Dene McGriff of The Tribulation Network has written an excellent article on the subject of whether a Christian should vote. As in most issues in the chrch today there is a growing division between those who claim a dual citizenship and those whose citizenship is in Heaven only.
As for me, I have officially declared that I will no longer take part in the politics of planet earth. Be that as it may, many other Christians do not share in my departure from politics, and elect to try and “elect” the better of two evils to govern a more prosperous path. Like Paul I try and persuade men, so please take the time to read the following article, and at least get a picture of the minority camp of those who purposely choose not to cast a ballot.
Steve Blackwell
To Vote or Not to Vote
by Dene McGriff
To vote or not to vote, that is the question. Many Christians are caught in a quagmire. If they vote, they are voting against the worse of two evils. There isn’t much choice. If they don’t vote, they feel they are abdicating responsibility as Christians to shine the light in their little corner of the world. So what do we do about voting? This is one of those questions that is open to debate, so rather than take a side, let’s discuss the issue. As usual, at the end, I will tell you what I think, for what it’s worth.
THE PROS
Many Christians believe that we have a responsibility to take a stand and vote our conscience. After all, we have an opportunity, so we should take it. To do nothing is to yield to the evil forces of the world. There may be a few good men out there to vote for so we should look for them and support them. A real “bell weather” for many Christians is the issue of abortion. To them, it is so horrible, that they will support the candidate without regard for their position on other issues.
THE CONS
I appreciate these arguments and would even concede that whether a Christian votes or not is between them and the Lord. I don’t think there is a “right” or “wrong” here. I look at it more as a difference in perspective. I would like to emphasize two obvious points:
1. To me it doesn’t make sense to vote for a candidate on a single issue and I am a lousy judge of character. I have seen too many say one thing and do another. Sorry, I just don’t have much faith in the system. If a candidate is against abortion but supports a policy that leads to the death of millions of innocents (collateral damage, especially from nuclear hardened weapons), which is worse?
2. We know from prophesy that the apostate Church will make an unholy alliance with the “State” and the antichrist will make an alliance with Israel. So just because they sound moral and into traditional family values or are supporters of Israel, doesn’t mean much.
PERSPECTIVE
The idea that we control our destiny through the voting process doesn’t hold much weight for me. Even the ancient Greeks realized that it was easy to manipulate people and their opinions. Citizens either took turns or were elected by “lot” (i.e. by chance). When you look at how our own elections are manipulated, it is appalling. It is like Kerry and Bush got together and said, “how can we completely avoid the issues and keep the voters focused on something completely inane – let’s debate our Vietnam war records! People will lose site of the economy, home security and Iraq.
But way beyond this, let’s try and put ourselves in the shoes of the early Christians, or for that matter, for most Christians down through the ages and even most of those in the non-western world today. It is quite clear in the New Testament that Christians were to do nothing one way or the other with regard to the ruling powers of their personal condition (e.g. slave or free). The Roman government wasn’t exactly enlightened. The most Christians were told to do was pray for their leaders and “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” Can you imagine Christians picketing the Romans for violating their rights, for throwing them to the lions and for taxing them too heavily? When the heavy persecutions began, did they stand up and defend themselves? I would encourage you to read Miller’s Church History, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs or any number of similar works.
The New Testament writers were very clear:
- For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil 3:20)
- For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (Heb. 11:14-16)
- But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Heb 10:32-39)
Just read Hebrews 10 to 13. Ask the Lord to give you a vision of your eternal destiny: But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels (Heb 12:22). Lift up your eyes to the New Jerusalem in eternity and let me ask you, how important is anything on this earth?
Saints down through the ages found no home in this world and if we are to escape the great deception bearing down on the earth today, we would do well to take our eyes off the things of this world and lift our eyes to Him and the eternity that lies beyond. A few years ago a group of Americans went to the poorest area of Haiti and met a widow with many small children and little means to provide more than a few meals a week for them. One of the American Christians asked if she could have anything, what would she want? How would I have responded? Wow, this is like asking the genie in the bottle for anything! Do you know her answer, “Just to live more in the presence of my Lord.” That meant more to her than all the world had to offer.
