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.”