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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Christian Voters Guide


By now I’m sure that most of you have made a decision about who you will vote for in the upcoming election. I certainly hope that you plan to vote!  It is not just our right as Americans, but it is also the obligation of every citizen of the United States to take part in determining the direction of the country.

This country is clearly at a crossroads.  Everyone seems to recognize that, no matter which party you listen to, the future is up for grabs.  Our part in this, as Christians, is an important one. Jesus said we are the salt of the earth. He said we are the light of the world.

Of course we aren’t expected to expand the Kingdom of God in this nation, or the world, through political power. Jesus told his first disciples that His Kingdom was not of this world.  (We aren’t looking for a president who will set up heaven on Earth. We aren’t looking for the ‘pastor of the United States’. And we don’t need another Messiah.) However, we do have the ability, and I believe even the obligation, to expand the Kingdom of God into all areas of the nation and the world, as the command of Jesus was to go into ALL the world and preach the good news to all creation.

Sure, one day the kingdoms of this world will have become the Kingdom of our God. Sure, one day the government of this world will rest firmly upon the shoulders of Christ.  For now though, in the meantime while we wait for the coming of our savior, one thing is clear.  We cannot stop being the light!  It is the light of Christians in the world that holds back the darkness from overtaking every area of society.  Now is the time to shine brightest! We cannot stop being salt!  It is the salt of Christianity that preserves this world to the extent that it is preserved.  Be salty!

Jesus said it this way in one of his parables, “Occupy till I come.” Jamieson-Faucet-Brown Bible Commentary says the term occupy means to "negotiate," "do business," of the Kingdom with the resources entrusted. (emphasis added) We have been given many spiritual resources which we must use in the “occupying” of the kingdom, yet the liberty given us in this country to have a say in the direction of this nation is also a great resource given to us by God.

As light, we should expose the works of darkness (Eph 5:11).  As salt we must preserve righteousness, or as Jude 1:3 says it, “Earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.”  2 Thessalonians 2:7 tells us, “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.” We, the church of Jesus Christ, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, are the restraining force holding back complete iniquity in this world and in this nation!

That is why it is so important that we uphold the standards of God’s word, as best possible, in every way possible including the use of our vote. We MUST NOT compromise because of personal agendas. We can’t allow fear of the economy to drive us. (God will preserve us.) We can’t vote for a candidate simply because of our history of backing a certain party.  We can’t vote according to our conscience, because the conscience can become ‘seared with a hot iron’ and lead us astray. We can’t actually even vote our values, because our values are sometimes skewed by our flesh.

SO the only true voters guide for a Christian is the Word of God. We must cast our vote as closely as possible to what the Word of God declares. There is no excuse for us to do anything differently.  Trust God’s word in this. He will not lead us wrong.  Weigh your decision by the Word of God, then go vote!

God bless America!