The real issue is seeing clearly where our citizenship lies and the true condition of this world:
- that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (Eph. 2:12)
- Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)
- Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (I John 2:15-17)
- We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. (I John 5:19)
- So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Rev. 12:9)
Brothers and sisters! Why would we want to put any hope in this world, the political processes or the leaders? The whole world lies in the evil one and Satan himself is called the prince of this world. (Eph 2:2) You can’t reform it. You can’t fix it. Don’t put your hope in the Republicans, Democrats, the Greens or the Independents! Satan is coming to deceive the whole world. Your only hope is to learn to live in the Spirit, in the presence of the Lord.
Okay, off my soap box. I know what is coming next. What should we do about the evil around us? All you can control is what you do. Can you control what society as a whole does on abortion? No. But if a woman/wife gets pregnant at a particularly inconvenient time, you have a decision to make. If people ask your opinion you can give it. Ultimately, all you can do is so live in the presence of the Lord that people see His life and light in you. That is what you can do.
A country music song challenges us to “learn to live like we were dying.” That is a good idea but I would say, we need to live today with an eye on eternity. Which citizenship really counts? The one you have in this world or the one in eternity?
15 replies on “To Vote or Not to Vote”
Steve:
I would like to mention that I do not mean to be offensive either, but I get very offended when the true character and nature of my Savior and His Word is maligned by false teaching. God is a jealous God (Ex. 20:5) and His servants are jealous for Him:
“But His Word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.” (Jer 20:9)
In addition, His followers are called to be zealous against error and expose darkness (Eph 5:11) not have fellowship with it. I know we are also supposed to be gentle but sometimes that’s impossible, (as was with Jesus when He took a whip to the money changers in the temple).
In addition to my comments above regarding fleshly wars, I would like to add that the most common objection that Christians use against other Christians who believe that war goes against the New Testament is the passage in Romans 13 where the Apostle Paul tells believers to “obey the State.” It was an argument I rationalized in my mind and agreed with for many years. However, after a little sincere digging in Scripture, the truth became so obvious it is a wonder I never saw it before: Since when did the laws of the State and government take precedence over God’s laws? Acts 5:29 says “We must obey the laws of God, not men.” And God already said plainly in the NT to “love and pray for our enemies” and “turn the other cheek.”
If the law of the state conflicts with God’s laws that are plainly written in the Bible, we are called to disobey the State! We would not condone or perform an abortion and neither should we condone or support Christians fighting in fleshly wars. There is a second problem with trying to invoke Romans 13 in support of war. Paul says to obey our governments because “The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1). Remember Herod, who wanted to kill all the first born of Israel, including the baby Jesus? Should the Israelites have obeyed Herod because he was “established by God?” Likewise, if we are to follow that reasoning consistently, it follows that the governments of the other countrys (i.e. Iraq, Iran, etc) has also been established by God! The Bible does not say “The goverment of America ONLY has been established by God”! And so it follows Scripturally that our government has absolutely no right self-righteously judge,attack and destabilise this other government.
When we look at it this way, it is clear that Romans 13 does not address the issue of war at all. It simply tells us to be good citizens, obeying the laws of our country when they do not go against God’s principles. Nothing more. And as far as protecting ourselves against our “enemies”, God clearly says that He will make all our enemies to be at peace with us when we obey His laws and statutes, (which we obviously DO NOT, judging from the condition of the country!) When we are attacked by our enemies, it is a definate sign of Divine judgment! God commands true Christians everywhere to: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. Col 3:15 Can God be any plainer?
The true power of Christians is not national might, not the arm of the flesh; it is the grace of God. We have lost this power through denominationalism which is the unscriptural division of the Church caused by teaching the various traditions of men infused with doctrines of demons rather than the Spiritual law of the LIFE in Christ Jesus taught by the Holy Spirit! Paul warned the Galatians 2,000 years ago what would happen to them if they abandoned the power of the Spirit for the arm of the flesh and the teachings of men. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom. 12:19-21)
Do you see any exception clauses here for the military slaughter of ‘enemies’? Lynn D.
Jen,
My comment “are you pleasing to God?” was not meant to offend, but was meant to force us to focus. Maybe it should have been phrased as “are we pleasing to God?” The question was more rhetorical in nature, and the answer is, no we are not, otherwise our country would not be in the shape it is in.
