Today is election day in America. Therefore, I thought I would post some "thoughts" having to do with that topic. It is 1:40 p.m. as I write. I have not looked to see who is ahead or behind in the popular vote. All I know is that our church is a polling station and I have never seen such a heavy turnout in the 11 years I have been here -- the parking lot has been packed and the lines have been out the door since 7:00 a.m.
Thus
I offer you these thoughts in regard to our right and responsibility to
vote. We may feel our one vote won't make a difference, but it
does. The right to vote is itself a blessing many do not have. And
regardless of which side you stand on, be encouraged -- God is in control.
Though
Christ's "kingdom
is not of this world," we still have the right and responsibility
to vote for the people and issues that will affect, not only our immediate
future, but set the stage for years to come. I trust you will take your
privilege to do so seriously. Enjoy.
“Providence has given our people the choice of their
rulers, and it is the duty, as well as privilege and interest of a Christian
nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”
William Penn, founder, Province of Pennsylvania
“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is
offering his vote…that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human
society for which he is accountable to God and his country.”
Samuel Adams, Founding Father, United States of
America
"I urge you, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth."
The Apostle Paul, I Timothy 2:1-4
“Let us never forget that government is ourselves and
not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not
a President and senators and congressman and government officials, but the
voters of this country.”
Martin Luther King, Jr., Minister and American Civil
Rights Activist
“When a citizen gives his suffrage (vote) to a man of
known immorality he abuses his trust; he sacrifices not only his own interest,
but that of his neighbor, he betrays the interest of his country.”
John Witherspoon, Presbyterian Minister and Founding
Father of the United States of America
“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone,
and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never
lost.”
Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States
of America
“Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people
who don’t vote.”
Daniel Webster, US House Representative and Senator
“If men of wisdom and knowledge, of moderation and
temperance, of patience, fortitude and perseverance, of sobriety and true
republican simplicity of manners, of zeal for the honor of the Supreme Being
and the welfare of the commonwealth; if men possessed of these other excellent
qualities are chosen to fill the seats of government, we may expect that our
affairs will rest on a solid and permanent foundation.”
Noah Webster, Adviser to the Founding Fathers of the
United States of America
"Those who rule for the
public benefit are true patterns and evidences of this beneficence of God,
[but] they who rule unjustly and incompetently have been raised up by him
to punish the wickedness of the people... we need not labor to prove
that a wicked king is the Lord’s wrath upon the earth [Job 34:30,
Hosea 13:11; Isaiah 3:4; 10:5; Deuteronomy 28:29]...
Since a wicked prince is the Lord’s scourge to punish the sins
of the people, let us remember, that it happens through our fault that
this excellent blessing of God is turned into a curse."
John Calvin, Reformer and Theologian
"The king’s heart is a
stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he
wills."
King Solomon, Proverbs 21:1
"God is sovereign, meaning He is ultimately in
control of everything, including election results. No matter who is elected by
human vote, God is also in control. It is not either/or, it's both/and. I came
to this realization of biblical truth later in life. When I finally did, it
brought great peace to know that while people do things, God is still in
control. There is no situation where this is better described than in the issue
of political leaders. Romans 13:1 says, "Let every person be subject
to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and
those that exist have been instituted by God. (ESV)"
Mark Alan Williams, Speaker and Church Leader
I trust that regardless of your country of origin, or
citizenship, you will avail yourself -- if it is your right -- to vote.
Take time to be well-informed. Don't go by
hearsay. Be wise. Let scripture inform your conscience, and then vote
according to your biblically informed and God guided conscience. And if you
cannot bring yourself, for various reasons, to vote for a person, vote the
issues -- but do vote. It is a privilege and it does matter.
Blessings upon your choices this day, Pastor Jeff
