Let me say up front, I don’t expect to win any popularity contests with this blog, but please hear me out. I welcome your comments, but let’s be respectful of one another. I respect your right as an American to vote as you believe you should. Please give me, and others who may comment here, that same regard.
Could it be we’re missing something big this election cycle?
I’ve heard many arguments from the Christian camp about why we must overlook a certain candidate’s “character flaws” in order to preserve the Republic.
I agreed until I dug a little deeper into the Word of God AND my own soul.
I now believe there’s much more at stake than our nation.
For years our children have heard us tout the importance of believing God, taking a stand for righteousness, and living with eternity in view rather than a temporal mindset of “let’s eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.”
But because it looks as though the only hope for America is a loud mouthed, unpredictable and unprincipled, self-centered egotist, many in the Christian camp are willing to hold their collective noses while trying to get the man elected.
What’s wrong with this picture?
There’s much more at stake than our economy, abortion laws, illegal immigrants, ISIS, and any other issue which threatens to destroy our nation.
So what could possibly be more important?
Truth. Specifically, our stand for truth.
It also could be referred to as integrity.
We say we want to make our nation great again for our children’s sake.
I agree.
But notice: “The righteous who walks in his integrity – blessed are his children after him.” (Proverbs 20:7 ESV)
If we, as followers of Christ, throw our integrity out with the trash, in the name of patriotism, the right-to-life, second amendment rights, or anything else, what does that leave us?
How do we explain our inconsistency to our children?
How can we effectively proclaim “character counts” or even more importantly, “righteousness exalts a nation” after we’ve compromised our basic beliefs?
I’ve been wrestling with this for some time now. My first responsibility is to guard my heart and follow the Lord’s way rather than any other. Even if my fellow believers disagree.
My vote counts. Your vote counts. It counts in who we are and what we are willing to do to really stand for righteousness.
“Who, O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.” (Psalm 15:1 – 15:5 ESV)
For the Christian, there is something far greater than the USA to stand up for.
The Kingdom of Righteousness…
…and our purpose as sons and daughters of God.
The Church isn’t of less value than the nation. It is everlasting, and the dwelling place for God Almighty.
In fact, God is trying to use His people as carriers of His Anointing. People who will declare His Kingdom in word AND deed.
Paul wrote: “God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 3:10 NLT)
But He can’t (that’s right, He CAN’T) if we are sidetracked or sidelined under the guise of patriotism.
We must remain faithful to God’s Word. Our heart must be sensitive to the voice of God, and continue to seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
It’s been said that no one’s perfect. And since we’re not electing a pastor, we should overlook a person’s flaws.
Of course that’s only said about THEIR favorite candidate. There’s no way they’ll overlook the opponent’s atrocities!
Christian, the bottom line for me is this:
Jesus Christ is the Lord of my LIFE. I want to represent Him in all I say and do. I don’t want to say something matters and then vote like it doesn’t.
I want to love the things He loves, hate what He hates (Hebrews 1), and trust Him for EVERYTHING.
I love this nation, but for me, it’s more important that I walk in the steps of the Spirit than like a sheep to the slaughter.
God can make this nation great again; God and people who follow His steps, His ways; who put their trust in His wisdom and ability. Who aren’t afraid of the devil, or any of his representatives.
And who don’t “lose their salvation” when someone disagrees with them (or their candidate isn’t elected).
It’s time for true followers of Christ to search our souls, and discover once again the truth we say we believe.
Then vote accordingly.
If we vote our conscience, and our conscience has not become seared (1 Timothy 4:2), our vote will count.
With God, if no one else.
Jan Grace 