The games we play.

When Monsieur de Tocqueville wrote about his nine month sojourn in America in 1831 he didn't mention the games we like to play. There's abundant analysis of our governing systems, the highs and lows of a representative republic, our religious heritage, and even on-point remarks about The Crisis of the Election. Of course, they are all aspects of the games we like to play. And, they are visible right now as we wrestle with the Election 2020. Every one of us would give high honor to our founders for envisioning a three branch government like ours and the election system that has guided us for 244 years. Most of us celebrate the freedom of religion that has marked our history, more so today than ever before. On the whole our population applauds our election processes. All of them are valued virtues of the American system. Till now. Change is in the air and a great many of us are standing in line to see it through. Let me comment on a couple of pressing matters---

The Electoral College

Our framers feared the interference of factions in our election processes. These would be special interest groups, political parties, and even large populations that could overly influence an election. The Electoral College provided electors from each state to finalize every election. In America today, without the Electoral College, these special interest groups, especially the large population areas like New York City, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas and others could be controlling populations in every national election. So, the Electoral College provides some balance against the controlling interest of these factions. It should not be abolished.

One Nation Under God

This is a game we love to play right now. Being a Christian nation was certainly in the hearts and minds of our framers. Yet, freedom of religion was central to the Constitution of the United States with the hope that we could at least guide our nation under the purview of Godly precepts and values. Yes, we'll all quote some Scripture and adore our currency marked "In God We Trust" as evidence of our religious history. But, friends, we're playing snide religious games now, cheating and scheming in our vote count, using defamatory language in our political references, and defying the basic trust that defines most of our religious preferences. Today I am reminded of a simple biblical reference that I pray would define us again---"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!" (Psalm 33: 12, ESV).

The Crisis of the Election

De Tocqueville wrote about the unique challenges of regular elections in a nation like ours. Even in those simpler, less populated, and less diverse days those warnings were already real and tragic. Now, with social media, advanced communication systems, and an opinionated media these dangers are more evident than ever before. Today we are facing new crisis points, Like Fox News taking the lead in determining election results, calling every election according to their analysis criteria, and confusing the American public. Even with all of our technological advances, counting ballots has become a complex mess, taking days, perhaps even weeks.

Today I am reminded of Scripture that should be the guide of our ways. It's another game we like to play, talking spiritual talk and actually living far from God's ways. The Apostle Paul wrote this theme nearly two thousand years ago---"For God is not a God of confusion but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14: 33, ESV). Suddenly, confusion and disorder are our most visible traits. and the joys of Being One Nation Under God seem so distant.

The games we like to play must be discarded. Monsieur de Tocqueville also wrote,

"When a nation's religion is destroyed, doubt takes a grip upon the highest areas of intelligence paralyzing all the others" (Democracy in America, Penguin Books, 2003). Perhaps we should remember the truth of Job 12: 23, "He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away".

Let's leave behind the games we play.

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Heating up or cooling down?

When French aristocrat Alexis de Tocqueville warned of The Crisis of the Election in his classic work Democracy in America he could not have envisioned our nation one hundred and eighty five years later. The America he knew was smaller, simpler, and less diverse. He complimented our government systems and experience with elections in our short national history. Later he mentioned the calm that typically followed our election and voting processes. Note his description of elections in his day---

As the election draws near, intrigues multiply and turmoil spreads. Citizens divide up between several camps each of which adopts the name of its candidate. The whole nation descends into a feverish state; the election becomes the daily theme of newspapers, the subject of private conversations, the object of every maneuver and every thought, the only concern of the present moment.

It is true that as soon as the result has been announced, the passion is dispelled, all returns to calm, and the river which momentarily overflowed its banks returns peaceably to its bed. But should we not find it astonishing that such a storm should have arisen in the first place?

Democracy in America, Penguin Books, 2003.

