In our country we have someone who is a designated survivor. This individual is usually a member of the United States Cabinet, who is arranged to be at a physically distant, secure, and undisclosed location when the President and the country's other top leaders are gathered at a single location, such as during State of the Union addresses and presidential inaugurations. This is intended to guarantee continuity of government in the event of a catastrophic occurrence that kills the President and many officials in the presidential line of succession. If such an event occurred, killing both the President and Vice President, the surviving official highest in the line, possibly the designated survivor, would become the Acting President of the United States under the Presidential Succession Act.
This season a new television series called “Designated Survivor” premiered. On the night of the State of the Union address, an explosion claims the lives of the President and all members of the Cabinet except for U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who was to be replaced the next day. Tom Kirkman, who has been named the designated survivor is immediately sworn in as President. He is dealing with an attempted military coup, state governments attempting to become independent, and the lack of knowledge of who was behind the attack.
One aspect of the show that I find interesting but is not strongly focused on is the impact that this chain of events is having on his family. Suddenly his wife is now the First Lady. His children can no longer be free to live the normal life they had. Their father’s role has affected their lives.
This election has been one of attacks, not only against the candidates, but also their spouses. Such as nude photos taken of Melania Trump when she was a model. They were apparently from a series of photos from a shoot for the Max magazine, and were published in 1996. They graced the front page of the New York Post on Sunday, July 31. Meanwhile, images from a lesbian photo shoot Melania had participated in have also surfaced. She also received quite a bit of flak after it turned out that parts of her speech at the Republican National Convention were plagiarized from an address current U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama had given a few years ago. A speech that Melania did not write but was written for her by Trump’s speech writers. The latest scandal just broke where she heard her husband in a private conversation describing horrific descriptions of his treatment of woman after they were married. She has been defamed and muddied at the delight of those who oppose Donald Trump.
Trump’s daughter has been put into the public eye of humiliation. On ABC’s “The View” Trump when asked how he would react if Ivanka, a former teen model, posed for Playboy, Trump replied, "It would be really disappointing — not really — but it would depend on what's inside the magazine."
He added: "I don't think Ivanka would do that, although she does have a very nice figure. I've said if Ivanka weren't my daughter, perhaps I'd be dating her."
Since this statement was released she has had to face public humiliation concerning her father’s supposedly incestuous desires for her.
In July, 2015 an American dentist admitted to paying $50,000 to hunt and kill Cecil the lion, a beloved animal and popular tourist attraction in Zimbabwe. News of the killing sparked swift condemnation on social media, with many calling for Walter Palmer to be extradited to Zimbabwe to stand trial.
Amid the outrage, photos quickly resurfaced of Donald Trump's sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, posing with the dead bodies of several exotic animals, including an African elephant and leopard, they had previously hunted for sport.
Donald Trump defended his sons with the following statement: "My sons love to hunt. They are members of the NRA, very proudly. I am a big believer in the second amendment. My sons are hunters. Eric is a hunter. He puts it on a par with golf - ahead of golf. And my other son is a hunter. They are great marksmen, great shots. I like to play golf."
Hillary Clinton has been dealing with scandals concerning her husband for years. Bill Clinton has been publicly accused by several women of sexual misconduct. Juanita Broaddrick has accused Clinton of rape; Kathleen Willey has accused Clinton of groping her without consent; and Paula Jones accuses Clinton of exposing himself and sexually harassing her. Other women have had alleged adulterous affairs with Bill Clinton.
Of all the allegations made against him regarding his sexual history, Clinton has only admitted extramarital relationships with Monica Lewinsky and Gennifer Flowers, although he settled the suit brought by Paula Jones for $850,000.
While Hillary Clinton is being publicly demeaned for standing by her man, in the back ground was a young daughter being exposed to all this negative media attention. In a recent interview she was quoted as saying, "Candidly, I don't remember a time in my life when my parents and my family weren't being attacked. So it just sort of seems to be in that tradition, unfortunately." Her family tradition was one of constant attacks and still is.
So as we see this campaign has gone beyond attacking each other. Their families have had to suffer through this humiliation. Some have remarked that it is the price you pay for running for public office. But Melania, Ivanka, Trump’s sons, and Chelsea Clinton are not running for office. The church should not be participating in the mud-slinging that is taken place. God’s word states that wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip, gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t. We need to determine today that we will not be apart of destroying the character of the candidates family. We need to decide that we will not be considered wrongdoers in the eyes of God.
On November 9th we will wake to a new leader being established for our country. Some of you make take the position of Psalm 109:8 “Let his (or her) years be few; let someone else take his position.” This was the position taken by Pastor Wiley Drake I June of 2010.
On a national radio talk show hosted by Alan Colmes we was asked “Are you praying for his death?" , referring to President Obama.
