voting for the will of God

What to do with those crazy Christians? That is the question I find facing me. All the "fundies" who prayed for Bush to win ... Pat Robertson who prayed for Bush and felt like God told him that Bush would win big ... Bush, himself, who believes that God has placed him there in that position for a reason. What do we do with them? They were right!!

Well, lets back up a bit. The results of the election were as the "fundies" were hoping. There were more people voting this year than ever. And Bush won the popular vote by a HUGE margin. Not only that, but Bush got more popular votes than any president in history. So how am I to understand these crazy Christians.

I have to admit that I did vote for Bush. I disagree with him on some of his policy issues, but on the whole I admire his character and trust his faith. I like most of his views on moral issues and truly believe that he tries to submit to the will of God.

But is that how God works? If a guy's policy issues seem to be contrary to the Kingdom of God, yet his faith is vibrant and alive, does God place his favor upon him. Is God involved at all? Is it totally in the hands of voters and our free will? Is the will of God actively moving people so that their free will choice ends up accomplishing His will? So many questions.

I guess if I put up my tent in one camp or the other these questions would be decided for me. If I was 100% Republican, then what just happened was the will of God. If I was 100% Democrat then what just happened would be another example of sin in the world. If I was all Calvinist, then it wouldn't matter what political party I supported, God's will was accomplished. If I was all Arminian, then I would have to refer to my political party to see whether this was the will of God.

When I read the Old Testament, I see a God who does raise people to power for his purposes. When I read the New Testament, I see Christians who suffer, not glory in wealth and power. When I study the Kingdom of God, it moves beyond the boundaries of theology and politics. So once again I am left with mystery. I am left with my conviction, warranted or not, that there is some synergy between my will and God's will. Somehow God carries out his plan through our free choices.

I also know that I believe that when I was a sophomore in high school I felt that God was leading me to become the senior class president of my high school class. Sure enough, two years later I was senior class president. Was it me? Was it God? I can only say "yes" to both. So who am I to argue with Bush when he believes he was called to be President of the U.S. And as far as Pat Robertson is concerned, I have to admit that he was right. Bush did win big. Whether he got that from projected poll statistics or through his prayer life, who am I to judge.