These are the days when my wife and I keep to the house church we have been working on in New Orleans. We seldom visit churches even though we have our Sunday mornings free. Why? Because I get physically ill when I hear precious church time devoted to political persuasion. With that in mind I'd like to share a few things – so I can sleep at night.

First, who should you vote for if you really are a serious Christian?

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NIV

Go ahead and feel free to vote for whomever you choose. There is no clear choice. Repeat, there is no clear choice. Since elections in America are done with a secret ballot and not with anointing oil, there is no definitive choice from the Lord. Therefore, be at liberty to vote for anyone. Don't allow yourself to be manipulated socially and primarily religiously into voting a particular way. The word of God is clear.

What about prophetic words about the candidates?

One word. Dangerous.

Think about this scenario. Let's say you have a single friend named Bob. Now Bob got a prophetic word at a Bible study about Sally, a girl he just recently met. The word was that Sally would be his wife one day. Fortunately for everyone, Sally wasn't at that Bible study. So, what would be your good counsel to Bob if he came to you and asked if he should tell Sally? Would you be concerned that the prophetic word (accurate or not) could put pressure on Sally so as manipulate her? Would you be concerned that the prophetic word could create feelings in her that were not authentic? Would you counsel Bob to keep quiet and just let things happen?

Now think about the election. Prophetic words are circulating about some of the candidates. These prophetic words could appear to bring legitimacy to one candidate over the other. They could appear to reveal God's will in the election. They could be used (even unintentionally) to manipulate you into thinking God desires you to vote a certain way. Now you know what it is like to be Sally.

But shouldn't we align ourselves with a candidate or with a party that has our values?

Yes and no.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Ephesians 6:1 NIV

Feel free to align yourselves with anyone in the Lord. That's what Paul said in essence. It is even okay to obey your parents. However, when they direct you out of alignment you are free from any obligations. We can extrapolate this concept to include spouses, churches, jobs, political parties, even countries. This is not new. We all know this but we forget so easily, especially when it comes to politics.

The main problem with alignment in politics is when we align ourselves with a candidate or a party (even a country), we often compromise. We end up supporting what our alignment supports and opposing what it opposes. When we align ourselves with either candidate or party we put ourselves in a position of defending things that are not defensible. When we defend things that are not defensible we compromise our testimony and we silence our voice.

That is where the church is today - aligned with a particular party, laughing at its clever slander, keeping quiet amidst its hypocrisies – generally part of the problem. We take the opposite approach of Psalm 1:1. We find ourselves walking in the counsel of the wicked, standing in the way of sinners and mostly sitting in the seat of mockers.

Sadly, too many (but not all) of this generation of church leaders align themselves with a political movement and then defend or are silent when that movement stands for things that are in opposition to the Lord. Let's pray for a reversal of this trend or a new generation of leaders. I prefer the former but I'll take either at this point. Let's pray for a group of leaders who stand outside the political process, who will not defend the flag - right or wrong.

How about a group of people that are so principle based that they agree with whatever is right by WHOEVER does it and oppose whatever is wrong by WHOEVER does it. What am I talking about? I'm talking about our propensity to demonize the opposition and rationalize our own shortcomings.

Should I pray for the other guy?

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
1 Timothy 2:1-3 NIV

Are you willing to pray for the other guy? Don't you know that Christianity is founded on prayer for the other guy? Think about it. It pleases the Lord. Pray for McCain and Obama. Whoever takes over will be facing more difficult circumstances than any president in our generation. But don't stop there, pray for guys like Treasury Secretary Paulson and Fed Chairman Bernanke because a few bad moves could speed the collapse of the world financial system. But don't stop there, pray for people like outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and Iranian President Ahmadinejad because a lack of restraint at the wrong time could bring on global chaos. It pleases the Lord if we do not discriminate with our prayers.

Go ahead vote freely but pray for the other guy.

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