Unfathomable Grace

Dear President Obama:

I still believe you are wrong regarding the sanctity of life. A mother does not have the right to kill her God-given child. Your policies are encouraging murder.

I still believe you are wrong regarding our national debt. You are encouraging policies that are dooming the future of the United States of America. Our children will forever be harmed by your fiscal folly.

I still believe you are wrong regarding taxation and funding. Regardless of whether or not the majority vote with you, you do not have the right to steal my money and redistribute it at your good pleasure. That right does not increase or diminish regardless of how much money the Lord chooses to send my way.

I still believe you are wrong regarding our national defense. While I do not think it is best to engage in simultaneous conflicts on each and every continent, I can’t imagine our government spending our money more wisely than in providing the world’s finest national defense.

I still believe you are wrong to encourage same-sex unions. Sexual fornication is improper in any and every form. Your disdain for the Biblical ethic is abundantly clear.

I believe the list could go on and on. I like your wardrobe. I like your swagger. You have a really neat dog. Please tell Mrs. Obama that I like vegetables too. However, I am in vehement opposition to your socialistic, ecumenical, and immoral trajectory.

But I must pause and make something right. Today I was reading the story of King Saul and David. (1 Samuel 24)  In this biblical account, the king was tall, dark and handsome. He was consumed with self and hell-bent on destroying David and his followers. He was doing great harm to the nation of Israel and those who sought to worship properly the one true God. However, according to the providence of God, David found himself in the position to assault and dishonor King Saul. He was even encouraged to do so by members of his party. However, due to his godly character, trust in God’s sovereignty, love for his enemies, and respect for the highest office in his land, David resisted the urge to sin against God. He rebuked his men for their readiness to dishonor the Lord’s anointed and allowed Saul to leave the cave unmolested.

From a worldly view, David should have dishonored, disrespected and taken matters into his own hands; for David understood the king had turned away from wise counsel. David understood a wicked spirit dwelt within Saul. He realized the wicked policies being promoted by the governmental head and the future damage that could still be legislated. David knew his nation and family was in great jeopardy. However, David knew God. And he understood God had ordained the tyrannical ruler who sat on Israel’s throne. Therefore, David was determined to honor the king, regardless of his dishonorable record, character and agenda.

As one continues to walk through Scripture, one sees this principle in the New Testament as well. There the Apostle Paul honors the self-promoting High Priest. In his writings he encourages slaves to honor their masters; children should honor their parents; wives should respect their husbands; and citizens were to respect and honor the vile Roman authorities who held positions of power throughout the realm. Despite the dishonorable conduct and actions of leaders, they are ordained by God, they are responsible to God, and they are to be respected.

Therefore, that being said, I must apologize!

I have not prayed for you as I ought. I have not contented myself in the sovereign providence of God. I have had a rebellious, hateful, spiteful heart and tongue. I have gloried in jokes and radio talk shows that have humiliated you. I have sought to repay you evil for evil. I have not loved my enemy. I have not, despite your dishonorable conduct and policies, honored you as my President. I have not fought your godless policies with the grace of a Christian.

Therefore, I commit to pray for your regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. I commit to pray for wisdom from on high. I commit to pray for you to have godly counselors about you; not those sorts of fellows mentioned in Psalm 1. I commit to think and talk with a less spiteful tongue. You are my President. You are my God-given anointed American leader. You are killing us, but you are to be respected — like King Saul — despite your ungodly leadership.

So I end this letter with David’s words, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed … I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed … May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand (heart and mouth) shall not be against you.” (1 Samuel 24:6-12)

Sincerely,

Joseph Franks