Reflections on the Election by Jeremy Johnson

Last night a wonderful and historic event occurred when Barack Obama was elected the 44th president, and the first African-American president, of the United States. I went out last night to catch the results of the election but also to hear the speeches from both candidates (in a place where there would be a bunch of TVs). I was very pleased with both candidates for their kind and gracious remarks, and I was encouraged by their desire for national reconciliation after a long and heated campaign. When it was all said and done, even though I voted for McCain, I was unable to overlook the wonderful display of joy and harmony I saw televised of Americans in Grant Park and around the world.

Nevertheless, it struck me that maybe some of the people who were such vocal supporters of Obama might be making a mistake—a mistake that many conservative Republicans (including myself) had made at various points over the last eight years. As I watched Obama give his tremendously powerful and incredibly gracious acceptance speech, my heart began to swell with pride at seeing our democracy in action. In the middle of his speech, however, I began to believe that Obama wasn’t really speaking, but preaching.

Obama is a charismatic man to be sure, but his message last night was powerful because it was not his own. I believe it was a gospel message that had nothing to do with the gospel. That is not to say that I disagreed with his speech, or that I didn’t like it, because as I previously stated, I actually loved it. In my eyes, his speech was a proclamation of good news that trumpeted “change” because of a sincere feeling of “hope”. Ironically, it was just last week that I sat in a class under Crawford Loritts—an incredibly gifted preacher of God’s Word—who pleaded with us to never stand up in front of a group of people with a Bible in our hand, without expecting change. After watching last night, I found myself realizing that it is foolish to stand up in front of a group of people without a Bible in your hand, and to expect true change or experience eternal hope.

I offer this perspective as a Bush supporter, as someone who has stumbled my way through the hollow and shallow labyrinth of civil religion, and as someone who has placed his hope in man and not in God.

Now, before I say anything else, I want to reiterate how grateful I am to both candidates for their efforts in promoting unity and reconciliation after a hard fought political battle. I thought both candidates showed a tremendous amount of class last night, and I was proud to be an American.

It has been eye-opening, however, for me to see what I was doing at this time eight years ago. George W. Bush, a conservative, evangelical, Republican had just won the White House and offered hope of drastic change from the Clinton administration. I bought into this conservative ideology hook, line, and sinker. I believed that Bush was going to help us become a Christian nation again. I believed Bush wasn’t going to ignore conservative, evangelical Christians and that our voices would be heard. I believed that Bush had answers to many of the problems I had with government—and if I’m honest with myself, I actually saw Bush himself as the answer. While I do believe that he has been a good president, I’ve probably been guilty of placing too much trust in a mere man.

In light of what we find in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I believe that placing our hope and trust solely in a political candidate is a form of idolatry. I was certainly guilty of it, and many from the evangelical bumper-sticker brigade around the country probably struggled with it as well.
In conclusion, I would first like to join with my friends who are rejoicing in this historical moment as the realization sinks in that the United States has elected its first African American president. Remain mindful, however, lest you repeat the same mistake I made eight years ago. Resist the desire to place all your hope in a political system, in a government, or in a man.
Secondly, to my friends who might disagree with the direction our country took last night, take heart in the words of John McCain:

“I urge all Americans ... I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.”

Finally, to my friends on both sides of the aisle—may we always remember where our true citizenship lies. My prayer is that American Christians would never grow too comfortable in this alien land and that we would always put nation first—so long as it is the kingdom of God. And may we never forget that true change and eternal hope were purchased on the cross by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.