As the dust settles, let me offer here a few more reflections on the re-election of Obama. Plenty of commentary will be forthcoming in the days ahead from all sorts of quarters and all sorts of folks. We will be inundated with talk for quite some time. I too will likely have more thoughts in the next few days as well. But for now, a few more reflections:
Politically
We will now have an even more radically leftist president working overtime to implement his socialist agenda. He knows that he can now do everything he could not try in his first term. So what if he alienates people now? He is not facing re-election anymore, so he can do whatever he likes. And it will not be pretty.
There are of course major winners and losers here because of this election outcome. Let me offer a brief list of some of them:
Winners:
The welfare state
The entitlement mentality
Big government
Socialism
Radical leftism
Secular Humanism
Planned Parenthood
The radical homosexual agenda
Radical Islam
The Muslim Brotherhood
Tyrants around the globe
The mainstream media
Golf courses
Losers:
Christianity
Religious freedom
Israel
The US military
Those seeking freedom around the world
Freedom of speech
Freedom of conscience
The rights of the unborn
Marriage
Family
Prosperity
Democracy
Responsibility
Hard Work
The US Constitution
The rule of law
Common sense
As always there will also be a lot of soul-searching and re-thinking on the part of the losers. The worry is – as is already happening – that some foolish Republican leaders will think that the Party needs to get more lefty, not less. One has already incredibly claimed that perhaps the Republicans should start fully embracing things like homosexual marriage.
Talk about destroying both America and a political party. Now is certainly not the time for the conservatives to wimp out and abandon their core values and principles. Indeed, it could be argued that the Republicans have had two defeats in a row now (2008, 2012), because of running with moderates instead of proper conservatives.
This is the time that we need more Reagans, not less. True conservatives like Reagan won by landslides. Becoming more like the Democrats is certainly not going to help anyone here. So hopefully sanity will prevail in the months ahead, and the Republicans will hold a steady course, and not listen to these poisonous RINOs.
And they will need to, as they still hold the House of Representatives, perhaps with even a greater majority. They are now the only ones left to stop the horrific agenda of Obama from going full-steam ahead. They need to regroup, recommit, and dig in for the long haul.
Spiritually
At the end of the day this is even more important than the political concerns we all have. And the spiritual truths we need to hear are of course the old truths. They are the same biblical truths we must cling to in all times of darkness and despair. They are the things we must never let go of in difficult times. These include the following:
-God is still on the throne and he is still working out his purposes. Thus we must keep trusting, keep praying, and keep working for what is right, knowing that at the end of the day we win. We may lose some battles along the way, but we win the war. God is sovereign, and he will not allow evil to ultimately triumph.
-There are two things we cannot succumb to now: anger and bitterness; and defeatism and hopelessness. We must persevere and keep fighting. We cannot allow ourselves to be consumed with rage or paralysed with hopelessness. All that this election result means is that we must pray more than ever, work more than ever, and trust more than ever.
Indeed, if you have not yet already done so, get down on your face before almighty God and cry out to him. Let him be your comfort now, and let him remind you why we must never give up. Let him console you, encourage you, and refresh you.
-We must remind ourselves that our ultimate hope must always be in God, and never in politics, or government, or legislation. Sure, all these things are very important indeed, and we should all strive to see Godly influence in all these areas, but when push comes to shove, it is the living God, not politics, that will save us.
-We do not always have all the answers. Millions of God’s people right now are crying out, “Why O Lord?” We don’t know all the reasons why, and it is often hard to see why God allows things to proceed as they do. But this is where faith and trust come in. We must cling as strongly to our Lord as ever, and not let this discourage us or cause us to waver in faith, hope and trust.
-We need to keep the eternal perspective. Four more years looks to be a really long time. And it is – think of all the damage that can and will be done. Think of all the dead babies, the war on marriage and family, the powder keg that the Middle East will further become, and so on. Think of the lefty Supreme Court judges who will be appointed.
But God’s calendar is much bigger than ours. I often wondered, during the Cold War, why God allowed so many people to suffer so horrifically under Soviet communism. For decade after decade millions of people were killed or sent to the Gulag, etc. Yet that too came to an end.
