November 4, 2012
Romans 13:1-7
I’m looking forward to Wednesday . . . I think! I think, I hope the election is over. Hopefully there are no hanging chads, no uncounted votes, nothing to stop us from moving forward. There will be no more ads, no more smattering of ranting facebook opinions, and the robocalls. By the end of Tuesday, it’s estimated, one billion dollars will have been spent on advertising. As we take our yard signs down and recycle the piles of campaign literature, we might wonder: “Now what?”
In the end, a little over 50% of the country will be happy and a little under 50% of the country will not be happy. It just remains to be seen which half is which. This covers all of the elections, from national to state, county and local races.
In truth, the election is a distraction from what we are really supposed to be doing. Whether it’s an aggravating distraction or a pleasant one, whether it’s a hopeful use of time or one that makes us angry, the end of the election season returns us to our everyday lives.
Debbie and I were talking a few days ago about the flyers we’ve received in the mail about the election. She said we should probably look them over to see what the people stand for. I looked at each flyer and concluded it wasn’t worth it. Why? Not one piece of mail described what the candidates stood for, every flyer was negative advertisement about their opponent — telling me why I shouldn’t vote for this person or that person.
In all fairness, in the past couple of days, we have received a flyers and automated telephone calls telling us to vote for a certain party or certain individuals.
So, what should we do? How should we vote? I have my very specific ideas and beliefs, but I won’t tell you who to vote for, frankly, it’s illegal to tell you. It goes against the separation of church and state.
Should we vote for a Christian for each and every office? Not necessarily! WHAT, don’t vote for a Christian?!?! Well, it depends. What if you’re more liberal in your beliefs? Are you really going to vote for a George Bush? Or if you’re more conservative in your faith and ideology . . . are you going to vote for a Bill Clinton? Both Presidents attended Christian churches. So, what do you do?
I even listened to a very respected preacher talk about President Obama and Governor Romney; and he claimed neither was a Christian. I’m not touching that one with a 30 foot pole! Now what do you do?
So, how do we vote? What criteria do we use? Well, let me read a passage from Romans 13. It does not address the issue of voting, actually, I don’t believe there are scriptures which speak about voting, partly since they didn’t vote! This passage does speak to us about politics and those in political office.
1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.
7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
As you can see, in short, Paul’s reminding us to respect and to honor those who are in government positions. We are to submit to those government authorities, because, as Paul, explains they have been established by God. So, if you rebel against the government, you are rebelling against God. Now, that’s a pretty sobering picture for us. It does not mean we should just sit back and not be an advocate for change or seek to do what is right.
It means there is an authority above us, but below God. Ultimately, those who are in authority will have to answer to God for their actions or inactions. In the end, Paul reminds us in verse 5, not only do we to submit to government authorities because it is the right thing to do, but we do it because of our conscience. We do it because we submit to God and trust that God’s plan is the right plan, whether we understand it, like it or don’t like it.
So, Pastor, I’m still not sure who to vote for?
I’m not going to belabor the point, but this is what I would base my decisions on. Firstly, our natural tendency is to ask what’s best for me, not what’s best for our country. Because there are times when the president, or local leaders will make decisions which are good for the whole, but are not good for the one. You know what I mean? It happens, we don’t like it, many of you have seen situations at work, where some change created more work or more stress for you, but it was a good move for the institution.
I believe the two best questions we can ask are these ~
Which candidate would bring the greatest honor and glory to God if they were elected?
Going along with that question will be a scripture passage. It comes from Micah 6:8. I believe this passage is a good criteria and maybe guide for us as we consider who to vote for. The people of Israel were being oppressed because they had fallen away from God. They were being attacked by the Assyrians, but God didn’t want the people to fall further away from Him, so He gave these words to the people of Judah, and I believe God gives these words to us as well.
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8
Now, that would be good criteria for anyone running for political office. We want that person to act justly, and we can define that in many ways. But we want fairness, equity, equality, justice. We always appreciate it and respect a person who acts with respect for others.
Secondly, do they love mercy? Is there a considerate and compassionate heart that they demonstrate which really seems sincere? I know most candidates, especially at the state and national levels are hard to know on a personal basis, but what’s your gut tell you about them? Maybe it’s to call on your spirit to help you discern what you believe about this person is shown in the areas of mercy.
Finally, do they walk humbly with God? Now, I’m going to play on this for a moment. I intentionally said this wrong! Most of you didn’t notice it, and it’s not a matter of semantics. I believe it is very intentional the way God worded this verse.
Lots of people can walk humbly with God? There are many gods out there, but there is only one God. Notice that the Lord said, do they walk humbly with YOUR God?
Which leads me to ask . . . “who is your God?” Is your God just any god, a generic god who is impotent and harmless; or is your God the Almighty God, the King of kings and Lord of lords? Is your God the everlasting and eternal God; who is filled with love, grace and power? Is He the One who sought to redeem the world the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus, the Christ?
If you confess faith in this God, then I would ask you to also look at the candidates and seek to find the one who will bring the most honor and glory to your God and mine, Jesus Christ.
Finally, we realize this election is focused on hope. The rhetoric among the parties is about who will raise America out of the recession, who will create new jobs, who will change the trajectory of our nation in the world at large.
As Christians we need to VOTE WITH(OUT) HOPE. Don’t place your hope in any one person. Ultimately, whoever wins will not deliver on every promise. Neither candidate will be able to accomplish everything they intend. And in four years, we will probably be using the rhetoric of hope once again to nominate new presidential candidates.
Yet, at the same time, we should VOTE WITH HOPE. That’s because we believe in a God who is sovereign over the president and Congress and supreme over the Supreme Court. We have a God who knows the heart, spirit and mind of each candidate, local, state and national. God knows - - - even when we don’t!
So, Proverbs 21:1 reminds that The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD. That’s a great promise! God is in control. Remember Romans 13:1 tells us “there is no authority except that which God has established.” God will not be surprised at who wins the election. We might, but He won’t.
No matter who wins — whether “your candidate” wins or loses, you can hope in our God who is the ultimate ruler of nations. So, whether you agree with where we’re going as a nation or not, rest assured you can hope in the true “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16).
As Paul gave a final command to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6, I would conclude with these words from Paul ~
13 I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 which God will bring about in His own time — God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To Him be honor and might forever. Amen.
