Inviting Criticism...

On Tuesday it will have have been one week since the United States of America has elected their first black president. Now, this will probably be the last political article that I right for a while since I do not like to write articles about politics anyway being a minister. However, I do believe that it is our 'right' as a Christian to take care of our country which in many ways entitles us to involved; some more so than others.

And another thing that I must confess before diving into the subject, I am very supportive of the separation of church and state. To make a long argument short, simply because it has never worked successfully in the past and proves to be evident in the present and future. We are a country made up of the freedom to celebrate faiths of all kinds, but that is not to say that the men and women present in the political realm should or should not be religious.

However, moving onto the subject of our new president Barack Hussein Obama. As an American, this is a time to be celebrated simply because our country has made an incredible leap out of prejudicing people (though we are not completely out of it) helping to take another step forward to the equality of all men, no matter their color. Last Tuesday night was a night that our grand-children and great grand-children will read about and you and I just experienced it.

The simple beauty of a country being able to rise above themselves when less than 50 years previous, people of different colored skin were not even allowed to drink from the same water fountain. This is a moment that we, as a country, should be incredibly proud of because we have been able to overcome an issue that has plagued us for since the first settlers of the US, and even now as I type. But we have made an exponential leap to coming out of racism, and this is something that you and I should hold dear in our patriotism.

Now, as for the president-elect being the person Barack Hussein Obama, I personally am not completely pleased with. Simple because his ideas do not sit comfortably with me and my values. Yet, that is the beauty of our country. So no, I did not vote for Obama. And no, I did not vote for McCain. The one thing that frustrated me the most this voting season is that I had to vote for either.

Only 6 months ago, there were many people in the country who were very displeased with the select of both candidates; I was one of them. Neither, in my opinion, had what it took to be able to run the country well, especially in line with what the country was founded on. Yet, we continue to 'hold that dear,' even though our country has lost the true passion and hope that all the forefathers had when building the USA.

It frustrated me that out of hundred's of millions of people that populate our country, only two candidates are idolized and put on a pedestal for all to gleam over and put their trust in. It goes against everything that is installed in our constitution.

So could I vote for the 'best of two evils'? No, because we are called to a higher standard than that. We should have to pick one person, when we do not agree with either; yet, we have been programmed in our thinking that this is how the process works. The Republican and Democratic Party are to wealthy and powerful to allow any other parties to gain weight. Well, that is not good enough for me. That is not the USA that I studied in the history books at school.

Yet, it is the time that we live in now. And unfortunately, it is a few that have to start the change. Frankly, Obama will do nothing in office that will benefit the country. McCain would do in office that would benefit the country. No 'man' would do anything that would benefit the country because they are simply one man. Throughout history, change has always started with the majority who found fault in the traditional system. Change happens when 'toes are stepped on.'

However, we must remember that if you follow Christ, then you serve a higher power; one who is ruling over all, including our president. And in God our hope is built on nothing less. I am pleased that Obama won the presidency. I am frustrated that we have idolized him as a nation. But I will pray for Obama and the Senate and the House of Representatives because that is what God calls us to do.

I expect Obama to do great things and I expect him to fail, and I expect him to leave office with many accomplishments and many disappointments. But I am able to sleep peacefully at night knowing that God is in control completely, no matter who is president. And that I hope you believe too.