After some 72 years the wall came down, and the evil monolithic tyranny of godless communism came to an end. The Obama regime will also one day come to an end. Sure, he will have inflicted a huge amount of damage along the way, but we will not be there forever.
And I believe it is fully justified to pray that God will either improve or remove our leaders. We should be praying this for Obama and other leaders who are running roughshod over all that made America great. Its Christian heritage is being trampled on, and they will have to give an account for allowing this to happen.
-I have long been saying that in the West things will more than likely have to get worse before they get better. We are certainly seeing this happen right now in the US. My soul groans when I think of how much more evil and destruction will take place under this man.
Yet God allows this persecution and hardship to get the church’s attention. The church has been asleep, and it has been characterised by compromise, carnality and consumerism. It is a sin-soaked church which must repent, seek God’s face, and turn from its wicked ways. That is the only way America will recover.
But before America can recover, the people of God must recover. The best thing Christians in America (and around the world) can do right now is to get on their knees before a holy and righteous God and seek his forgiveness. We need a mighty wind of repentance to sweep through the church right now.
Until we get right with God, things will only get worse in America. And I greatly fear for how much worse it will have to get before American Christians finally wake up and turn 180 degrees from their sin and sloth. But until then, it will sadly be business as usual for the church.
It just does not really want God badly enough. It is too comfortable, too contented, and too compromised. That is why it is not seeking God. It really does not want God. Until something changes, things can only get even worse, as hard as that is to imagine.
Leonard Ravenhill nicely sums up the whole situation here, albeit in a slightly different context: “I offer it as my considered judgment that the main reason why we do not have heaven-born, Spirit-operated revival in our day is that we are content to live without it.”
22 Replies to “More Random Thoughts on the Obama Win”
Well said, but I do wonder why only “radical” Islam gets a mention as a winner. Islam (both radical and otherwise) is winning, and Islam winning is only one step from “radical” Islam winning.
It’s like being concerned that communism is a threat but ignoring the equally real threat (though slower) of socialism.
I’m sure you’re aware of that, but listing “Radical Islam” as though it’s the only dangerous winner in that evil system seems not quite right to me.
Grahame Gould
Habakkuk Chapter 1:
H: O Lord how long must I look at injustice?
God: Watch and be amazed – I am going to use the Babylonians!
H: What did you say, God? How can You do that?
John Angelico
“We cannot allow ourselves to be consumed with rage or paralysed with hopelessness.”
This is me right now!
Simon Barron
I agree with you Grahame
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Yes I know how you feel Simon – but we gotta pray our way through.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Thanks Bill,
I have been unsure about Barack’s opinion on Christianity. GOD Bless.
Glenn Heazlewood
“But before America can recover, the people of God must recover.” So very true Bill. This is a spiritual battle. He told us how to fight these demons, through prayer and fasting. Lord, give us the grace to do so.
Anna von Marburg
Talking about the collapse of communism is a bit close to the bone, brought on as it was by a futile war against Afghanistan. I think there is far too much idolatry of the American President, whoever he is, you’d think he was God Almighty. In truth Obama is a do-nothing president, full of hot air. Mark Steyn’s commentaries are brilliant about him.
The scary things about civilisations is how suddenly they collapse and so many have become extinct throughout history. 2000 years ago the Pharisees rejected Christ, and 40 years later Jerusalem was razed to the ground, while the Gospel was gleefully taken up by the Gentiles.
Since 1968 the Western World has been rejecting Christ, and the Gospel has been welcomed in Africa, Asia and elsewhere. The growth in these places has been extraordinary.God will mightily bless those countries and their civilisations. Where the Spirit is there is Freedom, where the Spirit is grieved there is none.
Nina Blondel
I was surprised at the number of Americans here in Australia who said that they did not like Obama, but could not bring themselves to vote for Romney, because …
All it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing!
Lance A Box
Two other winners:
Feminazism
Promiscuity
Another loser:
US stockmarket: DOW 12,931 -314.80 (-2.4%) S&P 500 1,395 -33.50 (-2.3%) NASD 2,940 -71.75 (-2.4%)
Jonathan Sarfati, US
Thanks Bill, I needed that. “My feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold… When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me… my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered.”
