Kings and Presidents

Horowitz's Obama

I have issues.

I know, I know--that sounds bad. (Or maybe if you know me, you already knew that.) But I mean I have issues with politics. I have issues with Republicans. I have issues with the current president. I have issues with Democrats. And I have issues with the president elect.

You might say I'm hard to please. That's true.

In fact, of all the presidents to have served our great nation--and check out this fascinating campaign poster above, with thanks to Jonathan Horowitz--I can't think of one I would trust completely, or agree with completely.

Reason being, ultimately the only "citizen ruler" (which is what presidents are, from a federalist, constitutional, and historic point of view) that I trust and follow is Jesus. That's the significance of the "kingdom" part of this blog's title.

Jesus is, in fact, the ultimate citizen ruler. According to the Christian tradition, He who was God became man ("a citizen") in the Incarnation, and lived, died, and rose again in perfection and in my place. His resurrection was His inauguration into His "presidency," an office He will occupy until the End of Time. My faith in His administration brings me all the benefits which have accrued to Him as the Perfect Son of God.

This is the good news. And this is why, when it comes to other citizen rulers (ie. presidents) and other rulers in general (kings, prime ministers, generals, what have you), I take comfort in the knowledge that God is ultimately in charge.

As proof of this point, check out the ancient wisdom of Solomon--a king himself--when he wrote:

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever He will.

Last night my children and I prayed for the president elect. We also prayed for his family. And the administration he will build. Our prayer, among other things, is that God--the King of Kings--would guide his heart like a farmer might guide a stream into his fields.

My children were eager to join me in this prayer. Won't you also?