Normally I don't comment on politics in other countries. We really just don't get enough information to make any informed judgement.

Having said that, the re-election of President Obama proves conclusively that the so-called culture wars are over, and the evangelical right lost. The culture war was about taking the nation's political establishment and cultural leadership for Christ. Groups such as Focus in the Family and a lot of denominations spent millions of dollars and many many hours in trying to overcome the left-wing, anti-Christian bias in many parts of the media and the political parties.

The result of this is abject failure. Not only did the US electorate re-elect a President on a platform that gives open slather for abortion, several states voted for homosexual marriage and Colorado legalised recreational use of marijuana.

It's time for christians in the US to give up the culture wars and turn back to what Jesus told us to do- make disciples of all nations, love our neighbours and proclaim the Good News. This is where most of the West has been for several decades.

The fact is that in every Western democracy people are continuing to vote for what is comfortable and pleasant, for selfishness and individuality. The culture of individual rights is degenerating into a culture of lawlessness.For as long as christians are a minority this process is going to continue.

The church and other christian institutions no longer have a respected place in our society. People are just not listening to us any more.

What we need to do is become increasingly subversive- underground churches living radically for Jesus with no thought of prestige or cultural recognition, but rather looking for God's esteem. We live as if we really believe "In God we trust" and that the highest calling is to lead others to true faith in Christ.

Who knows? By these time-tested guerilla tactics we might in the long term win the culture wars by having so many people truly redeemed that their life choices are reflected in the ballot box, without any need to declare was on anyone.