If God Puts World Leaders in Place, How Then Shall We Act?

A social media friend of mine recently sent me a question directly after I posted this message on the social media network:

Just finished reading "Going Rogue" by Sarah Palin. Highly recommended for anyone thinking of running for office. And yes, we were had big.

Here is my friend's question:

I have a question that I would like your thoughts about because I honestly don't know what the answer is. You mentioned on you're wall in your post about Sarah Palin's book, that we've been 'had.' I assume you're talking about Obama. I've had people remind me of the scripture that says that God puts leaders in place and brings leaders down. Where do  our democratic choices and the whole voting thing fit into that? And if God uses circumstances to put a leader at the head of a nation, (even if we don't agree with him or like him) how should we as believers respond? I appreciate any help you can give me on this one. Thanks.

Here is my answer:

I see a number of questions in your message and I'll try to answer all of them to the best of my ability.

I did say in my post that "we were had big".  Let me explain what I meant by that.  After read Sarah Palin's book, I learned that good people do indeed usually finish last.  And it's not always their fault.  I believe the John McCain and Sarah Palin ticket lost the election in 2009 for three simple reasons:

1. They were clean, decent folks and chose not to go after their opponents personally to the extent they could have, or unfortunately, in today's world, needed to, in order to win.
2. The press in general were very, very hard on them and gave clean passes to Obama and Biden in many issues -- including their past, their present, and the stupid mistakes they made in their own comments.
3. The people running the McCain campaign gave up way too early; and the people running Palin's campaign made major tactical errors.

When you put those three together, you get why Republicans lost the election.   My reference to "we were had big" is in reference to two things:

1. The role of the press and the role of the RNC campaign managers.
2. The out and out deception I believe that we were fed by the Obama promises.

God's Role in Global Appointments

I totally believe that God allows leaders to be put in place and he allows them to fall.  He is also very capable of actually putting them in place Himself and causing them to fall.  However, these two scenarios are different from each other.  One involves God's active participation in the life of a leader and another, His passive agreement.  I really do believe that.  I do not think that God causes everything.  He has a plan for His children and He is most actively involved in bringing those plans about.  But He also is in control of the whole world and as such, keeps on eye on what He allows.

In addition to the verses that many may remind you of that speak of God putting leaders in place and bringing leaders down, let me share some more that involve leaders:

1. Take a look at Psalms 2:1-6  -- there the psalmist talks about kings going against God and God getting angry at them.
2. Psalms 2:10 talks about kings and leaders needing to be careful and to be instructed.
3. Isaiah 37, verses 11 and 18 talk about the havoc and desolation that some kings/leaders can cause.
4. Hosea 8:4 is crucial -- in the section surrounding this verse, God is calling Israel back to Him, but note he says, "they have set up kings, but not by Me".  So all are not appointed by Him, although He allows them to be appointed.
5. The book of Joshua is all about Joshua eliminating (killing) all the kings that were not Godly.
6. Remember also that when God gave King Saul to Israel, it was against His desire.  He did not want them to have a king.  He wanted the people to recognize God as their King.  (I Samuel 8 and 9).  In fact, I Samuel 8:10-22 is very telling.

Those are just a few of hundreds of passages to kings (leaders) in the Scriptures.  And for the most part, God is not pleased with them.

I think it is important for us to always keep the big picture in mind.  God is not impressed with today's leaders.  I believe that to stick to the position of "God put them there, our job is to pray for them, support them (pay our taxes), and when God wants them removed, He'll remove them" is a position that the Enemy really wants us to have.  It renders us totally divided and useless against the Enemy and his own agenda for the world.

I do believe that we need to pray for our leaders -- but for me, that prayer is that they may know Jesus Christ and give Him their life.   It is not "God bless the king/leader and keep him/her safe from all harm so that he/she can live long and rule as they have been doing".   Certainly that is not my prayer for people like Barack Obama who has clearly shown he is not a man who loves the Word of God, and obeys it.  I also believe that we should pay our taxes and obey the laws of the land where they do not contradict the laws of God.  But, because they are the wrong man in the wrong job at the wrong time, etc., I believe we have the responsibility to God's people and to our children and grandchildren to do all we can to have them removed from office.  That is not contrary to loving them as people and praying for their salvation.

