Monday, October 15 is the official deadline in Virginia to register to vote. Are you registered? Faith-based groups around the country have been working overtime to identify evangelical voters and encourage them to be a part of the political process. Are you registered?
Some say that voting is unnecessary. They use the old adage that God is in control, He is sovereign, and thus does not need you or me to do His will.
Others say why bother? There are no good candidates running for office, and so because I can’t have exactly what I want, I will not bother voting at all.
I would disagree on both fronts. God’s will certainly will happen no matter what we do. And almost certainly, there will never be a perfect candidate.
But when Jesus left this earth, He said that we will do greater things than He. How were we, mere men, supposed to do things that outweighed the work of the cross? By letting the Holy Spirit rule in our hearts, and to go, follow Him, the collective work of the body will be on display for all to see. But if God was sovereign, and what we do doesn’t really matter, why would Jesus Himself endorse us…you and me? Because He knows and we can realize that God uses man to do His will. We are the pieces in His chessboard of life that God uses to reveal His plan to mankind, and to realize the desires of His heart. Much like Cyrus, king of Babylon, God can raise men to great success. And like Nebuchadnezzar, God can bring them back to their knees. The bottom line, God uses people, you and me, to do His will.
The other reality is we have proven that we are all utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us. Why is it that we expect of those running for the President of the United States to be any different? Our own congregations don’t even believe everything we believe. And we ourselves don’t agree with everything our denomination believes. Do we then expect candidates to match exactly what we believe on every issue? Or to behave in such a way publicly that we might not even be willing to take a stand on privately? And why is it that we see the political arena as the one last bastion of immorality and thus find no need to be the light? Because it is so immoral, Christians feel they should stay out of the fray and remain peaceful and loving in their ivory towers adorned with the cross?
Friends, this is a grave election. I cringe when I hear people proclaim, or writers endorse the idea that this this election is no different than any other election. When we have a president that actively advocates and promotes sitting comfortably in the darkness, we cannot idly sit back and watch it happen. John MacArthur recently spoke about the “Campaign for Immorality“,
This is a new day in our country. Parties which used to differ on economics now differ dramatically on issues that invade the realm of God’s law and morality…This is not about politics, although there are things we could talk about: You’re not voting for a pastor, you’re not voting for a spiritual leader, you’re voting for someone who has some sense of morality. Since the Bible says that the role of government is to punish evil doers and protect the good, you better have somebody in power who understands what is good and what is evil.
We have an opportunity to shine some light in a very dark place.
Are you registered to vote?
