Setting the record straight

There are many misconceptions about what an election might or might not accomplish in America, and several of them have to do with the mission of the Church; in no particular order:

1. No elected official can or should be responsible for the spread of the Gospel.
- This may seem obvious, but there are plenty of people who want someone to take this "burden" of obeying the commandment of the Great Commission away from them.  They feel that if America is clearly a Christian nation with all the bells and whistles that they themselves will somehow not need to talk to their neighbor about Jesus.  No politician led the Great Awakening in America, men and women of faith did that.  No politician led the Second Great Awakening in America, men and women of faith did that. 

2. As Lord Acton said centuries ago, "Power tends to corrupt, absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely."
- Much has been made in recent years about the power of international corporations; they may be powerful compared to business interests in the past, but their influence and ability pales in comparison with the power of a government like that of the USA.  Even the largest corporations have assets less than $100 billion and yearly budgets far less.  The Federal branch of our government, alone, has millions of employees, a $4 trillion dollar budget, and can make or break any business that it wants to with taxes or regulations.  That the 500 or so men and women in charge of all of that are rife with corruption should be no surprise to us.  That incumbents win nearly every election should be no surprise to us.  To change the part affiliation of those in charge will not change human nature; since immense power will lead to corrupt those who wield it.  The Roman Senate in all of its glory paled in comparison.  That our government isn't more corrupt is the true miracle here.

3. Roe vs. Wade is not going to be overturned by the courts
-This may cut deeply, but its true.  The great moral evil of our time will not be ended by nine men and women in black robes.  It won't be ended at all.  The desire of millions of Americans to choose convenience over life, to value themselves over their unborn child, won't go away with the stroke of a pen.  Abortion is a brutal symptom of a moral sickness that goes far too deep for a surface cure.  The only thing that will make abortion in America rare is a spiritual awakening among its people.  Governments are not in the spiritual revival business; God is.  We must once again fill our churches with people committed to living morally upright lives in imitation of their Savior.  We must begin with the hurting, scared, and pressured young mothers, and we must support them.  When God's people renounce sexual impurity and begin to live pure lives we'll begin to see change.  As it stands now, we're as much of the problem as we are the solution.

4. The Gates of Hell will not overcome the Church of Christ, why are you so worried?
-There will always be reasons to be worried about the future.  There will always be crisis that draw our attention away from the present.  Each election in America gives one segment of the population new hope and another a sense of foreboding.  And yet, in the end, this government, like all that have come before it, will pass away.  The only institution you can join in this world that is guaranteed to never fail is the universal Church of believers in Jesus Christ.  Your local church may close its doors, your denominations may even fall by the wayside, but the faith that began with 12 apostles worshiping a risen Lord will never die.  If you want your life to mean something, to stand the test of time, spend it in service to others.  Love your neighbor, love your enemy, and live by faith. 

"Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed his own blood for my soul.
It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul." (It is Well with my Soul - Horatio G. Spafford)