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.