes upon Him. We should not be distracted by circumstances or current events. We must continue to look to the “founder and perfecter of our faith,” Christ Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). We should be even more prepared for and enthusiastic about worshipping our Lord this Lord’s Day. As you prepare for worship, you will find the bulletin (including links to music for the hymns) located at:

November 12, 2006 Bulletin

It may help you to think on the second stanza of the first hymn we will sing this week, We Praise You, O God, Our Redeemer, Creator

We worship you, God of our fathers, we bless you;
Through life’s storm and tempest our guide you have been;
When perils overtake us, escape you will make us,
And with your help, O Lord, our battles we win.