Des Morris
I’m not sure if Christianity should be included in the losing list either Bill because of Obama’s win. It seems that Christianity flourishes under persecution and although we don’t enjoy suffering it seems to have a cleansing effect on the Church. It brings with it a reality check as to what is really important in the life of a Christian and strange as it seems the Church grows under these circumstances. Quite frankly I think the Church needs a bit of suffering to shake us up, I know I do.
Keith Lewis
I might be a little out of order here, but…
Is it possible that there is a bright side…?
I will make the assumption that the lords prayer is still prayed regularly, and that the invisible church is keen for his kingdom to come. Is it possible that in his wisdom he is starting to fulfill the biblical prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled?
Is it possible that Obama is todays strongest candidate for the man who could bring in the one world order?
Or the man who could further hurt America so that it is no longer able to influence the world, thereby providing space for the man who could unite the worlds religions?
It is possible that this won’t happen, but we are setting more fulfillment of biblical prophecy than ever before.
(just watched ” the Daniel project” documentary.)
Daniel Campbell
Yes, Jonathan, the US stock market has already dropped in the wake of the news of his re-election.
Has anyone seen this? I pray every black American can hear this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi_KaZ53eDg
I love such unashamed, confident and straight forward gospel preaching.
Many blessings
Ursula Bennett
Don’t worry Bill. Although some Republican commentators were saying that the party needed to move to embrace minorities in order to ever have a chance of winning, by the end of that very long night, following the realization of loss for the Republicans, a few wise voices were saying the opposite.
Charles Krauthammer, Steve Hayes and Karl Rove were saying that there was no need for any change in the Republican party’s platform except to embrace minorities by reviewing its position and message who share a Republican outlook.
One minority Republicans can reach because they share Republicans’ belief in God, family and entrepreneurialism is the Latino voter.
Bill O’Reilly was absolutely right when he said that Obama and the Democrats give people “stuff” and people want stuff. Great basis for a win.
Mitt and Ann Romney and Mitt’s staff did a great job (except for him going easy on Obama in the third debate) and so did Paul and Janna Ryan. Mitt delivered a very gracious defeat speech. He is a good man. America’s loss.
Unfortunately, Brit Hume thinks that the 40% “moderate” vote is liberal.
Actually, they don’t think anything. They imbibe liberalism via women’s magazines, films, television and the media generally. Whilst Fox News is a blessing for presenting the truth that the rest of the media won’t cover because the truth doesn’t suit their liberal agenda, it is doubtful that the 40% access Fox News.
So the 40% “moderates” would likely value simply being told the conservative position by an ideologically conservative Republican candidate again and again.
As Charles Krauthammer said, conservatism was a second language for Mitt Romney. And Obama’s tactics were simply better. This is not a structural problem for the Republican Party. The message needs to be delivered simply and clearly by a heartfelt conservative.
ngela Parham
The worry now is the 2016 election and beyond. Romney lost the female vote, the young vote and the minorities votes by large margins. If the Republican Party moves any further to the right it could lose the establishment vote.
Is this the beginning of the end of the GOP? The image we currently project is a pack of in-fighting dinosaurs who don’t understand today’s world. Too many kooks making stupid comments didn’t help either.
Time for some serious soul-searching and analysis of what went wrong. And a plan to do much better next time around.
Robert H. Frankston, Philadelphia, US
Thanks Keith and Daniel
Yes persecution is often God’s tool to get the church to where it should be. We are not told to seek it or pray for it, but often it is for our good. I write about it here:
And yes God still wins in the end as I state in my article.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
” If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same…
If By Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run –
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!
David Skinner, UK
If I’d read this first I’d have put my comment from the first article here!!! As we know — God wins!
Anna Cook
Romans 8:28 All things work together for for for them who love Go and who are called according to his purpose.”
There have terrible things happen in this world and every time God has shone through, if his people allow him to shine through, and that is a big if.