We are not commanded anywhere to get involved in the political process. As a matter of fact we have no “right” to get involved in the process at all, unless we are of this world. If we are of this world then by all means get your man in office. If we are citizens of this world we have a right and an obligation to the world, but if we are of another country then we have no rights at the polls, because our citizenship and loyalty is to another.
Ignorance is wholesale amongst the believing community. Christians do not understand what Christ meant by His life and by His words. They have been conditioned by denominational creeds and statements of faith. They have been sidetracked by tradition, and Protestants have concluded that the Reformation was the final word on what God desires, and Catholics return again and again to the seven ecumenical councils.
I grieve to think about the gross sin, not of the world, but in the “church,” of those who are called brother and sister. The problem is not in the world, it is in the Church, and it just so happens that this is where “judgment will start.”
Did Christ come to change the world? No, He came to save sinners out of the world! Christians have a “say so” within the Body of Christ, the Church, but not in the world. We should live peaceably with the world, but if the world smites us on the cheek our only recourse is to turn the other cheek, not to submit legislation to make it illegal to smite a person on the cheek. Was not this Christ’s example? Did Jesus get involved in politics? Did He exercise His “rights?” Jesus came on a mission, as Christians do, dropped behind enemy lines, and did not lose His focus on the things of this world.
I do not like being offensive and if I come across that way I apologize, but Christianity is way off course, and I am not referring to the fringe elements, I mean the mainstream. The Church is very sick, from head to tail. Very little that we see in the organized church resembles what is spoken of in the Bible, and politics is just one small sore on a decaying body.
I do want to end on a positive note by stating that there is hope in Christ for those who want healing more than they want a conservative president.
Steve Blackwell
In response to Jen’s erroneous point that Bush stopped partial birth abortion by his 2003 “ban” I would like to point out that this was merely a political strategy to gain ignorant Christian votes. If Jen would do her homework, she would discover that this “partial birth abortion ban” is only a ban to prevent abortion doctors from aborting the baby with the head visible OUTSIDE the uterous. In other words it is not legally considered a “partial birth abortion” as long as the baby is butchered INSIDE the uterous! Thus, I will reiterate:Bush has not stopped one singler abortion! Anyone who believes otherwise is deceived. How can any true Christian trust a man who publicly bowed down to Allah in a Ramadan ceremony? God does not change and He still hates idolatry.
In addition Jen, the Centurion was already a Roman citizen, not a professing Christian. If he later became a true follower of Christ, he would forfeit his life in this world, take up his cross and follow Jesus, not slaughter his fellow man in war. War in the Old Testament cannot be used to justify and annul Christ’s command to “love our enemies and pray for those who hate us.” Or any of these commands: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matt 5:9) The soul of the Lord hates…those who love violence. (Psalms 11:5). Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. (Matt 25:52) Seek peace and pursue it. (Psalms 17:4). Scatter the nations who delight in war. (Psalms 68:30) I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war. (Psalms 120:6) Love your enemies; pray for those who hate you. (Matt 5:43). The Old Testament was a physical warfare, the New Testament is SPIRITUAL WARFARE. Christ’s true servants do not fight fleshly wars: If My kingdom were of this world My servants would fight…..(John 18:36) HE SAID IT, not me!
In Just War ethics, Jesus Christ, who is supposed to be all in the Christian life, is irrelevant. He might as well never have existed. In Just War ethics, no appeal is made to Him or His teaching, nor can it be, since neither He nor His teaching gives any standards whatsoever for Christians to follow in order to determine what level of slaughter is acceptable. When Christ disarmed Peter of his sword he disarmed all Christians of their’s. Later on, when opportunities were given for Christians to appease the state by joining the fighting Roman army, these opportunities were rejected, because the early Church saw the complete and obvious incompatibility between loving as Christ loved and killing. It was Christ, not the god of war (Satan), who gave them true security and peace.
