Posted on 10/30/2014 1:04:56 PM PDT by Kaslin
In polite society, you’re not supposed to talk about politics, sex, or religion. Sorry, but this column will discuss all three, directly or indirectly.
In America, we get the kind of government we deserve. Is this the best we can do?
There certainly is a big divide in how we approach politics, even among well-meaning Christians.
I was asked to speak at our church recently, and the title was given to me: “To vote or not to vote?” Are you serious? How can we not vote? We’re in such a mess because we haven’t been voting our values. I believe voting is imperative for the follower of Jesus.
Jesus said that we are to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s (Mark 12:17). Surely, included in rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s would include voting.
It’s our duty to cast a ballot. It’s also our privilege. I know a man personally who risked his life with six other Cubans to flee the communist island. They rowed for 48 long hours in a rickety row boat with a hole in it. One of them had to bail out the water all the time. After a while, their fingers were bleeding, but they finally made it to the Bahamas.
My Cuban friend is glad to be an American and is a patriot. He wouldn’t think of not voting.
Historically, Christians in America applied their faith to virtually every sphere of life, including politics. While the founding fathers were not all Christians, the vast majority of them were, and virtually all of them had a biblical worldview. As historian Donald S. Lutz said of the founding fathers (even the unorthodox amongst them), “they knew the Bible down to their fingertips.”
So, for example, they divided power, since they knew man is sinful. James Madison, one of the key architects of the Constitution, noted: "All men having power ought not to be trusted." This is a biblical perspective. Sometimes people complain that the Constitution limits the amount of power any one single branch may have. That was by design---lest we have tyranny from one man or from an oligarchy.
When we vote biblical values, we obey what the Lord would have us do. Jesus is not on the ballot, so ultimately we are voting for a sinner. But the question is, Where do those sinners stand on key issues?
Too often, Christians seem to be waiting for the perfect candidates and can’t bring themselves to vote for someone with many (but not all) right views. We need to vote for the available candidates with the best views, rather than waiting for the perfect candidate who’s not coming.
There are some Christians who are so upset with the current crop of politicians that they may sit this election out. But their non-vote is a vote---a vote for someone with whom they probably would disagree vehemently.
There are many lesser known candidates and amendments that will likely be on the ballot. It behooves us to learn a Christian perspective on these, before we go and vote.
Where do the candidates stand on abortion? On traditional marriage? On religious freedom? On fiscal responsibility? On educational issues? All of these are addressed by the Bible.
Speaking of fiscal responsibility, Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” Yet today, as one person has said: “Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren.” I agree with that sentiment.
Who said it? Senator Barack Obama in 2006. Too bad as president, he has racked up a bill that seems beyond the reach of even our grandchildren to pay off.
In this country, which had such a godly foundation, we currently have the opportunity to vote our biblical values. But if we continue to lose our freedoms and fall prey to tyrannical government, ultimately, we will only have ourselves to blame.
My long-time pastor, the late D. James Kennedy, Ph.D. said this about Christians and politics in general: “I remember 20 years ago, a Christian said to me, ‘You don’t really believe that Christians should get active in politics do you?’ And I said, with tongue in cheek, ‘Why, of course not, we ought to leave it to the atheists, otherwise, we wouldn’t have anything to complain about. And we’d really rather complain than do something, wouldn’t we?’”
Look at the mess we’re in because many Christians have neglected this duty. Five Houston pastors were having their communications subpoenaed by the mayor because they had spoken out against the bill allowing a man to use the ladies’ room! Their emails and text messages had been demanded, to see what they have said anything against this bill.
Commenting on that case initiated by the lesbian mayor of our nation’s 4th largest city, in his Mike Huckabee News (10/19/14), he comments: “Why has this happened? It’s mainly because good church going Christians don’t vote and don’t care.”
It is a privilege to vote. It is our Christian duty to vote. So vote your biblical values. If enough evangelicals and conservative Catholics showed up and voted biblical values, we could carry this election---and virtually every election. Our nation’s founders pledged their lives, their fortunes, and the sacred honor to give us our freedom. The least we could do is vote---and vote our values.
Scott Brown vs. Jeanne Shaheen in Red Hampshire, for example. Brown is running ads proclaiming that he is 'pro-choice'...
Boy oh Boy! “In polite society, you’re not supposed to talk about politics, sex, or religion.”
I guess whomever thought of this erroneous saying never attended a black church, a brown church or college groups.
Some people can’t see the trees because of the Forrest!
I have been so angry with the Republican establishment I let mine lapse. I decided a re-register for this election and found out I missed the deadline by a day or two.
Got a flier today from a candidate for US Senate in Delaware. Carl Smink is running as a Conservative Christian. He is running as a write-in candidate, with no party affiliation. (Disclaimer: he did run in the Republican primary garnering 24% of the vote)
So, at least in Delaware, we have a chance to vote for a conservative with Christian values. I urge all Delaware voters to make the extra effort to write in Mr. Smink’s name.
I hope you disagreed with the pro abortion, pro gay, anti republican judge appointing, illegals hiring, gun hating, Reagan hating, anti conservative, draft evading, Mitt Romney on more than just a couple of issues.
I reiterate my comment about them loving our country and you didn’t comment on what the situation would now be if they had won. Obama hates ‘whites’, Christians and those of us who worked hard and prospered, I don’t believe that of the others.
All politicians are power hungry. Maybe not when they start out, but in time they become so. None of ‘us’ want amnesty and I don’t know if even a ‘pure’ conservative President could succeed in totally stopping it. ???
Dearest PL, I must respectfully disagree.
McCain has made it clear he is an enemy of this Republic and in turn freedom in general...he is pro-amnesty and has done little to nothing in turning back 0bama and his legions of minions from his seat in Congress.
As to whether or not the country would have been better off with either is pure speculation. We can only hypothesize on what either would or would not have done if elected to the Oval Office.
I'm not looking for "perfection", but I am also not willing to vote for someone who consorts with terrorists and is militantly pro-amnesty(McCain) or someone who is pro-homosexual, pro-choice and pro-amnesty (Romney).
Right on. You didn't see Daniel bowing down to the statue, did you? You didn't see 1st Century Christians bowing down to the Emperor, did you? This political system is full of idolatry to the 'almighty' State. I'm about done with it.
I am writing in for our Senate. Lamar! will still win in a landslide, I suspect.
By and large the Republican party no longer represents my interests, they’ve done almost as much to destroy my Constitutional rights as the Democrats, and when they haven’t acted to do so directly they’ve frequently chosen to sit it out on the sidelines, so it seems pretty ridiculous to shame us for something they do all the time. It’s not even a matter of trying to punish them at this point, they no longer represent me and that’s their choice.
self esteem and sanctimonious self righteousness trumps faith in politics
I see: 'guilty before proven innocent.' With standards of evidence like that I'd hate to have you on a jury, and no, the comment was directed to you alone. I'd tell you to stick it, but apparently that space is already occupied.
I agree with you. All the angst and heartache we’ve endured for 6 years........ if only!
You have declared your self irrelevant to the process
I agree . And until then I say be ready , get ready . What if He changes His mind ? He is known to do that , ask Jonah . With the Lord anything is possible . To be a believer is no excuse to become a fatalistic sheep , awaiting the slaughter helplessly and without concern for the present . If we are to be martyred , better to go down fighting . Ask the Kurds how that works.
Great! Then there is no guilt in voting my conscience!
our vote and this keyboard are our strongest weapons
use them to good effect .
or voting to increase your self esteem
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