Exponential Blogging Tournament Round 1

Does the Presidential Election Matter?

Rules:

1. 200 words or less
2. Top 8 Vote Getters Move on to Round 2
3. Voting Ends Sunday at 11:59 pm

Pat Furgerson – Passion 4 Planting – Chantilly, VA

Romans 13 says God establishes the governing authorities. With that said, my prayer is that God has a third party candidate in mind, because the current field is like choosing between the Bart Simpson and Paris Hilton.
The most important thing is, are people coming to know Jesus? Does the election impact that? Government helps set the moral compass for a nation and provides the framework through which the Church operates. The next President will influence policy that will determine the freedoms we have to worship, and freely serve the lost in our midst. The President will influence the morality of the nation as well (Thanks Bill). The resulting morality can lead to a shift in receptivity to Church and Christ. For these reasons the election matters and it is our duty to vote not only as Americans, but as Christians. Just don’t use the pulpit as a campaigning tool. Uncle Sam will smack you for that.
However, throughout history the Church has lived and thrived in all types of governments. The Bible repeatedly shows that God’s will cannot be thwarted by rulers. Though we make choices along the way there is not stopping where the God train is headed.

Kirk Schneeman – Frontline Church – Ann Arbor, MI
The presidential election matters, but not necessarily for the reasons most believe. First, the election is a symbol of freedom. The USA was founded upon principles that did away with monarchy and autocracy in favor of a democracy that would give each eligible citizen a voice in the selection of leadership.
Second, the process exposes various political views through debates and campaigns. The media does not necessarily communicate an unbiased presentation of these perspectives, but information is distributed nonetheless.
Third, the election stimulates the economy. Hundreds of millions (billions?) of dollars exchange hands through campaign donations, advertising, voting machine purchases, and other related expenses.
Fourth, the negative messages launched among candidates create tension amongst our citizens. The existence of blue states and red states demonstrates how divided our country has become, polarizing people into two opposing parties despite numerous attempts to create alternatives.
Of course, the election does result in the nomination of a president, once considered the most powerful position in the world (a notion that is controversial today). If each voter is given truthful data on each candidate and makes an educated choice, and if the president keeps their promises…
Wishful thinking, perhaps!
But the election still matters.

Derek Brown – Harmony Church – Greenville, NC
Race. Religion. Policy. Character. War. All of these subjects have come up during this Presidential election. The question “does the presidential election matter” is slightly skewed. When we are asked this question, we are really asking if the subjects involved matter. So do race, religion, policies, and character matter? Of course they do. The subjects intertwined in this election give us as Christ-followers a chance to exercise and form an all-encompassing worldview. To show the world that we see the world not through rose-colored glasses as some candidates do, but rather through crimson-colored glasses as we are called to do.
The questions raised in this election will give Christianity and indeed the entire country a chance to converse and dialogue on issues that, outside of this election, we would otherwise not approach. Perhaps this election will be remembered not for which candidate was elected or the amount of money that was raised, but for the questions it raised.

Vince Antonucci – Forefront Church – Virginia Beach, VA

Of course the results matter!
In 1952 Dwight Eisenhower beat Adlai Stevenson. Seriously, can you imagine having had a president named Adlai??!
In 1972 Richard Nixon beat George McGovern. If he hadn’t, “I am not a crook” would not be an American catchphrase
In 1996 Bill Clinton beat Bob Dole. This victory gave hope to interns everywhere that they would no longer have to toil in obscurity, but could (with a few calculated moves) become front page news.
In 2000 George W. Bush beat Al Gore. If, Al Gore had become president, we would not have the film “An Inconvenient Truth ” sitting on the shelf at Blockbuster, and what DVD would be sitting in its place?!?!
We can see elections matter by looking at how presidents have done away with poverty, given meaning to those without purpose, solved the AIDA epidemic in Africa, stopped war, provided health care for every American citizen and … wait … presidents haven’t been able to accomplish any of that. I guess the presidential election doesn’t matter. And it turns out, once again, that stinking Bill Hybels is right, let’s all say it together now, “The church is the hope of the world.”