Today the world is on the brink of ruin because the church refuses to be the church, and because Christians have been deceiving both themselves and the non-Christian world about the truth of Christ (The Word – Jn 1:1). There is no way to follow Christ, to love as Christ loved, and simultaneously to kill other people. It is a lie to say that the spirit that moves the trigger of a flamethrower is the Holy Spirit. It is a lie to say that learning to kill is learning to be Christ-like. It is a lie to say that learning to drive a bayonet into the heart of another is motivated from having put on the mind of Christ. Militarized/Patriotic Christianity is an apostate lie. America and Israel have two of the most powerful armies in the world, so tell me, where’s the PEACE? You “Christian scholars” and “patriots” can’t show me in the New Testament, in the Words of Jesus Christ, where Christians are EVER instructed to call for, support or desire war……ITS NOT IN THERE! Maybe if you would actually READ your Bibles instead of carrying them around while listening to all the wolves in sheep’s clothes, you might realize the same thing that true believers already know: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 2 Cor 10:3 Try twisting that one!
Steve,
I am well aware that God has chosen to put Barack Obama over this nation to fulfill His good purposes. And I agree that he may very well be God’s instrument of wrath on the US. However, what I was commenting on had to do with your “single issue voter comment, as well as Lynn D’s comment on abortion and the Iraq war.
I really wish you would have tried to reason against my arguments instead of making derisive comments like “are you pleasing God?” I am of the elect of the Lord, therefore I am pleasing to Him because of what Christ Jesus has done, and I live my life to please Him by His power and not my own. Those types of comments are quite unnecessary.
You said “your vote or mine can not change what God has ordained” and that is true. But our votes stopped homosexual marriage from becoming legal in California (and 2 other states). God must have ordained that also. And the vehicle He used was the people who voted, many of whom were Christians.
It grieves me that many Christians do not vote in this country, even if it is just for the propositions. If same sex marriage wasn’t banned, even more condemnation would have been heaped on the heads of homosexuals in this country. The Lord’s wrath is upon them already, as it is upon all sinners, however, it is a blessing that they have been stopped from incurring even more of God’s wrath due to the additional sin of defiling God’s holy institution of marriage. I thank the Lord for His mercy upon them.
How do you expect man’s ways to be pleasing before the Lord if we do not exercise our right in this country to vote for laws that will reflect His character?
Jen,
Thank you for the letter.
Your response is not unexpected, because you are well inside the Christian camp of those who feel that they must change the world. I have shared your feelings for many years and thought it was my Christian duty to get the right fellow into office to preserve a lifestyle that would be good for me, my whole family, and the rest of the world. What I have discovered is that those thoughts were exactly that, “my thoughts.”
To keep my reply short allow me to quote a passage from Proverbs 16:7 “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies live at peace with him.”
When we see all the problems caving in on the American people, including abortion and perverted sex, we Americans, like all mankind, think that we must do something to fix the problems. We think that if anything is going to get done, we have to do it, and so we set out to do what God said He Himself would do if our ways pleased Him. So, when we see these things happening to us we must take a long look in the mirror and know that our problem is that person in the mirror who is not pleasing to God.
Barack Obama is God’s choice for this Nation, just like King Saul was God’s choice for Israel, he is God’s anointed, for good or for evil. I believe he is the man set by God to initiate God’s wrath on this country; your vote or mine can not change what God has ordained. We are an unrighteous, perverted, vain, egotistic, blind, deaf, and unrepentant people, and we have gotten what we deserve.
The answer to our woes is not in the election process, believe it or not, it is in you and me. Are you pleasing God?
Blessings,
Steve Blackwell
To Clarify:
We are called to be light in the world, to live as a godly example to others and to proclaim God’s law to the unbeliever so that they might know their guilt and be granted repentance that leads to eternal life THROUGH CHRIST.
(I meant to write “THROUGH CHRIST” in my comment above).
Indywatchman said:
“To me it doesn’t make sense to vote for a candidate on a single issue and I am a lousy judge of character.”
Would you vote for a man who said he planned on taking away the voting rights of African-Americans, but who otherwise had a great plan for America? If not, why? It’s only the SINGLE issue of his racism. How much more apalled should we be when the SINGLE issue is the murder of unborn children. I think that SINGLE issue is a plenty good one to disqualify a candidate from my vote.
We have no excuse before God to turn a blind eye to the destruction of human life. We have been placed BY GOD in a country where we are allowed to vote for men who will honor the sanctity of life (and of marriage, for that matter).
Lynn D. said:
“I recently read some right wing christian saying that their biggest issues are anti-abortion and anti-homosexuality and they are voting along those lines, so that means they are voting for Mccain. From a worldly perspective lets look at how ridiculous this is. 1. Is John Mccain really going to stop abortion in this country? NO! 2. These same so called christians told you to vote for Bush for the same reasons, can you tell me how many babies were saved as a result of voting for George Bush? NOT ONE.
