We have an election this coming November. And so far it has been an excellent example of modern American political campaigning. There has been vast confusion, accusations galore, an abundance of mudslinging advertisements, both real and false personal attacks and, of course, there has been the attendant “media circus”.
As I thought about this upcoming election, it occurred to me that everyone who is voting will be doing so in the belief that their candidate is better and that the other candidates are either:
• less competent,
• incompetent,
• less qualified, disqualified, or
• a willing or unwitting agent of Satan.
And that reminded me of a story I read several years ago in Reader’s Digest:
A candidate for city council in a little town was doing some door to door campaigning, and things were going pretty well, he thought, until he came to the house of grouchy old man. After the he gave his little speech, the old man growled, "Vote for you? Why I’d rather vote for the devil!" At this point, the candidate realized he didn’t stand a chance of swaying the old man, but with a smile he said: "I understand. But as it seems your friend is not running, may I count on your support?"
When we cast our votes in any elections, we do so under the belief that we have the power – thru our vote – to effect change. And, in America we need to be reminded that our votes can be far more important than we might suspect.
• In 1645, just one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England.
• In 1649, just one vote caused King Charles 1 of England to be executed.
• In 1776, just one vote gave America the English language instead of German.
• In 1845, just one vote brought the State of Texas into the Union.
• In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
• In 1876, one vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency of the United States
• In 1876, one vote changed France from a Monarchy to a Republic
• In 1943, one vote gave Adolph Hitler control of the Nazi Party and changed the course of human history
• In 1960, a single vote change in each precinct in Illinois would have made Richard Nixon the president, rather than John F. Kennedy.
Our votes do make a difference. And we who are Christians should honor this sacred privilege and vote at every opportunity. BUT, that said, we need to realize that there are 2 inherent weaknesses in our semi-democratic process. There are two problems that plague the voting public.
The 1st Problem is that we are voting for mere mortals. Neither Superman nor Jesus is running for public office.
I don’t care how moral and upstanding any politician is that we vote into office… they are still a sinner. They’re still prone to the same weaknesses and sinful tendencies and the same temptations as the rest of us.
These politicians are not God… they ARE human. They do not walk on water. They do not perform miracles… and they will disappoint us.
The 2nd Problem: When we Christians vote, we often cast our vote under the mistaken belief that the candidate, or the party for which we vote has the power within themselves to change the course of our city, state, or nation.
The problem is that’s not true. And it has never been true. And some of our best politicians have recognized this. On June 28, 1787, Benjamin Franklin addressed the George Washington as the Chair of the new United States Constitutional Convention as it was struggling with that great work. He wrote:
In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings?
In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered.
All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance?
I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?
We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages.
Abraham Lincoln wrote, on March 30, 1863
"It is the duty of nations (as well as of men) to own their own dependence upon the overruling power of God, and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures (and proved by all history) that those nations only are blest, whose God is the Lord."
In 1984, Ronald Reagan declared: "Without God... there IS a coarsening of the society; without God democracy will not and cannot long endure... If we ever forget that we are ’One Nation Under God’, we will be one nation gone under."
Why would we forget that we are a “nation under God?” Our money, our pledge of allegiance, many of the sayings on the public buildings throughout Washington D.C. and the rest of this country proclaim this desire to be a nation under God. How could we forget?
Well, actually, even with that overwhelming set of witnesses, even we who are Christians can literally forget God’s power over our nation if we put more faith in our politicians than we do in God.
The Old Testament has an interesting story about Israel’s experience with a national referendum. The nation was uneasy. They had enemies threatening them on every side. The prophet Samuel, who was the leader of their nation, had grown very old and would soon be unable to lead the nation. And his sons who might have succeeded him were corrupt and evil men.
The people looked the political situation over and came to a conclusion that they needed a King. Every other nation had a king, and they wanted one, too.
And from a purely human perspective, that makes sense.
• Having a King symbolized their desire of strength
• Having a King meant they could feel they were on equal footing with the nations around them.
• Having a King would give them the feeling of security and power in an unsure world.
The reality, however, was simply that Israel was uncomfortable and impatient. They were uncomfortable and impatient with waiting for God to supply their needs in His time. They wanted what they wanted and they wanted it NOW! And because of this, they didn’t bother to approach God and ask for His leading and guidance on this issue.
They hadn’t called for a time of national prayer and fasting to ask for His opinion. They simply held a vote, an election, and decided that that was all they needed to do.
God later told Samuel in 1 Samuel 8:7: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but THEY HAVE REJECTED ME as their king.” (emphasis mine)
The problem was that they had put their faith in an ordinary human politician, AND they had taken their eyes off of God.
• They mistakenly believed that the “candidate” they had chosen would supply for them what they needed and what they wanted.
• They mistakenly believed that the “candidate” they had chosen would supply for them the things they were tired of waiting upon the Lord to supply: safety, power, and financial security.
Most of you know that I am a politically active priest. Most of you know that I even work as a Poll Worker in our elections because I think the democratic process of our Republic is tremendously important. I truly believe that every Christian ought to be involved in the political process at some level. I truly believe that every Christian should NOT ONLY vote but actively work within our Constitutional system to bring about God’s moral righteousness in our nation.
BUT, it is a dangerous, even foolhardy mistake to put more faith in politics, politicians, and political parties than we do in God.And it’s a very easy trap to fall into.
Now, how can we know when we’ve started relying more on politicians than on God?
Look at verse 8. “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling”.
How many of you know someone who gets so caught up in politics that they are persistently getting into arguments about it?
So if you find yourself getting stressed and anxious about politics so that you become angry and argumentative, that’s a pretty good sign that in this matter your faith may be less in God than it is in your politics.
You know, I’ve looked. I’ve read the Bible from one end to the other, and let me tell you something,
• NOT ONCE does Holy Scripture tell us to be anxious about something.
• NOT ONCE does it say we’re supposed to get all wound up and stressed out, or
• Just figure stuff out on our own, or
• handle a problem by ourselves. NOT ONCE!
However, here in our NT lesson, Paul does give us a method we can use to correct that kind of shortsighted attitude in our lives:
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
Pray for all the politicians… even the ones you don’t like. Especially the ones you don’t like!
Gerald Flurry, editor in chief of the Trumpet news magazine wrote:
“Prayer is political action. Prayer is social energy. Prayer is public good. Prayer shapes more of our nation’s life than is formed by legislation. That we have not collapsed into anarchy is due more to prayer than to the police. Prayer is a sustained and intricate act of patriotism in the largest sense of that word—far more precise, loving, and preserving than any patriotism served up in slogans….
The single most important action contributing to whatever health and strength there is in our land is prayer.”
When Israel was held captive in a pagan nation, God told the Israelites in Jeremiah 29:7, “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare”.
2 Chronicles 7:14 reads, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
We should we pray that power of God is unleashed in us and in every Christian who votes. We should pray for the godly welfare and godly success of “whoever” is in leadership.
The vote you make on your knees has a power no ballot box can equal. You see, the vote we make that counts, in any election…is NOT so much the one we make privately in the voting booth, it’s the vote we make privately in our prayers.
Frank+
