Barna, The President, and Our Mission

Monday November 3, 2008 ~ 9 Comments

Today we are electing a new president of our country, and while most seem to agree that change is needed, what that change should look like is hotly debated. I hope everyone gets out today and plays a part in this choosing our nation's leader. I believe it is civic duty and Christian responsibility.

Make no mistake, this election is different than previous elections for a number of reasons. One worth noting is that self-identified "born again" voters are split on which candidate will get their vote. Geogre Barna reports that,

...among born again voters there is a statistical dead-heat: 45% plan to vote for Sen. McCain, while 43% expect to cast a ballot for Sen. Obama. Even if Sen. McCain were to sweep the 10% who are undecided born again voters, he would fail to reach the 62% who rallied for President Bush in 2004.

Barna's research is careful to distinguish between "evangelical, born again Christians" and "non-evangelical, born again Christians," but things are changing even within the more conservative group (evangelical, born again). For example, in 2004 85% of these voters selected George Bush. But when Barna's research came out two weeks ago only 63% of the evangelical group said they are supporting the Republican candidate.

Most of the experts seem to believe Senator Obama will win this election, though it may turn out to be a closer race than many expect, and people of faith are playing a prominent role in all of this. Barna explains,

If the presidential election were held only among born again Americans, it would be a close contest. When the rest of the nation's voters are factored into the equation, Sen. Obama is staked to a commanding lead among likely voters, 50% to 37%. In large part this lead is due to the substantial support he receives among other self-identified Christians, that is, individuals who describe themselves as Christians but who are not categorized as born again. Among this group, 54% plan to vote for Sen. Obama, compared with 33% for Sen. McCain. This voting segment represents 36% of likely voters. (source)

So how are Christians to respond?

Well, I recently read a letter from a Methodist pastor posted at Ben Witherington's site. I found these two paragraphs helpful and insightful:

There is always - always! - a "contrarian" bent to the Christian political angle. After all, in the Roman empire the complaint filed against Christians was "they are turning the world upside down" (Acts 17). In a world that does not love the Lord Jesus, we will expect to find ourselves at odds with business as usual; we shun a judgmental spirit, but we do not refrain from making judgments. "The Church is not simply a 'voluntary association' that may be of some use to the wider public, but rather is the community constituted by practices by which all other politics are to be judged" (Stanley Hauerwas).

Abraham Lincoln told the truth about "sides" who boast of God: "Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; each invokes His aid against the other. The prayers of both could not be answered... The Almighty has His own purposes." Knowing this, we treat each other charitably, and look to God for something better: "With malice toward none; with charity for all... to bind up the nation's wounds - to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

We're about to choose a new leader for ourselves, and, regardless of who wins, some American Christians will be frustrated and disheartened. This is a difficult election for many Christians, but it should not-- it cannot-- eclipse our mission. And while politics and presidents can connect to the outworking of our faith, God uses the preaching of the gospel in word and deed to bring redemption to the broken, forgiveness to the sinful, hope to the lost and the real "change we need." It is not an elected official who will transform the country, but the grace of God at work in his church-- that is what changes lives, transforms cultures and turns cities upside down.

November 4th will come and go, but our mission remains the same, and our hope remains secure. That's change we can believe in.

Posted on November 3, 2008 at 7:35 PM ~ 9 Comments

Tagged with: barna, change, election, politics, president, research

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9 Comments

By Kathryn on November 4, 2008 8:29 AM

Well said! It is important for Christians to remember that we are the ones called (and SENT) to change the world, not the government. Though I would feel better about the government with a Godly leader in control of our nation.

By Camey on November 4, 2008 10:50 AM

My hearts hurts today, Ed, in that there is much talk about Christian responsibility in regards to voting. But where, oh where, is the outcry and willingness to take a stand in how we go about our daily lives? Being the hands, feet, eyes, and ears of God wherever we may be or go...

The history of America would mean nothing if it were not for God's amazing love and Jesus. May that pierce our hearts and move us into action. Regardless of who becomes the next president of the this country - Jesus is still the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.. There is none greater than Father/Son/Spirit. May we who claim to follow Christ act like it.. even if it requires us to clean toilets.

By Michael Stover on November 4, 2008 11:12 AM

Well written Ed. It's the old adage of "keeping the main thing the main thing" in our lives.

By Shirley Cross

on November 4, 2008 12:55 PM

Just thought I'd pass on a nugget from scripture that someone just shared with me. It seems so fitting for today... Read the entire Psalm 115...but vs 3 says: "Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases."

By Sam on November 4, 2008 12:58 PM

I think Ed's comments are good. Ed always brings in plenty of sources to support his line of thought. I think that's good.

I have been reading just about as much as I can handle to prepare for this election and it's still not been easy to decide. I voted today, but was not completely confident in whom I voted for and the way the various issues may go. I was really only informed about the presidential candidates, not so much the local candidates.

Which brings me to an interesting point. I recall someone saying, in all the reading I've been doing lately, that we're electing a president, not a pastor. As Christians, we are naturally going to hear positions on moral issues and spiritual things first. That's how our ears have been trained. We often fail to hear the political stuff in the midst of that.

Will our next president be able to lead our country in the midst of a poor economy, tricky global tensions, and a number of domestic issues such as health care, education, and social security? Or will our next president be able to lead our churches? Which would we like to have in office.

I think for me, the real issue is the country. Let the church lead the church. If our president doesn't agree with our positions on moral and spiritual issues, he's only 1/3 of the government. If our democracy continues to exist as the slow, hard-to-get-tough-bills-passed government that it has been, Christians will have enough power to stand up and fight against the things we don't agree with when our next president gets into office--whomever that may be.

Let's be the church and stop trying to elect someone to be the church for us.

By Todd Burus on November 4, 2008 3:24 PM

If our president doesn't agree with our positions on moral and spiritual issues, he's only 1/3 of the government.

Actually, the president appoints judges, who, depending on the judges seated, will set the course for 100% of the governments rulings on morality, so it is kinda important.

You know, it's surprising to me how many Christians sound awfully reformed when it comes to government (i.e. constantly reminding us that "God will choose whomever he wants for president") yet I doubt too many of these people have a conservative reformed theology of the church which accompanies it. Let's be honest. It is a big deal, and if we are voting our Christian consciences I still haven't found a compelling argument which leads me to think we could possibly vote for "that one" as president that does not appeal to a liberal, social gospel theology.

By Mike Stecker on November 7, 2008 12:13 PM

Amen Todd!

By John Sjobring on November 14, 2008 10:58 PM

The repeated "95% getting lower taxes" and communicating compassion needs addressing. The Bible and history of economics talk a lot about wealth and the poor. Let's develop an objective perspective on this, lessons on Christian Social Ethics for schools and churches.

By Joi on November 15, 2008 8:37 AM

For those who think it is not important who we elect to the presidency, you will have the opportunity of not only explaining that position to Almighty God one day, but you may also get to explain it to the 50 million plus souls whose lives were taken by abortion. Presidents appoint Supreme Court justices, remember? The Bible makes it very clear that if someone claims to be a Christian yet is living an immoral life, we are not even to "eat with him". Wouldn't it make sense that we are also bound by moral conscience not to vote for him? Mr. Obama said he would not "punish" one of his daughters with an unplanned pregnancy. He opposes giving medical assistance to babies who survive abortions. I'm reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew regarding people who harm "the least of these"---something about a millstone around their neck and the sea. It is a sad day that is no longer "cool" to be for equal justice for the unborn.

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