Actually, Bush banned partial birth abortion, which Obama will overturn. So quite a few babies were spared a horrific death.
Lynn D. also said:
“So its not okay to kill babies in the womb but it is ‘okay’ to send them to their death when they are 18 years old in Iraq or Iran?”
So it’s OK to kill babies since we’re sending people to war? Where did you get the idea that war is always wrong? According to Scripture? No. As my fellow church member, Neil Mammen wrote:
• Jesus never told the Roman Centurion to stop being in the army
• None of the apostles ever said war was evil
• In the OT God explicitly sends Moses, Joshua, Gideon and many others to war and blesses them.
• Even the early church fathers and the great Christian theologians Augustine and Aquinas came up with the Just War theory. Why do so, if all wars were sinful?
• Was it unjust for us to go to War with Germany in WW II?
• Was it wrong for us to defend ourselves against Japan in WW II?
• Ecclesiastes says clearly: “There is a time for war and a time for peace”
We are called to be light in the world, to live as a godly example to others and to proclaim God’s law to the unbeliever so that they might know their guilt and be granted repentance that leads to eternal life. The prophets in the OT were also called to be a godly example, and called to warn the people of God’s wrath to come on the evildoer. These prophets of God PUBLICLY chastised leaders and warned the people of God’s judgements for going against His law.
They were INVOLVED with the political establishment, and were obviously not appreciated for this. Neither are Christians.
I could go on, but I have the flu and am tired. Just wanted to give my brothers and sisters something to consider. God bless.
Here’s a little analogy that crossed my mind a couple of weeks ago that may help Christians who are still torn about whether or not to vote for the lesser of two evils. Just remember this formula: Right Wing plus Left Wing = SAME EVIL BIRD.
Hi Steve. I totally agree with you as well.
God’s prophets said it all, didn’t they! Too bad most of organized christianity writes them off as “only for the Jews.” They seem to miss the admonishment in 2 Pet 3:2 that says (paraphrased) “Heed the prophets that came before.” If they would read Jeremiah 50 and 51 along with Isaih 13 and 47 with the spiritual knowledge that God’s Word is living and active and the prophecys pertain to both the past and present, their would be no doubt in their minds who “Mystery Babylon” is or her false harlot religious system that rides the government beast. No, doubt, protestant, organized Christianity is the daughter of babylonian Catholicism.
I am just wondering if all the professing Christians who have the little fish symbols on their vehicles realize that they are honoring a demon god? The fish symbol happens to represent the demonic pagan god “Dagon” (1 Sam chpt. 5) who was worshipped by the Philistines in the Old Testament. He was a ‘god’ (fallen angel) that inspired his servants to engage in child sacrifice and all manner of sexual perversions, including beastiality. This fish symbol is what the Bible refers to in the Old and New Testaments as an idol, carved image or another Jesus (i.e. antiChrist). It is also the same “fish head hat” or two-horned mitre worn by the Catholic Pope and cardinals. This is the real god of Mystery Babylon, who masquerades as “Christ”.
I can only shudder to think how the Lord Jesus Christ must feel when He looks down at all these ignorant ‘Christians’ running around town with Dagon symbols on their cars and shirt lapels (and “I Love Sarah Palin” signs in their front yards!). They are committing such horrible and shameful idolatry without even realizing it! Just like we all are without total surrender to Jesus, they are walking in total spiritual darkness. Satan loves to mock Christian ignorance by getting them to worship him on the sly. He’s been doing it for thousands of years. That’s his specialty and people are very naive to think they are “smarter than the devil” without the light of Christ. That’s why the Catholics worship Mary (satan), the Mormons worhip the angel Morani (satan), the orientals worship Buddha (satan), the Hindus worship cows (satan) and protestant Christianity worships little fish, nicolaitan pastors and celebrates pagan holidays disguised as ‘christian’ like winter solistice— which is the celebration of the ancient Babylonian king Nimrod’s birthday (disguised as “Christ-mass” by the Catholics) and Easter (the fertility goddess Ishtar represented by eggs and bunnies) and the list of deceptions goes on and on. We have been duped by the Catholics into celebrating the death of Christ-(mass) and the birth of a pagan king, Nimrod!! We’ve all been played like fools, myself included (up until the past couple of years). Jesus was born in September or October since the shepherds were sleeping out in the pasture which they do during the Jewish harvest season which is in September and October (the Jewish month of Tishri).
