Voting With Your Spirit

Ok, I admit that the title is bit of a gimmick to get you to read this. However, it's not completely irrelevant either.

I was praying and thinking about the election on the way to work today, and I noticed people on several street corners holding up signs both for and against Proposition 8 (about gay marriage). I smiled and realized that while it can sometimes seem like a curse, we really are blessed to be so inundated with influence and attempted persuasion during the election seasons. We can do almost whatever we want to express and promote our political preferences and opinions - stand on street corners, send promotions in the mail, post internet content (blogs, web sites, videos, etc), have news and opinion shows on radio and TV, newspapers - you name it. Praise God - we have freedom!

Then I was praying for God's will to be done, for His hand and blessings to be upon this nation. And I realized that maybe the best results that could occur aren't really what is best for the American people, or even for the nation as a whole - but the best case scenario regarding the party and people that would be elected for our country would be the ones that are best for God's kingdom.

By that I mean that we should be hoping and praying for the people, influence, and laws to occur that would best promote the cause of Christ. The circumstances that would help the most people seek to know Jesus and/or for existing Christians to grow stronger in their faith.

I've heard it asked whether Constantine might have been the worst thing to happen to Christianity, because he helped to legitimize it, to legalize it. He removed the oppression from the cause that was growing like wildfire at the time. Of course, whether it was good or bad is only speculative, but we as fragile and limited people never really know what's best for God's purpose - only He does. What could on the surface seem beneficial could really be stifling, or vice versa.

So even though the laws and people that come to power this election may or may not reflect our political views or preferences, our ultimate hope is that through their words and actions more people would somehow be saved. And I believe that should be our prayer.

But feel free to stand on street corners and yell at the top of your lungs in the mean time.