If you haven’t seen or heard what is going on in the world of politics, you must be living under some kind of a rock. Even if you don’t vote, I would think with social media and the times we live in, most know that this has been a crazy year. It has been said many times over and over again throughout history that “religion and politics don’t mix.” In my personal view when it comes to my political views I do take into consideration that I am a Christian.
I have been staying off of Facebook more than I normally do. I try to stay current on what is going on. When it comes to the hatred and false information being shared from both sides, it is giving me a headache. This year politically and faith wise has been different for me. We live in a world that is filled with immoral, idolatrous and a corrupt government. There has also been more civil disobedience and lawlessness in the past few years.
I have no doubt that we have a responsibility to obey the laws of the land and our government. We can turn to Romans 13:1-8 where Paul tells us that is the government’s responsibility to rule in authority over us such as collecting taxes and keeping the peace.
- Romans 13:1-8; Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
We live in a country where we have free speech and we can vote for our leaders. I believe that each person that chooses to vote should be voting for those who stand close to what our views are. When I consider who it is that I would vote for, I am taking many things into consideration. I don’t vote for a party, I vote for the person. I am having a harder time with sorting things out this year. I’m not into the whole, “lesser of two evils”. When I consider what evil is, there is no good or bad. Evil is evil ! Some may disagree with me, but it isn’t the politicians job to defend and guard Christian principles. It is a huge plus when we can have a Christian leader that has Christian morals and principles.
They can say all day long that they are living a godly life, but I have serious doubts on that. I can’t judge a person who says they are Christian like God can. The only thing I can go on is by their actions, words and how they live their lives. As I watch the politicians, government officials, the media and church leaders it demonstrates how far we have come from our nation being a country founded on Christian principles.
As I pray and have discussions with God throughout the day all I can say is that politicians and the leaders of this world are not Jesus Christ who is the Savior of the World. My hope is in Jesus Christ and only Christ is the salvation for mankind. God knew that we needed to be saved. God showed the world that redemption cannot happen by mankind or the politics of this world. I have a great deal of peace and hope that we can only be accomplished through Jesus Christ.
Christians throughout time have lived under a tremendous amount of stress and pagan governments. During my prayers and listening to what is going on in our own presidential races, it is clear to me that believers in Christ are under an immense amount of stress. While I ponder who I will or won’t vote for, I will be praying for our country and our leaders. Whether this is a write-in kind of year, none of the above or a specific person, I will do that in a prayerful way.
My prayer is that when I cast my ballot that I will vote for the one who best aligns with my faith and beliefs. I’m not into this whole bickering and back biting. I don’t listen to satire sites and I fact check everything. I have also found that 90 percent of the things on the internet and on social media are mere distractions and half-truths. I have made it a point to not share my political views on social media since there are those who are willing to attack, unfriend and behave in violent manners. It is shocking to see those who profess to be Christian can be filled with a great deal of hate. It is like a road rage kind of atmosphere on social media. Thankfully that isn’t everyone, but there are some scary people out there.
I have a friend on Facebook that is a Christian and he has made a few comments about how he can’t believe people would vote for a person who would talk about women, Mexicans, Putin and a number of other things. The anger and backlash he received from those who say they are Christian is nothing short of what it would have been like to live during the Salem Witch Hunt. Nobody deserves to be treated the way he was treated. It isn’t just him, it is happening to people all over the place. People don’t need to be hateful and have a lynch mob mentality just because a person doesn’t agree.
I just want to say that it seems as if we are relying more on what is being put out by the media and the internet when it comes to who we stand up for and stand behind. In our country, we have the ability if we choose to make our opinions known by voting for our choice. I wonder what America would be like if every Christian prayed for God’s guidance and voted for their conscience?
My one vote won’t change anything, but I know I will be praying for God direct my vote and I will be praying for our leaders and our country.
- I Timothy 2:1-3 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior…”
God is sovereign over everything that happens to us.
“…love the Lord your God with all [our] heart and with all [our] soul and with all [our] mind and with all [our] strength.” When we live this way, we have nothing to fear from man at all, not even the entity we call ‘government’. And we for sure don’t have anything to worry about when it comes to the media and social media sites such as Facebook.
I want to add just one more thing about voting. There are many who have said that Christians have a moral obligation to get involved in politics and to vote. I have many friends and family members who don’t vote. They have their own reasons and I respect them for that. I actually try my best to respect each person because they can vote for who they like, even if I don’t agree. When it comes to getting involved in politics and voting the Bible tells us that as Christians we have a moral obligation to obey the law, but it never tells us that we have a so-called moral obligation to become involved in politics or to vote.
Then there are those who say that as humans we have a responsibility. We can’t just sit there and let our world go to hell in a hand basket. “What about our human responsibility?” they insist that we must go vote because it is our responsibility to vote and campaign for a particular candidate, even if that means we don’t like him/her very much. I think when they say it is our moral and human responsibility that it is a kind of calling someone out.
I just want to say that who ever you vote for, vote for the person you can best align with. I will vote for my conscience and I will vote for the person who stands closest to my beliefs and my faith. I am praying that Christ comes soon and that this whole election won’t happen. Instead of beaming me up Scotti, I am saying to “beam me up Jesus.” If a person doesn’t want to vote, that is their business. I don’t plan on harping on them or belittling anyone for their choice. Now, I will say, if someone doesn’t vote or doesn’t get involved in whatever activity they are grumbling over, then I don’t think they should have a right to grumble. But, that’s just me.
In closing I just want to say that I feel that as a Christian my obligation and responsibility is to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). If we really believe this, then we should be doing more for Christ. Just think about how different our world would be if we took our faith and sharing the Gospel as serious as some politicians do. We are spending a huge amount of money, time, resources and laboring without fail. They are fully devoted to their politician or government leader just so they can get elected. I just wonder if we put that much into sharing the Gospel with others would make our lives and world better. I guess that isn’t in Satan’s plan and he is trying to get people to fight over things that divide instead of unite.
Senseless Ramblings of the Mindless 