For “Scripture Sunday”:
Why I Won’t Be Voting in the Presidential Election
While we may want to vote for the person that most reflects our godly beliefs, there is no earthly person that can fulfill the true need.
There is a lot of pressure to “do your civic duty” and vote. People will tell you if you don’t vote it’s like throwing away your freedoms. Others say that a non-vote is a vote for the other side—typically whichever side they are not voting for. It is an individual choice on whether or not to vote in the upcoming elections, but for me, the reasons not to get involved outweigh the reasons in favor of it.
Don’t misunderstand me, I do have opinions on the candidates who are running, and I often have to restrain myself so that I don’t get caught up in the racket of it all. Although, that is one of the problems. If I allow myself to get caught up in it, then my attentions are drawn away from where they need to be. We are told to look to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). It is important to remember that the leadership and Kingdom I seek is not of this world and is unshakable (Hebrews 12:27-28). We are told, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you” (Matthew 6:33 Modern English Version throughout).
For every single talking-point I might like, there are always others that are completely against my beliefs. How could I choose someone that would inevitably choose to do things that are in opposition to what God would choose?
Relationships and God’s way
While Christians are often criticized for their beliefs, we can also create more strife by being involved with the political system. People become very emotionally involved, so much so that they have come to blows over differing opinions. Over the years I have found if I side with any candidate’s political stance overall I inevitably upset someone. This can lead to, at the very least, a heated conversation, and at the most, a long-lasting animosity between myself and the other person. Do I want to damage my relationships with others over politics? This can happen with friends, family, and fellow church members. We all have varying views on aspects of life, but we should never strive to create division.
As a Christian, I am taught to love my neighbor as myself (Leviticus19:18, Matthew 23:39, Mark 12:31). Although Christians are sometimes attacked for their beliefs, because I am to love my neighbor, I do not want to create any other circumstances that make my relationships more tenuous. Jesus stated the greatest commandments: “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” It is difficult to show love to one who is offended (Proverbs 18:17-19).
While we may want to vote for the person that most reflects our godly beliefs, there is no earthly person that can fulfill the true need. If we are told to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all people (Matthew 10:7, Acts28:31), I cannot in good conscience promote or support a leader of any political party. For every single talking-point I might like, there are always others that are completely against my beliefs. How could I choose someone that would inevitably choose to do things that are in opposition to what God would choose?
We are told that we are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). I cannot be an ambassador for Christ and also represent another leader. I must trust that God knows what is best and pray that His will be done (Matthew 6:10). I also have to look at the Bible to guide me. One scripture states, “It is He who changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who know understanding” (Daniel 2:21, see also Romans 13:1).
If God sets up leaders according to His will, what makes me think I am any wiser? God’s plan may indeed allow evil leaders to be in higher positions. Scripture shows that it happened in Israel. Bad kings rose and fell according to how little or how much the people were staying on course with God. He allowed evil kings to rise to power or kingdoms to fail. When the people remembered their God He often restored a loving king to lead them.
For me, throwing support behind a government leader is saying that I don’t trust God’s leadership. God says we should be different (Romans 12:2). We are to be preaching the gospel and being citizens of heaven. “But our citizenship is in heaven, from where also we await for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).” From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/why-i-wont-be-voting-in-the-presidential-election
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God’s Instructions for Rulers
What kind of standards does God expect in leaders?
“The Ten Commandments are listed in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:4-21. You will also find the commandments mentioned throughout the Old and New Testaments .
God’s instruction in Deuteronomy 17:18-20 states that kings were to write out a copy of God’s law and to read and rule by it continuously.
(Deuteronomy 17:18-20, New King James Version (NKJV) 18 “Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom)”
The current U.S. presidential race is an embarrassment to the nation. The two leading contenders fall short of biblical character standards in critical areas. One has a history of multiple bankruptcies, questionable business dealings, marriages and affairs. The other supported her philandering husband for years, lied repeatedly about her e-mail communications while U.S. Secretary of State, and advocates for homosexual marriage and killing the unborn.
The sad fact is that the nation gets the kind of leadership it deserves, and regrettably that will be true in this election.
What kind of standards does God expect in leaders? And once in office, what should they focus on in fulfilling their duties? What would help them be the kind of leaders God would want them to be?
Some 3,500 years ago God set down a “constitution” of sorts for a new nation. The nation was Israel, newly freed from enslavement by the Egyptians. God laid out rules that would bring blessings and empower Israel to be an example that other nations would want to emulate (Deuteronomy 4:5-8). The key to those blessings was following their new “constitution,” God’s laws as revealed in the first five books of the Bible.
No one would be above the law or exempt from it. In fact, leaders were instructed to intimately familiarize themselves with it so they could rule humbly, wisely and righteously, leading to blessing for both themselves and the nation. Notice God’s instruction in Deuteronomy 17:18-20 that kings were to write out a copy of God’s law and to read and rule by it continuously:
“When [the new king] sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees.
“This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel” (New Living Translation,2015).
Consider these words of wisdom. Think on this deeply. How different would any nation be if its leadership took to heart this simple and plain instruction? What an astounding difference it would make!”
From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-magazine/gods-instructions-for-rulers
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Update:
Just for your information, I cannot vote as I am a British subject.
We are still working on the plumbing in the guest house, plus a couple more trips to the hardware store for parts. We were delayed by having to turn our attention to doing other things. Such as the fence needed a new board, a door wouldn’t latch, the metal work stool needed new bolts and screws, the pressure washer needed attention, then one of the clocks had to have new hands put on it when the time was changed. Just everyday stuff that has to be done.
Tomorrow, I will be picking up a medium size dog, so I had to get a carrier larger than the ones that I use for cats, out of storage. The carrier needed a good scrub, then we strapped in down in my van. This poor little dog’s people took her to their vet for 2 years for allergy shots. She eventually lost most of her hair and some of her skin turned like that of an elephant. Our SPCA boss offered to take care of the dog temporarily, and our vet treated her for mites, and she is getting so much better with non-cornmeal dog food and special baths. Our SPCA is getting ready for one of their best donation events, their “Doggies and Divas” fashion show, so I am going to take care of the dog for our boss until that is over. My Sheltie is still as timid as can be, and cannot even look at a vacuum cleaner without trembing. She must have gone through some terrible trauma.
We all had a good time at church, Jeff the elder who is our guitarist was back, so the hymns were sung with more gusto than last week. It is difficult to sing if you don’t know the melody, so it was great to have him singing and playing again. I took a big Shepherd’s Pie for the potluck, and there were several other dishes, like chili and salmon casserole. As usual, lots of veggies and beans.
The Bible readings were Gen. 6:9-11:32, mostly about Noah’s lineage and the flood, Isa. 54:1-55:5, Matt. 24:36-44, and the Teaching was about Judgement, such as in the time of Sodom, and how it will happen again.
The weather has changed and even though it is still warm sometimes, we have cooler days.
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