The New York Times published an article entitled, "G.O.P. Candidates Divide Religious Right." The article said:
" 'This is the first time in the religious conservative movement since the 1970s that they have not had a single horse to saddle in the Republican Presidential process,' " said Ralph Reed, executive director of the Christian Coalition."

This article was not published this week but more than a decade ago. Three elections have come and gone since that article was written. If that was the first time Christian conservatives didn't have a single horse to saddle in the Republican Presidential process, we now have the second time.

For the past couple of weeks, Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family has made headlines regarding his promise to vote only for a candidate who shares his basic values, even if that means supporting a third-party candidate. Last week, he wrote an op-ed piece for The New York Times to clarify his position: "Speaking personally, and not for the organization I represent, I firmly believe that the selection of a president should begin with a recommitment to traditional moral values and beliefs. Those include the sanctity of human life, the institution of marriage, and other inviolable pro-family principles. Only after that determination is made can the acceptability of a nominee be assessed."

Just this week, I recorded a podcast called, "Becoming a Relevant Influencer in Your World." I worked for Dr. Dobson for nearly seven years. I know much about his beliefs and the issues that are dear to his heart. I also know of his integrity and his ability to be a relevant influencer.

But it's not my total respect for this man that causes me to mostly agree with what he is saying, but rather what I think the Bible tells me to do. Relevancy means "making a significant and demonstrable impact," but it's not significant or demonstratable if it is conveyed in panic.

I believe that what Christians are seeing is the urgency more than the dismay regarding the circumstances we see around us. It's the clarian call to wake up the sleeping giant of compromise, lethargy, and yes, irrelevancy, and to get involved in the work God is doing today. If we get down in the mouth and lose our confidence, we lose a giant opportunity to be a testimony to the world. When we demonstrate our inability to know what to do, we minimize our belief in the sovereign hand of God in every circumstance.

It is true that an endorsement of a candidate is an endorsement for what he endorses. It is also true that all of the frontrunner candidates have dubious records at best regarding key issues for us as Christians. I've heard people who question Dr. Dobson say, "a vote for a third party would be half a vote for Hillary."

But it seems to me, our job as Christians and relevant influencers, it to do what God instructs us to do to the best of our ability, and then to leave the results to Him. The Bible is clear that God is the one who puts up and takes down leaders, and it is abundantly clear that whatever God wants to do, He does (Ps 115:3 and Job 23:14). Are we presumptuous to think that the circumstances surrounding the '08 elections have taken Him by surprise? Do we think we're accomplishing anything by getting our panties in a bunch and publicly worrying that we're doomed?

If nothing else, this election is a call to the body of Christ to be flat on their faces before God.
We don't have to cast our votes for many months yet, but we need to be on our knees today. We need to be asking God for wisdom in us and for His divine hand in working out who should be on that ticket. And if Hillary Clinton gets in office, God is still in charge, and we still must believe that it is part of His divine plan and a fulfillment of what He has ordained since time began.

I don't know who I will ultimately cast my vote for. But today I do know that our responsibility is to do what is right, without compromise, without worrying about the results. God has the ultimate say about all of this, and He wants us to stay in touch with Him so He can show us our part and His wisdom and confidence in accomplishing it.

Then as we stand ready, listening, obedient, and prayed up, we will know what we're supposed to do and who we're supposed to do it for. And in so doing, we'll be lifting up His name, casting our vote, and helping the world to see God as the only King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

And those are the only election results we should be longing for.