He didn't mention the the anticipation among American citizens as they awaited the results of their vote. It must have been a slower, more prodding process considering the distance of voting places and simplicity of communication systems. He also didn't write about the impatience of the American people. Evidently their voting and reporting mechanics were an expected delay. Waiting was not recorded as a crisis of the election. That was then and this is now.

Now we wait. And, in these exponential times, waiting is not our best virtue. My question right now, while we anticipate the vote counts in many states, will this wait be a heating up or cooling down of our passions? Will this wait further aggravate the special interest groups that prefer one of the political parties, or will the heat of the election further inflame their interests?

Once again, the Christian worldview advises and expects patience as the final totals are gathered and the winners are announced. Underneath these questions is the spiritual ideal of God's Sovereign leadership and direction of all things. Surely Scripture teaches us the value of waiting. Several examples---

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with

wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40: 31, ESV

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

Lamentations 3: 25, ESV

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Romans 8: 25, ESV

For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

Galatians 5: 5, ESV

Everyone who knows me further knows my personal wait problem. These days of abiding until the final results of Election 2020 are published is a test of my observance and belief of this Christian worldview. My prayer in these days of waiting is that these will be days of cooling down rather than heating up among those with such stark and diverse political expectations. Our Sovereign God will reveal these results. A personal guide in this waiting ordeal is 1 Peter 5:6: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you." It doesn't translate to me that my preferences will be be the ones announced. Rather, it affirms that when I am humble he will reveal the outcomes at the right time.

Therefore, cooling down will be my goal rather than heating up. And yours?

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Crisis time?

French aristocrat Alexis de Tocqueville visited the United States in 1831. In later years he published Democracy in America, several volumes of what he had observed in his nine month survey of the American experiment. He studied and described the Constitution of the United States and our system of government. In Chapter 8-The Federal Constitution, he described the Crisis of the Election. While de Tocqueville admired and spoke highly of the American system of government, he warned of the unique dangers associated with our election processes. His analysis acknowledged the special care our founders had included in the dynamics of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government to prevent political upheaval at election time. He added that, "Nevertheless, the presidential election may be considered as a time of national crisis (page 157, Democracy in America, Penguin Classics, 2003). In his view three primary causes posed this potential trouble: the passions of the people; the preoccupation of the President; and the calm which follows the turmoil of the election.

Well, that was then, and this is now. Modern elections have little comparison to those in our nation in the mid-1800's. Our population was scattered across the fruited plain, was much less diverse then than now, and provided little opportunity for the public fanfare that is so much a part of our election process today. Voting laws were more restrictive then and ballot counting was simpler. The point being that if a presidential election was divisive and critical then, it must be more so today. There's certainly more at stake now than could have even been imagined then. The question then is, "Is the election of a President still a national crisis?"

Well, here we are a day after election 2020 and the results of our vote are still basically unknown. Tabulating the votes of an expected 150,000,000 voters is an enormous task and could continue for several days, perhaps even a week. Waiting for results will be a test for many Americans. Also, many pundits are warning of massive protests, riots, and social unrest when the result of election 2020 are announced. The pivotal question for me is this whether or not I can make my response more individual than joining the group think. How will I respond when the final tallies are announced?

The Christian population of the United States should acknowledge the Sovereign hand of Almighty God is every human process. As printed yesterday, Romans 13 should be a guide for every citizen but especially those professing a Christian worldview.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except

from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Romans 13: 1, ESV

The sovereignty of God is a significant biblical theme. Many Scriptures affirm his guidance and leadership in all things---

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Proverbs 16: 33, ESV

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will

stand.

Proverbs 19: 21, ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those

who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8: 28, ESV

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11: 36, ESV

There are, of course, many more. Which is to conclude that whatever this election count reveals the eventual President of these United States will occupy that office by the intervention and purpose of our Sovereign God. Paul wrote, "Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed..." (Romans 13: 2, ESV).

Understanding that key theological concept will give us firm guidance in the days ahead, and keep election 2020 from becoming a national crisis.

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