A former Sydney Anglican serving in New York has shared his reflections on the US Presidential election with sydneyanglicans.net.
Anglican minister in New York City and former assistant minister at Christ Church, St Ives, the Rev Justin Moffatt, believes the implications for US Christians of President-Elect Obama's victory is still difficult to judge at this stage.
"One of the things that people regularly note is that Obama is relatively unknown " he is young, and voters were basically informed by his short voting record and what he said on the campaign trail. I spoke to one young man about this who said: "Yes, I know, but I took a risk and voted Obama anyway'," Mr Moffatt reveals.
"Obama's Presidential campaign was more centrist than his more left-wing Senate voting record. So what will happen on his watch remains to be seen."
Mr Moffatt believes the Republicans and the media will watch his administration closely.
"One of the big concerns of conservatives is the appointment of what they call "activist judges' " judges who they say "impose ideology', rather than simply interpret the law," Mr Moffatt says.
An historic victory
Australians should not underestimate the significance of Barack Obama's election as the 44th President of the United States of America.
"An African American winning the White House is monumental in and of itself. We woke our four-year-old son up to witness Obama's acceptance speech," Mr Moffatt says.
"I woke him not because of any political persuasion, but because of the symbolic nature of the moment. I wanted him to remember this moment in history."
Mr Moffatt has lived for almost three years in New York City, the capital of a so-called "blue state', which last voted Republican in a Presidential election in Reagan's landslide of 1984.
"Many of the new, young voters in this election were not yet born in 1984, and care little for the "Reagan Revolution'. The students I know at New York University predominantly voted for Barack Obama. That is true of many Christian students too," Mr Moffatt says.
"Young voters here were generally excited about Obama and "change', and it is worth saying that in their minds, it is not fashionable to say that you voted for McCain."
Mr Moffatt says conservative voters of all ages sometimes felt "small' in New York City and says this scenario is quite the opposite to his wife's home state of Georgia.
"The interesting shift, from my perspective, is the movement of the younger, predominantly white evangelicals away from the views of their parents and pastors," Mr Moffatt says.
"The older evangelical voices tended to run on specific moral issues like abortion, on protecting the fabric of society with traditional family values and the idea of "small government'. The younger voices " many of whom would agree with their parents on the personal moral issues " are concerned also about social and ethical issues: was America unjust in going to war? Do we as a society care for the needy and the poor? Is our society marked by inappropriate triumphalism?"
Prayer for the president
Mr Moffatt says the Christians in the US and around the world must continue to pray for the President regardless of their political persuasion.
"Aren't we always meant to pray for "all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way'? Are we praying that President Obama governs wisely and justly?" asks Mr Moffatt, quoting 1 Timothy.
"That said, the three big things that come to mind are: first, that more people would know that Jesus is the Messiah who gives Hope and Change, as opposed to any American President; second, that the Middle East finds peace and does not descend into further chaos, and third, that many in America continue to fight for the rights of the unborn."
Mr Moffatt warns that Christians must be wary of placing too much hope in President-Elect Obama and avoid turning him into a "Messiah-figure'.
"The language of change and the desire for hope at times sounded like the foundation for a gospel message, albeit without Jesus' name being on the ballot," Mr Moffatt says.
"At times, the campaigns sounded like they were going to bring peace on earth " something promised only in Jesus. The biggest prayer is that those who hope in a president would hope instead in Jesus."
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