Thy vote be done

“By my power kings govern, and rulers make laws that are fair. Every honest leader rules with help from me” (Proverbs 8:15-16 CEV).

We voted and we have our new president elect. Regardless of how we voted, as Christians our duty now is to support our new president and pray for him.

When I voted this past Tuesday, I prayed a little prayer as I punched my vote onto the touch screen, “Lord, here is my will, here is who I think should be president, but your will be done.”

You see, I’ve learned that human effort can’t cause God’s Kingdom to come. That certainly includes the efforts of presidents, senators, and judges. These human leaders are important and what they believe is important, but only God can make His Kingdom come.

I’ve also learned that God’s will is better than mine. I’m learning to prefer His will to mine because I’ve tried mine already. And it turned out badly.

I want to be careful as I navigate this gray area between my will and God’s. If I am too quick to share my opinion as a pastor, I risk the prophetic voice that God has given me (and every Christian pastor). For this reason, I believe that the Church should be very careful about hitching its wagon to a political party or individual. You see, I believe the Church is the most important, influential, and powerful institution on the planet. Why should we negate or water down our message and influence by our connection to human kings? We are ambassadors for the coming King, King Jesus!

This past week I’ve heard quite a spectrum of responses to the election. Some have said they were sad, some said they were disappointed and afraid. But others were elated beyond description. They spoke of this “historic” election with pride in their voice and tears in their eyes.

One conversation that I found particularly poignant was with my friend, Rev. Alonzo Braggs. Alonzo is the pastor of Bethel AME Zion Church in Statonsburg, NC. He is also the president of the local NAACP. I have worked with Alonzo on the board of the Wilson County Ministers Association and on the board of directors of the Youth of Wilson, a mentoring program for troubled children in Wilson County. I was so impressed with his leadership and faithfulness to Christ, that I nominated him to replace me as president of the WCMA several years ago. He became the first black minister to be president of the WCMA (Wilson County has two ministers groups. One, the WCMA, has been historically, a predominantly white ministers group. The second, the Wilson Ministers Alliance, has been predominately black.).

Yesterday, Alonzo asked me, “Well, my brother Gary, how do you feel about our new president elect?”

“I am praying for him.” I replied. “He faces many challenging problems and he will need God’s help.”

“I am glad to hear you say that.” He responded. “I heard Dr. Dobson say on the radio this morning that he was grieved by the outcome of the election. I have always thought the world of Dr. Dobson. Why do you think he would say something like that?” He asked.

“I don’t know.” I replied, feeling the pressure of representing how some white evangelicals might feel about the election. “Alonzo, what matters most to me is that the person on the Throne of Heaven has not changed. He is still the same. I still report to King Jesus and He tells me that I’m supposed to pray for those He places in authority over me.”

“Amen to that.” Alonzo enthusiastically replied.

As we walked to our cars in the Wilson Medical Center parking lot, I thought how much more important my friendship to Alonzo is than my political point of view. I couldn’t hold my political opinions so loosely if I felt they offered real solutions. But I don’t.

I am concerned about those who believe that President elect Obama can deliver on all that he has promised, or live up to all their expectations. I know that he can’t. No man could.

That’s why I believe that God’s will is best. That’s why I’m praying, “Lord, not my vote, but your vote be done.”