The record number of voters who have turned out thus far for the November election is a clear indication of how many citizens understand how important is to exercise our right to vote. But for those who may be holding out for whatever reason, I feel the need to share this information with you.
As a Christian, I believe the Bible holds the truth about every issue we face today in our society, yet at one time I did not see the need to vote. I had separated my Christian faith from “politics.”
Then the Lord put someone in my path who convinced me that it is my responsibility to share the truth of God’s word. Not in order to be right, nor to impress my beliefs on others, but to protect the future generations as we preserve our God given right to live, and worship- as a free people.
The following paragraphs are excerpts from a Christian newsletter I received several years ago, and I believe the Lord put into my hands because it so clearly explains what my obligation is …
“Calvin Coolidge, the thirtieth president of the United States (1923-1929),
declared,”The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the
teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them (the
foundations of society) if faith in these teachings would cease to be
practically universal in our country” (brackets mine).
James Garfield, our twentieth president, once said, “Now, more than ever
before, 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 the next centennial does not find
us a great nation … it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the
culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political
forces. (1)
Consider these sobering words of Reverend Matthias Burnett in 1803: “Ye …
whose high prerogative it is to … invest with office and authority or to
withhold them and in whose power it is to save or destroy your country, consider
well the important trust … which God (has) put into your hands. To God and
posterity you are accountable for them … Let not your children have reason to
curse you for giving up those rights and prostrating those institutions which
your fathers delivered to you. (2)
For those who complain about their candidate choices, the only logical
viewpoint to take is that someone is going to win—like it or not! Sometimes it
may come down to which candidate will do the least amount of harm in office. But
casting a vote for that person is better than sitting by idly, allowing the
greater possibility of evil to win.
If the option is available, however, we must vote for godly leaders whose
views match biblical principles. Instead of voting along party lines because
we’ve always done it that way in the past, we must vote based on the Word of
God.
For instance, we know God is opposed to abortion, so in
order to vote biblically, we should seek candidates who also oppose abortion. The Bible has something to say about every issue we face. The
more we study the Word, the easier it will be to identify those candidates whose
views most closely align with Scripture.
God has given us clear mandates concerning our involvement. One specific
instruction can be found in 1 Timothy 2:1-3.
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all
that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all
godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior.”
We should pray for those who have spiritual authority, natural authority,
and civil authority in our lives.
Voting is not only an incredible right that we have as free citizens of
this republic; it is also a God-given responsibility as stewards of this
freedom. God could have had us live under a dictatorship or a monarchy, where we
would have had no say in who our leaders are. Instead, He has blessed us by
placing us in a country where we have the power to choose our leaders. This
power to choose does not come without responsibility. Luke 12:48 says, “For unto
whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”
John Jay concisely summed up our duty as American Christians when he
wrote, “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is
the duty, as well as the privilege and interest, of our Christian nation to
select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” (3)
To be “Christ’ like is to be re-born in the Spirit into the Kingdom of God
(John Chpt. 3, Romans 10:10) and to follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Son of God.
A person who promotes homosexual lifestyles, same sex “marriages” and
abortions are not truly following after Christ according to the Word of God.
Jesus embraces all men and has paid for all of our sins, but Jesus
NEVER approved of these sins.
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the
kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins.” Col. 1:13-14
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Ps.33:12)
We, the church, are the ones who will determine whether or not America
will stay blessed. God will hold us accountable for what we do with the
government system that He has given us. Our job is simple, yet essential: Continue to pray, seek God for
guidance on how to get involved, and in the meantime, vote for godly leaders.”
So this is the information, and scriptures that convinced me many years ago, that as a
follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, of what I can and must do. I have to get
involved.
I HAVE to vote!!!
WE …. HAVE to vote!!!
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
