Praying for the U.S. of A.

I think Christians being involved in politics is fine.

Of course I would, right?

Really, the spirit of America and political participation is this: American citizens, who wish to change America for the better, and who represent the people's wishes, should be able to. Thus, if Christians have the support of the people, by America's founding statutes and ideals, they have every right, and moreover, a duty to participate in Government.

At least, as far as their status as US citizens is concerned, but let me speak of their status as kingdom citizens.

I come from a background where praying for the US specifically (and the world) in political and social matters is very common. My church in college had weekly prayer meetings (and daily prayer meetings, and special occasion prayer meetings, and church prayer meetings, and--) where a good deal of time would be spent to effect Godly change in these matters. My pastor would come in with several inches of spiritually disturbing news articles he had read, from which he would read snippets of to us. If we were lucky, we got through maybe a quarter of them, and we would then pray over the matters.

Usually that God would undo the bad stuff, and keep blessing the good stuff. Specifically, at the issue-by-issue level.

But enough about my old church, let's talk about ME:

You might call me a doom-ist . . . or a pessimist . . . or a nut, I suppose. Unlike my father, and most of my Christian friends, I don't believe America's best days are ahead of it. I believe our worst days, as a nation, are ahead of us. In fact, I believe the world's worst days are ahead of us. It's the end-times, baby-- things get a heck of a lot worse before they can get better, before they can be made anew. Now, I think my father, and most of my Christian friends would agree with me on that point, but in their view, America will be the light to show the way to the rest of the world; America will be the prodigal son that comes back to his father, who will then bring revival on the rest of the world to gather the harvest before Jesus returns. After all, we are America: God's nation.

But I disagree. I think we are too far gone, too godless, too liberal, too humanist, too hard of heart, too reprobate, too selfish, too spiritually dead, too dishonest, too addicted, too lazy, too afraid, too idolatrous, and essentially, doomed

. . . and I'm not so sure God didn't want it that way.

After all, he did plan out this whole "History of the World" thing aeons ago (or if nothing else, he knew how it would all play out, and is therefore still culpable in his omnipotence (phew, there's a theological battle to scratch your head over)).

If America, and the world for that matter, are going down the toilet, did God not plan it that way, in order for his saving moment, and his working anew of the world, to be that much more spectacular? Or maybe he has awesome things planned out because everything is going so bad. I cannot think of a single bad decision I've made, or bad thing that's happened to me, that good did not come of. Why should America be any different? Maybe God is using bad things to BRING US TO OUR KNEES.

And then the end will come. World: you're screwed . . . at least if you don't have Jesus.

Now, shoot, that means I'm one of those types who holds up signs about judgment on street corners, and at soldier's funerals, right? Or that I'm on my knees every night, Jonah-style, asking God to metaphorically and literally nuke our nation? No. I am not an instrument of God's echastological will (at least not knowingly)-- he's already got that stuff figured out, and I don't think he needs my advice, or lobbying. God hasn't said to me "What do you think I should do, Kevin?" He won't, either. What's my pea-brain to his universe-encompassing-brain?

Here's how I pray for America: a long sigh, followed by "God, let your will be done. If this (awful thing I've become aware of) is of you, then let it wreak havok, and if it's not, knock it down, but let your will be done." What else can I do? Haven't we all prayed for things that, years down the road, we see wasn't actually God's will? Take the 2008 election: as much as I didn't like Obama, I said not one prayer against him. How do I know how God will use him, should he win? Now, he's obviously not a Christian, and not for Christian principles, by and large, and therefore, many would draw the conclusion: he's not God's man. But maybe he is exactly God's man. Again, are we the Lord's counselors?

"Let your will be done." What more can we presume, when it comes to echastology, or the fate of our nation, and it's leaders? We vote with our conscience, through prayer, and then offer up to God our assurance that we wish for his will to be done.

Please note that I do things this way because, after all, I am a doomist. But if you disagree with me, then pray your convictions, and we will let the Lord decide

. . . and I'll see you on the other side of the tribulation.

(kidding, sorta)