Illusions of Grandeur

The spectacle that has taken place over the last few days betrays the groaning death of our nation. Look at what was left behind. Close to 2 million people packed into Washington D.C. and left behind over 50 tons of garbage for our government spending your money to clean up. One might ask, "Were these not the environmentalists who are constantly reminding us about our flawed social conscience?"

Such is the level of hypocrisy and shallow ethics which plagues our country and our world.
As it is being heralded by our secularized society as the dawn of a new age as a new charismatic leader takes the office of the President, from the Christian perspective we should be stricken as believers by more than the hypocrisy, but the terrible idolatry.

Idolatry that God hates and will hold against a nation that engages in it. But this has already taken place. God has turned his back on this nation, and as John Piper makes clear, "don't fear the judgement, this is the judgement."

Even if you are not a Christian, you have seen it on television or read in the newspapers the seemingly sycophantic elation that many in our country seem to be feeling over the potential one man has to save this nation from the brink of social meltdown and financial collapse. "Obama will save us!" was the headline of one article, describing the comments made by several of the attendees at the Presidential Inauguration. Without reason, common sense, or any form of rational thought, people in our country, our very neighbors, co-workers, and maybe even family and friends, have fallen pray to the "Messiah" mentality of what could be called the Cult of Obama.

We must support the office of the President and the man who holds it, for we desire him to succeed for the good of the nation. And the leadership of our government is still and always will be God ordained, put in place to bring forth His good purpose. Regardless of how we might view the leader.

The policies, decisions and judgement of our President reflect upon us as a people, and what we are willing to accept in our leaders. It is the mark of our expectations and our values. When our government and our President act in ways that we as Christians know are not biblical, our final authority is scripture. Let us remember to think biblically about these issues and reject the adoration of any thing or any one apart from the Lord.

Take a moment to pray for the leadership of our country in this dangerous time, and pray that the President doesn't begin to view himself as his adoring fans who elected him seem to. As some god-like savior of the world.

The Hard Truth is that this President cannot save us. He will not save us. But we do have a savior. More powerful in hope and mercy than any illusionary image of salvation superimposed on any single individual. Such a mindless devotion only betrays the human need for the divine and the need for rescue.