Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The Christian voter

I thought I’d join the masses and encourage my three readers to go out and rock the vote today. (And if you’re in Florida and need some tips, check out my brother’s blog for helpful hints for the Christian voter… but hurry! Time is running out!)

Although I’m not going to use today to go into details about my political views, I would like to share some observations I've had the past couple of days. These are some issues my heart and mind have been dwelling on; if you’ve got any feedback, please share it!
  • While I believe voting is an important privilege that comes with being a citizen in this country, I also believe in a God who is supremely in control. As a result, despite the outcome of today’s election, I know that my Father has the whole world in His hands. On Christian radio this morning, the DJ mentioned that tomorrow, nearly half of our country will be disappointed in the election results (regardless of who comes out on top). As Christians, what will our response be? Will it be different from those who are in the world? Will we speak words of love and not hate? Will we choose to respect those making decisions for our nation? I hope so.
  • I’ve also been thinking a lot about how God chooses to use different types of rulers to display His wondrous plans. The Old Testament gives us countless examples of “kings gone bad”—yet God still used them as part of His supreme plan. I certainly don’t want to diminish the power of the people, and I won’t go so far as to say that I believe God has pre-ordained whoever gets elected tonight. But I am certain that God will use either John McCain or Barack Obama in whatever ways He sees fit. And I am also certain that He expects me to respect whichever man is elected. I can’t help but think about Romans 13 and the instructions Paul gives his fellow Christians. And these commands were written during a severely overbearing Roman rule, when Christians were dying for their beliefs! As long as my government’s laws do not call me to disobey my God’s, I’m called to submit to those in authority, whether or not they are my political affiliation.
  • Finally, I believe the church has a great responsibility in these times to help the weak and afflicted, the fatherless, the widow… Whether or not our next leader chooses to use government funding to do the same. It’s not up to the U.S. Government to protect the weak. It’s up to me, to you, and to all other Christians who live according to the Scripture.

That’s my soapbox for the day. Please be praying for our country today, and be praying that divisive words will fall into the background no matter who becomes our next President.

3 comments:

Chet said...

Your'e right. I don't like either one...at all but one of them will be my President and that alone demands my respect.

I believe that Liberty is God's greatest earthly blessing and to protect it from oppressive state power is not only patriotic but also virtuous.

=) <3 xoxo

jenna said...

I shout a loud "Amen" to each of the three points you made. Thanks for sharing those thoughts-- especially what you said about respecting whomever is elected to office. If the election goes the way I think it might, I imagine that convicting message is going to have to be shared with many around me....

No matter what, my hope is not in a man who holds an office. My only hope is in the Lord. And my banner is nothing but the blood of His Son and the love that He is.

Jordan Jones said...

I absolutely agree. Unfortunately, submission and respect for the government often aren't high priorities on a lot of minds, especially when a candidate we fear comes into power. This blog hits the nail on the head. Proverbs 21:1!