“For My people are foolish, They have not known Me, They are silly children, And they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, But to do good they have no knowledge.” Jeremiah 4:22 (NKJV)
It should be apparent to most folks by now that the worldly institutions of government, fleshly wars and religion do absolutely nothing toward solving mankind’s problems but, in fact, perpetuate them. They are all traps designed to ensnare, deceive, indoctrinate and render spiritually and intellectually inert those who do not have within them a genuine love of the truth. And all the bloody “Christian” crusades, inquisitions, revolutions and “settlement” (i.e theft) of new lands, in which the Native Indian populations were tortured, murdered, raped and pillaged or the ‘worthy ones’ converted to (their version) of ‘christianity’ was the so called ‘christianity’ that America was founded on. It was based on fleshly war and violence not truth and love as taught by (the real) Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, because of all this deception and the unwillingness of most to bother to search out the facts, many people want nothing to do with the real Jesus Christ, who is not behind all this evil and hypocrisy. They look to organized religion and see the phony charade, glaring ignorance and blatant hypocrisy and believe that this is representative of the true Jesus so they want nothing to do with Him. And, though the religious church services may appear benign and ‘uplifting’ they have the opposite effect which is subtley separating one further from the truth. The lie and the illusion are made more “morally” acceptable and comfortable in the organized church setting, and the truth is never made fully known , only the acceptable parts that don’t interfere with the hidden agenda. Instead of each person searching out truth for themselves, they leave it to a hired hand while they elevate and worship the ego of each other and keep their true inner being hidden. The true Jesus Christ is not allowed, since He is not just a God of love, but is also a Holy and pure God of justice and judgment and He is no respector of persons. They can’t stomach Him in His entirety so they simply reject Him according to the full counsel of His Word and settle for an anti-Christ which simply means another Jesus. Anti means “instead of” like using nutra sweet instead of sugar. They taste similar but are composed of totally different ingredients. They seem to think the “Antichrist” will be a horned devil in a red suit that they will immediately recognize not realizing that antichrist is a spirit that will culminate into “another Christ” and that spirit has already infiltrated the church establishment and the world.
This is the sad state of what is called Christianity today. You either love the praise of men and playing the “game” or you become disgusted with the charade and run back to the world, giving up searching for the true Jesus, who is not religious and phony but is supremely loving and brilliant in knowledge and wisdom. He can be found only by those willing to humble themselves as a little child and only in His Word since He is the Word. John 1:1 He does not hear the proud, the phony or the self-absorbed, but only those with a genuine love of the truth and He does not belong to church “denominations.” He is outside the camp! Heb 13:13.
Lynn,
Thank you for that note, I agree.
As much as I would like to see the Lord’s Church repent and have their eyes opened I can’t see it. Our Lord’s command to “come out from among them” includes even their involvement in the political process, even voting, and I am learning daily that it goes much further than I have even imagined.
There are many passages of Scripture that declare God’s anger with how the world governs. Ezekiel, example, says plainly:
Ezek 22:23-29 “Again the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, say to the land, ‘You are a land that has had no rain or showers in the day of wrath.’ There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says’-when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice.” NIV
Where are our eyes to see and our ears to hear? Ezekiel’s following words pronounce the judgment.
Ezek 22:30-31 “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.”
NIV
His words in the next passage, I believe, not only identify Samaria and Jerusalem, but can identify the twin daughters of the Catholic and Protestant churches.
Ezek 23:1-4 “The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother. They became prostitutes in Egypt, engaging in prostitution from their youth. In that land their breasts were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed. The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They were mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.” NIV
Ezekiel’s following words are almost pornographic in there description of these two daughters (I will not quote them here), but they aptly envision the church of these modern times. These two daughter were clearly out to change the world by the power of their perverted religion, and cast their vote along what they thought was best for them, but only resulted in bringing judgment on themselves and their followers.
