Finding the Way Home
The eNewsletter Archive

Below is the archived version of Marshall Hayden's eNewesletter "Finding the way Home." If you would like to be added to to mailing list, please send a blank email to evangelism-subscribe@worthingtoncc.org.

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November 2008

And Everyone Lived Happily Ever After

This note is being written on November 3, 2008, the day before Americans go to polls to join those who voted early or cast their absentee ballots, to register their choices for the president of the United States of America, and for a number of other local and national offices. It is a most important matter, we believe. Lawmakers, administrators, and judges play an important part in the shaping and in the maintenance of our republic. Each party has a perspective, and each candidate has a personality, a history, and a skill set. Each individual whom we select will have an influence on the future course of the nation, state, or community; and the wider the sphere of responsibility the more profound the influence.

Only the foolish will take this process lightly, or will cast ballots frivolously. One election can impact several generations.

An individual candidate can make a big difference. An individual issue can make an even bigger difference. And an individual candidate who represents an individual issue will make a larger difference yet. It is not something that can be taken lightly; and the realization that smoke and mirrors, campaign organizers, and savvy promoters can distort reality is disquieting.

But we have put too much trust in government. Jesus pretty much kept hands-off. Some of the apostles, as they wrote the churches, urged respect for government, and called those in charge “ministers of order.” But no place in scripture are we led to think that good government, with good laws, and skilled politicians can lead to salvation, or even to the kind of maturity that matters. It would be fool-hardy to operate without laws; but it is more foolish to expect laws to change hearts. And real change happens only when that happens.

There is a good chance that the president will not be the one you would choose. The judge might have the other party’s perspective. Your state or national representative might be someone that the ads have labeled a low-life (with reason, or without reason). But we will respect each one for the responsibility that he or she accepts. We will pray for God’s direction in the life of each one who is ready to accept that. We will do our part as responsible citizens. We will be determined to be part of the solution, and not part of a problem.

Mostly we will follow Christ. No politician will be our savior. But Jesus is the Savior. No elected official will provide the power, counsel, and comfort that we need. But the Holy Spirit is ready, willing, and able to do that. No national hero or glib communicator can assure that we will live happily ever after. But God, the creator of heaven and earth, who has sent the Savior and commissioned the Spirit, offers exactly that. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).