Voting and the Sovereignty of God

I have had numerous discussions with friends concerning my approach to choosing candidates.  I must say that many of them do not see things as I do.  Some have questions that I haven’t answered. But I believe Christians share ultimate common ground when it comes to the key theological issue of the electoral process.  We all, I trust, believe that God is Sovereign in the affairs of man.  Unless we are fully convinced of this we will never be freed to vote according to His plans and purpose.  Let me remind you of some Scriptures.

Dan. 4:35, “And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What hast Thou done?’"

Psalm 33:10, “The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples.

Lam. 3:37-38, "Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth?"

Psalm 115:3, "But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases."

Psalm 135:6, "Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps."

As for who has power to influence executive decisions.  Prov. 21:1, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it wherever He wishes.”

And for who has arranged the outcome of elections.  Prov. 16:33, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”

Far from God asking us our opinion or needing our help He is uniquely solitary and supreme in all His acts and decisions.  So the key question, the most important question about voting is this.  Since God is Sovereign why do we or should we even participate in the election process?  Here are some biblical reasons why we must be involved. 

We should understand initially that voting has a higher purpose than simply trying to get our candidate elected.  Based on God’s sovereignty winning is a rather shallow reason for voting.  Yes, God does somehow use us to effect His will.  Just as He uses us to share His Word and the Gospel, He uses us to achieve His other purposes.  That is remarkable in view of who we are.  But we just read verses that explain how unfailing are His plans.  So why do we vote?

1.  Voting is one way we demonstrate love for our neighbors.  The second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor.  What a tremendous opportunity we have to demonstrate that we love those around us.  We do that when we vote for candidates who will protect our God-given rights, defend the God-directed Constitution, personally help the poor and needy, promote individual liberty.  We don’t love our neighbor when we participate in harming them economically through unjust taxes, when we support the destruction of God-designed marriage and family, when we encourage the weakening of educational standards and the infringement of religious liberty and the right of free speech.  We love our neighbor when we vote for candidates who cherish all the unborn.  Contrarily, when we vote for a candidate who is willing to let our neighbor’s unborn child be murdered in the womb for any reason we cannot say we love our neighbor. 

2.  Voting is a testimony of our biblical convictions.  If we believe that God has established the basis for morality than we must vote for the candidates who most closely support biblical morality.  Here is very brief sample of biblical morality.  The Bible demands that men who are physically able to work must not eat if they do not work.  2 Thessalonians 3:10  “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” The Bible demands justice in the court.  Proverbs 17:15  “The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent both of them are an abomination to the LORD.”  The Bible condemns homosexuality.  Romans 1:26-27. Although Jesus never condemned war the direction of the New Testament seems clearly against unjust wars.  We must vote for candidates who are heading in the same direction as we are in our convictions.  When we vote we are voicing our support for all of a candidate’s policies, whether or we want to or not.  As far as the candidate is concerned we agree with anything and everything that he or she wants to pursue.  There are no perfect candidates but we must be very careful to side with those who espouse our biblical convictions in areas of liberty and morality.

3.  Voting demonstrates our obedience to government and care for the nation in which we live.  Romans 13 declares that God has ordained all government.  In the case of the United States that government is in the form of a written Constitution ratified by ‘we the people.’  So when we take Romans 13 to heart and subject ourselves to the governing authorities, and all that follows that command, it is not to some elected or appointed official that we submit ourselves but to laws that are Constitutionally approved.  Our God-ordained government is a constitutional republic.  We demonstrate our fealty to that government and our submission to the God who planned it by voting for candidates who mean to keep their oath to defend and protect the Constitution.   Next to Bible the Constitution is the most important political document you need to know.

The candidate who most closely aligns with these points in my view is Constitution Party candidate Virgil Goode.

Finally let me leave you with a familiar proverb that may be overlooked when it comes to voting, but should not be. Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”  Don’t trust in man, no matter how popular his talk show or ‘conservative’ his network.  Remember that most politicians have one goal- to win the election- and they speak with that in mind.  When you acknowledge the Lord you are intentionally recognizing His authority and purposes, not just identifying His presence.  When you are trusting Him you are obediently giving up your demands and fears to let Him have His way in your life. 

I appreciate your questions and comments.  Please leave them here on this blog.  

