Why Didn't God Answer Prayers to Elect Mitt Romney?

Wednesday, November 07, 2012 Bryan Hudson 15 Comments



This morning I read an article in Charisma Magazine online entitled, "Does Romney Loss Mean God Didn’t Answer Our Prayers?"

Many conservative Christians are distressed that Mitt Romney did not win the presidential election, especially after praying that he would. Other believers prophesied that he would win. Still others said that a vote for Obama was a vote for abortion and gay marriage.

Now that the smoke is clearing, and the reality of President Obama has been re-elected is sinking in, let me offer my response to the question: "Does Romney Loss Mean God Didn’t Answer Our Prayers?"

What does this mean? It means that God does not listen to us on matters pertaining to "times and seasons." He only listens to the "counsel of His on will." Ephesians 1:11 says, "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will."

Neither President Obama, nor any other pro-choice person or supporter of gay marriage, can prevent us from preaching the gospel, dealing with promiscuity (even among believers), and helping women in crisis pregnancies choose life.

We should have more confidence in what God can do through us, than in politicians, who ultimately do very little on biblical issues. We wasted too much of our time, money, energy, and even some of our prayers on politics. If we become too loyal to a political party, we may lose our prophetic edge and become co-opted by a lesser agenda.

In politics, we don't vote for spiritual leaders. We vote for men and women who we think are most qualified to do THEIR job, not OUR job.

I know this seems inconceivable to some Christians, but God can use President Obama to help the country in ways that Christians cannot, such as ordering the killing of Bin Laden and scores of terrorists. By contrast, I couldn't imagine Rev. Mike Huckabee being as ruthless against terrorists as President Obama (and he has been VERY lethal in this regard!) I could imagine some Christian politicians believing that intercessory prayer is all we need to deal with terrorism.

POTUS is not a spiritual office. It is an office that requires taking actions that some "righteous" people would not feel inclined to do. We're going to have to accept that civil government is not a pastoral ministry.

I believe It was to our long-term benefit that a Mormon was not elected to the highest office in the land. Having the comfort of hearing someone "say" that he is "pro-life" and "anti-gay marriage" does not solve all our problems.

"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." (1 Cor. 4:5)

_____

Related Articles:
Voting for "Biblical Values" 
Hard Truths to Face for Politically Motivated Believers
Ten Suggestions For Better Race Relations and Less Black Stereotyping




15 comments :

  1. Very well said. I don't believe the issue is about prayer being answered or not (there are some who feel that God did answer their prayer because President Obama was re-elected)...God is NOT Democratic, Republican, Libertarian or any other 'man made' party. The issue is the democratic process and the will of the Americans who exercised their right to vote coming to pass. So while some may be cheering and others may feel upset at the results, our part as believers (regardless of our political persuasion) has not changed. We are urged to continually pray for God's grace, wisdom and protection for our president and all those in authority. Ultimately, Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords and nothing catches Him by surprise! Just my thoughts.... Pastor Karen

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Lord uses evil to punish evil, if God pulls back his hand and gives this land over to it's wicked ways, is this not a judgment in it's self? A nation that has made it legal to kill 50 million unborn children along with so much else. Scripture says "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TimB,

      Thanks for posting.

      Abortion has been legal since 1973. I asked myself and I ask you, "What have we've done to help women choose life?" One day, Roe v. Wade may be overturned. But if/when that day comes, abortion WILL NOT become illegal. States will have to decide. Our best strategy is: 1) stop thinking the voting only makes the difference. 2) Help change conditions leading to abortion such as promiscuity. Help women choose life for the unborn. God has called us to make the difference.

      We have to become doers of the word, not just hearers and talkers.

      Delete
    2. We must change hearts as well, be able to present a sound argument in the market place of ideas. Politicians seem to never be ready to answer the pro-abortion questions and we all need to be making the case for life to those around us.

      Americans are a stiff neck people (along with the rest of the world :) )
      I lean libertarian and small government in that we can't strong-arm people into being moral and although I'm not a dispensationalist and hold an amillennial view, I see a coming persecution against Christians from the left (we see it already here at times).

      All the Church has is the Gospel and that is what this nation needs to hear, many churches have traded the Gospel in for Self help and messages of good works, these will be the first to bend the knee to secular culture.

      Delete
    3. Oh yeah, my first post was more on " Why Didn't God Answer Prayers to Elect Mitt Romney?" not how to solve the abortion issue. My thoughts being the Lord giving this nation over to it's sin, as a form of judgment.

      Delete
    4. TimB

      "We must change hearts as well, be able to present a sound argument in the market place of ideas"

      Well said!

      I would only add this thought: We live in a world, and nation, full of sinners who are "stiff-necked" by nature. It is an obvious statement, but it seems that we are surprised by the actions of people and politicians who don't know God, or don't fully serve Him.

      You wrote, "All the Church has is the Gospel and that is what this nation needs to hear..." This is actually what I am trying to say. We seem to get bent out of shape over politics and who votes for whom, more than focusing on bringing a Gospel that only we can bring, to all people in all situations.

      However, I don't agree that the Lord has given us over to sin for thress reasons:
      1) We don't know God's timetable.
      2) We've always been in sin as a nation. This is not a recent development. We've had slavery, injustice against Native Americans, a Civil War, legal abortion since 1973, "illegal" abortion for our whole history, et. al.
      3) So long as there are believers in the nation who love God and preach the Gospel there is hope.

      We have to work until "night comes and no man can work" John 9:4

      Delete
  3. Excellent! Thanks for you wise reflection. Too many believers have mad politics their God.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow. Sorry for the typos. So much for typing on a tablet. What I meant to say was:

    Excellent! Thanks for your wise reflection. Too many believers make politics their God.

    Hope this posts correctly.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Another way of looking at it is that God did answer prayers.

    Apparently, it was God's will to have President Obama reelected. In short, God rejected the prayers of the losing side.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you for posting this. I was starting to think that my wife and I are just about the only Evangelicals who think along these lines. The thing is, Muslim Terrorist are anti-gay and anti-abortion, but heck would you vote an Al-kaida member over Obama? Laws have no power over a person's heart (hence we are saved by grace not Law), so banning abortion legally will not stop it from happening. What will is if women are genuinly convinced that it is morally wrong to do it, and that gets done by us, not by the President and Congress.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Simply put; Romney didn't win because he wasn't meant to. Grace through faith. That's all that matters. If we as a country wanted to have a real chance at restoring the american dream we would of followed the guidelines listed in the Bible long before we let things get this far. We are all to blame. I hope you have a blessed day.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I believe the American Dream is alive and well.

    Our feelings about it is partly a matter of cultural perspective. For many citizens, the American Dream has been fully accessible for a long time. For others among us, like my dad/mom and ancestors the American Dream became available through a great struggle for civil rights and constitutional recognition. Our newest Americans, in terms of citizenship, are bight eyed, and completely embrace the American Dream.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In terms of citizenship? Interesting statement.
      There's plenty of work for people who want it. But as a whole; the stats are lining up against the country. All of these "too big to fail banks" that took all of the money from the US are going to be investing in Russia now that they're increasing their defense spending by 59% while we're decreasing our defenses. We, the people, will be left here fighting for the scraps.

      Delete
  9. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete