Can’t we all just get along?

Last week, on the day after the election, there was a lot of hostility going on between parties. Republicans were mad because their candidate was not chosen, and Democrats celebrated a second term win.

I was sitting in the student union that morning, and overheard a conversation some people where having about the election. They were talking about how upset they were that Romney was not elected and that if people were more educated they would have voted for him.

That brings me to two main issues I want to address about the circumstances surrounding the election.  According to the huffingtonpost.com, more than 30 states have started petitions to secede from the union.

I understand that these people are trying to make a point, but are any of them really serious about trying to start their own country? History has not been known to be kind to up and coming nations, and it usually leads to a lot of death and war.

So calling someone uneducated or racist based on who they voted for is not only rude, it’s ignorant.

It’s true that some people may know more than others about the government, and that some people don’t research what’s going on with the election before voting—but all this should change.

People should discuss it rather than getting mad.  What good is yelling at people who don’t think the same way as you?

The second point I wanted to bring up in all the post-election madness hits a little closer to home. It has to do with Christians being upset that Obama was re-elected.

I understand that Obama stands for a lot of things that Christians don’t, but that does not give you as a Christian the right to disrespect him or his family.

As Christians you are called in the Bible to respect the people that God has placed in authority over your life. It’s plainly stated in 1^st Peter 2:13-15: “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution whether it be to the emperor as supreme or the governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.”

As a Christian you have to recognize that for whatever reason Obama was re-elected– God has placed him in authority over this country that you are a part of. By saying he should not have been elected, you are essentially saying that you know more than God.  Whether or not you like his policies is not the point–if you are calling yourself a Christian and cannot submit to the authority that has been placed in your life then it would be wise to ask yourself if you truly believe in the God of the Bible. Hate is not an attribute of a true believer, so honor the people in authority over you and through that let the love of Christ shine through you.

Meditate on that.