I have been very leery of mixing religion and politics from the very beginning of Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority. Pat Robertson then picked up the ball and ran with it awhile. Now I get calls from Dr. Dobson at night wanting me to vote my religion.
Before you jump on me too hard, hear me out on my complaint.
I, like most other people prefer legislators who follow more closely the moral compass I have chosen. What bothers me most is when brethren come to believe it is sinful to vote for one man over another because he fails in that regard.
We are not hiring a gospel preacher here. We are selecting someone to govern the country or to at least represent us in that process.
My point is that I should be allowed to vote for someone I believe is a superior governor for that reason alone and not be forced to vote someone into office who is a wonderful person but woefully unqualified for the job. And when I do, I should not need to be ashamed to admit why I voted for that person. Exa. Would you take your car to a Christian for repairs when you were convinced he did not know how to fix it?
When Jesus said, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's", he authorized a separation of church and state regardless of what Thomas Jefferson would decide some 1800 years later.
All of us are responsible to God to obey His commands if we seek the salvation of our souls. (Heb. 5:8,9) The same people are given the freedom to vote for whatever kind of government they choose without affecting their ability to faithfully obey the commands of God.
We learn early on from the Apostles that we must obey God rather than man. (Acts 5:29) Which would you rather be killed for in service to God? Refusing to have an abortion or refusing to worship contrary to the Word of God? This is the question we must answer if we are to insist on voting for leaders purely on the basis of their moral stand. (Opposition to abortion, homosexuality, etc.)
The reason I say that is there is no clear evidence an atheist will become a ruthless dictator any sooner than a zealous moralist.
How about the last time the majority of the world was ruled by a religious leader? How did that work out for mankind? Bibles burned. People who obtained Bibles and decided to live by God's Word rather than that of the Pope were martyred for that cause.
In a perfect world we could find Christians to rule and legislate according to God's Word, but we do not live in a perfect world. Therefore, let me suggest you decide who you think is the best man for the office according to your ideals and let your fellow man do the same and thus preserve any sphere of influence you might have over him in your efforts to lead him to Christ. After all, wouldn't you rather teach him to be a Christian than convince him to agree with your politics? Teach him to be a Christian first and he will soon have similar ideals to yours politically.
When you have accomplished that you should follow the advice of the Apostle Paul who told the evangelist Timothy, "I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity." (1 Tim. 2:1,2)
Appealing to God will overcome our shortcomings in selecting our legislators.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
FRANKLY SPEAKING!
It is often difficult to see ourselves as others do. It is so easy to deceive ourselves by thinking we say one thing when in actuality we have communicated quite differently.
There have been a couple of examples I have observed lately that illustrate this.
But first, recognize we all want to think of ourselves as frank and forthright. I have never heard someone say, "Now I just don't like to tell it like it is. I would rather be evasive and avoid any disagreement." We have been taught honesty is the best policy. Yet when is the last time you heard someone in authority genuinely answer, "I do no know the answer to that." So many times they feel obligated to have all the answers and begin to send out a smokescreen of an answer to hide their ignorance.
Recently a politician was asked in a debate, "Tell me, how do you create a job?" The question obviously caught him off guard and rather than admit he did not have a satisfactory answer he rambled on for a long time trying to hide his ignorance and instead displayed it.
On another occasion a different politician answered frankly his beliefs about homosexuality. He said he believed children would be happier if they grew up, were married and raised a family. He further said he did not believe schools or the media should teach or represent homosexuality as an equally attractive option in life to heterosexuality. All this to the detriment of his electability.
What I hope to illustrate is that we too can become evasive with our answers about important issues if we are not careful. Probably we are not intimidated by the electorate or the media. But we might be by our neighbors or co-workers or employers.
When Jesus teaches us to confess Him before men in order for Him to confess us before His Father, He is telling us to wear our faith openly. (Mat. 10:32,33) By the way, He had just told them in verse 28 not to fear men, but fear God.
When the Apostles were threatened for preaching Christ they did not offer excuses or explanations. They proudly stood by their teaching. (Acts 4:19,20)
When Paul was arrested because he taught Christ had replaced Moses as the deliverer of the people he defended his conversion and the things he had spoken among them. (Acts 22)
These faithful men were not evasive or ambiguous. They were forthright about their convictions. I ask you, is it wiser to hide our beliefs to get along with men or to speak out boldly and please the God of heaven who created us, redeemed us through His Son and will reward us with heaven when we have faithfully completed our walk on earth? (2 Tim. 4:7,8)
There have been a couple of examples I have observed lately that illustrate this.
But first, recognize we all want to think of ourselves as frank and forthright. I have never heard someone say, "Now I just don't like to tell it like it is. I would rather be evasive and avoid any disagreement." We have been taught honesty is the best policy. Yet when is the last time you heard someone in authority genuinely answer, "I do no know the answer to that." So many times they feel obligated to have all the answers and begin to send out a smokescreen of an answer to hide their ignorance.
Recently a politician was asked in a debate, "Tell me, how do you create a job?" The question obviously caught him off guard and rather than admit he did not have a satisfactory answer he rambled on for a long time trying to hide his ignorance and instead displayed it.
On another occasion a different politician answered frankly his beliefs about homosexuality. He said he believed children would be happier if they grew up, were married and raised a family. He further said he did not believe schools or the media should teach or represent homosexuality as an equally attractive option in life to heterosexuality. All this to the detriment of his electability.
What I hope to illustrate is that we too can become evasive with our answers about important issues if we are not careful. Probably we are not intimidated by the electorate or the media. But we might be by our neighbors or co-workers or employers.
When Jesus teaches us to confess Him before men in order for Him to confess us before His Father, He is telling us to wear our faith openly. (Mat. 10:32,33) By the way, He had just told them in verse 28 not to fear men, but fear God.
When the Apostles were threatened for preaching Christ they did not offer excuses or explanations. They proudly stood by their teaching. (Acts 4:19,20)
When Paul was arrested because he taught Christ had replaced Moses as the deliverer of the people he defended his conversion and the things he had spoken among them. (Acts 22)
These faithful men were not evasive or ambiguous. They were forthright about their convictions. I ask you, is it wiser to hide our beliefs to get along with men or to speak out boldly and please the God of heaven who created us, redeemed us through His Son and will reward us with heaven when we have faithfully completed our walk on earth? (2 Tim. 4:7,8)
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