…or 800,000,000 candle power halogen spot light? You decide.

After staying on IM last night with a few friends as we worked on our latest books, or just chatted about how the election results were unfolding, we obviously all started sharing our thoughts about President-elect Barrack Obama. But it was my sister Hillary who sent me a quick question seconds before I was going to sign off.

“So what are your feelings about the election results?”

It may not seem like much to you, but I suddenly felt  substantial pressure as my baby sister was checking in with her big brother. We have a great relationship so I knew my words would not fall on deaf ears. And then I thought about the people that might check in with my blog to maybe ask a similar question. I know, I know. My bald head exudes confidence. That’s why you’re here. So I’ll expand on what I told her.

First, I offer my congratulations to President-elect Obama on his victory. Whether I agree with him or not, either on issues politically, spiritually, or morally, he has been elected by the majority of our nation’s people. You can argue that all you want with your conspiracy theories, but in either case, you’ll need faith: Faith to believe the voting was skewed, or faith to believe that our system of government works. I choose to believe the best; to go elsewhere is just craziness and I pity whoever has to live with you.

The point here is that I stand behind my President. Period. I’m called to do so Biblcally, and he has my prayers for wisdom, guidance, and Holy-Spirit-anointed leadership. For me to do anything else would constitute sin, not against me or my country, but against the Lord himself, just as Samuel said, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you.” (1 Samuel 12:23 emphasis added)

I have committed to supporting my President wholeheartedly, whoever he or she may be. But not blindly. This means while they have my faithful prayers, I will not just lay down on issues that I believe in. Nor should you. But to speak against a man in the ways I’ve heard some of my fellow Republicans and Conservatives do in recent days is a dangerous spiritual error. I refuse to go there simply because I have been called, by Jesus himself, to bless those who persecute me and to love my enemies, neither of which I consider Mr. Obama to be. So how much more should he have my genuine encouragement?

Lastly, I am reminded that it is the Lord who sets up leaders and brings them low. This means that government leadership, while a critical issue, is actually secondary to a greater ruling body: The Church. As ambassadors of a different, divine Kingdom, I believe we have been given a unique and exciting opportunity to rise up like never before. Our President-elect is inheriting some of the toughest problems our nation has ever faced…most saying the roughest economy our nation has seen in over 70 years. Would you want his job? The point here is that our leaders need help…from a greater Source of power. And as representatives of “the way things should be,” it’s up to the beautiful bride of Christ to begin to take back the areas of cultural influence that have been squandered by those who honestly have no idea what they’re doing.

A forewarning: Such action will require us to out-work, out-sweat, out-think, and out-do the world and its systems at every turn. To out-work Satan himself. And many lovely Christians I know are not up to this task. I love them nonetheless. But as for me and my home, that’s why we do what we do. That’s why we pour our lives out for young people, that’s why I stay up late and get up early to write books and music that will hopefully affect culture, preach till I’m hoarse, fly and leave my kids when I don’t want to, strum my guitar in worship until my fingers bleed, and invest every dime I have into businesses that will advance the Kingdom with their proceeds. I’m all in. Everything is on the line. Everything.

My post title is not in reference to any great “light bulb” ideas that I may have this morning; its in direct reference to you choosing to be a light in the midst of darkness. Anyone can be a light in light (thank you Pastor Harvey Carey). But only true Believers are lights in darkness.

This is our greatest hour. In the words of Dave Matthews, “Stand up.”

CH