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Health & Fitness

We Don't Need A New President

Why I don't think a new President will be the cure all for the U.S.

 I usually try and steer away from posts that delve into the political realm. It is just not my thing. There is nothing wrong with having a political "bent" so to speak, but that is simply not my thing. I have some friends that can get all up in arms about political issues but I usually cannot muster the motivation to launch myself into it.

But not this week.

This post is different.

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Because I have been watching this (seemingly never ending) Presidential political season with some interest. I have noticed a few things that bother me when I read, watch, and listen to other Christians talk about the Presidential race and their opinion of President Obama that have caused me to come to a peculiar conclusion.

We don't need a new President.

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I know it might surprise you for me to say something like that- especially for those who know me best. I'm one of the most conservative people I know. I'm a Bible thumpin' Tali-Baptist of the worst kind (AKA Southern Baptist).

But I'm convinced that we don't need a new President, because a new president cannot cure what ails us. (In case you missed it, that would be "the catch" you're waiting on).

I have heard so many people bash President Obama and his policies that I'm convinced he could hand out gold bars and those who lean to the right would complain. Don't misunderstand me, I do not agree with everything that he has done/wants to do, but I also wouldn't compare him to the Anti-Christ either.

Here's the problem as I see it: If our next President is named Romney, or Santorum, or Gingrich, or even Paul he wouldn't be able to cure what ails our country. Because no man can fix what is wrong.

What is wrong with our country cannot be fixed by working on healthcare, immigration reform, taxes, laws, of anything of the like.

America has a spiritual problem. America has a sin problem. This cannot be fixed by anything that President Obama (or whomever survives the Republican primary gauntlet) can do.

The only thing that can fix the problem America has is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As a Christian I have a different worldview, a different set of lens through which I view the world, than others may have. Because of that it changes my perspective on many things, not the least of which is matters of the political realm.

I think it is high time that the Church (as a whole) quits worrying so much about who is in office, and spends more time focusing on their intended purpose. The Church needs to be focusing on loving others. After all, this is the greatest Commandment:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

-Matthew 22:37-40 ESV

It will take work. It will take intentionality. It will involve us getting outside of our comfort zones. It will involve getting dirty. It will involve leaving the "church" building. It will look different ways for different people because not all needs are identical.

I see a "trend" of exactly this occurring within the church.  I have been amazed recently by the different podcasts of sermons, blog posts, and other information coming out of a number of churches focusing on "being" the church. Of different churches caring for the least among us, something strangely similar to how the early church conducted itself. Whether it's taking care of orphans (like The Hope EpidemicGarage Sale for Orphans and numerous others), or refugees  (like Show Favor), or human trafficking (like 72 days of Freedom) the church is coming back to put their focus on others. To love them. To point them to Christ with their every action. To show them the unconditional love and acceptance that has been shown to us by Christ.

Because in the end I assure you it will not matter who was President. It will not matter how fiercely we fought against Sunday Sales. What will matter is what we have done for the Kingdom of Heaven. What will matter is who we have shared the Gospel with. What will matter is how many lives have been changed because someone took the time to love on them.

A new President cannot do that.

But you/I/we can.

So, we don't need a new President.

We just need to rise up and make a difference.

On that point I will post in coming days about different ways you can help to make a difference in the world around you. How you can live for something outside of yourself. How you can put your faith into practice. After all- faith, without deeds is dead (James 2:17).

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