Twice I have voted. Once in a presidential race. And once in a race for local officials. The first time when my candidate one back in 2012. I felt nothing. I didn't feel as if I had done anything wrong. But, I didn't feel I did anything right either. God still had a ways to work on me.
The second time was a different story. I didn't feel comfortable with what I was doing. But "proudly" went anyway.
I had let public perception and society shape my actions. Again, my candidate of choice won. And each step of the way I have been so ashamed to even say I voted for her. As I have watched her do things that she didn't even outline. But, shouldn't have been surprising.
You see, we live in a society where it is totally acceptable to exercise your freedom, as long as you do it by voting.
If you exercise that freedom by staying home from the polls, you are seen as ANTI-Bible. Or condoning the WRONG candidate. (Who is different in each voters eyes) But the fact remains.... If you don't vote, your reasoning does not matter.
We live where it's not okay to exercise your freedom if others fought for your "right" to vote.
Women fought for our rights as women. So "How dare you not take advantage of that in the polls." Or "Men and women are dying to protect our rights as American citizens. You must make it matter."
We live where it's okay for a man to be immoral, a cheater, and so many more horrible things, and a Christian will vote for that person as long as they don't advocate for abortion. (Or there may be other reasons.) But, a man/woman can be Anti everything that God stands for, and we will vote for him/her and call that person "blessed by God'
I try to run my actions through Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
A man can claim to be a Christian. May even show up in good churches every once in awhile. But, this is where it becomes so important to judge the fruit.
Do any of these candidates meet Philippians 4:8 qualifications?
Why did God appoint Saul as king? It wasn't because it was what God wanted. The people forced Gods hand by continual begging.
They wanted a Strong king who would lead them. God wasn't good enough for the Isrealites. They were already off worshipping other gods. Wood, stone and other graven images. (Isrealites seemed to like to do that when things didn't go their way. )
They decided that God wasn't good enough to lead them. It would have taken more faith than they wanted to put into their lives. They wanted everything visable right away. The gods weren't even living or doing any good. But, they insisted on having those gods because it was something they could see. It would take faith to listen to a prophet and believe that he had spoken to God and wasn't leading them down the wrong path.
It took less faith to sit back and have to do nothing other than wait for a king to be appointed. They wanted someone who would be okay with their actions and they knew that God wasn't.
We aren't too far off from the Israelites. We demand, push and beg for an unrighteous man to be in office. Instead of praying that Gods will be done.
Instead of praying for Gods will, we decide to justify a mans actions and decide who is less evil. Figuring that if it is LESS EVIL than that person must be righteous enough to lead our country.
We forget that if we were to line everything up with Philippians 4:8 that not one of these candidates would be on a Christians radar and we certainly wouldn't be comfortable with voting and standing behind that person.
Just the opposite.
We need more people to sit back and beg God to save our country. God alone can save our country. God alone can lead us to where He wants us.
But, we need to give us our faith in a finite man. We need to get down on our knees and beg God for His guidance. Beg Him for forgiveness for the men and women we have stood behind who have been nothing by evil.
May I remind you that we are NOT citizens of this world. We are ambassadors for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let that thought take you where it will. And follow Gods prompting. Just because someone died for your right to vote, does not mean that it's right.
Remember the one who died to give you life and run with that. Let that be your leading thought in all of life.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Bre Shafer
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Bre Shafer
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