President Ronald Reagan one time told the story of when he was a teenager, he needed a new pair of boots made. In those days, you couldn’t just go to a shoe store, you went to the shoemaker shop. The cobbler asked the young man- “Do you want blunt end toes or pointed end toes?” Reagan shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t care, whatever you think.” When the boots were ready, Reagan examined his new boots and looked at the toes. One of them was flat, the other boot was pointed. Reagan said, “How can I wear a pair of boots like this?” The cobbler said, “You said you didn’t care.” From that day on, Ronald Reagan said “If you don’t make a decision about the things that matter the most to you, somebody else is going to make them for you.”
In five weeks and two days we will need to make some decisions that will affect us the next four years and probably beyond. Election day is November 8th. Some of you will vote. Some of you will not. Those of you who vote may not like the outcome. Those of you who do not vote will be forced to live with the outcome.
It seems that we have come down to two choices. I suppose one could write in a name or vote for third party candidate but we all know that it will be one of those two who will be our next president. These support of these two candidates have been divisive. Friends and families have suffered broken relationships over bitter arguments about these two. Even the church has become divided with some denominations leaning strongly toward one or the other.
The Sun Sentinel ran an editorial listing 5 reasons to vote for Hillary Clinton.
• Hillary has the depth of knowledge and breadth of foreign policy experience to reassure our allies and make our enemies worry.
• Hillary has the temperament and judgment required of a president.
• Hillary's economic policies – which include tax hikes on the wealthiest individuals and corporations as well as rate relief for student loans – focus on helping the middle class.
• Hillary's Supreme Court appointees will protect women's rights, LGBT rights and voting rights. .
• Hillary admits her mistakes – such as voting for the Iraq war and careless handing of State Department emails – which means she can learn from her mistakes.
Cleveland .com listed 5 reasons to vote for Donald Trump.
He's bold. Trump speaks with gusto. He says what's on his mind. He calls it like it is. The United States needs a president who speaks the truth and doesn't care about being politically correct. He's brutally honest: about immigration, about terrorism and about jobs. He voices the fears, worries and concerns of voters.
He's a businessman. Trump serves as an executive for more than 500 companies, according to the Washington Post. He will cut good deals for the United States.
He's not part of the Republican establishment. Trump won't maintain the Republican status quo. He's bringing fresh perspectives and ideas to the GOP. He's destroying the power structure. He's mixing it up.
He can't be bought. Trump is, for the most part, paying for his campaign out of his own pocket. Rich power players can't buy Trump off to support pet issues. Influencers can't demand action in exchange for money.
He's a job creator. He's created 34,000 jobs as a businessman, according to a September CNN analysis. And he plans to negotiate with China to bring more American jobs back. He wants to lower corporate tax rates to entice American companies to keep jobs in the United States.
The race between these two seem to be evenly matched. So who ever wins will find half the nation standing against them. Sadly this will be true in the church also. And sadly this goes against God’s instructions for us.
Romans 13:1-2 “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.”
Does this mean that God decides who will be the next president? Absolutely not. We will choose that person based on our voting. Remember, these two came from a field of many that we allowed to get to this position by us allowing, or not allowing, our voices to be heard. God never intended for Saul to be the king of Israel but He gave the people what they wanted.
And when it comes to President Obama many feel that he has ruined this country. It seems his health care program has become a disaster. There has been massive reductions in our military. He has attacked the institution of marriage. He has failed in taking terrorism head on. We currently as a nation have a 19 trillion dollar debt. He refuses to support immigration laws. How can God expect us to be in submission to this weakened government?
But look who was the ruler when Paul wrote the book of Romans. It was Nero. Nero, who extensively tortured and executed Christians Nero, who punished Christians, because they are "given to a new and mischievous superstition" Nero, who was rumored to have had captured Christians dipped in oil and set on fire in his garden at night as a source of light. This Nero that Paul was to be submitted to and not rebelled against.
