| Frank Wright, Ph.D. President & CEO |
The Ultimate Exit Poll
With elections little more than two weeks away, we are coming up on the sixth anniversary of the Great Exit Poll Meltdown. It happened in 2004, sending shudders through news organizations across America.
The problem emerged as major news organizations – each trying to get a jump on the others – relied on exit polling (essentially a survey of voters leaving their polling places) to make an early call on the election outcome. Over several elections the system worked reasonably well, although the networks received heavy criticism for predicting election outcomes before the polls even closed.
It all came unraveled on Election Day 2004, when the exit polls predicted the wrong outcome. As it turned out, the erroneous exit polls were conducted early in the day, and inexplicably, the voting patterns began to shift later in the day with those who voted on the way home from work. Furthermore, this was an election where evangelical Christians woke up from the doldrums and voted in greater numbers than they had before.
These and other factors led to the news networks making predictions that were flat wrong. Over the course of the evening, the networks had to reclassify states (sometimes more than once) where they had already declared a winner. To put it mildly, there were red faces and shattered credibility in evidence far and wide.
All of this was extraordinarily compelling at the time, yet six years later these memories have faded and our attention has been captured by the events, activities and challenges of life. But for me, the exit polling gone bad and the dramatic impact of increased voter participation by evangelical Christians suggested a spiritual metaphor that touches on our work as Christian broadcasters.
Eventually, everyone on earth will participate in what we might call the Ultimate Exit Poll. This may happen at death or at the Lord’s return. There will be only one question in this poll, and the Lord of the Universe himself will ask it. While we cannot know the exact form of the question, it might be something as simple as this: “Why should you be admitted into heaven?”
While God does not need us to put words in His mouth, this very question (or one like it) is suggested by Jesus in Matthew chapter seven. Jesus is speaking of the judgment to come and He makes a startling statement:
“Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
While the Ultimate Exit Poll question is not explicitly stated in the text, it is implied in the beseeching response of those being questioned: “But Lord, didn’t we do this in your name, and didn’t we do that in your name?” And having failed the Ultimate Exit Poll, they hear those dreaded words: “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
The Scripture teaches that we will all stand before God one day and give an account of our lives. For some that meeting and that question will result in a gracious outpouring of the favor of God through Christ, and we will hear: “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” For others that meeting and that question will be an unmitigated disaster, followed by an unimaginable desolation.
This is why we must faithfully proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ using every resource available to us – because eternity hangs in the balance. The world is rushing off to a Christ-less eternity. It is for us to stand astride the broad road leading to destruction and persuade men and women, boys and girls to stop and listen to the greatest story ever told.
Exit polls and faithful Christians. A curious metaphor but a vivid reminder that ours is a high and holy calling. And the work we do, by the grace of God will stand for time and eternity. For the Scripture teaches that those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12:3).
