God Bless You, President-Elect Obama

Three weeks ago today, Barack Obama was elected president of the United States.  I voted for John McCain (actually, my vote was more against Obama and for Sarah Palin).  If the election were held again today, I still would not vote for Obama.  He has done little to allay concerns I had by the people he is picking to be a part of his administration.

Having said that, it is hard to miss the excitement his election has generated around the world.  For our own country, the significance of electing a black man president is especially noteworthy.

I'm not going to focus on the issue of slavery in the United States.  That evil was dealt with long before I was born.  Those who seek to use it to gain some leverage today are not to be taken seriously.  There is, however, a current reality which must be acknowledged and that is racism--and the racism that particularly concerns me is that which is found in many white Christian circles.

I have visited hundreds and hundreds of Baptist churches in my lifetime, and I must say that the number of African Americans that I have seen in them has to be somewhere in the range of .0000000000000000000000000000000000001% (I know, I know, that estimate--which is simply based on my own limited experience--is no doubt exaggeratedly high).  Countless white American Christians, who sing and preach of God's love for all humanity and invest countless dollars in missions endeavors to people of color around the world, would be scandalized and outraged if a black person showed up at their churches and would not walk next door to share the Gospel with a person of color.  Shame on them and shame on all of us!  May God reprove the wickedness of racism and the even greater wickedness of often twisting Scripture to defend that racism.  May many more follow the example of Bob Jones University, that has publicly acknowledged and repented of its racist policies of the past.

May God bless you, President-Elect Obama.  As a white person, I can only grasp a small idea of the joy your election has brought to millions of my black fellow countrymen and I rejoice in this historic moment for that reason.  May he guide you, give you wisdom, strengthen you and save you through Jesus Christ His Son.  May he use you to help break down racial barriers (those that have been erected both by whites as well as blacks).  May you understand that He is King of the universe and that earthly rulers are, at best, only supporting actors.

Comments

[JR]

Very well said!

JR

[Bethany]

Mr. Phil,

It is so refreshing to hear a white conservative acknowledge the present-day existence of racism.

I am happy that for the first time African American children can look at history books and actually see a president that looks like them (and not just a bunch of old white dudes ;).

I am not happy that many whites think that having a black president must mean that racism is no longer an "issue".

While I voted for Obama, I don't think that he (or any politician, government, or human for that matter) has the capacity to make all well in our country or bring the change that is needed in the broken souls of women and men. I believe that is only the love of God and the loving of him that can bring such change.

Followers of Christ must be leading voices in the breaking down of racism. In the days of Martin Luther King Jr., white conservative evangelicals were largely absent in the struggle. I look forward to the day when white Christians from all across the board--Orthodox, Christian, and Protestant, Republican and Democrat--will repent of their racism and begin to listen to the cries of their sisters and brothers of color who continue to encounter racism from both individuals and institutions.

As members of the Body of Christ we must intentionally immerse ourselves among those that have been and still are oppressed, and recognize the suffering of individuals whose social realities are vastly different from our own. The world will know us by our love for one another. We must walk as Jesus walked and not only preach a gospel of redemption but also LIVE one of reconciliation.

Thanks for this post. While many Christians have different political beliefs, I don't think that diversity of thought is the supreme problem; I think it's arrogant attitudes manifested by those who think their beliefs make them godlier and who then proceed in ungodly actions by damning those with whom they disagree. Thank you for praying for a man whose views you disagree with and for reminding me that there are white conservatives out there who recognize the historicity of the moment and the potential of our President-Elect.

Bethany (the Californian ;)