First, I want to say that I’m not a democrat. I’m not a republican. I’m a minister. I’m a Christian. I don’t promote candidates. I’m not promoting a party.
I believe there are good people and Christian people in the Republican Party. I believe there are good people and Christian people in the Democratic Party. I believe also that as Christians, we should vote. I believe that we should go further than that. We should run for offices, bring the kingdom of God into the political arena. I believe that’s our responsibility.
I also heard about a situation where someone asked a member of my church, “How can you vote for Barack Obama and be a Christian?” First, I want to say that the church is really not in a position to lead on this particular matter. I don’t think we’re qualified to give a lot of leadership because the church in America is the most segregated institution in America. I think that it is a shame. I think that God is so displeased with his body and with his people on this matter.
Secondly, I think that we’ve made a big mistake in trying to place Christianity into a political party. Jesus is not a Republican. Jesus Christ is not a Democrat. If we, mistakenly, make Jesus a Republican or a Democrat, and our party loses or win, then Jesus would lose or win.
Christian leaders have tried to make the Republican Party the “Christian” party because of the gay marriage and abortion issues. And on the other side, there are other equally important issues the Bible speaks against like prejudice and despising the poor that have been traditionally served by the Democratic Party. So, there are pluses and minuses on both sides. There are things that are anti-Christian and Christian in the Democratic Party; and there are things that are anti-Christian and Christian in the Republican Party.
So, we’re going to have to not bring Christianity down into a political party.
Now from a historically standpoint, this event, an African-American president is a historically event that every American: black, white, red, yellow, or brown should rejoice in. Historical events, to make them truly historical, must transcend politics, transcend parties, transcend the issues, and transcend the times. A historical event has a ripple effect. A historical event can impact a “now” generation and impact generations to come. This election was as historical as the emancipation proclamation. It was as historical as Jackie Robinson crossing the color line. It was as historical as the Berlin wall coming down. It was as historical as the introduction of the World Wide Web. It was as historical as the establishment of Israel as a nation. It was as historical as the first landing of a man on the moon.
Let’s rejoice in the historical nature of the United States electing the first African-American President, Barack Obama.
