"Unfortunately too many of us are known more by our politics than by our Christianity." - www.defendingcontending.com
As we enter a major political season I consider how much each decision matters, how much a vote matters. I once held a more firm belief that lack of voting for a "lesser of evils" was, in fact, voting for the greater evil; conceding a vote if you will. I still hold, as most do, that our "right" to vote is a privilege not to be discarded. There are nations who long for such a privilege.
But is choosing a lesser of two evils a choice which God would have us make, as followers of Christ? This question is valid in political choice and with all decisions in life. Consider this question as well.
"Do you vote for the candidate that will best help you to achieve the American dream or preserve your current prosperous economic status? If so, I have to ask a serious question of you: Has the American dream been a help or a hindrance to your faith?"
"14 "Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."(Joshua 24:14-15)
Doesn't that broaden our focus a bit? Consider, also, this..... "if the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church, then the luxury and security of the churchgoer is certainly the death of it."
We DO have a better choice still to contend with. A choice that requires faith, which I believe clears the fog of our political landscape and our lifescape. Consider this.....
1. Choose Whom You Will Serve
"And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word." (1 Kings 18:21 ESV)
"Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;I hate every false way." (Psalm 119:128 ESV)
"Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." (John 8:47 ESV)
2. Serve Faithfully And Without Apology
"You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you." (Deuteronomy 4:2 ESV)
"'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!" (Revelation 3:15 ESV)
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8 ESV)
"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." (Revelation 22:18, 19 ESV)
3. Serve Him With Gladness
"Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." (Deuteronomy 8:11-14)
Christian, do not be fearful, as The Lord has not given you such a mind. But be bold, with all graciousness, empathy, and love, based upon the foundations of your faith.
Unbeliever, forget about the hypocrisy of the Christian or the so-called. The mere realization of another's lack of genuineness won't alter your own eternal decision.
Choose, this day, whom you will serve. Be sincere. Then don't look back.
