Here it is, another presidential election coming up, and again, the hostility festival commences. They ought to call election time "Festivus", after the Seinfeld episode where George's dad created that holiday in the family to tell family members what they hated about each other. At this time, I feel convicted to write down a few things during this time.
First, President Obama is not the enemy. The amount of hatred and vitriol directed against this man by conservatives is outrageous, and the amount of hatred that George W. Bush took from liberals was outrageous as well. The president is not the enemy. As Paul wrote: "We are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12) Now, I am always going to vote pro-life, so that means that unless the president changes his mind, I won't be voting for him any time soon. However, the man still deserves some respect as the holder of the office of President of the United States. He has a very difficult job, and he is also raising two adolescent daughters. I've become convicted that what he needs is prayer, not hatred. I think it is important as Christians that we don't get caught up in the political behavior that's acceptable nowadays, because when you watch these attack ads, and these debates, do you see Christ? Can you see Christ? I sure don't. We will never get anybody to listen to us if we act like the rest of the world when it comes to politics.
So I am going to continue to disagree with President Obama, but I am going to pray for him and his family, and I am going to ask my more political friends and relatives to do the same. We need to restore some civility to the election process if we ever want to get anything done.