I read this article from the washington post. It mentions churches who support a political candidate during the Sunday service. This Sunday I’ll be talking about Jesus, not politics.
Last week I received multiple phone calls to have voter guides placed in our church and provide onsite voter registration. I politely said, “No Thanks,” and then listened for the next five minutes about how sorry he was to hear that I was supporting the decline of America.
Don’t get me wrong… I want you to vote, but our church is not going to tell you who to vote for. I do not want to reduce people’s view of a person to a “voter guide.” I believe people need to be more informed than that. The issues this world faces are complex. I listen to both conservative and liberal talk radio. I think it is healthy to listen to both sides of every issue. A great way to have an informed view on both Obama and McCain is to watch them talk with Pastor Rick Warren (Author of The Purpose Driven Life) during the two hour Saddleback Civil Forum.
Here is what I believe… The decline in America is not caused by the lack of voter guides. The decline is caused by people missing out on God. The power of politics is pretty small compared to the power of a life changed by Jesus. If I believed politics changed the world I would have become a politician. I believe the world is changed by people who discover God’s purpose for their lives instead of following a made up purpose. I am committed to “CHANGE”… but real change happens in the center of each person… a change that only happens when God gets involved. That is the change you will hear me talking about this Sunday. I’ll vote for a changed life over a changed Washington anytime.
I agree with you Trent…and you know where I stand. Along that change…a lot of decisions are made. I believe that when you make that decision to live for God, that other decisions should fall in line with that. “That may not be the best choice…that might not be the best place to go…” Now…not to say that Christians should or shouldn’t vote for a specific party, isn’t it important, however, for Christians to support a person or people that allow Jesus into their hearts and allow Him to guide decisions? Again – not that churches should spoon feed the congregations, but I do believe if Christians did the research…this decision is one of those ‘important’ decisions that make along our journey. Your thoughts? (boy…this is a coffe house conversation).
I’ve never seen a voter’s guide that tells me if the candidates “allow Jesus into their hearts and allow Him to guide decisions”… nor is there ever information in a voter’s guide that would lead us to that conclusion.
We are misled if we believe we can surmise the heart and intentions of a candidate by simply looking at “where they stand” on the issues. I strongly believe I should be able to idle my car longer in the winter than the current ordinance of 3 minutes in Minneapolis, but that doesn’t tell you anything about my relationship with God.
We’ve seen pro-life politicians step down for affairs and get caught in compromising financial positions. A Voter’s guide cannot show us a man’s heart – only God knows that. My guide is the Word of God and I trust Him when it says that the authorities that exist are established by God (Rom 13). It doesn’t say they are established by MY vote. If that were the case, then Keith Ellison wouldn’t be in Congress… after all, I didn’t vote for him. (If only God had multiplied my votes like the fish and bread)
I will do my research and pray, and fulfill my American duty with honor and integrity… but the most important decision I can make on my journey is to trust God. My hope and trust is in Him, not my vote.