I Cast My Vote - For Who?

Introduction

Our nation- experiencing serious difficulties- affecting everyone of us- gas prices, investment losses, etc.

There is much anxiety in the hearts of people over the economy and how it will affect them personally.

What does- Bible counsel us to do- Phil 4:6-7 NASU-

Php 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. NLT

Jesus made an interesting statement 2000 years ago …

Lk 12:54-56

Of all people’s on the earth- Christians should be able to understand the times in which we live.

It is easy to allow others to tell us what to think- but-

what does the Bible say to us about these days?

what is- Spirit of God speaking to our hearts?

Presidential elections- getting much media attention.

There are 13 people on ballot running for President.

I want to answer the question …

How should Christians vote?

If you came to- pastor for counsel- personal problems,

they would look to- Bible- identify the problem.

If you came with family problems, they would take the same Bible to identify your problems.

If a pastor came to us- problems in his church, we would take the same Bible to identify the problems

In each case- take the same book to solve the problem.

What if there are problems in our country/culture?

Unfortunately, to answer these problems, many people, including Christians, change books.

Many problems we have in our nation/culture is because we have changed books.

What I want to do is establish the framework from which we make our decision of who to vote for.

Christian Framework

Rom 13:1-3

We cannot discuss politics or Obama, McCain, Biden, or Palin, without bringing God into the discussion.

God is to be an essential part of government because it is a divine institution- He established it.

Psa 103:19 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all. NASU

Dan 2:21 "It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings … NASU

Psa 22:28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s

And He rules over the nations. NASU

The world is already a theocracy.

Theocracy- theos- God, kratos- to rule, or God rules.

Opposed to homocracy- homo- man, man rules.

Question- not whether God rules- how does He rule?

Rom 13:1-2

There is only one governing authority, God, under which there are many governing authorities.

Every government must recognize its boundaries and that it answers to- one governing authority- God.

There is a danger when leaders try to turn government into something beyond what God intended.

Mtt 23:9 "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. NASU

Call no man your Father or- no one your source.

Government should not become the entity to which we look to provide our every need.

Act 12:21-23 death of Herod

Only God can meet every need that man has.

Four Levels of Government

God has broken government into four levels …

1. Self-government

This is the most important level of government.

When citizens govern themselves then they do not need everybody else governing them.

Every man will give an account to God for theirselves

2. Family Government

Families have a specific jurisdiction.

Parents- over children, husbands over their wives.

The family has specific structure established by God.

3. Church Government

God establishes leaders to guide the people.

4. Civil Government

As we saw in Romans, God established government.

As Christians we should vote for the …

person, platform, and party, that

best represents the values of God’s Kingdom.

This will determine how God relates to our country.

Goal of government- reflect or mirror the rule of God.

Does not matter who you elect- but if they go against God, God will judge the nation accordingly.

The Government and Righteousness

Pro 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation,

But sin is a disgrace to any people. NASU

Righteousness- doing right, keeping the commands of God, conforming our heart to God’s heart.

In beliefs, God wants us to think like He thinks …

In actions, God wants us to act according to His Word

Isa 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. NASU

Exalt- to rise up, to be set on high.

As individuals- if make right choices God will lift up.

As nation- if make right choices God will lift up.

Rom 13:3-4

Government- keep evil in check so good can flourish.

How will the government know what is good/evil?

God told Adam/Eve …

Gen 2:16-17

Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil- man determining for himself what is good/evil.

Man cannot make that distinction w/natural mind.

God wants man to live by what He says about a situation, not by what man feels about the situation