We are a democracy, or as some would say a democratic republic, which allows us the privilege as citizens to be active participants in the political process and to judge who is worthy to represent our interest at the local, state, and national level. Our votes should be cast with wisdom and care as it is a reflection of who we are and what is important to us. It reveals our attitudes towards our culture, economics, foreign and domestic issues and often has ramifications not only for us but for our posterity.
As Christians how should we vote? Should we vote? What significance does the political process hold? Is God involved in politics? Does HE care about the mundane aspects of county budgets, local taxes, or noise ordinances? I believe HE does care and our views of God and our faith should color our choices in the Ballot Boxes.
What does this mean for us as Americans and more importantly as Christians as Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, Democrats, and a variety of others vie for our support now and in the future? Will things change and in what or whom have we placed our trust?
I. God is Sovereign. He is Supreme. He needs no one’s counsel and is able to decide and act solely upon His own Holy and Immutable character. He was before all things and controls all things. His sovereignty is not contingent upon our actions or the actions of others. He is not taken by surprise and He does not sleep or slumber. He watches over the whole world and and has eternity in the palm of His hand.
As the Universe’s sovereign, God is not an absentee landlord nor an invisible watchmaker who wound up the universe and left it to run on its own. As Colossians 1:16-17 states He has created everything and by Him all things are held together. When questioned by Pilate Jesus told him that he would have no power unless it was given to him by God.
How is God active today in American society? I believe He uses the electorate as He both ordains the means and the ends. Just as He used a marching band to topple the walls of Jericho, a fish to save Jonah, and a Roman cross as a means of atonement I believe our votes are used by Him to bring about His purposes for this country. As our leaders are a direct representation of our morals and ethics it can be said that unjust leaders are a judgment of God on a wayward Church and people. In other words we get what we deserve and if you have any doubt that God will allow judgment to fall read the books of Judges and the Pronouncements of Jesus in Matthew 24.
Government is ordained by God and can either be an instrument of good or evil. Romans 13 declares that all authority is from God and that leaders are not to be a terror and if we want to have no fear we are to do what is good. We are to pray for those over us both in the LORD and our secular leaders as they are both ordained by God.
II. Many will no doubt disagree, both inside Christianity and out, but I see no evidence in sacred scripture that God will allow immorality and godlessness to go unpunished. God is holy and His holiness coupled with His justice demands the righting of wrongs.
Israel, the apple of God’s eye, did not escape divine retribution so how can we assume that we are safe? They, in the Old Testament, forgot God and followed after the gods of the surrounding nations. They blasphemed His name, forgot his Sabbaths, and even went as far as child sacrifice. They left the living God and chased after dead idols degenerating further and further into immorality and for this God judged them allowing them to be taken into captivity: first the northern kingdom of Israel and soon thereafter the southern kingdom of Judah.
God is not mocked for whatsoever a man sows that shall he reap. That is true both for the individual and the nation as they are inseparable. You cannot have a nation without citizens and the actions and directions of the nation are guided by those citizens. Are we as a nation sowing spiritual seeds or are we sowing for temporal rewards? Where is our treasure found and where are our hearts? God warned the churches in John 19:9-11) God both raised up nations and leaders throughout history to accomplish His purposes. His dealings with Israel and the surrounding countries in the Old Testament is evidence of this.. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened to show God’s glory during the Exodus, He elevated a young shepherd form Bethlehem to be king and the father of the lineage of the Messiah, and used the pagan king Cyrus to restore His people to the Promised Land. He also used pagan nations by giving them authority to execute His judgments upon His people Israel. (see Egypt, Assyria, Babylon,) In Revelation 2:5 He stated that He would remove their lamp stand if they did not repent and remember their first deeds. We as a nation, having been blessed by God both spiritually and temporally, are not above divine reproach. We are wealthy, comfortable, and lukewarm and have forgotten from where we have come. We have, in the past, been leaders in reaching the lost worldwide with the gospel. We have religious liberty rarely if ever seen before and can assemble where and how we please. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the nation whose God is LORD is blessed so the question is are we still wise and how long shall we remain blessed?
III. Having said the above I have come to this conclusion: Personal and national sin both must be repented of. Judgment begins at the House of the Lord and we as Christians need to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. ” My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. “2 Chronicles 7:13-15. He said it was up to us to repent, to fall upon our faces, and mourn not only for our sins but for the sins of the nation. We who know God are responsible for declaring His word and to call backsliders to repentance and the lost to the Cross of Christ.
John Adams and John Hancock:
We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus! [April 18, 1775]
Woe to the man who calls evil good and good evil. That is where we are now. Sex sells. The more skin the better. Homosexuality is now normal as is divorce and infanticide. How can God bless a nation who neither l values life nor the sanctity of His ordained institutions for men and women. How can God bless a nation where lying is good and truth is scorned? Without a vision the people perish so what type of vision do you have for this country? What type of country do you want your children and grandchildren to live in? Certain of our founders, whether orthodox or not, knew what role Christianity both played in America’s foundation and its future.
1. John Adams:
” The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
• “[July 4th] ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”
2.”The Law given from Sinai [The Ten Commandments] was a civil and municipal as well as a moral and religious code.”
John Quincy Adams. Letters to his son. p. 61
3. “For my own part, I sincerely esteem it [the Constitution] a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.” [1787 after the Constitutional Convention]
4. Patrick Henry:
“Orator of the Revolution.”
• This is all the inheritance I can give my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.”
-The Last Will and Testament of Patrick Henry
“It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” [May 1765 Speech to the House of Burgesses ] “The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed.”
We must return to our first love and humble ourselves before God. We must return to our foundation of God first and constitutional government second. We need to forget about the political parties and align ourselves with the Light of the World and let Him shine through us. Jesus Christ is our chief corner and the prophets and apostles are our spiritual foundation. The Ten Commandments are a good starting place and will lead us to Christ. The foundations are sure and stable but I am concerned that the building of our nation is about to crumble.
The future is now. The next second is endlessly approaching and will slide past us into history. What do we d with every second that the merciful God of Heaven has given us? Do we make a difference for now and eternity in our lives and those around us? Do we edify other believers, witness to the lost, and raise our children in such a way that when they are old they will not depart? We need to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and encourage others to do the same. We need to call upon Him while He may be found and proclaim in the streets that today is the acceptable day of salvation. Our God is just and merciful but He will not turn a blind eye forever to the sins of a nation. Will you pray with me for a Godly sorrow to grip our nation and that repentance and revival will erupt in our land?