Some Much Needed Perspective
3 November 2008Two days until election day and both liberals and conservatives alike are worried. Tuesday has the potential to be another razor close election, though some liberals are predicting an Obama landslide. On the other side, Tammy Bruce, filling in on the Laura Ingraham show Friday predicted a McCain win. I don’t know about you but these nail biters are taking their toll on me.
As someone with strong political views and a solid conservative ideology, it has been pretty standard for me to place a great deal of confidence in my political philosophy. That’s true both in the capacity of that philosophy to win the day in the arena of ideas and in its ability as a governing philosophy to create sound government. I assume the other side feels pretty much the same way about their political philosophy and ideals. For both, Wednesday will either be a day of celebration or a day of mourning.
Following the ‘06 elections I was fairly depressed for several weeks. I wondered how we’d survive as a nation with liberals in control again. Certainly the results of that election haven’t exactly produced or inspired a lot of confidence in the American people. The current Congress has the lowest approval ratings since congressional approval ratings have been taken. But America is still here. We haven’t disappeared into the abyss.
Lately I’ve been ruminating on the wisdom of placing so much faith in a political philosophy. While I’m not prepared to jetison sound political thinking, I recognize that the basic problems in this country are not the result of politics, cries to the contrary not withstanding. While a political party or philosophy may encourage right behavior or wrong behavior, it is what is in people’s hearts that dictate the choices they make, not what party is in power.
I recognize that not all readers are Christians but I am. And what has been on my mind lately is the fact that, as far as I’m concerned, God is still in control. Some will find that a difficult statement to swallow. For you I am truly sorry.
I’ve always said that my Christian faith informs and directs my political philosophy. I still believe that but I’ve come to realize that I’ve managed to get the cart before the horse. I’ve elevated the political philosophy above the Christian faith without ever realizing I’ve done so. And that is a problem.
It is my sincere belief that no matter who wins the presidential election on Tuesday, God will still be in control. If the Democrats achieve a 60 vote fillibuster proof majority in the Senate and make substantial gains in the House so that Republicans can’t do a thing to stop them, God will still be in control!
With such a perspective I expect to wake up Wednesday morning with a smile on my face regardless of the election results because God is in control. I’ve found that He does a much better job of running things than I do and for that I am eternally grateful. I really don’t know how anyone survives in this world apart from faith in God. I think I’d place all my faith in political philosophy and I’d be eternally disappointed, disillusioned and depressed. I don’t want to live that way and I’m resolving not to.
I still hold the same ideological beliefs, the same political philosophy I did. I still believe conservatism is superior to liberalism. But I recognize that neither philosophy is going to change people’s hearts. Only God can do that!
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