The President America Deserves

 “And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day” (1 Samuel 8:18 ESV).


 In an election year America hears a variety of voices arguing the reasons why a particular candidate should be the next President. Within a year of the election many are asking why America cannot get the President it deserves. My answer is that we do get the President we deserve, as we have since the first election was held in America. Our country, our people, our media, and our political system have created a redundant and inane cycle that continues to provide us with only one choice for president-the lesser of two evils.

Christians have reacted to most recent presidential elections as if God has forgotten us, or at the very least, is testing us. God does not forget and He does hear us. And, in many cases, He gives us exactly what we ask from Him. Israel cried out for a king, and God provided them with Saul. The account of the life, downfall, and death of Saul can be read in the book of First Samuel. He was selected as the perfect man to fulfill the leadership vacuum the people begged God to fill. And God gave them Saul. And they lived to regret the answer to their own request.

Christians seem to forget that God is always in control. When natural disaster occurs, when death comes tragically to a young person or multiple people, God is in control. Yet we continue to waver in faithfulness to God and His provision.

Historically, this country has progressed through numerous cycles. We have seen changes take place economically, socially, and politically throughout the history of the country. We have seen huge fluctuations in the economic fabric of the United States and the world. People everywhere are looking for leadership from Wall Street, Congress, and the President, anyone, to rescue us from our problems. Some Christians even call out to God. Even though many fret that times have never been so dire, America has been in this place in one way or another many times.

In an effort to cope with our crises, we have created within society a number of empty philosophies having no substance:

“I do not need money, I have credit cards.” (A debtor society)

“If that person can own a house, a car…why can’t I?” (An entitlement society)

“Oh, it doesn’t matter who runs the country, they are all the same.” (A complacent society)

“I need Sundays for myself.” (A Godless, dispassionate society)


The philosophies above have been around for many decades, but people from different eras have stated their opposition to such beliefs:

“When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.” Edmund Burke (Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontent)

“There is all the difference in the world between treating people equally and attempting to make them equal.” F. A. Hayek

“A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century.” Baron de Montesquieu

Each of these men spoke to the specific nature of man as it relates to the many issues facing America. But President John Quincy Adams spoke from his heart when he said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." These words are considered too absolute for this modern society that has built itself on a foundation of relativism.

We now experience individual “truth” without absolutes; a new form of tolerance that requires not only understanding but accepting and approving anything and everything practiced by anyone, unless it has to do with God, Christianity, or declaring absolutes. Atheism has been “renewed” even though it is still a belief held by a small percentage. Post-modernism and its “new beliefs” are merely a rehash of theological liberalism from the early 20th century. Within the context of this new century America finds itself once again staring into an abyss we ourselves have created. Many cry for help, direction, leadership, and salvation from themselves. Thus the political majority will get exactly what they ask for, and they will deserve the answer and its ensuing consequences. And, sadly, we will never notice that God is still in control.

History is cyclical; it does repeat itself. Americans, just like the rest of the world, still believe and have convinced themselves that this time is different. If we as a country would be as deliberate in the selection of our leaders as people on all political sides are at destroying their opponent, we would be pleasantly surprised at the leaders we elect. George Orwell once said, “We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men.” How descriptive of our current cultural mindset! Whatever the outcome, whatever the consequences, the absolute truth remains: God is in control.