The Aftermath
A good site where you can easily find the national and local election results is here. Click on Iowa to see what happened in our state.
A real good summary of all the results of the ballot initiatives can be found here. It's presented from a conservative Christian perspective, but I believe you will find that the reporting is accurate.
My general thoughts on the outcome of this election are the same as if everything went red (republican) instead of blue (democrat).
1) I rejoice that the hope for the world is not tied up in politics. Now, don't get me wrong, a government can either help or hinder the spread the hope of the world (the gospel), but not even the gates of hell will prevent the advance of the church. So again, I rejoice!
2) Now that the election is over, I will honor and obey my elected officials to the extent that I can. If they ever ask or require me to violate the laws of God, though, I will have to decline to acquiesce their request... regardless of the cost.
Be filled with faith, hope and love today, but especially love!
Comments
I always seem to have trouble understanding why God wants us to murder nobody(and many other things along those lines), but then has led Israel into many a war. Christians tend to emphasize one of them and ignore the other without stopping to think.
Personally I think that its like one of the things that God allowed when the hearts of Israel was hard and could not believe that he would take care of things. So I believe that we are to now act as we should have all along, which is peacefully trusting that God will not allow us to be crushed.
I would dearly like to get a better scriptural understanding of this because it breaks my heart feeling as though I am at ends with my brothers and sisters on this.
Posted by: Steve O at November 9, 2006 09:29 PMSteve O anticipated my thoughts. The wars in the O.T. look like "jihad" to me. I think the war in Iraq is an enormous sin and stain on our nation. It was not a "just war," not war in self-defense. That is why I have established "conscientious objector" status. If our country leads us into war -- though thankfully now that is less likely -- I believe it will be against God's will.
Posted by: Greg A at November 10, 2006 08:57 AMI certainly understand your confusion over this issue. I know I have certainly struggled over this and over theological issues when attempting to apply them to the complexities of life. What one must do is view them through the law of love (see Romans 13 and note the difference between the government's role and the individual's role in dealing with people).
I encourage you both to not judge Israel (or God) too quickly. The pastors of Stonebrook taught on the book of Joshua awhile back which shed a lot of light on the historical and contextual situation that otherwise is not readily apparent to the reader.
I highly recommend that you listen to these teachings, since it seems like your confidence in God or the Scriptures is being shaken here. Steve, I will try to bring them to The Rock tonight (if you are interested). Adam, if you are willing to identify yourself, I would be happy to either mail them to you or talk to you in person about these things.
In all these things, the goal of our instruction is love.
Posted by: Tim at November 10, 2006 03:59 PM