This is no different, for me, than what I am supposed to do for adulterers, bank robbers, swindlers, child abusers, etc.  We cannot condone what they do.  We can try to stop them.  But at all times we love them and pray for their salvation.

I then utilize freedom of speech to the extent possible (trying to be careful not to tell lies or to belittle the person) to point out his inappropriate positions and actions.  I use the democratic process to 'assemble together' and try to deliver votes to depose him without becoming violent in any protest, etc.

I think whatever we believe about God's role in the placement or allowing of leaders to lead, we are not excused from our responsibility to do good and keep evil away.   I think for many of us we fail to see the evil because we do not seek to view what is happening with God's eyes.

As I write these words, I have become aware of a group of Taliban rebels who hung (yes, hung) an eight-year-old boy this week because his father, and Afghanistan police officer would not give them what they wanted.  No matter how you look at that -- it is evil.  Yet we have leaders all over the world that will simply denounce such action but never lift a hand to stop it from happening again.  I am not certain that God would have us heed the world's instructions, "please stand by; do not adjust your set; life will continue in a moment".

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Remember This Speech? It will surprise you how prophetic the writers were in 2008.

This speech was given in 2008. Take a look and then think about what is going on right now in the United States. More should have been listening.

Remember This Speech? Take a look. It will surprise you how prophetic the writers were in 2008.

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Coming Out! - Genesis 45:3

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph!  Is my father still alive?”  But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

Recently a friend sent me an article about writing better emails.  Basically it recommended brevity – no more than five sentences -- if you really want the other person to know your email is important, that you care about his/her time, and that you expect an answer.  It seems Joseph was thinking along the same lines thousands of years earlier.

After he was able to subdue his loud crying, he simply came out with the announcement.  “I am Joseph!”  No need to add all the extra words like, “Joseph, your brother” or “the guy you sold to traders”, etc.  Just the necessary single fact, “I am Joseph!”  Everything now falls into place for the brothers.  Everything is now in the open.  Healing can now occur. Steps can now be taken to correct any wrongs to the extent possible.  Joy and happiness can be restored.  Above all, no need for more pretenses.  The family can be reunited as one again.  The only thing that may stand in the way is fear.

Is there some single fact, some hidden secret, you need to announce to someone or to your family or friends or church?  If so, consider doing it.  Your life and that of others will definitely change – and usually for the better.  For one thing, you’ll be relieved of all the pent up feelings you once held along with your secret.  For another, others may find the forgiveness they need to receive or, for that matter, an opportunity to offer forgiveness to you.

“Is my father still alive?”  Joseph gets right to the point.  There’s no talk about “How do you guys feel about the fact that I am Joseph?  What do you think now about selling me to traders and lying to my dad?  Now, what should I do with you?”   No, none of that.  With his younger brother Benjamin now in his presence, Joseph’s immediate concern turns to the welfare of his father. “Is my dad still alive?”  Often when people estranged from their family are reunited with some of the younger members, their immediate first concern and question seems to be, “is dad (or mom) still alive?”  We have been created in that way.  God built us to care deep down about those that gave us life.

But Joseph did not get an answer to his question.  His brothers were “dismayed at his presence” the Bible says.   The ancient Hebrew word used for ‘dismayed’ is bahal that actually meant ‘amazed’, or ‘frightened’.  Some would even extend it to the meaning of ‘terrified’.  If his brothers felt this way, it was because of the emotions and thoughts they were experiencing – the potential punishment they expected as well as the total shock of being in the presence of the brother they wronged.  Some commentators believe their ‘dismay’ was partially due to some ‘anger’ Joseph was still exhibiting.  I’m not there.  Whatever the cause, they were speechless.

