First, to edit myself: the candidates for President in 2008 raised over 1 Billion dollars, not the 200 million that I listed. http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.php

Secondly, I agree wholeheartedly that our nation has a history of Godly men who have used their skills through business, higher education, and missional organizations to spread the Gospel. This has benefited the world tremendously. And (in my opinion) we need more of that. We need to build up the institutions of the church and the para-church ministries so that they are big enough to tackle the world’s problems, completely separate from secular governments. Sure, we can work with governments, but we must never rely on government to solve society’s problems. I believe that some people have a noble desire to enter government positions and attempt to change the world using the tools of the State, but this can never be as effective as accomplishing the same goals but using the resources of the church. Who is better equipped to minister to the poor and the needy? The Church or the State?

I guess my original reaction was more towards the wasted resources that went into the election. Imagine that we lived in a different world where instead of spending 1 billion dollars on campaigns, we got the Presidential candidtates together and played “Rock, Paper, Scissors” to determine who would be president, and people used their spare 1 billion dollars to fund local charities.

Of the 1 billion dollars spent in 2008, 484 million was spent on “broadcast media”. Huh. So you’re telling me that nearly 1/2 of ALL of that money was spent on developing and airing tv and radio commercials? It was metaphorically thrown into the air? Something seems absurd about that. Almost 140 million dollars was spent on travel expenses. So in addition to spreading the message through the air, we are also ferrying the candidates through the air so they can deliver their messages in person. Who does this help? Well, it pays the salaries of the transportation industry. And the tv and radio industry. That’s good… if a rather narrowly-targeted group. And the best part? In two years it’ll all start up again.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments and I appreciate the conversation!

One problem comes when we look to earthly governments for our solutions to spiritual problems. Only God can change individual hearts and bring salvation. But trying to elect godly leaders or influence our government to act in ways that reflect our values as Christians is not at odds with living a peaceful and quite life in godliness and holiness.

Just in my lifetime Christians stepping away from having an influence in the public arena has created a void that has now been filled with a culture of death, irresponsibility, sexual perversion, selfishness, profanity and so many other anit-God, anti-righteous, anti-holy things. We’re at odds with society alright. So let’s get back in the game and really start having an impact rather than say “It’s not my job.”

Yeah, who really cares who the president is or about politics. I get that because those things have no eternal value. But Jesus took 12 ordinary men and completely changed the world. Sometimes it was with the help of an agreeable political environment and sometimes under the persecution of an unfriendly one. Our charge isn’t to make the governemnt into the church. But the government is just a collection of individuals who all need Jesus. We should always pray that our leasders are godly people and come to know Christ just as we would with anybody else under our influence. And if that happens He would be winning the battle on both fronts.

We run into real problems when we try to hold God to our standard of fairness. A faithful Christian gets cancer while a lifelong smoker lives to a ripe old age. An honest businessman closes his company while the swindler and cheat may amass great wealth. We have a choice. We could shake our fist at God and tell Him He’s not being fair. Or we can bend our knee and recognize His sovereignty. (The sovereignty of God, what an undertaught concept.) When we demand “fairness” from God we show our true lack of trust in Him and His goodness. None of us has a blank front side to our “cardboard” so to be “fair” none of us are entitled to have anything written on the other side. Praise God! He’s not fair.

As an aside, thanks for letting me read these entries and post comments. It has really helped me keep my focus and made me reflect more on The Word.

And also, as regards to the lost sheep, I think too often we find it easier to just watch people wander off in their sin and think they should know better so let them end up getting what they deserve. But the heart of Jesus is that none of His sheep should be lost. While we were yet sinners He died for us, freeing us from facing what we really deserve. Can we really claim to be His follower if we don’t even attempt to win our brother back?

And it all plays out in the context of relationship. The core of which is one on one between each of us and God. Then one on one as each member of the body relates to one another in a manner that follows Christ’s example.

Thanks for your comments!