Mark Doebler – The Grove – Peoria, IL
As the fires still burned and the carnage became more starkly real, we heard, “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.“
As the Cold War waned on, and the battle of national will and the undying human spirit spurred him on, Reagan challenged his Russian counterpart, “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
Over what remained of a bloody battlefield, and as a nation strove with itself, Lincoln reminded us that “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
Do elections matter? Did it matter after Pearl Harbor?
Do elections matter? Did it matter in Berlin?
Do elections matter? Did it matter at Gettysburg?
Does the election matter? I can only echo the words of Jefferson, “We hold these truths to be self-evident.”

David Putman – Mountain Lake Church – Cumming, GA
When it comes to does the presidential election matter? Sure it matters. But, how much does it matter? I’ve adapted something below from Jim Wallis by substituting “God’s Politics” for “The Jesus way”. That’s what I think.
“The Jesus way (God politics) reminds us of the creation itself, a rich environment in which we are to be good stewards, not mere users, consumers and exploiters. And the Jesus way pleads with us to resolve, as much as possible, the inevitable conflicts among us without the terrible destruction of war. The Jesus way always remind us of the ancient prophetic prescription to “choose life, so that you and your children may live,” and challenge all the selective moralities that would choose one set of lives and issues over another. This challenges both the Right and the Left, offering a new vision for faith and politics in America and a new conversation of personal faith and political hope.”

Jeremy Myers – Planting in Montana
When Bill Clinton won the 1992 presidential election, I thought the Tribulation was upon us. Now, in 2008, I realize I tagged the wrong Clinton as the Antichrist…
No, I’m only joking. I like Hillary. I don’t believe I will vote for her if she wins the Democratic nomination, but I think she raises some good questions that must be answered. And so do Obama and McCain.
But which candidate will be best for America and the world? Personally, I don’t think it really matters. Oh sure, it matters politically, economically, socially, militarily, and in a whole host of other ways. But in the one area that matters most, the presidential election doesn’t matter. And what area is that? The Kingdom of God.
All Christians want political leaders who uphold Christian values. But if history is any guide, countries with leaders who are antagonistic to Christianity are actually more fertile places for the advancement of the kingdom than countries with pro-Christian leadership.
While the Kingdom of God will advance no matter who wins, it may advance better under someone who is against Christian morals than under someone who is for them. Maybe I’ll vote for Hillary after all.

Tadd Grandstaff – Pine Ridge Church – Burlington, NC
I DO NOT believe the presidential election matters to God – I don’t think God is in heaven biting his finger nails as He worries who the next president is going to be. He has been unleashing His will on this country for years and I doubt that someone in a political position is going to stand in His way. I think if the church worried more about the lost people in it’s towns, cities, and counties and less about who is in a political office, then we would have an opportunity to see a revival sweep across this nation like the world has never seen. Instead of making a certain political party famous or a certain politician famous – how about we, as in the church, focus on making the God of the Universe famous! So – to answer the question of course it matters – the majority of social issues we deal with in the church stem from politics. But here is the deal – instead of pushing my personal political agenda – I would much rather stick to God’s agenda. I think God gets pretty fired up when churches waste time pushing their political agenda.

Dave Milam – Kinetic Christian Church – Charlotte, NC
I enjoy our political process. It’s like Ultimate Fighting for the debate club. There’s nothing more exciting than watching candidates devour one another in a pulverizing verbal cage match. It reminds me of those nostalgic church-board meeting days when the elders would swear at each other.
Yet, I know that not every person is stirred by the prospect of watching bloodthirsty candidates duke it out. Many prefer Dancing with the Stars to an electoral brawl. (Don’t ask me why.)
So, is it possible to separate the political men from the boys; the fighters from the dancers?
Let me attempt to try.
If you’re a Saturday Night Live comic: THE ELECTION MATTERS!
But, if you live in your mom’s basement and trade Magic Cards: IT DOESN’T
If you’re sexist or fly a rebel flag: IT MATTERS
But, if you are New York’s former governor: IT DOESN’T
If you’re Oprah Winfrey: IT MATTERS
But, if you’re Al Gore: IT DOESN’T