Pastor Mark Brunner wrote, “Government, even that of our own nation, leaves a lot to be desired. Of that there can be no doubt. But, when you think about it, if it did not exist the only government that we would know would be anarchy. The only neighbor we would have would be chaos. We would live a life of fear and hopelessness. It is easy, therefore, to understand why God implemented it in the first place. Look at the animal kingdom. While there is an order ordained by God, that order is an order based on insecurity and fear. It’s kill or be killed for the most part. Any animal would be jealous of our ability to be governed by an authority whose aim was to protect and to supply. Should a Christian submit to such a power? Yes, but like a responsible drinker who knows when to quit, so should a citizen be when confronted with a government that offers everything you ever wanted just as long as you bow down and worship it. Government is not to be worshipped, merely obeyed and held up as an example of how God takes care of His people. A Christian who keeps this perspective is able to maintain his independence as a citizen of heaven first and earth second. We give government our respect and fear just as we do that second cocktail or second helping of potatoes; on the one hand grateful for the offer and on the other wary of the indulgence. When the habits of government become anti-Scriptural, we must strive to reform them and us. Government is no panacea for all that’s wrong with this earth. It is but a tool God uses to benefit His people. Government will never be capable of bringing peace on earth. The peace for which a Christian searches can only be found on the streets of Heaven.”
We are to obey and support whomever win this upcoming election. Paul ordered Titus to “Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. (Titus 3:1)
And Peter tells us “For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed ---” (1 Peter 2:13-14)
George Washington, appealed to God while he was President in a prayer before Congress.
"Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United states at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
A spirit of subordination and obedience to our government. Brotherly affection and love for our fellow citizens. To live with the temperament of Christ. President Washington would be distressed to see the state of our nation.
So what is to be our course of action? Let’s seek God’s instruction. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.”
Most of us take time to pray for our friends and loved ones. We don’t hesitate to intercede on their behalf without them even asking. And we thank God for placing them in our lives.
But have we done so with our president? God’s word commands us to pray this way. When is the last time you asked God to help President Obama? When have you interceded on his behalf? We have you ever thanked God for placing him in office? I know I have never done that. But God says we must. There are benefits to doing so. So that we can live peaceful and quiet lives.
There seems to be no peace and quiet in our country. There only seems to be turmoil and hatred running amok. Are we, as Christians, partly to blame because we have not been praying for our leaders? Instead of praying for them have we spent more time mocking them?
When I was growing up there was a little bird that was always telling on me. Did you know him also? When I got into trouble my mother would tell me a little bird told her what I did. I finall discovered this little bird in Ecclesiastes 10:20. “Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said.”
We are to guard our thoughts and our words when it comes to our leaders. We are not to be sarcastic toward or make fun of them. But we have taken it out of the bedroom and plastered it all over social media. If we support Trump we make light of Clinton. If we support Clinton we make fun of Trump. One of these two will soon be the leader of the free world. They now, more than ever, need our prayers and not our sarcasm.
In the Bible Jeremiah wrote a letter from Jerusalem to the elders, priests, prophets, and all the people who had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar was not a harsh task master. The Jews were allowed to carry on their daily routines. But their heart was in Jerusalem. So Jeremiah wrote these instructions to them so their lives would be peaceful.
Jeremiah 29:7 “And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
We need to pray for our next president more than we ever have because his welfare will determine our welfare. We need to pray for our country because it’s welfare will determine our welfare. In class warfare and racial tension we must work for peace rather than taking sides. God has placed each of us in this country for this time. The Christian voice needs to be heard louder now than ever. Proverbs 11:11 says “Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.”
We have a choice to make. Shall we be upright citizens and help this country prosper. Or be a force that divides with our speech therefore making us wicked. Our candidate may not win but we must be thankful anyway.
Has anyone read the story of Robinson Crusoe? When Robinson Crusoe was shipwrecked on a lonely island he thought of both the good and the bad.
- He was cast onto a desolate island, but he was still alive, not drowned as all of his ship’s company was.
- He was divided from mankind, but he was not starving.
- He had no clothes, but he was in a hot climate where he didn’t need them.
- He was without means of defense, but he saw no wild animals.
- He had nothing to speak of, but God had sent the ship so near to the shore that he could get out of it all things necessary for his survival.
So he concluded that there was not any condition in the world so miserable but that there was something positive for which to be thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Your candidate may not win but you live in a country where you have the privilege of voting. Please, don’t take that privilege lightly.
Your candidate may not win but you live in a country where the transition of power to the winner will be peaceful.
Your candidate may not win but you live in a country where you are free to worship.
We are a small group but let’s let it start here. Let’s quit bashing the candidates and begin praying for them. We have the right to support one candidate over another but can we do so without being critical of the one we don’t support? Pray for the upcoming elections. Encourage your Christian friends to vote. God will allow us to choose our next president. It’s time for the voice of the church to be heard according to God’s will.