Ian Nairn
I hope every Australian who is whinging about this result does something constructive. Join your favourite political party. Make sure its candidate for the 2013 Federal election here adhere to Judeo-Christian ethics. Quit if the candidate is not. The candidate doesn’t have to be perfect, in fact will NOT be perfect as Jesus Christ is not standing for election. Help him/her get elected. Campaign now, hand out how to vote cards on the day. If you vote for a minor party, make sure your preferences flow to the major party closest to Judeo-Christian ethics. Stop whinging (hey, I like a good whinge as much as anyone, but it doesn’t help). Act.
Graeme Cumming
ATTENTION – This is one of the most significant videos to have appeared in the past few years, and especially incisive as to what Obama is up to. And now this 90 minute doco can be seen for free for a limited time. I urge every single one of you to take the time to watch this. It explains so much about what is happening today.
Well said, but I do wonder why only “radical” Islam gets a mention as a winner. Islam (both radical and otherwise) is winning, and Islam winning is only one step from “radical” Islam winning.
It’s like being concerned that communism is a threat but ignoring the equally real threat (though slower) of socialism.
I’m sure you’re aware of that, but listing “Radical Islam” as though it’s the only dangerous winner in that evil system seems not quite right to me.
Grahame Gould
Habakkuk Chapter 1:
H: O Lord how long must I look at injustice?
God: Watch and be amazed – I am going to use the Babylonians!
H: What did you say, God? How can You do that?
John Angelico
“We cannot allow ourselves to be consumed with rage or paralysed with hopelessness.”
This is me right now!
Simon Barron
I agree with you Grahame
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Yes I know how you feel Simon – but we gotta pray our way through.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Thanks Bill,
I have been unsure about Barack’s opinion on Christianity. GOD Bless.
Glenn Heazlewood
“But before America can recover, the people of God must recover.” So very true Bill. This is a spiritual battle. He told us how to fight these demons, through prayer and fasting. Lord, give us the grace to do so.
Anna von Marburg
Talking about the collapse of communism is a bit close to the bone, brought on as it was by a futile war against Afghanistan. I think there is far too much idolatry of the American President, whoever he is, you’d think he was God Almighty. In truth Obama is a do-nothing president, full of hot air. Mark Steyn’s commentaries are brilliant about him.
The scary things about civilisations is how suddenly they collapse and so many have become extinct throughout history. 2000 years ago the Pharisees rejected Christ, and 40 years later Jerusalem was razed to the ground, while the Gospel was gleefully taken up by the Gentiles.
Since 1968 the Western World has been rejecting Christ, and the Gospel has been welcomed in Africa, Asia and elsewhere. The growth in these places has been extraordinary.God will mightily bless those countries and their civilisations. Where the Spirit is there is Freedom, where the Spirit is grieved there is none.
Nina Blondel
I was surprised at the number of Americans here in Australia who said that they did not like Obama, but could not bring themselves to vote for Romney, because …
All it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing!
Lance A Box
Two other winners:
Feminazism
Promiscuity
Another loser:
US stockmarket: DOW 12,931 -314.80 (-2.4%) S&P 500 1,395 -33.50 (-2.3%) NASD 2,940 -71.75 (-2.4%)
Jonathan Sarfati, US
Thanks Bill, I needed that. “My feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold… When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me… my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered.”
Des Morris
I’m not sure if Christianity should be included in the losing list either Bill because of Obama’s win. It seems that Christianity flourishes under persecution and although we don’t enjoy suffering it seems to have a cleansing effect on the Church. It brings with it a reality check as to what is really important in the life of a Christian and strange as it seems the Church grows under these circumstances. Quite frankly I think the Church needs a bit of suffering to shake us up, I know I do.
Keith Lewis
I might be a little out of order here, but…
Is it possible that there is a bright side…?
I will make the assumption that the lords prayer is still prayed regularly, and that the invisible church is keen for his kingdom to come. Is it possible that in his wisdom he is starting to fulfill the biblical prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled?
Is it possible that Obama is todays strongest candidate for the man who could bring in the one world order?