The Bible and the US Constitution

This blog is written to answer a question that you have probably not even asked. But you should have.
Recall when Jesus was asked about paying the poll tax. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all describe the affair. It was a trick to see if He would give Caesar divine right of authority.
Here is Mark’s account. Jesus was asked, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?" But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." (Mark 12: 14-17 ESV)
Most of us have at least one thing in common with these first century citizens. We don’t like it. But we pay taxes. And Jesus says that is appropriate. But the question we in America need to ask is this. To whom do we render the taxes? In other words, who is our Caesar? Seeking this answer is not an exercise in futility. Think about it.
Although many presidents thought they should have been (starting with Andrew Jackson) we never had an American King. No human Caesar for us. So why do we pay taxes? Or obey any other laws for that matter? If the king doesn’t require it, why do we do it? Because we live under another kind of authority. We have a Congress that enacts laws, a President that executes laws, and a Court that examines laws. And the basis for that system is a Constitution.
In the same way that Caesar applied authority under Roman rule the Constitution governs the conduct of US residents. This point becomes central when we look at the key passage on a Christian’s response to government, Romans 13:1-7. Particularly significant are verses 1-2.
“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. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”(ESV)
“Since the term (governing authorities) lacks the article and is plural, it probably refers to anyone in a governing position acting on behalf of and with the authority of the Roman government (cf. 1 Pet 2:14).” Greg Herrick
What does that mean for American Christians? Our governing authority by its own declaration and endorsement is the Constitution. At the Federal level of government we are bound to obedience to that remarkable document. (States, counties, towns, municipalities, etc. are not part of this discussion.) The Constitution is the authority that God has ordained to govern America.
Here is one way that works itself out. Verse 2 says that whoever resists authority, or opposes the Constitution in our case, even an elected official, has stood himself up against God. That’s serious business. Think about this when you vote or are asked to support a candidate. The spiritual condition of a candidate is eternally relevant but he or she does not have to be a Christian to govern well. According to these verses the primary need is that the candidate has and will continue to comply with God’s established government for Americans, the Constitution.
When we are faithful to the Constitution we are in obedience to God. You try to obey the law and respect God’s authority. Don’t contradict your principles by supporting a candidate who denies that authority through noncompliance to the Constitution.

Why I support Ron Paul in 10 paragraphs or less.

Caveat- This statement is in no way connected to any leadership positions I hold in my church or other organizations. But it is based on my continuing study of Scripture and the Constitution.
1. Abortion must always be at the top of any Christian’s list of political issues. Dr. Paul is the most pro-life candidate running. He has delivered 4000 babies and never once considered abortion ‘necessary.’ He would do whatever is necessary to overturn Roe v. Wade. The emphasis is on ‘do.’ We have not had a president since 1973 that actually did anything to stop all abortions. Ron Paul would.
2. Being pro-life means one values life everywhere. Ron Paul is the only candidate who understands that the Constitution prohibits the shedding of innocent blood in unnecessary wars. He is ‘pro-life’ in foreign affairs. He is not anti-war but will not violate the law just to prove some sort of American ‘exceptionalism,’ i.e., we are the most powerful nation so we must police all the other nations. History proves that Ron Paul’s foreign policy is the policy of our founders.
3. Ron Paul is the best friend Israel could have. It is ludicrous and hypocritical for our nation’s leaders to boast about friendship with Israel while giving 7 times more financial aid to that nation’s enemies. We cannot bless Israel and arm her enemies at the same time. To argue otherwise is a waste of effort. Israel should not have to ask American permission to act on its sovereignty. In the same circumstances we would protest, too. In fact, Ron Paul has voted in favor of Israel’s right to do just that. And he was the only one to do so.
4. He is the only candidate that respects the 10th Amendment. “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” If the Federal Constitution does not cover a topic, it cannot be mandated at the Federal level. This has been confusing for some. For example, Dr. Paul believes that ‘drug’ addiction is a bad thing. He does not want this kind of habit to continue. But he fully understands that any Federal mandate in this area is unconstitutional. And it doesn’t work. Dr. Paul believes that marriage should be between one man and one woman. He supports DOMA. But to redefine marriage at the Federal level is just asking for trouble. God’s definition is precise enough.
5. Congressman Paul has a precise understanding of the Constitution. He knows that the President was never intended to be the most powerful man in the world. Congress is, in fact, the most powerful branch of our government. The President has but 8 duties. Dr. Paul knows that any President who signs an executive order that applies any kind of regulations to the general public has broken the law. He knows the President breaks his oath to defend the Constitution when he enters into military action without a declaration from Congress. He knows that the Constitution is not a top-down order of government. It is ‘we the people’ who have vested power in those we elect. That means it is ours to give. Ron Paul understands and appreciates that.
6. The Federal Reserve is a pox on our land. We will not experience economic balance unless it is shut down. This is indisputable. I have read how and why it was formed and it must be eliminated. Ron Paul is the only candidate who knows how to accomplish this successfully. And he will also do away with the unconstitutional income tax. These sound like good ideas to me.
7. We need a President we can trust. Ron Paul has delivered a consistent message for 30 years. He grew up in a Christian home and makes this profession. “I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and strive each day to follow His teachings in all I do, both personally and politically.”

