On the Recent Election

I debated whether or not to post anything at all about the recent Presidential elections. I generally avoid politics as a discussion topic because I know that it is often a very divisive issue and, without going into a lot of my own opinions, I have a hard time clearly articulating my own thoughts on politics without getting into some kind of debate with others that rarely proves beneficial.

However, regardless of whether or not you voted for Obama, I think that we as Christians are naive if we think that non-believers aren't watching our reactions to this chapter in our nation's history to see how we'll respond. Most of the Christians I know were very clear as to their NOT voting for Obama and of the many reasons why, so now that he's been elected, there is a choice to be made: how are Christians to respond, especially if you find the majority of what our next president represents to be threatening or even worse for the Christian agenda (which is probably an entirely different post)?

A friend of mine, Caleb Camp, ran across an article from Charisma magazine (which I had never heard of) that does about as good a job as anything I've read in addressing this question. Here is the link:
10 Ways to Pray for Barak Obama

Regardless of your political views, if you're a Christian you've got to admit that the results of this election was no surprise to God and that, because God is sovereign, all things, good AND bad, must at the very least pass through his hands. Thus, Romans 13:1-7 reminds us that no authority exists except that which God has established and both Titus 3:1 and 1 Peter 2:13 remind us that we are to submit to them.

I believe that this election provides us all with an opportunity to glorify God in how we respond. If you voted for Obama, will you be gracious in victory and recognize the weight of the responsiblity that now rests on this man and his family? If you did not vote for Obama, will you still submit to his authority as the leader of our country? Will you reflect the glory of the God who is sovereign in all things, even elections? Regardless of which group you're in, will you pray for this man, his family, and our country?

Just a little food for thought...mostly because I'm tired of Christians who somehow are able to justify hatred, disrespect, and insubordination on the basis of politics.