What a blessing!!!!  We have more personal freedoms than any other nation on Earth, or in history!!!  We even get to vote to determine who will rule over our nation (yes, I know the proper word is “lead,” but I have my opinions about that as well). 

The clanging bell of meaningless rhetoric on the campaign trail is presently ringing the word “change.”  Oh yes, everyone wants “change.”  And we will likely elect the presidential candidate that promises us the most “change.”  But change from what into what?  Do we know?  As Christians, we ought to know exactly what profile of a presidential candidate will draw our precious votes and what type of changes are most desirable.

Sadly, most people mean, “I want to go back to the good old days, that’s the change I want.”  God warns us not to think that there was such a time as “the good old days.”  There is only “now” that has any meaning, because “now” is when we live, and we must make the most of “now.”

Do not say, "Why is it that the former days were better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. (Ecclesiastes 7:10)

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

What change do I most desire?  I desire our elected officials, especially our lawmakers, to actually spend less taxpayer money this year than last year.  I don’t care if they promise to do so, I want them to genuinely change their present spending habits and just spend less money.  That is change.

I desire our next officials to have more loyalty to Israel and more backbone against terrorists.  Let us stop pressuring Israel to give away land they legitimately received by grant after World War II and begin demanding that those murderers who daily launch rocket barrages from Palestine into civilian and military areas of Israel be forcibly stopped. 

Finally, I desire our judiciary to change their behavior, stop actively eroding civil rights and freedoms, and begin upholding the constitution as written.  Our constitution grants us the right to exercise religion free from state restrictions, but our judiciary seems to find ways to change it into a means to protect the state from the influence of people who exercise religion. 

Perhaps some things just should not change solely for the sake of change.  I want no more changes that financially penalize pastors for speaking about politics from the pulpit, I desire no more restrictions that prohibit exposing children to religious speech in public places, I have no yearning for more rulings which threaten to take away privately owned churches and give them to developers just because they promise to yield higher tax revenues for the state. 

Change is good when it makes the person and the community more like Christ.  Change is undesirable when it hinders the cause of Christ, harms God’s children, or permits evil to prosper.  Next time you hear a politician say, “Vote for me if you want change,” ask him, “What kind of changes did you have in mind?”

If you want a specific change from your next elected government leaders, leave a comment on the blog and spell it out.  It will not only help us understand what you want, it might even help you understand what changes you should want.  Whatever else you do, go out and vote in the primary and vote in the election!