Consider Lily

Let’s talk politics. You’d have to try hard to avoid all the press about Obama’s first 100 days in office. Whether you love him or hate him (or fall somewhere in between), he has at least 1360 more days as the leader of the free world and there is one thing that is certain: The Bible tells us to submit to, respect, and pray for our leaders.

If you’re a fan, I’d like to know why. If not, how do you disagree with his (or other leaders in your life) policies/decisions/actions/etc. and simultaneously live out this command?

Talk amongst yourselves.

To be completely honest, I am not certain as to whether I am a fan or not. Unlike most Americans, I actually had the opportunity to work with Obama when he was in the Illinois legislature and based on that experience, I confess that I do not trust him. (Sorry to my good friends who are Obama supporters, but actual experience is a hard thing to beat on this one.) I think that “popular” politicians tend to have an amazing ability to manipulate people and circumstances. That said, I have been less worried about him since seeing him thus far so I am trying to remain open. I do agree that we are to pray for our leaders and respect their leadership as long as it is not against God’s Word.

The biggest concern that I have with him right now, however, is his subtle push toward a socialized governmental system. Capitalism is what our American system is built on. The reason our economic structure is having a hard time rebounding is that the financial systems see what Obama is doing and they know that it will cause all markets to crumble. The decisions he is making economically (for example, to run up our country’s debt at a faster pace than any leader previous to him) has historically shown to result in drastic inflation and that should scare all of us. Inflation results in other “domino” type effects - none of which will benefit Americans. Our financial markets are driven by expectations - so it says something that despite all that he is doing for “economic recovery,” they still don’t expect his decisions to play out beneficially. Of course, some of this shall still yet remain to be seen. My fear is that he is trying to make America like European nations. Ironically, that is exactly what our founding forefathers were running away from and fighting against. They had seen the oppression/taxation that came with that style of government.

On the flip side - there is one thing that gives me hope. Obama claims that he will “learn on the job.” That is my prayer for him - for his wisdom and fast learning.

Interesting topic! I live in a divided household–my husband is a huge fan of Obama, and I feel uneasy about his administration. My husband loves him because he brings so much energy to our government, inspiring young people to be active in their communities, which is a great thing for our generation. However, there are a few things politically that I cannot compromise on: I am against legalizing abortion, and I’m against gay marriage. Both of those choices are based on what God tells us in Scripture about the sanctity of life and marriage between men and women. Obama does not fall in line Biblically on those two issues, so it’s hard for me to say that I support him 100% as our President. I do respect his office, however, and continue to pray that he will receive wisdom when it comes to those issues.

As for other political policies and platforms…I am completely clueless. One thing does frighten me, though. I think that everyone should be uneasy when our culture (and cultures around the world) begin to worship any political leader. Let’s face it, ladies, Obama is the biggest celebrity ever. Teenagers in China wear T-shirts with his face on it. People in St. Louis pushed to have a major road’s name changed to Barack Obama…before he was sworn into office! The problem with idolizing someone who possesses so much power is the risk of losing sight of his humanity. What happens when Obama does make a terrible decision as President (which he inevitably will, as all Presidents have)? Will we still be able to trust him to lead us well? Or, will our judgment be clouded just because we think he’s really cool? (After all, I never saw a President before him spend time with the media while selecting his college basketball bracket.) Last time I checked, God is really the only one worthy of our adoration and praise.

Of course, let’s pray for Obama. But let’s not forget to pray for the American people to make wise decisions for our future, too.

From what I’ve seen over in Europe, Lindsay, I think you’re right that Obama’s getting a bit of international hero worship! Almost every person I’ve met over here, when finding out that I’m American, has immediately started in with “Obama!” For my part, I’m on the fence with what Obama’s done so far. In terms of international relations, I think that Obama has made some small steps toward getting the world (and especially Europe) to warm up to the US. I’ll leave my opinions on Iraq and Afghanistan for another day, but you have to admit that those two wars have caused a strain in US relationships, and I like that the strain seems to be easing up.

That said, I haven’t been very impressed by what he’s done in office so far. As far as I can tell, the world is still coasting on the thrill of Obama’s election, not on any actual change that his policies are bringing. I’m concerned that Obama made promises that were too big for him to implement, and that if he disappoints, that political fervor that our generation is enjoying right now might go away. Still, take all this with a grain of salt - I haven’t been in the US yet during Obama’s presidency (although I’m heading back this week - I’ll tell you whether Obamaland is utopia or a barren wasteland after that)!

Sally - just wanted to say that it is neat to have your “first-hand” observations from Europe on this. I hadn’t realized that you were seeing this “popularity” with our President across foreign cultures.

