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Yesterday, a contest was held for the soul of America. The mid-term election was a referendum on whether or not America should remain as a Constitutional Republic---or move toward becoming a European type socialist nation.
There was no blue wave. There was no red wave.
America remains deeply divided politically, because we are divided spiritually.
It is written that "Man cannot serve two masters..."
Some thoughts about yesterday's election.
Many, perhaps most of us followed the election returns last night as polls closed across the nation.
I groaned as I watched, because the objectives of the Republican Party represent righteousness for the most part, and the objectives of the Democratic Party do not. "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan" (Proverbs 29:2).
When I finally sat down to write this Faith and Freedom Daily late last night so it could be published to our thousands of readers at 5 AM this morning, the Democrats had taken the House of Representatives and the Senate had increased their majority in the Senate by +4.
I will be talking about the specific results of the election, and what is next for Christian conservatives on our live radio program this morning. You may join me from anywhere in the world at 9 AM PST. Here's how.
The latest national election results are here, live, on the New York Times website.
Freedom is dynamic, not static. So is a Republican form of government.
There was much distention in the meeting room in Philadelphia, as our Founding Fathers struggled to create what would become our Constitution.
Then Ben Franklin, the oldest of the group, rose and addressed his peers:
Mr. President:
The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other -- our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.
In this situation of this Assembly groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. -- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance.
I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall be become a reproach and a bye word down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move -- that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service.
After more disagreement, and arguing, it was decided to have collective prayer.
It was a sunny day in Philadelphia in 1787, and the Constitutional convention had just finished its work. A woman, watching the esteemed gentlemen congratulate themselves, approached one of the young nation's statesman, Ben Franklin. "Mr. Franklin. Mr. Franklin," she said, "What kind of government have you given us?"
Franklin responded, "A Republic ma'am...if you can keep it."
The contest for the soul of our country is not new, nor will it be settled by a single election.
Our Republic and its Constitution will be "kept" or sustained by prayerful, vigilant and informed people who love their country and its Constitution---and love God more.
Our path forward from this election is on our knees in prayer and on our feet being engaged.
And always being informed. And vigilant.
Thomas Jefferson said, "The price of Freedom is eternal vigilance."
Be Prayerful. Be Vigilant. Be Informed. Be Engaged. Be Encouraged.