^ESV Psalm 146:3 ³ “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.”

From the Pastor:

With all the political hype, with the signs that clutter our roadsides and the campaign commercials that are shoved in our faces by the media, most of us look forward to November 6, the day after when election day has become history.  When the campaign season and the election cycle is finally over.  Although, if this presidential election is anything like the last one, the feud will continue.  The opposing parties will likely continue to stir up trouble and will use every disturbing event to discredit everyone who doesn’t agree with their parties’ viewpoint.  It’s tragic that all the money used on the campaign trail and the money wasted on law suits and investigations against each party after the election is over, isn’t used for a better purpose.  If it were used to help the victims of the hurricanes in the southeast, this would serve for the greater good.  If the millions, and even billions of dollars spent on campaigning for public office, and for lawyers and court cases that end up in deadlock could be used for a more worthwhile cause, we’d all be better off.

For the past several months, our mailboxes have been stuffed with political mail and it’s difficult to watch the evening news without being subjected to all sorts of campaign attack ads.  Back when my Sunday School teachers had us memorize Luther’s Small Catechism, the explanation to the Eighth Commandment said that we should “put the best construction” on everything that concerns our neighbor’s reputation.  The newer versions now say that we should “explain everything in the kindest way.”  Yet, regardless of how the words have changed to explain what the Eighth Commandment means for us, it’s clearly not being practiced in current political conversations.  Those running for a government office frequently explain their opponents’ viewpoints in the worst, most de-constructive manner, insisting that evil motives are behind all their decisions.

It’s especially disturbing to hear the discussion of abortion in the recent debates.  It seems that the reality of “what abortion is” and “what abortion does” is being clouded over so that people don’t think about, or feel guilty over, what is being done to a helpless little child.  In fact, the whole perspective of abortion as sin and as murder is being distorted.  Pro-life politicians are accused of wanting to take away women’s “reproductive freedom,” and are regarded as a “threat to democracy.”  Even pro-life proposals to prohibit abortions late in a pregnancy, or at the moment of birth, are falsely labeled as “radical,” when in reality the killing of a fully developed baby just minutes before delivery is not only radical, but is inexcusable and shameful.

So, as Election Day approaches, we need to carefully consider who we vote for and continually pray for those who are now in office, as well as those who will soon serve in all departments of earthly government, that their consciences and decisions will be guided by moral principles that are in agreement with God’s Law, rather than for political correctness.  And as always, we need to remember that regardless of who wins the election, God is still the ultimate governing authority of this world and of our country.  His will always prevails.  And even though we might not understand why He allows certain troubling events to occur, He always works through them to accomplish His purpose.  And God’s ultimate purpose is to bring us all to repentance so we can be forgiven and be saved.  Then on the day of Jesus’ coming, He will usher in the new heavens and new earth for those who love Him and unlike earthly rulers who often disappoint us, God never will, for His steadfast love endures forever.                             In His Service, Pastor Oester