Some Observations about Last Night's Debate

McCain seemed shrill.

Obama seemed to be "sitting on his lead" -- comfortable.

I wonder if David Brooks' (often right) observation is correct: America watched the debate to see "who they can live with for 4 years." He noted that the GOP core was satisfied wholly; the Democratic core was satisfied wholly. But the swing voters were courting: what face and voice do I find most pleasing? And in Brooks' estimation, Obama was more pleasant.

I read yesterday that over the past 100 years journalist publications have stopped referring to Americans as "citizens" and are predominately referring to us as "consumers" and "voters."

We are merely voters. That means that the most we DO, is punch a card in a ballot box.

The most that we DO is watch a debate and determine which candidate coheres with our feelings.

I love how the Scriptures challenge this. They do not tell you to vote right, they do not tell you to vote left. They tell us to live with wisdom. Also, and this is what Christians are most neglecting these days, they tell us to submit and pray for our leaders.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 reads: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."

Perhaps we can curb the political-consumerism mentality with this simple command: pray for your leaders. Because you will never pray for somebody with a consumerist posture.