Or the man who could further hurt America so that it is no longer able to influence the world, thereby providing space for the man who could unite the worlds religions?
It is possible that this won’t happen, but we are setting more fulfillment of biblical prophecy than ever before.
(just watched ” the Daniel project” documentary.)
Daniel Campbell
Yes, Jonathan, the US stock market has already dropped in the wake of the news of his re-election.
Has anyone seen this? I pray every black American can hear this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi_KaZ53eDg
I love such unashamed, confident and straight forward gospel preaching.
Many blessings
Ursula Bennett
Don’t worry Bill. Although some Republican commentators were saying that the party needed to move to embrace minorities in order to ever have a chance of winning, by the end of that very long night, following the realization of loss for the Republicans, a few wise voices were saying the opposite.
Charles Krauthammer, Steve Hayes and Karl Rove were saying that there was no need for any change in the Republican party’s platform except to embrace minorities by reviewing its position and message who share a Republican outlook.
One minority Republicans can reach because they share Republicans’ belief in God, family and entrepreneurialism is the Latino voter.
Bill O’Reilly was absolutely right when he said that Obama and the Democrats give people “stuff” and people want stuff. Great basis for a win.
Mitt and Ann Romney and Mitt’s staff did a great job (except for him going easy on Obama in the third debate) and so did Paul and Janna Ryan. Mitt delivered a very gracious defeat speech. He is a good man. America’s loss.
Unfortunately, Brit Hume thinks that the 40% “moderate” vote is liberal.
Actually, they don’t think anything. They imbibe liberalism via women’s magazines, films, television and the media generally. Whilst Fox News is a blessing for presenting the truth that the rest of the media won’t cover because the truth doesn’t suit their liberal agenda, it is doubtful that the 40% access Fox News.
So the 40% “moderates” would likely value simply being told the conservative position by an ideologically conservative Republican candidate again and again.
As Charles Krauthammer said, conservatism was a second language for Mitt Romney. And Obama’s tactics were simply better. This is not a structural problem for the Republican Party. The message needs to be delivered simply and clearly by a heartfelt conservative.
ngela Parham
The worry now is the 2016 election and beyond. Romney lost the female vote, the young vote and the minorities votes by large margins. If the Republican Party moves any further to the right it could lose the establishment vote.
Is this the beginning of the end of the GOP? The image we currently project is a pack of in-fighting dinosaurs who don’t understand today’s world. Too many kooks making stupid comments didn’t help either.
Time for some serious soul-searching and analysis of what went wrong. And a plan to do much better next time around.
Robert H. Frankston, Philadelphia, US
Thanks Keith and Daniel
Yes persecution is often God’s tool to get the church to where it should be. We are not told to seek it or pray for it, but often it is for our good. I write about it here:
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2009/05/27/thinking-about-persecution/
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2012/03/09/on-persecution/
And yes God still wins in the end as I state in my article.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
” If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same…
If By Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run –
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!
David Skinner, UK
If I’d read this first I’d have put my comment from the first article here!!! As we know — God wins!
Anna Cook
Romans 8:28 All things work together for for for them who love Go and who are called according to his purpose.”
There have terrible things happen in this world and every time God has shone through, if his people allow him to shine through, and that is a big if.
Ian Nairn
I hope every Australian who is whinging about this result does something constructive. Join your favourite political party. Make sure its candidate for the 2013 Federal election here adhere to Judeo-Christian ethics. Quit if the candidate is not. The candidate doesn’t have to be perfect, in fact will NOT be perfect as Jesus Christ is not standing for election. Help him/her get elected. Campaign now, hand out how to vote cards on the day. If you vote for a minor party, make sure your preferences flow to the major party closest to Judeo-Christian ethics. Stop whinging (hey, I like a good whinge as much as anyone, but it doesn’t help). Act.
Graeme Cumming
ATTENTION – This is one of the most significant videos to have appeared in the past few years, and especially incisive as to what Obama is up to. And now this 90 minute doco can be seen for free for a limited time. I urge every single one of you to take the time to watch this. It explains so much about what is happening today.
http://vimeo.com/52009124
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch