For Change.
From the beginning of this 2008 election process, "Change" has littered both parties campaining trails. Obama for Change - His most prominent slogan... And even McCain was toting the word during the RNC.
Recently, multiple emails have come across my desk from Christian sources putting a twist on the phrase...
MAY THE CRY FOR MERCY BE LOUDER THAN THE CRY FOR CHANGE!!!!
A close friend had posted this quote somewhere on Facebook and had a friend ask for an explanation... She emailed asking for my own response... And I realized after writing a few successive emails with more formulated thoughts, that I should share it in a blog...
My first response as a Christian with a Biblical Worldview that seems obvious to me and may be to other Christians - is OF COURSE we need God's mercy! Our nation is in a world of hurt from the spiritual perspective. It doesn't take a spiritual guru to realize that our nation is inundated with sin, selfishness, immorality... Just list the seven deadly sins and we come up guilty... Read Ezekiel 22-23... Joel... We are guilty and if God responds to our nation in the same way he's done towards His own people in the past... then boy are we in for it! And it sure as heck means we need to be crying out for God's mercy... "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." I'm sure we all agree that our land needs some healing...
But then I started to think about how it would possibly make sense that this line is true even outside the biblical perspective... Here's how my emails went... (I've done some editing for more definition of my thoughts...)
Email 1: Mercy, mercy... It just makes me think about the finite-ness of humanity. Though change has occured through the hands of man over the years; it is fleeting.
Email 2: No matter what comes thru the hands of either candidate to change things... Our problems as a nation are bigger than what any human can promise can fix. Right?
So it's not even that we're kicking "change" out... Our country is desperate for change - for repentance - for a turning from its ways of greed and immorality (from the spiritual standpoint as described above)... But these things cannot be simply changed by the nomination of one man or another. As a nation full of individual people with their own agendas and lifestyles... a cry for mercy is needed far beyond the cry for change. And both nominees are kidding themselves to believe that change to an entire nation can come from the power of their own hands and even a cabinet full of finite people - whether democrat or republican... In themselves as leaders they sure as heck should be crying out for God's mercy and grace over their position of great influence. Over every thought, every word and every decision... So much authority has been given to the President and I cannot fathom being in this position without a desperate cry for God's mercy...
I guess that's another perspective of mercy - outside of the typical cry for mercy - that God would spare his people from their sinfulness and what tragedy could become them in their rebellion.
Email 3: I was also thinking that as a Christian - my eyes (are conditioned) see that the roots of the "problems" we face as a nation... are spiritual... but I think it's also wise to take notice of the practical issues that the candidates are addressing:
Our economy, the poor, the unborn, the war... ALL of these "practical" issues - will NEVER be solved by the "CHANGE" proposed by either man (candidate) without God's mercy... If the cry for "change" that has been echoed throughout the history of the world by multiple candidates for positions of power - whether in our nation or others - was substantial and fulfilled its promise - one could reason that we may have reached that utopia by now. (I know that the candidates aren't promising a utopia for our nation - I'm trying to make the point of our inability as humans for substantial/long term change)
Duh. LOL. I mean it's more obvious why we would be crying out for God's mercy more than change. And even if your friend isn't so keen on Jesus.... The cry for something greater "higher" than what humanity can promise or accomplish through even the greatest man or group of people seems like an obvious cry in this moment or any moment of history for that manner.
We humans kind of suck creating change on our own. And for either party... the change that is often created will produce negative effects on at least one person... Oh how we must be desperate for a kingdom answer - JESUS!
Email 4: OH and ONE more thought... The cry for "change" may be more substantial than what's been given credit...
I think it's a cry from the heart of our nation - across BOTH parties that we as individuals are in a place of need and desperation. Something's not right. Something MORE has to exist... Maybe the cry for change is a reflection of our true brokennness and need as a nation more than a catchy slogan that has marked this campaigning season. A desperate utterance from our spirit/gut - as individuals and as a nation - or even from the echoes of creation - that this land is broken and desolate - desperate for restoration and ultimately Christ's glory to be released as his Kingdom comes back to earth...
Hmmm... (Maybe my prayer has become) perhaps that God will see the honest cry for change in the heart of his people (Not 'his' people referring to Christians or Jews - but all of humanity who reside in this country) (even in their lack of awareness) - not simply as a cry for one presidential nominee or another - but the cry of desperation, need, and inability to fix this mess...
And have MERCY.
ou've felt your body go cold as the currents of your blood slow down... almost to a stop... Frustration, defeat, bleak vision (or lack of vision).....
