Are you feeling sick of all things “political” by now? I remember how I would typically get feeling about Christmas by the middle of November …you know, after getting bombarded with holiday gift commercials starting in August. It was like; let’s get this holiday over with already.
Many Christians feel that way about the election and some have already given up on the whole thing feeling they know the outcome in advance, but I’m not ready to quit, I’m ready to pray and vote.
Please keep the main thing the main thing through all of this! Please ignore the liberal news media get alone with your Maker to fast and talk it over. It really is a tight race and there is indeed room for hope.
Why should we refuse to quit? Why should keep ourselves from getting too busy for time alone with Christ? I'll tell you why. We really don't want to lose the fruit of love. And we don’t quit obeying the Lord, because we want to try our best to hand the next generation and Christians the best America we can ..so it will be better for them and easier for Christians to spread the Gospel, rather than harder for them. Trying to reform sinners is a waste of time, and no one needs a worse hood to survive and function in!
Maybe you are wondering if there are any verses that deal with politics and nationalism. There are some. I remember reading how Jesus said to some religionists (who were out to trap Him) of His day, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
God expects us citizens to wisely get involved. You know how God created the world “good” and how His intention was and is that human beings should rule it in a good way accordingly (see Gen. 1:26, 28).
In the Old Testament the Israelites were commanded not to rule "ruthlessly" but instead they were to manage things and walk in the "fear God" (see Lev. 25:43). Proverbs 1:7 states that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." So to the extent that the Lord’s image-bearers follow Christ and rule this earth under God’s absolute authority, truth, and wise counsel, will they actually respectively fulfill their own human-task. Part of fulfilling our respective callings individually as Christians, will include wise voting and evangelizing. Praise God we are still legally allowed to do both! That could change.
But it would be great if all politicians were really in Christ, committed, and others-orientated rather than selfish huh. I still think more able believers with His heart, should run for office here in
There seems to be so much passion and excitement on both sides of the ticket this time around. I missed it the other night, but did find it interesting how Sarah Palin was such a hit on "Saturday Night Live." How did NBC get their highest ratings for that late-night comedy show in 14 years with her on there, with an estimated 14 million viewers, and 17 million for the first half-hour? How did she so radically beat Obama in viewer-ship on SNL? I wonder how Obama’s stadium-filling charisma and the straightforward charming Palin-factor will affect the future outcome of this election? Did you hear that recent quote given to a guy named Joe...
"I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody." —Obama
That revealing socialistic line of thought got poor old Joe the plumber—the nation's “every man” who has now become the nation’s football to kick around—in some hot water. Some ask why Joe wasn't vetted, but I wonder why William Aires is never check out by the media? Maybe Joe will think twice next time when he decides to simply go out into his yard to toss a football to his son. Man my heart goes out to the Wurzelbacker family. There’s so much candidate-talk about creating new jobs, but Joe’s business has effectively been shut down and he wasn’t even the one going out to look for trouble.
I personally still wish we had a third and better candidate running, but it is really a no-brainer to me who would be better for this nation and who I will vote for. I won’t tell. Maybe you feel the same way.
And I certainly won't tell anyone who to vote for, but all Christians need to be interceding about now. We need to keep our eyes open and not give up the good fight of faith. We need to also keep first things first! We all need to get off our pews and show up at the poles in Jesus’ Name — yes, not do that according to our feelings or according to what others ..or the media are pushing for.
Let’s glorify God in our wide-eye-observations and thinking. Listen to both sides closely and discern! Senator Obama just presented his customized economic plan on Monday, which includes initiatives to:
—help people who remain in homes they can't afford
—impose a 90-day ban on foreclosures
—bailout states and localities awash in budget deficits
—create a new federal lending entity
—reduce health-care costs by having government invest (read: spend tax-dollars) for "preventive care, new technology" and increased access to providers
—government "investment" (read: spending) for new teachers, college tuition, and "green jobs"
—payments of $3,000 to businesses for each new job created
And all this is added to Obama's "tax cut" goal – which is in truth a huge new welfare program that will cut checks to 95% of Americans …even though one-third of Americans do not pay any taxes at all (but I bet they'll indeed be willing to receive a check from Mr. Obama). Obama thinks that when we "spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody" but is that really fair and just?
