Quotes About Voting

Greetings All,

     Today is election day in Pennsylvania, and in our particular town they use our church as the voting site. It went as it does every election day (national or local).  As I walked from my car to the building to come to "work," I was stopped in the parking lot 4 times by different smiling individuals telling me the pro's of their candidate and trying to sway my vote before I got to the polling both.

     "Sorry," I said with a smile in return, "I'm just coming to work."  Once I said that I realized their enthusiastic interest in me was very short-lived!  It didn't offend me.  It's understandable. After all, there were other people walking in at the same time and they didn't want to miss the chance to sway them before they got to the voting booths too.

         Why the push?  Because we know life is about choices, and those choices lead to change (be it good or bad).  People know it. The Bible teaches that -- through the providence of a sovereign God our choices are used by Him to mold and form the future as He chooses to guide and direct it. That's why much time, and effort, and money goes into seeking to sway people's beliefs and opinions.

      Some persuasive methods are more overt and some are more subtle, but we are all constantly being "persuaded" to think or believe in one way as opposed to another.  Be it through politics, education, Hollywood, or religion -- through movies, commercials, editorials in the newspapers, billboards, Twitter, Facebook posts, the way news-worthy events are reported (with approving or non-approving glances), or what's actually considered important enough to report as opposed to what's left out -- there are very few people who don't seek to sway the opinions of others in some way. It's not wrong, it's just part of life!

           So for today I thought I would offer you some quotes that have to do with voting.  I am not sure if each person quoted lived up to the values they set forth, but I did think each quote was itself worth considering.  I prefer to keep politics out of the church, and have sought to keep it out of the pulpit. But as a reality of life in this country, and other countries, Christian's do need guidance on how to carry out their involvement. I hope these quotes give you some food for thought as you vote in accord with what your God-guided conscience allows.  Enjoy.

“I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them
1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy
2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against, and
3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”

John Wesley, 1703-1791  (Founder of the Methodist Denomination) 

"Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote… he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country." 

Samuel Adams, 1722-1803

"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." 

John Jay, 1745-1829 (First Chief Justice of the U.S. 

Supreme Court)

"When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, “just men who will rule in the fear of God.”  The preservation of government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty."

Noah Webster, 1758-1843 (Author of Webster’s Dictionary)

"Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature."

James Garfield, 1831-1881 (20th President of the United States)

"When the righteous rule, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan." 

William Paterson, 1745-1806  (Signer of the Constitution, and Supreme Court Justice quoting, Proverbs 29:2)

"Voting at elections is one of the most important rights of the subject." 

Alexander Hamilton, 1757-1804  (Author of The Federalist Papers, Secretary of the Treasury)

"It will be conceded that a Christian’s first duty is to God. It then follows, as a matter of course, that it is his duty to carry his Christian code of morals to the polls and vote them … If Christians would vote their duty to God at the polls, they would carry every election, and do it with ease …  If the Christians of America could be persuaded to vote God and a clean ticket, it would bring about a moral revolution that would be incalculably beneficent. It would save the country."

Mark Twain, 1835-1910 (Colliers magazine, September 2, 1904)

"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves—and the only way they could do this is by not voting." 

Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1882-1945 (32nd President of the United States)

"[S]ecularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering into the public square. Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, William Jennings Bryan, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King—indeed, the majority of great reformers in American history—were not only motivated by faith, but repeatedly used religious language to argue for their cause.  So to say that men and women should not inject their "personal morality" into public policy debates is a practical absurdity. Our law is by definition a codification of morality, much of it grounded in Judeo-Christian tradition." 

Barack Obama (44th President of the United States,  "Call to Renewal Keynote Address," Call to Renewal Conference on Building a Covenant for a New America, June 28, 2006)

"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants.”

Partial quote of Leviticus 25:10 inscribed on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."

I Timothy 2:1-2

“He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”

II Samuel 23:3

“Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.”

