This is excerpts from something I read by D. James Kennedy.
It is long but well worth the read and something to pray and think about during the 2008 elections coming up real soon. Get out and VOTE!!
What Party Does God Claim?
What side is God on? People have wanted to know that since the beginning of warfare.
In Joshua 5:13,14 Joshua has an encounter with God, or more precisely, the Son of God, asking Him (much the same way we ask today).."Lord, are you for us or for our enemies?
The reply was, "Neither." He is not on anybody's side. Jesus said the he was the Commander~Joshua's captain and the Lord of the battle.
How Do We Vote The Christian Way?
We want to vote "correctly," but how do we know the right way to vote~the Christian way to vote?
Jesus goes on to explain to Joshua that he will be victorious if he obeys the Lord and does what he is commanded to do. The question, therefore, is not if God is on our side, but rather, are we on God's side?
You may recall that Abraham Lincoln said as much during the Civil War. In 1863 he overheard someone say that he hoped "the Lord was on the Union's side." The president responded: "I know the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side."
Does God Care How We Vote?
I believe the answer is yes. For many years Christians have abstained from politics, and now they are shocked that the culture around them has deteriorated. We should not rely solely on political power to right the world's wrongs. When Jesus was on earth, He did not reside in a democratic republic and had no opportunity to cast a ballot. Meanwhile, those of us who make following Him our first priority believe He has spoken through His Word and given us principles that can inform us on how to vote on many issues.
Does the Bible say anything about how we are to educate our young? Does it say anything about abortion or capital punishment? Does it say anything about war or how we are to vote on the envioronment, immigration or health care? Sincere Christians may have different views on how to tackle issues. However, I trust that we have grace enough to respect Christians on either side of the partisan aisle.
Do The Bible And Politics Mix?
Jesus said we are to "render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God, the things that are God's." (Luke 20:25) Furthermore, we are called to be salt and light, which has political implications.
Jesus put His seal of approval on the Old Testament as the Word of God, saying, for example, "Do not think that I come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." (Matthew 5:17,18) Not one jot or tittle~much less a word, a sentence, or an entire prophetic book~should be ignored.
Let us humbly search the Scriptures to see if God has something to say on political issues that are tearing apart our nation. Let usdo so with the great motto sometimes attributed to Augustine, other times to Blaise Pascal: "In essentials, unity. In nonessentials, liberty. And in all things, charity.
Can We Know How Jesus Would Vote?
Yes. He left us all sorts of commands and principles to follow. Obviously, there is ambiguity (two or more possible meanings, not clear) in some of those principles; otherwise Christian history would not be full of sincere, well~meaning Christians fighting over those principles, over doctrine. Human pride is a huge factor in such fights. Just as Jesus dealt with religious Pharisees and secular~minded sadducees, so we contend with both in our time. In declaring Christian principles that guide voting, we cannot help but be controversial. Others will disagree..It goes with the territory. But unless we risk offending (Jesus even offended people), we cannot uphold our duty to God.
John Calvin once said, "The task of the church is to make the invisible reign of Christ visible."
As we submit to His reign more and more in our lives, and we compromise less and less with the world, we will see powerful results in our land.
2 Chronicles 7:14: If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
