Like many people in Arizona, I took part in early voting through a mail-in ballot this week. And before anyone asks, yes, Maricopa County has notified me (I signed up for text and email messages from the state) that not only did they receive my ballot but my signature on the envelope has been verified. My vote was counted on Tuesday. Millions of Americans have also "banked" their votes, just under a week before Election Day. I'll get to what the next step is in a minute.
Trust me, this ties in. I mentioned a bit ago that I'd found a new place to worship. That place is among the Presbyterians. Anyway, it was Reformation Sunday this past weekend, the week in the liturgical calendar in which Christians mark Martin Luther's revolutionary act and its effect on how we answer God's command to love others as He loved us, as well as working to change ourselves and our world to His will.
The Presbyterian Mission explained in a new story published Tuesday:
On Oct. 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. This past Sunday, many congregations celebrated this event as a catalyst for the way the Reformed faith came to be and continues to understand its calling.
The Presbyterian Historical Society also wrote about how the Reformation is celebrated:
Presbyterians celebrate the tradition that grounds their faith on Reformation Sunday. It is always the last Sunday in October, marking the occasion in 1517 when Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany.
Now, back to politics.
Remember in July, when someone tried to take out a former president (I mean, the first time in 2024)? It gave me pause, as it did many Americans. Unlike some readers (and my parents' Baby Boomer generation), I'm not old enough to remember where I was when JFK was murdered. Anyway, I wrestled with how to approach writing about a crazy person trying to assassinate Trump.
After some prayer, I hit on a solution about a day later: I gathered up a varied, impressive list of people who believe God placed His hand over Trump in that moment; some of those Christian voices had an expanded vision of how we might view God's favor for the 45th president.
God's Providence: Republicans React to Divine Grace During the Assassination Attempt on Pres. Trump
More recently, RedState's Jerry Wilson took to God's Word to ferret out a direction in answering the question of whether or not we should call the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, a Christian.
It's worth a read, since he lays out the information in a thoughtful way; there's room for individual opinions, either way. I certainly don't claim to know where she stands with God. But I know this much: We're called to pray for everyone, including those we disgree with politically.
In February, I urged everyone to join me in praying for Joe Biden, the President of the United States.
Pray for the President and Our Nation
Whatever your faith, spiritual practice, or however you phrase it, the next step after voting is praying: for our nation, for the safety of former President Trump and JD Vance and their families, and yes, as I have said before, pray for the other side, including President Joe Biden.
But I'm going to go further: Pray for Kamala Harris to hear God's Word, to truly repent the evil she has pushed to prosper in our nation through politics. And ask God to protect her, her running mate Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), and all of their loved ones.
One last point...
Much like the famous images from the Butler, PA, shooting, there's another image that is seared into my mind's-eye. It's the one on this column. On June 1, 2020, then-President Trump marched out of the White House and stood outside St. John's Episcopal Church; it had been damaged by leftists and other miscreants, who massed in Lafayette Park nearby, chompingat the bit for an excuse to riot. He held a copy of the Holy Bible. I also recall that then-Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) chose to lie about the chain of events:
[Harris] said the next day that she “watched as President Trump, having gassed peaceful protesters just so he could do this photo op, then he went on to tear gas priests who were helping protesters in Lafayette Park.”
As candidate Trump last Sunday night, in one of the grandest jewels of the city he loves, New York City's Madison Square Garden, the former commander in chief asked Americans once again to pull the level for him to restore law and order (and prosperity) in our nation. (see: WATCH: 'Bigger, Better, Bolder': Trump Makes His Closing Argument to Americans at MSG Rally.) Since I agree with his argument, and believe it's the path to restoring a semblance of unity in this marvelous and conflicted country we call home, I cast my second vote for him. Now, I pray and wait to see what God's will is on the matter.
We'll need to buckle up for the days and weeks ahead, and that starts with prayer.