If you are an illegal Mexican working in the US: IT MATTERS

But, if your job is being outsourced to Mexico: IT DOESN’T

If you’re a trained circus monkey and political commentator: IT MATTERS
But if you’re the typical American: IT DOESN’T

Carl Kuhl – Mosaic Christian Church – Hanover, MD
Every president can lead according to god’s will or what is popular. He (sorry, Hillary, it’s over) faces the choice Pharaoh had: submit to God and endure, or follow your heart and fall. Either way, God is glorified.
The Church shows the world what life looks like when Christ is lord: we honor humility, respect the poor, comfort the hurting, challenge the bold, and worship Christ. These are what our president should pursue for our country.
Come November 4, I will have strong opinions about who can best lead war on terror, reduce government, appoint judges, and protect the unborn. If the elected seeks God’s will, God will receive honor. But if the president refuses God’s wisdom and pursues selfish ends, God will still ensure he receives glory, just as He did with Pharaoh. God could say to every one of us, just as he said to Pharaoh, “I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” We are planting this church so God’s name might be proclaimed in all the earth, and i pray our next president has the same goal.

Chris Barras – Area 10 Faith Community – Richmond, VA
Does the presidential election matter?
So here’s the short answer: Yes, this election matters…and probably more than you think.
It matters because our country is tangled up in a very complex situation in Iraq. It matters because 2 Advil in a hospital will cost you $17. It matters because federal judges wield a lot of power in interpreting the law. So our next president has a significant opportunity to shape our country’s future.
But for the follower of Christ, it matters even more. Not for the tired old religious right reasons of family values (which somehow has come to mean homosexuality and abortion). It matters because it is not our calling to stick our heads in the sand and sit back and watch the culture crumble. It matters because God told Jeremiah to “seek the welfare of city to which I have sent you.” And seeking the welfare of our cities involves seeking the welfare of our governments.
Can we, the faithful few sit on the sidelines and ignore the call of God to love our cities? No- it’s not an option for us. So, this election matters for the people of faith to make their voices heard in the public arena.

Ron Klabunde – Restore Christian Church – Planting in Northern, VA
My position is best stated and explained by Gregory Boyd who lost 20 percent (1000 people) from his congregation after teaching on the larger issue surrounding this question – “Should the kingdom of God be fused with the king of the world?”
I believe a significant segment of American evangelicalism is guilty of nationalistic and political idolatry. To a frightful degree, I think, evangelicals fuse the kingdom of God with a preferred version of the kingdom of the world (whether it’s our national interests, a particular form of government, a particular political program, or so on). Rather than focusing our understanding of God’s kingdom on the person of Jesus, … I believe many of us American evangelicals have allowed our understanding of the kingdom of God to be polluted with political ideals, agendas, and issues.
I argue that this perspective is misguided, that fusing together the kingdom of God with this or any other version of the kingdom of the world is idolatrous and that this fusion is having serious negative consequences for Christ’s church and for the advancement of God’s kingdom.1
Any questions?
1The Myth of a Christian Nation, by Gregory A. Boyd.
www.ronklabunde.com

Matt Mehaffey – The Pursuit Christian Church – Miami, FL
Does the presidential election even matter? Should the church be involved? I have seen local churches be so apolitical they have become completely irrelevant in the culture. On the flip I have seen church leaders endorse candidates and parties. I believe both are missing the mark Jesus has called us to be as the Church.
When we surrender our lives to Jesus and become Christ-followers, we give up everything … including our rights to toe the party line. This is especially true of the Church and church leaders.
The Church must remain independent (non-partisan). If we are partial in even the most minuscule way, we lose the right to be heard. Our focus instead must be on bringing awareness to issues facing our culture and viewing them through the lens of the Bible. This is 100% impossible to do when standing to the right or left. It’s also 100% impossible if we flock to the polls without having taken the time to know the issues and understand how to view them through that biblical lens. We have to be responsible.
“I am Matt Mehaffey, Lead Pastor of The Pursuit Christian Church and I approve this blog post.

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