Should We Pray for Obama’s Failure or Success?
The prophets prophesy lies,
the priests rule by their own authority,
[the politicians promote ideological thrusts, money and power grabs in the guise of crisis management]
and my people love it this way.
But what will you do in the end? -cf., Jeremiah 5:31
This week World Net Daily co-founder Joseph Farah declared: “I do not hesitate today in calling on godly Americans to pray that Barack Hussein Obama fail in his efforts to change our country from one anchored on self-governance and constitutional republicanism to one based on the raw and unlimited power of the central state. It would be folly to pray for his success in such an evil campaign.”
I had mixed emotions when I read that! Please let me quickly explain why:
Most certainly, Obama is ceaselessly striving to “change our country from one anchored on self-governance and constitutional republicanism to one based on the raw and unlimited power of the central state,” yet he is only doing it because the people love it so!
The first thing Robin said to me while looking at the inaugural news was: “Why do you think they’re treating Obama so much like a king?”
Having contemplated this hard and long, with hundreds of indicators flooding in that Robin’s hunch about a “coronation” is valid (not the least of which is our nation spending four times more on Obama’s inauguration than ever before, yet in a time of economic collapse), I could only reply:
“Anarchy in the human spirit always creates the vacuum that ushers in dictatorship. It’s sorta like the kid who can’t handle the discipline at home, so he runs away and joins the Marines!”
As my friend, Winkie Pratney, says along with others, “A democracy thrives only in proportion to the number of righteous men and women in it.” Men and women who are not righteous will always feel the need for the benevolent dictatorship of a Nanny State. Of course, I cannot think of an historical instance where a dictator stays truly benevolent. I tend to agree with George Orwell’s statement in “Animal Farm”: “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Therefore, I cannot quite pray, as Joseph Farah recommends, that President Obama fails, for to do so would be to treat symptoms. Obama’s failure or success is irrelevant if the transformation of the electorate is left unaddressed. If, however, we pray that the spirit of Americans be humbled, that we repent, and that we allow the transforming power of the Spirit of Christ to be unleashed in our hearts, we would continue to get the kind of leaders we deserve, but we would, in Christ, start deserving better. True revivals always result in “throwing the bums out” - i.e., at least those bums whom themselves won’t repent.
We certainly must pray fervently for our leaders, but what kind of prayers? On November 2nd at “Ken’s Bloggin Views” on www.TheWalkShow.com, I wrote an article, entitled, “Why I Thank God for Obama,” which explained the nature of my prayers for Obama and the nation. As I stated therein in fuller detail, my conviction is that Barach Obama is merely helping an errant people in the creation of the vacuum that can only be filled by Jesus Christ. My prayers are, therefore, ones of thanksgiving for and blessing of Obama, with the secondary desire that he repent and the greater desire that we as a nation repent and attract godly leaders once again.
Repenting with you,
Ken