God forgive us,
Steve Blackwell
There is an old saying that says “the lesser of two evils is still evil.” I have to agree with that saying when it comes to voting. I simply can’t find anything in the Bible that tells me to “get involved” in worldly politics but I can find where God said that “whoever loves the world hate Him”. James 4:4
Which issues in Roman or Jewish politics did Jesus take up when He walked the earth? Which group did He ‘back’ in the political process? Did He or His followers attempt to ‘take Rome for Jesus’ by ‘getting involved?’ There was just as much going on politically when Jesus walked the earth as there is right now, and yet He mentions nothing whatsoever about ‘getting involved’ in the politics of His day. He was too busy building His own kingdom. The kingdom of Jesus Christ the Son of God is not of this world. I’m of the strong opinion that if you vote for either one of the criminals up for election in a couple weeks, then all their sins are on your head, you have cast your lot with them. I’ve totally repented of voting for “evil” whether it be lesser or greater.
I recently read some right wing christian saying that their biggest issues are anti-abortion and anti-homosexuality and they are voting along those lines, so that means they are voting for Mccain. From a worldly perspective lets look at how ridiculous this is. 1. Is John Mccain really going to stop abortion in this country? NO! 2. These same so called christians told you to vote for Bush for the same reasons, can you tell me how many babies were saved as a result of voting for George Bush? NOT ONE 3. So its not okay to kill babies in the womb but it is ‘okay’ to send them to their death when they are 18 years old in Iraq or Iran? What ever happened to “blessed are the peacemakers?” and “Love your enemies”? And on homosexuality, the same people telling you now to vote for Mccain, told you to vote for Bush, and homosexuality has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 8 years.
Worldly men speak from the world’s perspective. Today’s so called christianity is so in bed with the world, they are so corrupt and destitute of discernment that they have become indistinguishable from the world except for the jargon they throw around. The Bible doesn’t have anything to say about “voting” but it’s crystal clear on this: A friend of the world is an enemy of God! He also said plainly to Christians to “Come out of the world and be separate.” Wallowing in the pigsty of the world will leave you filthy. Our destiny is to be kings and priests of the Lord, (Rev 1:6)…..what business do we have involving ourselves with this world?
Can the kingdom of God be advanced without EVER casting a vote in this world? Yes it can, and it is. Feed the poor, take care of widows and orphans, be kind to someone today. We live in a world full of hurting people and these political candidates could not care less! They are nothing but paid puppets put into place by the shadow government (rich bankers that run the world) to further the Anti christs one world agenda : Novus Ordo Seclorum. With electronic voting machines your vote doesn’t even count anymore. Joseph Stalin once said “it doesn’t matter who casts the votes, only who counts the votes.” Election fraud has been alleged in both of the past two presidential elections. The people committing the vote fraud are the same people ‘right wing’ christianity wants you to vote for.
The Bible is full of instructions on things you can do that will please the Father, voting is not mentioned.. “Getting involved” in this world’s political system is for the spiritually blind and ignorant. We need to get some “eye salve” from Jesus (Rev 3:18) so we can see that we live in a giant spider web of deception and separate spiritually. You need to choose today which kingdom you are part of. If you are part of the kingdom that is not of this world, then find out what the King of that kingdom wants you to do and again, nothing in His Instruction Manual says “get out and vote for one of the antiChrist’s stooges.” And, if you are part of this worlds kingdoms, then by all means ‘get involved’ with them. The choice, as always..is yours. God gave us a free will but I strongly believe that His kings and priests getting involved in worldly government is against His will!
Romans 13 and “render unto Ceasar” are scriptures often used in support of mixing with the world’s government but these scriptures merely teaches us to obey the laws of the land that do not go against God’s laws. The Christians that use these verses as an excuse to mingle with the world dangerously elevate them above Acts 5:29 which is a crystal clear command from the Master: “Obey God, not men.” This commandment clearly supercedes getting “involved” in worldly politics which promote Satan’s agenda for one world rule. These corrupt worldly leaders are allowed by God as judgment on the wicked. I can point you to our involvement in government, here it is Prov 21:1: The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will. Whose hand? Your hand? No……….THE LORD’S HAND. (KJV) So much for you ‘getting involved’…
Here’s some advice to all of you who are torn about whether or not to vote: Think about priorities! The number one priority most people should have right now is individual REPENTANCE according to Luke 13:3!