Can Washington Defend Marriage?

President Obama has decided not to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). That act “bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages and says states cannot be forced to recognize such marriages from other states.” But Attorney General Eric Holder claims the law is unconstitutional so the President will no longer impose it. But is that really the issue? Is DOMA unconstitutional? And, not that the constitutionality of a law is unimportant, isn’t the President’s obligation to execute law even more important? These two points frame what follows.
Is DOMA unconstitutional? Mr. Holder has in this case ‘pled the fifth.’ You remember the rule about self-incrimination, pleading the fifth? How does that relate to marriage? Read the amendment.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Marriage by Holder’s judgment is wrapped up in the phrase ‘due process of law.’ What’s that got to do with marriage? Notice the prior list of 5 actions that cannot be taken without due process of law. Nothing about marriage; all about arrest and trial. Yet Holder says the phrase applies to DOMA. Let me try to explain why.
The reasoning actually begins with the 14th Amendment. That contains what is called equal protection of the laws. It forbids states from denying to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. That means that everyone will be treated equally in regard to the enforcement of any given law. This was written to insure that blacks would not be discriminated against after the Civil War. Of course equal protection of law has a universal application; everyone, not just blacks, is guaranteed the same security. But the 14th amendment cannot be used to prove DOMA unconstitutional. Its universe is limited to the states individually. It does not apply to Federal laws. Enter Earl Warren.
In 1954 the Supreme Court argued that if the states could not deny equal protection of the laws than it would be absurd for Congress to have that right. "[T]he concepts of equal protection and due process, both stemming from our American ideal of fairness, are not mutually exclusive,” Chief Justice Warren. In other words, due process of law and equal protection of the laws are now essentially on the same plane. Back to Mr. Holder.
The Attorney General knows that the 14th Amendment has application to the states only (I give him credit for that) so he won’t use the clearest statement of equal protection. Since it is the 5th Amendment that applies to Congress he falls back on Warren’s interpretation- DOMA does not provide equal protection of the laws because it discriminates against gays.
It is a long stretch to find equal protection in due process even if a Supreme Court justice is the stretcher. Holder’s interpretation does not make DOMA unconstitutional. Yet I would argue that DOMA is unconstitutional on other grounds. Simply put, the Constitution of these United States has no jurisdiction over marriage. Marriage is not in the realm of the government that the Constitution creates. Some may cite the 10th amendment as a basis for individual states to rule on marriage. But there is no basis for these kinds of laws. Marriage is God’s design.
God has once and for all defined marriage. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) Marriage is only marriage when it is between man and woman. No governmental permissions or interdictions will ever change this God-ordained union.
But there is another question to be answered. More important than the first. The President says he will not enforce DOMA. Is he allowed to do that? Absolutely not! The President “shall take care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” It doesn’t matter whether he agrees with them or not. Whether he wants to or not. How many of his henchmen are affected. If he believes a law is unconstitutional he must wait for a Supreme Court ruling. He may not decide to simply abandon one.
Regardless of the constitutionality of DOMA President Obama is duty bound to execute it, like it or not. He violates his oath and breaks his promise to Americans whenever he decides willy-nilly which laws he will enforce.

