We are carefully dipping our proverbial toes into the boiling waters of Social Justice in this new series. We have several goals in this current work that bear a bit of explanation.
The first is that there is so much heat and angst that people are talking past each other. We believe within the Christian circles related to this whole thing that there is common ground. The problem is that we are possibly too quick to talk and fight, that we don’t hear. So we have spent an inordinate amount of time listening, and reading, and listening, and reading….
The second is that there are critical points of truth that simply cannot be brushed aside, yet they are. Key doctrines are being enlarged and redefined to allow for various secular models for society, morality, and living to flourish in the Church.
Examples would be doctrines related to justice, mercy, poverty, gospel, humanity, sin, unity, mission.
We would look at the historical tendency of the American church to embrace the greater culture it is in as a key problem that is seldom addressed and therefore resolved.
Example of this is how the visible church in many parts of the nation encouraged an unbiblical view of segregation and dehumanizing of blacks. This did not arise from the bible, but the greater culture. We reject that without any qualms.
We would argue that the new paradigm that so many are pushing upon the people of God in America is just a different wrapping of the same type of thinking. Now it is cultural Marxism and intersectionality. These are not biblical ideas either. They are borne out of a false narrative and false foundation; just like Jim Crow laws and the KKK.
The Church as a whole must come to grips with whether she believes Romans 12:1-2 or not. Until the corporate Church does this, individual believers must ask themselves if they are being conformed to the thinking of this evil and fallen age, or are they being transformed by the Word of God via the renewing of the mind?
In addition, we have a lot of listeners who are not part of the United States, and we want to help clarify what they are hearing on the various news outlets throughout the world.
We both travel extensively and are fully aware of the horrid messaging about the United States that exists outside our borders. We hope to help people who are not in our cultural and national context to think about how these events may affect them in theirs.
We would argue that, though the outward form is perhaps somewhat unique to America or Western Civilization, the roots are seen in every system of society throughout the world.
So with these introductory thoughts we want to talk briefly about the nature of elections and voting.
In the last episode we dealt with the Christian and politics.
The challenge is how do we engage the political system as Christians?
We talked about four different ways that we can and should be involved politically:
- We should pray for those in authority.
- We should submit to governing authorities.
- We should seek to be an influence.
- We should not put our hopes in politics.
The ultimate point, though, is how important it is that we never forget that Jesus is Lord over all.
If we forget that Jesus is Lord, not just of us, but over all of creation, culture, and the church, then it will affect how we approach this life.
In fact, we would argue that when we remember the Lordship of Jesus, it actually emboldens us with the gospel. And part of that gospel is that Jesus is Lord, and in Him all things shall be made right.
Moreover, this is why the Great Commision begins with… “and all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth…”
It is not until after He establishes that point that He then says, "Go, therefore..."
There is a natural corollary to Jesus as Lord—and that is that we are called to follow Him as Lord.
As we think of the Lordship of Christ we need to think about it in the realm of politics and voting. And if we are going to do this we need to see the grid work through which we are to make our decisions.
Matthew 28:19—teaching those who wish to be Jesus’ disciples to obey all that He commanded them. So what commands of God affect how we vote?
John 8:31—only those who abide/remain in the Word shall be truly His disciples. Does our method and rationale in voting reflect an abiding in the Word.
2 John 1:9—John says that if we do not remain in Christ’s teachings, then we do not have God.
Psalm 119:9--- "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word."
Psalm 119:11--- "Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You."
Psalm 119:105--- "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path."
What is the point? It is simply this: that if we are going to be wise voters - voters consistent with our Lord - we must have the bible inform us on how to vote.
We are consistently alarmed at how many professing Christians will allow non-Christians, and even apostates, to inform them on lifestyle and decisions such as how one should vote.
A simple example is how Christians often commit because they have an inordinate love of money. The result is that they will vote out of greed and covetousness and envy. This is a great evil.
We want to consider those things that seem to be non-negotiables for any Christian who desires to obey Jesus and His Word.
The Non-Negotiables in Voting
Proverbs 6:16-19 “There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.”
- Pride -
Humility needs to be a major point of examination when considering a candidate.
We should take care to not confuse pride with confidence and leadership.
- Liar -
Truth is paramount to any form of justice.
If the candidate is given to lies then he will be an unjust leader.
- Shedding innocent blood -
This is a huge one in our nation today. It comes under various forms, but it is still murder. Consider the evils of abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, and assisted suicide.
This is a huge sin of our nation, and we participate in it when we vote for a candidate who supports it via laws and policy.
- Wicked plans -
This is a hard one to see at first, and requires that we pay close attention to the history of those who run for office. What kind of a person has this person been?
Question: What are ways that wicked plans are devised by our politicians? [We see wicked plans all the time in the types of curriculum for schools, health policies, homosexual agendas, money being used to support “art.”]
- Tendency to evil -
Again this is a hard one to see at first and requires careful examination of the person before you vote.
There is always the reality of change that might take place in a person’s life, and you should seek to take note of that. What you must be aware of is if this is a person who consistently chooses evil over good.
- A false witness -
More than a liar. This speaks of formal testimony in an official sense. They take an oath of truthfulness and lie. What makes this such a great sin is that it perverts the way of justice.
- A factious person -
There are those who are peace-makers, and those who are not.
It is one thing to stand for your principles, and another thing to purposely create a wedge between people. We see this commonly done in race politics. The candidate tries to pit one race against another for the sake of votes.
This is often done through Ad hominem attacks–where the person is the basis of your attack rather than their beliefs or policies.
When you are thinking about voting it is not just a few issues that should sway you.
You should seek to vote for the one who best represents you because that is what you are saying when you vote for a person. You believe that they will best represent your views and standards.
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So what does it say about you if you claim Christ, but you vote for a person whose life is known for those things God’s abhors?
This same idea is present when you consider supporting any movements that take place. A simple example would be the BLM movement. Does that movement represent you and your faith?
But this is something that we will develop in future episodes.