You make a very convincing argument, especially with your choice of scripture. I dislike comparing America to Israel in the OT, but America has thumbed her nose at God Who has blessed her with many freedoms and judgment is inevitable. But, then I think of Abraham’s pleading with God to spare the wicked if God could find just ten just persons. Are we to pray that judgment comes or that God will spare America for our sakes? Am I even one of ten righteous people? I’m not as sure of that as I’d like to be.
I am of the opinon that not only have most Americans exchanged the true God for the idol of the American Dream, but so have many who would claim they are believers. America deserves to be judged, but are we to be like James and John and ask God if He’s going to rain fire on the blasphemers and God haters? I know that would be wrong.
It’s a conundrum for me. So many, even in the churches, are fretting about their retirement monies, the government bail-out, and anything that might affect their attained level of living. I admit I have prayed for judgment, but only if it will bring people to their knees before God and realize that all their material wealth really doesn’t amount to anything but smoke and mirrors. I don’t want people to die or suffer horribly in great natural disasters or plagues, but one has to admit, our country has become a mirror to Paul’s description of a nation forsaken by God.
I am probably still going to vote, but I will never send one dime to ‘help’ a political campaign again, so help me God! How many millions are spent to make a man our king believing that he can save us and God can just keep His nose out of our business? And the ‘poor’ RNC go and create a can of worms spending citizens contributions on a fancy wardrobe for their first female candidate for VP. What a mess…..
God bless you Steve!
ProdigalKnot,
Thanks, your input is always welcome. What you are saying sounds very familiar, it sound like me a few years back. For me, leaving the political arena was a hard won battle. I just felt sure that I needed to cast my vote to hold back the veil of darkness and to be a legitimate Christian, along with persuading many others to vote my way.
What I discovered was that the veil of darkness was over my own eyes and that it was God Himself who makes even our enemies to live at peace with us, and not my vote, or marches on Washington, or letters to my congressman.
What I also discovered was that my pleading and prayers only witnessed the continual worsening of the already serious illness of unrepentant sin that our Nation has fallen into.
My vote equaled the abandoning to men and politics what God said only He would do. Will my vote, or the vote of many people change what God has determined for this country? If I don’t vote have I hindered God from exercising His will?
Isa 2:5-9 “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. Surely [Lord] You have rejected and forsaken your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled [with customs] from the east and with soothsayers [who foretell] like the Philistines; also they strike hands and make pledges and agreements with the children of aliens. [Deut 18:9-12.] Their land also is full of silver and gold; neither is there any end to their treasures. Their land is also full of horses; neither is there any end to their chariots. [Deut 17:14-17.] Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, what their own fingers have made. And the common man is bowed down [before idols], also the great man is brought low and humbles himself — therefore forgive them not [O Lord].” AMP
Do you think getting the right man in office is the cure for our nation? I don’t think you do. Our efforts have been futile in the past and they are futile now.
I would not break fellowship with someone desiring to vote, but I do think they are wrong.
Steve Blackwell
I have been torn about this voting for months, whether Christians should even care, but I think when McGriff says, near the end, “All you can control is what you do” , that necessarily includes voting. Since we are to be light and salt, we certainly have to try and make the best choices we can (Heb 5:14) I think we must do our best to choose wisely where we have that privilege. We may be disappointed by our choices, but if we follow our consciences we are without condemnation. We simply need to learn from our mistakes and put our trust in God, not any man or woman.
Very good points and I have to admit that I lean toward McCain and Palin primarily because of Palin’s profession of faith and McCain’s record of being Pro-Life. Other than that, they are just talented politicians who will do anything and say anything (I think) to get elected. I don’t believe for a minute that McCain is running for our sake; he’s tried twice before so this is obviously what he wants for himself.
One of the first things I did after becoming a Christian was to remove any reference to political parties or leaders from my office. I was a staunch Republican, but have come to see that neither party is “godly” or right. It truly is a choice between two different kinds of evil: one that speaks of success and greed, the other speaks of disavowing personal responsibility and equality for all paid for by the responsible hard working folk.
So, I seriously take this message to heart. I have expressed the same feelings about we as Christians claiming our true citizenship and not becoming entangled in the comparatively meaningless affairs of the world. The whole world truly does lie in wickedness and the “Christian Right” just doesn’t get it.
Thanks for this article Steve!