Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you will cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.~John Quincy Adams
Showing posts with label Political. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Political. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Vote Today
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wasting a Vote- According to Whom?
There is a common school of thought that upholds the idea that the only vote that should be cast is one for a candidate that has a likelihood (by human reasoning) of winning their associated office. Is the counsel of limiting your vote to the leading candidates based on faithful stewardship or is it placing pragmatism over principle? Let us look to God’s Holy Word for the appropriate response to this question.
When Daniel was given the vision and understanding of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream from the Lord, he praised the One and Only True God. Included in Daniel’s praise was the following verse:
What a freeing thought that those that are set up as civil magistrates are placed there by the Lord Himself. He does not need our human scheming in order to accomplish a particular result. In no way does this justify complacency or a lack of involvement in the political process, but instead points out that the responsibility we have before the Lord does not extend to using the outcome of an election to justify our action. Instead, we are each accountable before Our Heavenly Father to be obedient to what He commands regardless of the outcome. As we consider how we are to vote, our concern should be on submitting our will to the Word of God. For those of us who claim the Name of Christ, we do not have the option to use our vote for political expediency.
There are many who will appropriately extol the virtue of someone who is willing to stand up against the ungodly based on principles and convictions even if that stand leads to being martyred for their faith. Yet, many who praise the courage of the martyrs will then condemn those who cast their ballot based on the same principles and convictions! That condemnation takes the form of raising the accusation that such a vote is wasted if the candidate is unlikely to be elected. Since we are to be advancing the crown rights of Christ on this earth through our obedience to His Word, it appears clear to me that the only votes that are wasted are those that are cast based on fear of men rather than based on a holy fear of the living God!
When Daniel was given the vision and understanding of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream from the Lord, he praised the One and Only True God. Included in Daniel’s praise was the following verse:
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings (Daniel 2:21, KJV)
What a freeing thought that those that are set up as civil magistrates are placed there by the Lord Himself. He does not need our human scheming in order to accomplish a particular result. In no way does this justify complacency or a lack of involvement in the political process, but instead points out that the responsibility we have before the Lord does not extend to using the outcome of an election to justify our action. Instead, we are each accountable before Our Heavenly Father to be obedient to what He commands regardless of the outcome. As we consider how we are to vote, our concern should be on submitting our will to the Word of God. For those of us who claim the Name of Christ, we do not have the option to use our vote for political expediency.
There are many who will appropriately extol the virtue of someone who is willing to stand up against the ungodly based on principles and convictions even if that stand leads to being martyred for their faith. Yet, many who praise the courage of the martyrs will then condemn those who cast their ballot based on the same principles and convictions! That condemnation takes the form of raising the accusation that such a vote is wasted if the candidate is unlikely to be elected. Since we are to be advancing the crown rights of Christ on this earth through our obedience to His Word, it appears clear to me that the only votes that are wasted are those that are cast based on fear of men rather than based on a holy fear of the living God!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Evil of Voting For the Lesser of Two Evils
You have probably heard it posited before (even by those who are well-meaning) that a legitimate use of your vote is to cast it for the lesser of two evils. However, is this counsel based on Biblical principles or is it based on worldly wisdom? In order to get the proper perspective on this issue, we must ask the same question that needs to be asked in any and every situation—namely “What saith the Scriptures?”
As Christians, we are to be continually seeking to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. According to the above verses, our response to evil is to not set it before our eyes, to have a hatred for the deeds that result from it, and to keep those who have it in their hearts far from us. The last part of the verse summarizes how those who love God should view evil—we are to have NOTHING to do with it. As a consequence of this truth, we cannot succumb to the temptation of using our vote to support a candidate that is the lesser of the available evils. If there are no Biblically qualified candidates for the position on which we are voting, then we must not compromise principle and are bound to abstain from using our vote for any of the options that are before us. We will all have to give an account to the Lord Jesus Christ for our actions and if we vote for evil (even if we deem it to be the lesser of the evils under consideration), then we have gone against clear Biblical teaching. Please remember that voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil!
I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil. (Psalm 101:3, 4)
As Christians, we are to be continually seeking to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. According to the above verses, our response to evil is to not set it before our eyes, to have a hatred for the deeds that result from it, and to keep those who have it in their hearts far from us. The last part of the verse summarizes how those who love God should view evil—we are to have NOTHING to do with it. As a consequence of this truth, we cannot succumb to the temptation of using our vote to support a candidate that is the lesser of the available evils. If there are no Biblically qualified candidates for the position on which we are voting, then we must not compromise principle and are bound to abstain from using our vote for any of the options that are before us. We will all have to give an account to the Lord Jesus Christ for our actions and if we vote for evil (even if we deem it to be the lesser of the evils under consideration), then we have gone against clear Biblical teaching. Please remember that voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil!
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