Thursday, November 1, 2018

Calling All Concerned Christians

Here we are again, on the brink of another election. Although we groan at the seemingly endless parade of political commercials, advertisements, yard signs, and mailings that the election brings, it is none-the-less true that we are blessed to live in a time and place where “government of the people, by the people, and for the people” is still the law of the land.  While millions around the world are ruled by repressive monarchs, kings, and shahs, the political power of the United States still rests on the shoulders of her citizens.
Down through America’s history many generations demonstrated an obvious view that God, in His providence, was involved in our national affairs.  This is an important factor in many American distinctives, including:
·       The four references to God in the Declaration of Independence (1776)
·       Multiple statements in the Jefferson Memorial, including: “God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?
·       The proclamation by President Lincoln of a November Thursday as “a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” (1864)
·       References in Lincoln’s Memorial, including: “we here highly resolve that . . . this nation under God . . . shall not perish from the earth
·       The inclusion of “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance (1954)
·       The designation of the national motto, In God We Trust (1956)
Regardless of historical facts, biblical truth is attacked in many political settings. This generates a question that rings across the landscape of faith… “What can a Christian do?”  Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, answered that question in a booklet titled, Your 5 Duties as a Christian Citizen.  Those five duties plainly answer the question: pray, register to vote, become informed, help elect godly candidates, and vote.  
Elections are not a time for Christians to be uniformed and uninvolved.  Rather, Christians must be knowledgeable of the issues and engaged with the political process.  It’s imperative that we examine political parties for their policies, and then support candidates who firmly exhibit a conviction to follow biblical principles, including protection of the unborn, defense of biblical marriage, suppression of illegal drugs, and the preservation of religious liberty.  These are not political issues.  They are biblical and ethical issues with a political overtone, and they cannot be left to the ungodly to decide.  Billy Graham stated his convictions in 1952: “I think it’s the duty of individual Christians at election time to study the issues, to study the candidates, and then go to the polls and vote.”
Psalm 33:12 reminds us, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…”and Proverbs 14:33 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation.”  Certainly, no politician is perfect, and we must not be deceived into voting for or against a candidate based solely upon personality. If righteousness is to be exalted, then Christians must strive to live righteously and vote with righteousness in mind.



   -Dr. Harlie Miller, Associate Pastor

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