What do you think about McCain’s thoughts as of late for growing our economy—like tax cuts on income, capital-gains, dividends as well as serious-minded reform in a sideways
Here Are
1. Decide to be saved by Jesus; get spiritual and pray often in the Holy Spirit. I know that might sound way religious, but its right and you would do well to even fast and pray with your church ..as God leads you. The apostle Paul basically instructed all his readers to hit their knees for all people in positions of authority (1Tim. 2:1-4). Prayer is to be an important aspect of political activism for Christians. Do you remember how William Wilberforce and his friends (later known as the Clapham Set) were all as committed to praying for social change as they were to engaging with government.
2. Get informed, but not with half-truths. Effective prayer always needs to be well informed prayer. In order to keep abreast with the issues in your local community, society, nation and the world, be well read from the accurate sources online.
3. Do wake up and go vote! Jesus rose from the dead, so put feet to you faith and get out of bed! President Josiah Bartlet, the fictional President from that TV show called The West Wing, said "Decisions are made by those who show up." Democracy to a certain degree, gives people a stake in power and responsibility. So use your vote and use it wisely.
4. No matter what happens in the future, purpose to keep things in proper perspective. Remain more concerned with who will end up in God’s house, than who will end up in the Whitehouse ..starting with yourself, family and neighbors. Stay in fellowship first upwards and then outwards ..submitting to authority short of sin. And continue to love Christ and His cross above all else!
Do you love the cross of Jesus Christ? Do you have a relationship with the Jesus of the Bible? I sure do and am loving it! You can too right now! That is most important!
The cross address' man's pride about any good works he might do. It is the very focal point; the very intersection for all the years of history past and also for all the years still left before us (if there are still some years left before us in the future; look around you, Christ will indeed return soon). True Christians tend to differ on a lot of minor grey area non-essential things, but the cross is the very hub from which all the spokes of true Christendom actually stem from. All Christians can and must unify around the Christ who hung on that cross and around Essential Christian doctrine …and around nothing else. We must never divide over non-essential issues!
We must never add to the Word or to the cross. We don't take away from them either. We don't elevate the flag above the cross or superimpose the cross onto any nations flag ..like they are somehow synonymous or equal in importance. To be born under the American flag does not mean that one is a Christian at all.
The cross is the beautiful centerpiece of our faith (I’m not talking about jewelry here..), and the means by which God's forgiveness comes free of charge if we are willing to repent and believe. It's in the cross that we glory, rather than in any weak religion or in anything else this world has to offer ..no matter how glitzy or popular it might be. Remember, Jesus is the greatest Leader and He is the One this nation needs most during this critical hour.
And during this season, it is so easy for any of us to become distracted and turn our eyes away ..being drawn to secondary lesser things such as political maneuvering and bureaucratic advantage. Sure we all need to vote, but in the final analysis, we also need to have a clear view of how important know Christ is. Dying to self, the cross and following Jesus is what really matters. The cross is God the Father’s priority today! God the Father thinks the cross is radically important! God is not a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent American.
Redemption rather than political reformation is the Father’s top priority. So many here have lost all confidence in God’s strong ability to save Americans through the finished work of the cross, but that must change! Besides, democracy won’t even work here or anywhere if the hearts of men are wrong. Christ must be ruling the citizens from within ..living big in each one of them for democracy to work well on earth!
Who will we follow in our day? I’m so grateful Jesus didn’t say, “Follow my people.” No, He said “Follow Me” (Matt. 4:19).
Who will we follow? Some ask: Is God on