Lindsay, I really resonate with what you said about Obama’s celebrity. I was a fan of Obama during the early phases of the election months. But as his image grew to idol-status, I became concerned for all of us fans. And I saw a nation putting their trust in (or worshipping) a man full of promises. I began to see how empty and needy “we” are and how easy it is to put our hope in the next thing or person. Is his popularity his own fault? Not totally, but neither is he striking me as completely humble or as redirecting people to hope in Christ alone.

I am not a close follower of Obama’s policy changes in the past 100 days. But one that I read about did bother me: The freedom called “conscience protection,” in which doctors can refuse to perform late-term abortions, is no longer an option. If the clinic or hospital is federally funded, the doctors are “forced” to perform the procedure when requested by a patient. Changes like that concern me very much.

That said, with my lowered expectations (or anti-worship) of Obama, my hope or dismay aren’t affected daily by what is happening in the white house. I know he is just a man — he works hard, eats, sleeps, poops. I see him as a hard worker and a brave man to take on this job, and I pray that his heart would follow and submit to Christ.

One question to put out there.. as Christians, how do we “support” our president?

That’s a tough one! I do know that it doesn’t mean “agree with everything he does.” But honestly, I can’t remember where the whole “support your leaders” thing comes from Biblically. Maybe I’m growing a lawyer side to my personality, but I think that the language used for that makes a big difference: “pray for your leaders” means something different than “love your leaders’ new policies.” As far as I know, though, praying for our leaders (that Obama, for example, would make wise decisions which will be God-honoring, which will protect the poor, and which will better open the world up to hear the Gospel) is the most important part.

It also means that we need to pay our taxes, obey the law, etc. Jesus’s “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” quote in Matthew 22:21, if I’m reading it right, means that even if we don’t particularly love our leaders (the Jews back then were under pretty oppressive Roman rule, and most of Isreal thought of Rome as a bully that shouldn’t be ruling them), we still need to respect the duties that our government places on us (to a point - that’s where the “and unto God what is God’s” half of the verse comes in). Which means that I shouldn’t speed so much. Oops.

Ha! I love that, Sally. (Major conviction on the speeding part!) Just to carry on your thought about respecting our leaders and the duties placed upon us, I think it could also be said that we need to respect people who have different views than we do. I’ve been really challenged lately to genuinely love people in my classes and my church who have different political views than I do. After all, Jesus didn’t declare Himself a Republican or Democrat. There’s so much beauty and truth to learn from both sides of the line. As a follower of Christ, I should be the first to not only respect, but celebrate the differences between us.

I agree. Part of us showing grace to one another is to understand where those with differing opinions than us are coming from. I have much room for improvement on this, but I am trying to understand different viewpoints and what showing “grace” to individuals looks like in the practical sense. Sally - to your point, I do not believe that we are ever told to “love” or “agree completely” with our leaders. I believe we are to understand that God is always sovereign and that this includes who is in government leadership (allowed or appointed). I am adding this entry where I am unable to look up the citations that I am thinking of, but will try to get back on here and do that later. It is good, however, for us to note that distinction.

The interesting thing about the people who rule a country (ours or any other) is that they are, in fact, people. They have strengths, weaknesses, flaws, moments of brilliance, etc. I may have opinions about our current President, or any of his predecessors, but I am SURE of this…I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes. I wouldn’t want to have my personal life made so very, very public. I wouldn’t want to have to send brave men and women into battle. I wouldn’t want to have to serve EVERY person’s best interests while still being true to my own convictions. I think it is, quite frankly, asinine that people on either side of the political fence are so hateful about any particular leader. I am not saying we can’t dislike, even HATE, decisions that an official, in this case a President, make (I am really, really not crazy about some economic decisions made in the past couple months) but that is quite different than hating the man himself (or, someday, the woman). Even more offensive, is the rather recent uprising of disloyal citizens who smear not just the leaders but the country they are leading. My father, and my grandfather, and probably some if not most of your fathers and/or grandfathers, proudly defended and represented this country in times of peace and war. How despicable that we have seemingly become a generation completely lacking in patriotism… without even a shred of concern for our past, where we come from, who we are, etc. I do not have to love this President, or the last one, to love this country.

Darn it, it’s times like these that I wish I were a country music fan…

Nicole, don’t be a hater. Country music rocks.
Aside from your last line, I could not agree with you more.

I made this comment in the last blog, but, if I do say-so myself, it’s worth repeating here. Spend more time being about what you’re “for” than what you’re “against”. I’m not an Obama fan. I think many of his policies are counter-intuitve (bad for the very people he’s attempting to serve) and some even unbiblical. HOWEVER, sitting around sticking needles in an Obama doll (figuratively speaking of course) will accomplish nothing.

In I Peter 2, Peter tells us to “submit ourselves to every authority established among men”. When he wrote that, Nero was their leader. The same Nero that burned people at the stake for their religious views. No excuses peeps…pray for Obama, take action steps in your own community (and with your own neighbors), and be respectful of both our great country and it’s current (and past) leader(s).