‘Psstt! You Don’t Need to Vote ‘Cause God is Sovereign’
America is at the tipping point. This midterm election is the most important one in our lifetime. We could lose both the Senate and House if scores of patriotic supporters of faith, family and faithful adherence to the Constitution don’t engage in our sacred duty to pray and cast our votes.
“But God is sovereign, so He’s in control! We don’t need to vote. We can if we ‘feel led,’ but it’s optional. No one should feel pressured ’cause that gets into legalism. Hey, our pastor says little about it, plus no one knows if he votes so …”
True? False?
Human responsibility without the sovereignty of God is humanism. The sovereignty of God without human responsibility is fatalism. Therefore, biblically-informed believers put the accent on His sovereignty and then put our faith into action, knowing that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26b).
The secular culture around us really doesn’t mind Christians having uplifting worship, prayer and sermons as long as everything stays within the silo of the service. Trouble starts when we challenge unrighteous decrees like those endorsing abortion and homosexuality by affirming the New Testament message of the kingdom rule of God, which Jesus, Paul and Peter preached (“Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”). This brings the lordship of Jesus Christ into every sphere of life, counters unscriptural deception and causes upheaval in society.
But the Jews who did not believe became jealous and, taking some evil men from the marketplace, gathered a crowd, stirred up the city, and attacked the house of Jason, trying to bring them out to the mob. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers to the city officials, crying out, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (Acts 17:5-7).
Remember Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom [the rule of God, not merely forgiveness and a home in heaven] will be preached throughout the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14). And one major way we advance His righteousness in America is by praying for political leaders as God instructs (1 Tim. 2:1-4) and “rendering to Caesar” (Matt. 22:21) by voting for politicians and policies that enable us to freely declare the transformational message of the gospel of the kingdom without hindrance.
‘Is It a Sin Not to Vote?’
“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, it is sin” (James 4:17). You make the call!
“But God has everything under control. Remember, He’s sovereign!”
“Our church doesn’t get into politics. We stay out of it!”
“I’ve got a family and a demanding job. I just don’t have time to be informed and involved!”
“We’re called to preach the gospel. We’re to be separate from the world.”
“In the final analysis, what difference does it really make?”
“I hear lots of people mourning over the state of our nation. And you think God wants us voting for these whiskey-drinking, potbellied, corrupt politicians?”
Maybe we wouldn’t have so many of these whiskey-drinking, potbellied, corrupt politicians if we prayed consistently and obeyed Jesus who directed us to be the “salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13). Salt influences and prevents decay.
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people mourn” (Prov. 29:2).
In our last major election, over 17 million evangelical Christians were either not registered to vote (9 million) or simply didn’t turn out to vote (8 million). Among the broader Christian population of Catholics and others, 40 million did not vote in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections
Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. —James Garfield, assassinated U.S. President
The time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics … Christians have been exceedingly guilty on this matter. But the time has come when they must act differently … Christians seem to act as if they thought God did not see what they do in politics. But I tell you he does see it, and he will bless or curse their nation according to the course they [Christians] take [in politics]. —Charles Finney, evangelist and social reformer
Secularists and Socialists Angry and Advancing
Ever since the unbelievable and unexpected defeat of Hillary Clinton in the last presidential election, leftist politicians, the media and Hollywood have been on a rampage to stop conservatives from gaining ground. Read the shocking expose, “A Former Obama Operative Built a New Anti-Republican Attack Machine” in October’s Bloomberg Business Week and you’ll see how serious this is. A “root of bitterness” (Heb.12:15) keeps them obsessed with daily stalking and hammering our president and those that uphold our Judeo-Christian heritage as they deliberately ignore and/or minimize the incredible achievements of this administration.
Their behavior is unrighteous and unacceptable. Blaming the president for recent “bombs” sent through the mail is reprehensible. And “mob rule” is not free speech and acceptable conduct! The hostility, threats, intimidation, corruption and violence displayed during the Kavanaugh hearings revealed an appalling lack of character along with their determination to discard the rule of law and due process.
We are witnessing what’s been labeled an incredible “bankruptcy of decency”. Vile attempts to destroy the reputation and career of Justice Kavanaugh and a willingness to sacrifice the lives and welfare of thousands of Central American poor people for political expediency are stark examples of this evil trend.
And how about the blatant hypocrisy in the swift axing of Megan Kelly at NBC for her comment on children and “blackface” (for which she quickly apologized), yet Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman were all “given a pass” for doing far worse.
Because the media, which has been overwhelmingly liberal, has been so biased, corrupt and activist in cheerleading the so-called “progressive” agenda, fair-minded Americans are turning away from it in droves. What an opportunity this affords us to become informed influencers and winsomely reach out to multitudes who are increasingly fed up, seeking truth and a better way.
Time for Spirit-led Action
America’s future hangs in the balance. God-fearing people must arise, discard fatalism in the civic realm and set our face like a flint to vote for those who best align with righteousness.
Behind candidates’ lofty rhetoric of “bridging the aisle” and grandiose promises of “free stuff,” if a party platform does not uphold the sanctity of human life; marriage between a man and woman; protecting our religious freedoms and our borders; small government; respect for the rule of law, our Constitution, law-enforcement and military and the fundamental founding principles upon which this nation was established, turn the other way as fast as you can!
Here’s the deal: Let’s pray and dedicate our voting to God as an honorable privilege and holy obligation to our family, community and nation. May we vote and encourage all we can to follow us to the voting booth. If you’re a pastor, take this Sunday before the midterm election and talk about civic responsibility and stewardship of this, the greatest and most incredibly blessed nation on earth.
Lastly, how about posting on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube a reminder and encouragement to vote for values that honor God including these words from one of our greatest presidents, Ronald Reagan, “You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness.”
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Ps. 33:12a).
