In Houston a strong reaction has emerged against the assault on religious liberty and freedom of speech by the mayor and the City Council.  Sunday night, November 2, Houston pastors and their supporters held a national protest called, “I Stand Sunday.” 

Duck Dynasty star, Phil Robertson was there.  So was former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.   He called on the “I Stand Sunday” audience to plant “new seeds of citizenship” in America and urged listeners to vote.  And judging by the election returns, people did.  But protesting rarely moves beyond the status quo.  And voting, even if you win, does not guarantee change. 

Elections and active citizenship are important, even vital, but the answer to the threat to our liberties requires something further.  To wit: Republicans strongly captured control of the United States Senate on November 4.  This could be a step forward in the battle to turn back the intrusion of government into our lives.  But not so fast!

According to the people who know about these things—or think they do---this midterm election was mostly about expressing dissatisfaction with President Obama’s policies.   The pundits point out that the Republicans did not present a clear or unified vision for where they will take the country.  They seem merely to have surfed the wave of discontent and ridden a vote for prosperity and against incompetence .  But how much hope is there that we have gotten either? 

Jesus said, “All those who live by the sword will also perish by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52)  He might have said, “Those who live by elections, will die by elections.” 

Take the governor’s race in Pennsylvania as an example.  Governor Corbett, the Republican, has been profoundly lackluster.  So the citizens of Pennsylvania, in a Republican year, elected the Democrat candidate, Tom Wolf, to be their next governor.  By ten percentage points.  But what have they chosen?  Wolf by all accounts is a hard left candidate.  He and President Obama stood side by side at a rally in Philadelphia during the last weekend of the campaign.

Wolf’s most passionate supporters were the Pennsylvania State Education Association.  These are the people who largely determine what school children in Pennsylvania are taught.  What does their left-leaning agenda bode for the children under their influence?  One shudders.  But the people casting votes hardly thought about that.  My point is that the country as a whole has barely shifted, despite what the election appears to indicate on the surface.  Our problem lies deeper.  

The rally in Houston did get one thing right.  Dr. Ronnie Floyd is president of the Southern Baptist Convention.   He put his finger on the need.  He told listeners that “it is time for us to wake up from our slumber!” Floyd went on to declare that “our greatest problem is not in the White House” but in the heart of the church itself.  “We must get our lives right with the Lord,” Floyd said. “It is time we repent.”   In response, the participants crowded to the front of the auditorium, knelt down and prayed to God for forgiveness and for his help.

We must all start there.  It is where we effectively begin to fix what’s wrong in our nation.  Members of churches all across our land, and people who are not members of churches; people of various political persuasions, or none; those of varied nationalities, or backgrounds, or economic status: we must start with each of us getting right with God.

Jesus said at the beginning of his ministry, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2)  The kingdom of God, when it bursts upon a people, always brings wholeness and healing.  But the kingdom of God doesn’t come until it is wanted.   Protest when we must.  Vote when we can.  Be active citizens.  Yes, all of that.  But real change will only come by seeking God.

Jesus came to bring forgiveness and new life.  In him there is hope.  Perhaps with his aid we may stanch the flow of trouble that has engulfed our land.  And gain the means to restore righteousness and regain liberty.

Dr. Rick Perrin is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and Chairman of the Board of World Reformed Fellowship..  He writes a weekly blog called ReTHINK which may be accessed at www.rethinkingnews.wordpress.com. He may be contacted directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..