So the question shifts to us.  How do we react when someone ‘comes out’ and reveals a secret of great significance to them and/or to us?  Are we terrified?  Are we so surprised we don’t know what to say?  As we mature in both years as well as our walk with the Lord, we slowly learn to expect anything and not fear its announcement, knowing that God is totally in control of not only the past and the present, but also the future.

Sarah Palin, a former U.S. Vice Presidential Candidate and Governor of Alaska, in her book, Going Rogue, wrote that in a short period of time she gave birth to a son with Downs Syndrome, said ‘good-bye’ to a son going to Iraq with the military, and received the news that her unmarried daughter was pregnant.  She wrote, “It took a while to absorb it.”  And, “Though things would not be easy . . . we knew that with God somehow we could draw good from this change.”  And then she continues,

“In Alaska, we view change a bit differently.  For example, wildfires in the Lower 48 (states) are often treated as natural disasters.  Up here, we often let them burn knowing that from fire-blackened lands new growth will spring.  Often, a searing burn opens dead ground to new light and under the soil long-dormant seeds germinate, covering fields in blankets of a tall, bright pink flower called fireweed.  Here in the Great Land, fireweed grows wild every year.  We mark out our summer as its blossoms open from bottom to top, starting low on the stem around May and popping open higher and higher as the weeks pass until the last bloom on top turns to new seed.  Month by month in the summer of 2008 . . . my life tracked the fireweed’s fuchsia climb.”

Is there a fire that needs to burn in your life so that ‘new ground’ can be exposed and God can germinate new growth?  I love what Charles Stanley says about our unknown future and our fears of tomorrow:

A person may say: “Suppose I don’t get into the college of my choice…”  “Suppose I don’t get the job I want…”  “Suppose the person I love doesn’t love me back…” Friend, the God who is in control of today is also the God who is fully in control of tomorrow.  He has already prepared for what will happen to you!  He has already provided what you will need tomorrow.  He has already anticipated the problems you will face tomorrow and has set into motion everything required to resolve those problems.”

And I like to add, that what amazes me is the realization that God does it all so effortlessly.  Like Sarah Palin and Charles Stanley, we need to accept that God will be with us even when we are to receive some shocking news or change in our lives or when we do not know what the future holds.  Joseph’s brothers were faced with that very thing.

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Do You Ever Ask Yourself, "WHY NOT ME GOD?" When Tragedy Hits Others?

Early in her book, Going Rogue, Sarah Palin talked about life in her family being fairly joyous.  When a good friend of the family lost his arm in an accident at home, things had changed somewhat.  Listen to what she writes on p.24:

"Until then, I remember our family life being pretty idyllic.  No real tragedies.  No deaths among close family.  After Doc lost his arm, Mom and Dad explained to us that every family goes through struggles and times of testing.

"'We haven't really been through that yet,' Mom said in a gentle warning.

"That scared me at first.  But then she comforted me, saying, 'Maybe our challenge will be to care for other families who do.'"

Many of us are in the same boat as Palin's family was back in those days of her early childhood.  Yes, we have minor setbacks now and then, even a few little health issues, but generally speaking, we have been blessed and no major calamity has hit us, especially for those of us living in North America.  And yes, I have often asked that question, "Why not me God?" and thanked Him immediately after wards that it wasn't me.  Uttering that recognition that it could have been me or that God was sparing me at this moment from such a struggle, I believe helps prepare me for when God does allow something major to come my way for my own spiritual development and growth.

In the meantime, Sarah Palin has it right.  Maybe our challenge now is to care for others who are having major struggles.  Whether it is the single mother you know, or the family where the breadwinner is unemployed, or someone who is lonely due to the loss of a loved one, or whatever -- God is giving you and me a challenge today -- a challenge we can handle without pain.  It's a challenge we can face if we're willing to give up a little of our own privacy and time and resources.  And the opportunities are endless. 

