A Word from the Pastor
Pray
and Vote
In just a
few short days Americans will go to the poles. We have a lot to pray
about. So many things from the war on terror to the state of our
economy, to the moral decline of our culture need attention. I am
reminded of Israel in the days of Hosea when Israel’s political
leaders, judges, citizens, and even her spiritual leaders were
corrupt. The cry of the day was, “We have no king, because
we feared not the Lord” (Hos. 10:3)
Not only do
I see corruption in our streets. I see corruption in the White House,
congress and the Senate. Forgive me, but I do not see the
righteousness that exalts a nation coming from any major political
party in America today. I don’t see it in the courts or in the
streets. Even more disturbing to me is the corruption I see among
pastors, the spiritual leaders of nation.
We may
differ on social issues and who should be in the White House, but
that is not what should unite us as Christians. God’s people
should unite around a call to moral righteousness, a demand for
judicial restraint, and the protection of our inalienable and
constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.
Our nation
is like a nation that has no king, because we feared not the Lord. I
see only three things that Christians can do to bring America back to
God.
1. Pray:
We need to pray for ourselves (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 I will
hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their
land.” We also need to pray for all Americans and our
political leaders to be saved! “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; who will have all men to be saved, and to
come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
2.
Participate: In Mark 12:17, Jesus said to the religious of his
day, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.”
And the account says, “They marveled at him.” It
is the same reaction today when many Christians are told they should
be involved in the political process and vote. They marvel and say,
Oh! Christians can’t be involved in politics. Remember these
words from a man who was involved at the time our nation was founded?
“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this
great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians: not
on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” You may never
have heard Senator Daniel Webster’s warning: “If we abide
by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on
prospering, but if we neglect it’s instruction and authority,
no man can tell how soon a catastrophe may overcome us, and bury all
our glory in profound obscurity.” According to George
Washington, it is impossible to govern this nation without God and
the Bible. Apply these words to our nation’s current dilemma.
It is time we heed the warning, get back to our spiritual roots and
the truth about religious freedom in America, and participate in the
political process.
3.
Penetrate: Jesus said, “You are the salt of earth…
You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt
gives flavor and preserves. Of late, Christians have not added much
flavor to the culture or done much to preserve the Christian
principles our nation was founded upon. Nor have we done much to shed
the light of Christ’s message of salvation. Jesus came as “the
Savior of the world,” not just Savior of the church.
I do not
know what God has in the future for America. I do know, indisputably,
what His will for Christians is: pray, participate in the political
process, and penetrate the spiritual darkness in our nation with the
salt and light of the Christian faith.
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