The Vote
I'm not a very political person but I am a regular voter who views this country's right to vote as a responsibility that every American should take seriously. I have a hard time grasping why people choose not to vote but can understand to some extent that they see it as a right, such as the right to bear arms, or the right to free speech, and they choose not to exercise their right to vote just as they choose not to carry a gun (or own one) or choose not to speak out in expression of their views and opinions in a forum that might not be acceptable to others. I really struggle with people who don't vote because they just don't see the point or just don't care. This country was founded on principles and basics that are important and which were valued by our founding fathers who were given insight and divine revelation in the formation of the laws that govern us. Therefore, voting for those in authority who will make decisions for us as a nation is an intricate and important part of how our country continues to operate in some semblance of those founding principles and basics, and is more than just a right. It really is our responsibility as Americans - and more importantly - as followers of Jesus. Our decision to vote directly reflects our heart toward God.
Romans 13:1-2 (The Message) says: Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it's God's order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you're irresponsible to the state, then you're irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. This passage is typically (and rightfully) taught to express the need to obey the government (which is what most translations say) because in obeying the government we are obeying God. But it has always stuck in my heart and mind as a passage that reveals an aspect of God's sovereignty that most people miss or don't consider - He has established the governments of our world and He is the one who has established peace and order - if it exists. There are many times in the Bible where we see God put His people under the power of specific rulers to accomplish His specific purposes. Sometimes the purpose was so that when He delivered His people from these rulers He would receive much glory and honor. Other times it was because His people had turned away from Him and the oppression they would receive under those who ruled them would turn their hearts back to Him. There were times when they were led by fair, just and godly rulers and were blessed greatly, with much glory and honor being given to God. But no matter what earthly authority was over them, what God desired and commanded was obedience to Him. II Chronicles 20:6 (NIV) says: O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. And Proverbs 21:1 (The Message) says: Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.
So, if God is the one who establishes authority over us and He rules, and He controls the hearts of leadership, what does our vote matter in America on November 4, 2008? Our vote matters not necessarily because it may determine the outcome of the election - but it matters because it will reflect our heart toward God and He will determine the outcome of the election based upon the hearts of the people in our nation and His plans for this nation. I know that even if more people vote His heart, we may not end up with an election outcome that appears to be what we think it should be since He may have a plan to use the elected government to accomplish things we can't even imagine in ways we can't even imagine. But voting is being responsible to the government placed over us by God, demonstrating that we value the system He has placed us under, and demonstrating that we care about what matters to Him.
I have to stop and catch my breath when I think of what I perceive as the hearts of Americans toward God. Even the hearts of many believers toward God will lead them to vote in ways that are completely contrary to His own heart toward mankind and His kingdom. I've been engaged in many political conversations this election year - more than ever before. And I can think of only a couple of times that the heart of God was the driving force behind the opinions and voting choice of the people involved in the conversation. Sometimes the conversation was about the economy and how the vote would effect our jobs and pocketbooks and businesses and taxes and ability to buy homes or put our kids through college. Sometimes the conversation was about social issues and the rights that all people should have to live and express themselves in their individuality without being judged by others. Sometimes the conversation was about a particular candidate's wardrobe, personal fashion advisor, hairstyle, race, gender, age, spouse or supporters. Sometimes the conversation was about abortion, health care, welfare, social security and retirement. Sometimes the conversation was about the war in Iraq, the oil crisis, foreign policy and national security. Every person seems to have one or two issues that are most important to them and that will determine which side they vote with on election day. And then there are those who choose to vote as if they were choosing menu items for a party - they vote in a particular way just to bring some 'variety' and 'shake things up a bit' because they are ready for something and someone new to be in the news. Not many expressed that their vote would be cast based upon the candidates and political parties who most closely align with the heart of God.
My heart tells me that the heart of God is reflected in His word - and not on the front page of the daily newspaper, the home page for our favorite online news source, the rhetoric of political platforms, the debates on the various cable news channels and talk-radio stations, the outspoken celebrities, or in the public opinion polls. God's heart is revealed clearly in His word on ALL of the issues. Each issue is addressed by our walking in obedience to His commands and each issue has become an issue because, for the most part, we have not walked in obedience as a nation. How could we when our nation is no longer God-fearing, believing and honoring and when the vast majority of Americans do not know how to walk in obedience because they don't know Him or His word and don't want to know?