Let us not take our comfort for granted. If you include emotional, psychological, physical, and social struggles, the advice of the Greek Philosopher Plato that Palin quotes in respect to this issue may well be good advice: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

 

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Sarah Palin -- Indirectly -- on Psalms 97:6

Sarah Palin

I like Sarah Palin very much even though I do not believe she has a chance any longer of becoming President of the United States.  But I've been wrong before.  Still she has made a major impact on the American political scene and my wife had bought her book, Going Rogue, so I picked it up recently and started reading it.  Yesterday, in my blog on Universalism I drew some of my reader's attention to Psalms 97:6 which says, "the heavens declare His righteousness and all the people see His glory."  Today, I found this in Palin's book, p. 22:

"Looking around at the incredible creation that is Alaska -- the majestic peaks and midnight sun, the wild waters and teeming wildlife -- I could practically see and hear and feel god's spirit reflected in everything in nature.  I reasoned that if God knw what He was doing in this magnificent creation, how much more did he know about me?  If He is powerful and wise enough to make all this and thought also to create a speck like me, thee surely must be a plan, and He'd know more than I did about my future and my purpose.  I made the conscious decision that summer to put my life in my Creator's hands and trust Him as I sought my life's path."

I believe that what Sarah Palin captured in this quote may very well have been what God intended in this verse.  It's a physical and spiritual breath-taking experience when one realizes that the God of the Universe also cares about us individually.

 

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A Name to Look For At the GOP 2012 Nomination Convention

Not saying anything yet, but this is one person that should be followed in the next few months. And I am neither assessing her politics nor her chances.  I just wanted to point out she may be just the ticket for the GOP.  

Four questions:
1. What does this mean for Sarah Palin who is still thinking?
2. What does this mean for Mitt Romney?
3. What does she know about foreign affairs -- clearly we blew it last time -- and the next President will be expected to rank high in this regard?
4. Is she just running to have a shot at the V.P. candidate's spot if a Romney or someone else wins?

On that last point, you can be sure Buchmann won't be a V.P. for Sarah Palin -- even she knows that there's no way Americans will be able to swallow two females in the top two jobs in the country.


RealClearPolitics - Report: Bachmann Set To Announce 2012 Run By June

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Mike Huckabee's Chances in 2012

Here's a good analysis on Mike Huckabee's support at this time. Yes, the Evangelicals are behind him. But here's my take on the matter. I would love for him to be President of the U.S., but I doubt very much it will happen. It's too late. The press has made 'mince meat' of him already. CNN is out to get him, perhaps because they recognize the risk he poses to the liberals and the left-wingers. But if the press is not prepared to give you a chance in the big race, chances are you won't make it. That's reality. But reality can also change.

Huckabee has money, but not enough to be the kind of strong team behind -- the kind needed to win elections these days.

I think the next GOP successful candidate won't be Huckabee or Gingrinch -- too late for them, and it won't be Palin. It will be a man (yes, a man) who will present a solid and serious and well-informed alternative to the B.O.

Tell me what you think and please share this blog with others.

Mike Huckabee Holds Strong Lead Among Conservative Christian Bloc

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Comparing Sarah Palin to Michelle Obama in Hard U.S. Dollars

Some articles are both shocking and entertaining. You can laugh or you can get real mad and do something about it. You go, girl! or guy! If you start reading this though you have to read the second part for sure, to the end.

The Real Truth About Sarah Palin -- Ouch! | Tea Party Tribune - Political News Resource

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4 Police Officers Shot. More Trouble for Palin? Will She Get Blamed For This Too?

Let's find out if this gunman was also certifiable and if he was, then the problem is not Palin, it's a our system for the way the take care of the mentally ill, or don't.   Someone said it well in writing in to a network:  "It's the system that is mental!"   Take a look and let's wait for the "rhetoric" on this one.

From a Christian perspective, it's time we got more involved in making sure Government does the right thing.  I don't believe God wants us to sit on our hands and do nothing.  Reformation did not come that way.

Of course, that's only my take.  I'd be happy to hear yours.

Four Detroit police officers shot inside precinct | detnews.com | The Detroit News

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