The Faith of President Obama

There has been a great deal of discussion recently about the faith of President Obama. He began the conversation himself in an interview with Rick Warren during the presidential campaign in August of 2008.
Warren asked what it meant to trust in Christ. Mr. Obama responded.
“As a starting point, it means I believe in — that Jesus Christ died for my sins, and that I am redeemed through him. That is a source of strength and sustenance on a daily basis. Yes, I know that I don’t walk alone. And I know that if I can get myself out of the way, that I can maybe carry out in some small way what he intends. And it means that those sins that I have on a fairly regular basis hopefully will be washed away.”
That has a ring of confidence and sincerity to it. And yet 2 years down the road his faith is still questioned. So much so that at the National Prayer Breakfast, February 3, he felt compelled to defend his beliefs. "My Christian faith has been a sustaining force for me over the years, all the more so when Michelle and I hear our faith questioned."
Some in the media think that the Republicans are responsible for those increased questions.
For example, George Stephanopoulos recently grilled Michelle Bachman.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You know, a sizable number of GOP primary voters are questioning President Obama's faith and citizenship. Can you just state very clearly that President Obama is a Christian and he is a citizen of the United States?
BACHMANN: Well, that isn't for me to state. That's for the President to state. And I think that-
STEPHANOPOULOS: Do you believe it?
BACHMANN: When the President makes his statements, I think they need to stand for their own.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But, he has said it very clear. I'm just asking if you believe it? BACHMANN: Well, I think we should take the President at his word.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But you can't say that- you can't just sit there and declare the President's a citizen and he is a Christian?
Senator Mitch McConnell caught some flack last August with these words: "The
president says he's a Christian. I take him at his word. I don't think that's in dispute." What is in dispute? We do know the President says he is a Christian. Is that all that is indisputable?
Finally, last Sunday on Meet the Press, John Boehner defended his position on the faith of Obama.
“The president says he's a Christian. I accept him at his word." He later called those "the facts" of Obama's background. (David) Gregory asked, "But that kind of ignorance, about whether he's a Muslim, doesn't concern you?" "The American people have the right to think what they want to think," Boehner replied. "I can't -- it's not my job to tell them."
Is there anyone whose job it is to tell us? Wouldn’t it help us all if someone went beyond rhetoric and gave a visual definition of a Christian? Of course, someone did. His name is John and he was one of the first men to be called a Christian. (New Testament book of Acts. 11:26) And being among the initial followers of Christ he would certainly know what a Christian looks like.
In fact, he wrote a letter that contains certain reliable proofs of ‘Christian’ faith. When someone is born of God, born again, John says, that person exhibits distinct behaviors. Here are 3 of these character traits.
1. “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.” 1John 3:9. This does not mean that Christians never sin. It means that a true Christian does not continue living just like a sinner, i.e. with all the bad habits associated with sin: greed, dishonesty, arrogance, lust, selfishness, etc.
2. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1John 4:7. A true Christian loves other Christians. This kind of love moves Christians toward one another. Christians want to be together. That is why they attend church regularly, for example. And pray for one another. And encourage one another. And are hospitable to one another.
3. “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.” 1John 5:1. A true Christian believes that Jesus is the Messiah of God, the only anointed one. That Jesus is the only divine representative from God. A true Christian does not accept the premise that there are many ways to God. He knows that Jesus Christ is the only way.
Based on these physical evidences of true Christianity, are anyone’s words proof enough?

Is Idol Food Idle Talk?

Pastor Mark Biltz recently warned his listeners that they could be eating food offered to idols. And they may not even know it. His concern grows from the thousands of meat production companies that specialize in Halal food.
Halal food has been presented to Allah for his blessing. In order to receive the sanction of Allah a specific prayer must be made and a specific process followed. There is no doubt that the food is purposely consecrated to the god of Islam- who is for all Jews and biblical Christians a false god. Pastor Biltz wonders if that makes those who eat Halal food, even ignorantly, partakers of idol food. It is an interesting question.
The New Testament speaks to that very issue. When the apostles and elders of the church confronted the first challenge to church unity they resolved: “we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.” (Acts 15:19-20) Gentile believers were not permitted to eat idol food. That seems clear enough. But further clarification became necessary.
In Rome and Corinth believers were troubled about the ramifications of eating idol food unknowingly. Much of the meat purchased in first century markets was cut from larger portions that had been part of pagan sacrifices. What about eating this meat?
1. There is only God and He is Lord over all. 1 Corinthians 8: 4-6
2. Yet some believers may be offended if another eats meat previously offered to an idol. 8:7-12
3. Therefore, we must avoid offending our brother. 8:13
What if we don’t know about the meat purchased?
4. Eat anything sold or offered by a neighbor without asking questions because everything is God’s. 1 Corinthians 10: 25-27. Paul says in Romans 14:14 that nothing is unclean in itself. It is a matter of one’s personal conviction.
5. Therefore, if you know that the meat was part of a pagan ritual, do not eat because it may cause an offense to one who thinks it is tainted food. 10: 28-29
Where does Halal food fit in this process?
First, we must understand that God, not Allah, is Lord over all. Nothing He created for us to use is unclean. “For everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. . ." 1 Timothy 4:4
Second, it is okay to eat any food purchased by or served to us. We do not need to know its spiritual history. In fact, we are not guilty of eating idol food if we do not know it is idol food. (Principle 4 above)
Third, if we are told it is Halal and eating it will create an offense to our conscience or another believer’s conscience, we must abstain.
One final thought. Would this question be on the table if the issue was meat from India or rice from China?

Most Meaningful Books of 2010

Here are the ten books that most affected me in 2010. In the order in which I read them. Particularly influential were The Reason for God, Crazy Love, Respectable Sins, Hitler’s Cross, and A Call to Spiritual Reformation. I believe that every Christian leader should read Hitler’s Cross.
The Reason for God Timothy Keller
Crazy Love Francis Chan
The Gospel-Driven Life Michael Horton
Respectable Sins Jerry Bridges
A Gospel Primer Milton Vincent
There is a God Antony Flew
The Cross Centered Life C.J. Mahaney
Hitler’s Cross Irwin Lutzer
What is the Gospel? Greg Gilbert
A Call to Spiritual Reformation D.A. Carson