Deuteronomy 1:13

As I said, food for thought.   In His Service, Pastor Jeff

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Greetings All,

 

     Today's 'thought' comes to you from William Booth (1829–1912).  He was a British Methodist preacher who founded "The Salvation Army" and became its first General (1878–1912). With much embarrassment I must confess that even into my late teen years I thought, "The Salvation Army" was given that name because it saved clothes to give to poor people.  All I knew of this group was that they had big red drop-off bins in grocery store parking lots where people could place used items they no longer wanted.  It wasn't until I studied church history that I discovered its Christian roots, and its evangelistic purposes, and specifically the fascinating life and vision of William Booth -- a man who was intent on living a well-rounded Christian life -- one that sought total consecration to the Lord, preached the Gospel, sought personal godliness or holiness, and sacrificed to help meet the needs of the less fortunate.  Booth even started farms in the countryside of England where the homeless and unemployed of London were housed in "barracks," taught a trade, instructed in the Scriptures, and given food and work.  But I will leave it to you to research his many accomplishments. Their ongoing charitable work speaks for itself.

 

     This thought is a personal admonition (by way of a letter) to those who had joined "the Army."  To follow it completely you need to know the denomination is set up in a somewhat military-like organizational structure (even to this day).  Booth was the "General," and pastors were "officers," and others in the "Corps" were soldiers. He spoke to them all as his "comrades" in the work of the Gospel (thus the greeting of the letter and parts of its content). 

 

     The letter tells them how they as Salvationists should view the Bible, though we would all do well to heed his words -- especially those of us who have, like them, come to experience the salvation of which it speaks.  Enjoy.

 

   "My Dear Comrades,

        I desire to offer you some counsel about the Bible.  You all know that the Bible is a very important Book, and I have no doubt you set great weight in it.  Indeed, I am pleased to learn that, of late, more thought is being given to its pages than ever throughout the Salvation Army.  But still, I am afraid that the precious Book does not receive the attention that it demands.

 

        Let me try to say a word or two that will be likely to better impress upon you its great value.  The Bible is a very wonderful book.  It's very name signifies this, for the word 'Bible' simply means 'the book,' so that when we say the Bible, we mean that it is The Book; the book which, above every other, a man should know, treasure, and obey.  If a wise man were offered the Bible on the one hand, or all the books in the world on the other, he would choose the Bible... Oh precious Book!  What a priceless blessing it has been to The Salvation Army. 

 

       Now, my comrades, I want to ask this question: What ought you to do with the Bible?  Ought you to neglect it -- pass over it for the newspaper, the story book, or other rubbish?  By no means. That is how the godless world around you deals with the precious treasure. 

 

      What, then, ought you to do?  I will tell you.  The very least that you can do with the Bible is read it.  If I, as your General, sent you a letter, you could not do less than read it over, try to understand it, and strive to do what I requested in it.  The Bible is a letter from your Heavenly Father; you cannot do less with His letter than you would do with one from your general.

 

      Next, read it alone. Read a few verses at a time. Read them on your knees. Read them as you walk the streets, while you take your midday meal, when you rise in the morning, when you retire at night, and read the blessed book in your spare moments.  Read it in your families.  Impress its precious truths on your children (if you are parents). Explain them to the ignorant -- make them understand.

 

       See to it that you experience in your own hearts the blessings the Bible offers you.  Remember, it will be little better than a curse to you if you only know the Word, and do not possess and live in the spirit of it.  If you only 'believe' it with your head and do not enjoy the things that it describes and accept the mercy, wash in the fountain, receive the Holy Ghost, and live and die in the light and joy of its good tidings, then it will only add to your condemnation and guilt. 

 

       In the same way, fulfill the duties it commands.  It is the doers of the Word who are blessed.  Make it the guide of your life -- at home, abroad, in your Corps, in sickness and health, in joy and sorrow, everywhere you go -- in the streets, in the barracks, in your home, and at your work; everywhere, tell the glad tidings.

 

       Oh, my Comrades, do not let the Bible rise up in judgment against you, as it surely will if you either neglect it, or if in reading and knowing about the salvation and victory of which it tells, you do not enjoy that salvation and experience that victory."

 

 

        His words are nothing but wise, godly, common sense advice from a Christian leader to his followers. 

We would do well to take his words to heart -- for the sake of a greater consecration to Christ, 

 

 Pastor Jeff