Monday, November 5, 2012

Things to Remember For the Election

As you get ready to head to the polls and vote tomorrow, please remember the following things:

-To praise God for the ability to live in a country with the freedom to vote. Not everyone has such a privilege to play a role in choosing their leaders.

-That we are not voting for a pastor but the leader of a section of the Kingdom of Man so his religion does not serve as a major factor in our vote. Besides, based on what each of the two major candidates have said about Jesus and the gospel (or according to the church they affiliate with and claim to subscribe to their teachings), I am not convinced either one of them has truly trusted in the biblical Jesus and could thus be called a Christian.

-That God's intention for the government is to promote righteousness and punish wickedness (Romans 13:3-4). So we should be voting for the candidate that best seeks to do just this (though of course they will not be able to do so perfectly because they are a sinful human). Consider the treatment of the unborn. How just is it for the government not to protect them but to discard them as a choice to be disposed of by a mother's wishes? (What really is the difference anyway between an unborn infant and a born infant other than their location?)How just is it to shake your fist at God and seek to redefine what He has established to be a family (Genesis 2:24)? How just is it to steal from what one has earned and compel one to give against his or her will? (While the Bible certainly teaches us to care for the poor, it is for us to do so voluntarily for the glory of God and not coerced by the government.)

-That regardless who wins this election, God still reigns on His throne.

-That regardless who will be serving as our president beginning January 20th, they still have to answer to the God who placed them in that position (Just look at the book of Daniel with Kings Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Darius. God called each of them to account for their arrogance and idolatry, cf. Romans 13:1; John 19:11). While there may be a "separation of church and state," there can be no "separation of state and God."

-That regardless of who holds the title "president," we are to submit to his authority (Romans 13:1). To rebel against whoever that may be (barring that they do not require us to go against God's commands) would be to rebel against God (Romans 13:2). This is whether you agree with his policies or not. And Paul probably wrote this under Emperor Nero who certainly was no friend to Christians. History reports that he set Rome on fire and blamed the Christians for it. In fact, it is believed that Nero eventually was the one who had Paul beheaded.

-That regardless of who takes office and what policies and procedures they put in place, people still need to hear the gospel. While laws concerning morality are beneficial and necessary , they can only regulate outward behavior. They cannot change the heart. Only the Holy Spirit can do that and He does it through the church's preaching of the gospel.

-That our job ultimately is the "Great Commission" given by our Lord (Matthew 28:19-20)and the results of the election will not change this. While it is important to vote, and there is a lot at stake in this election, it is not our end goal. Our number one goal is to glorify God and to do that by sharing the good news concerning the salvation found in His Son. So go ahead and vote but then get back to the greater work!

-That our hope lies not in any political party or any candidate but in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes (Psalm 118:8-9).

Let's make sure not to lose a proper perspective amid all of the election fervor!

In Christ,
Lee
Soli Deo Gloria!!!

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