Does It Matter Who You Vote For?

    As a church, we are not involved politically. We believe that no church or religious organization should dictate to the government it’s policies and that the government is not to dictate to any church it’s activities. As a pastor, I do not speak out on topics that are solely political in nature, and I have never endorsed a candidate for office or encouraged people to vote for any candidate or in support of any political party.
    But there are issues of morality and Biblical truth that I have to address, in order to be faithful to the Scriptures. Sometimes, the responsibilities of the church and state converge. For example, a few weeks ago we focused on the problem of human trafficking in our weekend services. We believe this is a moral issue that needs to be addressed in the church and we encouraged our congregants to affect government officials to do something about this problem within their sphere of influence. It was the church that took the lead in addressing the moral issue of slavery in the nineteenth century. And there are areas within the political arena today that the Bible addresses, and therefore, we must talk about in the church and be the salt and light in our culture that Jesus has called us to be.
    Few political seasons have had such important Biblical and moral issues up for debate in the political arena. While I have my views regarding foreign and fiscal policy, and many of those views are derived from my understanding of Scripture (i.e. the immorality of unbridled debt, protection of Israel, handouts to those unwilling to work), I do not speak out publicly on these subjects. But there are two issues in the world of politics that I believe address the heart of our nation, issues that the Bible is clear on, and issues that God cares about. Because of that, every Christian should also care about these things.
    When it comes to fiscal policy, overspending, creation of jobs, taxation, and all the rest...these things do matter. I would never deny their importance. But the undergirding of any society has to do with life and death itself, the protection of religious freedom, and the sanctity of the family as the bedrock of society. These things matter far more in the long-range direction of a nation, then anything else addressed in the political arena today.
    For decades, these foundational pillars have been eroding in our society, but never under assault as they are currently. As one evangelical leader recently pointed out, never before has a classic party platform in the American system, adopted Romans chapter one as it’s party platform. But with a wanton desire to destroy the sanctity of marriage, redefining it to include what God calls an abomination, along with a wholesale disregard for human life in unlimited abortion, even to the moment of live delivery, now adopted as fundamental beliefs of a major political party. These are indicators of an inability to distinguish between good and evil. Since Romans 13 says that the purpose of government is to protect good people from evildoers, I have to wonder how politicians who cannot tell the difference between good and evil can do that. And the follow-up question is, how can followers of Jesus support, promote, or even endorse in a voting booth, a candidate who calls good, “evil” and evil, “good.” Regardless of one’s foreign policy or fiscal views, can we with consciences shaped by God’s Word, vote for candidates who are pro-abortion and endorsing gay marriage?
    I am one who believes that America’s greatness lies chiefly with the blessing of God. We were born in an attempt to find freedom for worship. We became a nation in the midst of a Christian revival. We were built upon the Protestant work ethic, derived from the Bible. With all of our flaws, we have fought for morality, for decency, and for freedom. God has blessed us as principles in his Word have been implemented, our Bill of Rights derived from them.
    But will God bless a wanton disregard of his revealed principles for life, freedom of worship, and family. As we fail to protect the most innocent among us from gruesome abortion practices, celebrate the immorality of unnatural unions (while closing down Christian adoption agencies that place children only with married heterosexual couples), and force religious organizations to violate their Biblically induced principles to follow abortion mandates by the state, will that blessing continue?
    Creating jobs is a big deal for whoever is in power this next time around. But in my mind, it does not compare to these major moral issues of our day. When it comes to these things, the Bible tells us what matters to God. Then we have to ask, what matters to you?