I keep thinking of the Seven Deadly Sins as I type this. The sins of greed and envy have created much of the economic crisis - wanting more and more and more because we see someone else has more and then cutting corners and compromising ethics and morals and family and community values to get it. The sin of lust has directly brought us to a place of sexual immorality being the prevalent topic of most of what is on television and in the movies and on the shelves at the library, leading to destruction of marriage and family, abortion, perversions of all kinds. Gluttony, laziness and anger have created a nation of people in poor health and poverty - physically, mentally and emotionally - which means more need for health care, rising health care costs, more dependency on medications, adding to the homeless problem and crimes of all kinds. And the sin of pride has caused us to foolishly believe we can stand alone and that others should do the same, leaving us exactly there - alone, without help and support when we need it, isolated from family and friends who can walk with us in our struggles, help us in our time of need, and care for us in our sickness and old age.
Billy Graham expressed it so beautifully when he recently prayed on a Paul Harvey radio broadcast: 'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!'
All of us, including ME, have walked in these seven sins in some way, demonstrating disobedience and a cavalier attitude toward the heart of God - whether we know it or not, admit it or not, or care or not. I also know that many times we live under the direct effects of other people's disobedience and are facing consequences as a result of their sins. It is a vicious cycle and an obvious scheme of the enemy to destroy and defeat lives in every way possible. And at election time, it is the enemy's scheme to keep us looking at the problems and issues rather than at the root cause, because he knows that the more we try to fix things apart from walking in obedience to God, the more problems and issues we will create. But God is sovereign and He has a plan. And I am confident that His plans are best and that He will carry them out in His time, and that He can and will use our sinful disobedience and messy situations to accomplish His plans. I want to walk in obedience so that I can be a positive influence for His glory and a willing and active participant in His plans. I am praying like Rev. Graham and long for our nation to know the true and complete freedom that comes in relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
I have felt Spirit's urging in a great way this year with regard to voting Father's heart and walking in obedience as my blessed Lord Jesus did. That means that my political thoughts about the issues at hand for this nation always lead to the necessity for people to not only vote, but to seek out the heart of God and vote His way along with continued prayer for His will to be done and for our nation to return to Him. Only when our nation cares about what matters to God will we see the change we all long to see. I am praying that His heart will compel America to turn to Him. Will you pray with me in these days leading up to Election Day? Will you examine your stand on the issues and ask Him what really matters to Him? And will you choose to vote as a reflection of your heart toward Him? I think if you do - if I do - if we all do - we will see great things happen for His kingdom purposes and that's what really matters - His kingdom purposes - not America's needs, issues, and plans and certainly not my own personal needs, issues and plans.
Praying,
Amy
Psalm 2 (The Message) Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth-leaders push for position,
Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers:
"Let's get free of God!
Cast loose from Messiah!"
Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing.
At first he's amused at their presumption;
Then he gets good and angry.
Furiously, he shuts them up:
"Don't you know there's a King in Zion? A coronation banquet
Is spread for him on the holy summit."
Let me tell you what God said next.
He said, "You're my son,
And today is your birthday.
What do you want? Name it:
Nations as a present? continents as a prize?
You can command them all to dance for you,
Or throw them out with tomorrow's trash."
So, rebel-kings, use your heads;
Upstart-judges, learn your lesson:
Worship God in adoring embrace,
Celebrate in trembling awe. Kiss Messiah!
Your very lives are in danger, you know;
His anger is about to explode,
But if you make a run for God—you won't regret it!
Earth-leaders push for position,
Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers:
"Let's get free of God!
Cast loose from Messiah!"
Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing.
At first he's amused at their presumption;
Then he gets good and angry.
Furiously, he shuts them up:
"Don't you know there's a King in Zion? A coronation banquet
Is spread for him on the holy summit."
Let me tell you what God said next.
He said, "You're my son,
And today is your birthday.
What do you want? Name it:
Nations as a present? continents as a prize?
You can command them all to dance for you,
Or throw them out with tomorrow's trash."
So, rebel-kings, use your heads;
Upstart-judges, learn your lesson:
Worship God in adoring embrace,
Celebrate in trembling awe. Kiss Messiah!
Your very lives are in danger, you know;
His anger is about to explode,
But if you make a run for God—you won't regret it!
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