"Yes," Drake replied.
"So you're praying for the death of the president of the United States?" Colmes asked.
"Yes."
"You would like for the president of the United States to die?" Colmes asked once more.
"If he does not turn to God and does not turn his life around, I am asking God to enforce imprecatory prayers that are throughout the Scripture that would cause him death, that's correct."
He wasn’t the only one. Pastor Steve Anderson of Faithful World Baptist Church in Tempe, Ariz., also incorporates this form of prayer in his worship. In fact, Anderson inspired one regular attendant of Faithful World Baptist, 28-year-old Chris Broughton, to show up to a speech by the president with two guns in hand when he issued the following sermon:
"You’re going to tell me that I’m supposed to pray for the socialist devil, murderer, infanticide, who wants to see young children, and he wants to see babies killed through abortion and partial-birth abortion and all these different things," Anderson said, referring to President Obama. "Nope. I’m not gonna pray for his good. I’m going to pray that he dies and goes to hell."
The question now becomes if it is scriptural, shouldn’t we be doing that? But the problem is that it has been taken out of context. When you read the entire Psalm 109 you discover that David is repeating curses that have been placed on him. It is David that people are praying would die. It is disgraceful when we manipulate God’s word to meet our own agenda.
So what do we pray the morning after the election?
Psalm 20:9 “Give victory to our king, O Lord! Answer our cry for help.”
This Psalm is a two part prayer. On November 9th we should pray that God will make our new leader victorious. That they will be successful in all their endeavors. That God will protect them and their family. That they will lead with dignity associated with the office. We must remember what James wrote, “And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!” We cannot bless others while speaking curses against our leader. As a Christian, it is inappropriate.
Also we should cry out for help on that day. There is no doubt about it. Our nation will be in a mess. Those who oppose Trump declare that Islamic Mosques will be closed, inhibiting their freedom of religion. The press will be suppressed with only those in his favor getting access to him. The Environmental Protection Agency will lose it’s power to protect the environment, affecting the entire world. Planned Parenthood would be de-funded, robbing many women of screening for breast and cervical cancer. With no political correctness, the “N” word will be back in style. Marriage equality will be overturned. Police will be given more power to harass people of color. The cuts to the Department of Education will lead to the loss of grants to assist those who can’t afford the cost. We will have no allies left in the world. Health insurance will disappear with no set plan on how to replace it. He will veto any attempt to raise the minimum wage, leaving families to exist on $13,926.83 a year after taxes.
Those opposed to Hillary Clinton will point out that as a First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State she never accomplished anything. Many accuse her of having an open marriage, allowing her husband the freedom to have affairs. Her rise to power came from marrying into it. Some question her ability to reason. For example, her claim that she opposed the war in Iraq although she voted for it. She said she "thought it was a vote to put inspectors back in" even though it was called the "Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002". She wants to grant temporary legal status and work permits for over 5 million people living illegally in the United States. Also allow hem to secure health benefits under Obamacare. She would allow 65,000 Syrian refugees to enter our country with minimum background checks.
Come November 9th we will know which of these worse case scenarios will take place. If the polls are correct half of the country will be rejoicing while the other half will be preparing for Armageddon. What are we to do? Vote! But before you do there are some necessary steps to be taken.
Do some research on each candidate. Do so with as little bias as possible. It’s time to choose the person, not the party. Solomon asked God for an understanding heart so he could know the difference between right and wrong. God commands us in
Proverbs 4:5 “Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.” Ask God for wisdom in your choices. Vote with logic and reason. Do not follow your impulses. Vote for someone, not against the other candidate. Know what you are voting for that will shape the next 4 years or longer.
Humble yourself. Both candidates have acted in grievous manners. Perhaps you have been more disgusted with the acts of one over the other. But both are fallen humans, as we all are.
Isaiah 66:2 “My hands have made both heaven and earth;
they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken!
‘I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.’”
According to the International Bible Encyclopedia, “A contrite heart is one in which the natural pride and self-sufficiency have been completely humbled by the consciousness of guilt.”
Another way to put this is, if you are not voting for Clinton because she lied, remember all the times you have lied. If you are not voting for Trump because he had impure thoughts and actions, think of how many times you have had impure thoughts and actions. Then humble yourself before God and ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to the right choice.
Some of you may have already decided who you are voting for. I pray you are doing so with wisdom and not emotions. So of you may still be undecided. I pray you will research each candidate and seek God’s wisdom. Some of you have decided not to vote. If so you have missed the deadline to register. So please pray that those who are voting will follow God’s wisdom in their choices.
I am not officially endorsing any candidate. And this sermon was not designed to influence you in voting for any particular candidate. I know it is God’s desire to choose our next leader using wisdom, praying for them and their family.
