Messiah Complex

I've been watching the growing political fervor over Obama (especially among young people) with increasing nervousness. Sarah Palin joked in her speech on Wednesday that he could go to work after "he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet." And we all chuckled.

But truth is, we ALL have been guilty of the messiah complex surrounding Obama, and now , to a smaller degree, Sarah Palin. We humans have been doing this forever (check out the stories of Saul and Jesus in the Bible if you don't believe me.) We keep thinking that if we just get the right ruler, everything will be okay.

But God is not waiting for us to elect the right person. No human government can solve our problems. God tells us clearly in His Word what He is waiting for: "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (II Chron. 7:14). He's waiting for us, the Church, His Bride, to get on her face and repent and pray.

What if we spent all the time we waste on politics on prayer? What if instead of waiting for the government to overturn Roe v Wade we reduced the need for abortions by befriending and caring for the unexpectedly pregnant? What if we cared for the poor ourselves instead of fattening our own pocketbooks? When the Church does what she is supposed to do, and is humble enough to beseech the Lord on behalf of our nation, then we would have no need for a messiah from either party.