1997    1996

FROM A PASTOR’S HEART
October 29, 2003

WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS!

(The following message came from Don Pinson of the Kentucky Family Foundation) “He was a young king, but a good one. He had chosen to live right and consequently, had been blessed in everything he undertook. However, in the neighboring nation, this was not the case. A very selfish king ruled who oppressed his people and made all his decisions based on the thought, "what's in it for me". The only thing the two kings had in common was an enemy to the north who was threatening to take over both his southern neighbors.

While this story happened over 2500 years ago, it was used by John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, to illustrate a very important truth concerning elections and our personal vote. In answer to the question; "Is it permissible for a Godly person to vote for an un Godly candidate?" John Jay replied to him: "[This] is a question which merits more consideration than it seems yet to have generally received, either from the clergy or the laity. It appears to me that what the prophet said to Jehoshaphat about his attachment to Ahab affords a salutory lesson." Notice what God said to Jehoshaphat by his prophet, “Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD” (2 Chr 19:2).

Chief Justice Jay was making a strong statement that we have no right to vote for ungodly candidates! Why does God feel so strongly about us voting-- and voting for godly candidates? God led our Founding Fathers to establish a Biblical form of government known as a republic. Our Supreme Court, in the early 1800's, explained: "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty...of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

The Supreme Court was saying that our very existence as a nation depends on Christians voting-- and voting for Christian candidates! Noah Webster, the Father of American Education, strongly confirmed this in his book “Advice to the Young,” (p.37). He stated, "When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers..,God commands you to choose for rulers, just men who will rule in the fear of God."

The very word "vote" comes from a Latin word which means, "a solemn promise to God". Our vote is our choice of a ruler, which we make in the very presence of God! On Election day, let's heed the command of a colonial minister in Connecticut, Matthias Burnet, who told his people concerning their voting, "You, whose high prerogative it is,...to save or destroy your country, consider well the important trust ...which God...[has] put into your hands. To God and posterity your are accountable...Let not your children have reason to curse you for giving up those rights, and [destroying] those institutions which your fathers delivered to you."

This message from Mr. Pinson is valuable for all of us. Whether we vote and who we vote for says much about our beliefs and knowledge of Scripture. Everyone votes on election day. Those who do not cast a ballot are voting to remove themselves from being salt and light as God commanded. They vote to let others decide the future of this nation. They vote to let the evil element take over without firing a shot.

Many Christians do vote, but vote the wrong way. They vote for a party instead of voting for the right person. All political parties are getting farther away from biblical standards. Christians should have standards of right and wrong and never move. The political parties will move from standards depending on what the polls say. God’s people should know and obey Proverbs 14:34 which says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

Please answer this question:  Is it wrong to practice homosexuality and other sexual perversions? Is it wrong to have abortions? Is it wrong to make laws to make it easy for people to commit those sins?

The answer is obviously YES!

Then it is equally as wrong to vote for the people who will make the laws to support these things. It is wrong to vote for a man who will appoint the liberal judges who are for these things and misinterpret the constitution to make them legal. God will hold us accountable for not protecting innocent life and for not putting up barriers to make it harder for people to sin.

Any person who votes for a person who is for things God is against is partakers of their evil deeds. We want God to bless us, but how can God continue to bless this nation when God’s people are failing to be salt and light? Should there be a difference in the way a God fearing and God hating person votes? Should God’s people sit back and do nothing while their country is being taken over by those who will not be satisfied until God is completely removed from everything?

How did those judges who are siding with the ACLU to remove God from everything in this country get their positions? They got them because God’s people either did not vote or they voted for the wrong people. Find out what the candidates believe and how they vote on moral issues and then be salt and light in a dark and diseased country by getting godly people into office!

(IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH: Pastor, Arnold Martin)