Piety - and hopes for 2012

Piety is kind of a forgotten word.  What bothers me about that is "virtue", or the result of one's pursuit of right living, isn't considered inspiring any longer.

If you go back and read books prior to the 1900's, "piety" is a more common word.  It is often used to speak of one's dedication to religion (almost exclusively Christianity, by my reckoning) and consequently one's outward living.  People considered it to be a good thing to posses, and held a respect for piety in considering employment, public service and even celebrity.

But today, if a person is dedicated to his or her religion that's fine.  I mean, I'm okay and you're okay, so I suppose it a good thing.  But we really shouldn't talk about it at work ... well, or school ... oh, and don't forget the "separation of church and state" thing.  So, best to keep that at home, or church on Sunday.

Think through the last election cycle.  For all of the things that I don't care for about President Obama (don't worry, they'll come out over the next four years), one thing you have to admit:  He INSPIRED his voters.  Wow, did he get them going.  And what a campaign!  The zealots are still going nuts.  How come we can't seem to find that same inspiration from someone who is pious?  (And if you are someone who just thought, "but President Obama is a religious man."  Stop.  He disqualifies himself immediately simply on his stance on abortion.)  Why is it that conservatism in the United States cannot find a candidate (Republican or otherwise) who is upright AND inspiring?  Why is it that Barack Obama in his impiety was far more inspiring than any candidate out there with even a hint of piety?

There's quite a lot to be said here.  Politically, as a nation we don't seem to collectively want any part of Christianity.  Therefore, the burden of the problem lies with the voting public.  However, I believe - hopefully not in vain - that on the overall, the majority of our nation is still conservative (even Christian to some degree) at it's core.  So, what's the missing key?  Why can't we seem to light a fire of good government and good morality?

The sad part is that I just don't know.  When I read the prophets of the Old Testament, and see how God interacted with Israel as she turned away from Him, I think to myself, "how much more have we."  Truly, our only hope is to rise up as the church.  Remember the words?  "If My people, who are called by My name, will HUMBLE themselves, and PRAY and SEEK MY FACE and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  We need our land healed.

But that verse is rather interesting.  God was talking to His people.  In the case of II Chronicles where that verse is lifted out of, His people were Israel.  But His people now are the church.  You see it is we who have to humble ourselves.  We have to pray and seek God's face.  We have to turn from OUR wicked ways.  God is actually (in the context of that verse) calling His people to repentance.  Not Barack Obama (God calls the godless in other places - and yes, as I don't see any evidence of Christ in his life, I believe the President to be a godless man).  Beloved, we've got to wake up.  As a church we'll never be effective in helping govern a nation, if we can't be effective to govern our own hearts.

Pray for President Obama.  Not so much for success or failure, but rather for God to grasp his soul.  Imagine the national impact were he to become a pious man, penitent before God Almighty.  THAT would be inspiring.