2012 Elections

This week, I was speaking with a couple of people about the election in 2012. During this conversation, we started talking about whether or not we can trust men to turn this country around, or even to do the good which we want them to do. One of these people is voting for Romney and believes that we can trust his character and his past patterns enough to do the good which we want him to do. I believe that this is a very good topic for a post, so I have decided to write about it.

Here is my issue with the above argument, can we truly trust un-saved Man to do what is good? Can we trust them to make laws that line up with our beliefs? Overall, are they worthy of any trust?
Let us look at the Bible.

"Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God
before his eyes.
For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
He plots trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in a way that is not good;
he does not reject evil." (Psalm 36:1-4)

Also, here is Psalm 5:9,

"For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue."

cf. Micah 7, Eccles. 9:3, Jeremiah 10:7-8,14, Jeremiah 13:23.

Unsaved rulers/candidates, although they may be considered "good" men by some cultural standard, are really ungodly, ignorant and foolish men. They have no true character (nor can we trust in their character), for every inclination of their hearts are toward evil (Gen. 6:5).I say none of this because I hate these men or am angry with them or want to smear their names, rather I say this because this is who they are.

This is why the Psalmist wrote,

"Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish." (Psalm 146:3-4)

Notice, it says that in man, there is no help. There is no help apart from God. Furthermore, we must not trust men to turn this country around. Even trusting them to make laws that will turn this country around is wrong.

If there is still any doubts about this, this is what Paul wrote to Titus about un-saved rulers (which far outnumber saved rulers),

"Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us..." (Titus 3:1-5a)

Paul is here saying that we must be submissive to the rulers and authorities, being obedient to them, not slandering them or quarreling with them. Why should Paul be telling Titus this? Because the rulers were being foolish, disobedient to God, slaves to their fleshly desires, hateful, envious and malicious. Overall, the rulers were just plain bad. However, Paul says (paraphrase), "Why are you amazed at this? They are slaves to sin, just like we once were. You cannot expect slaves of sin to be wise and godly, nor can you expect them to rule wisely and in a godly manner."

It is the same with our nation's leaders. The vast majority of them, unlike what some may say, are not followers of God. They are wicked and foolish, running whole-heartedly on the paths of darkness. Please remember this when you look at the way our leaders are acting and what they do. Do not be amazed when they sin, nor be hateful towards them or slander them. Rather, pray for their salvation daily.

So, I must say again that putting your trust in men to turn this country around or even to make laws that are in accord with godliness, is a very much misplaced trust.

Since I do not trust in men and especially not in the character of the unsaved, I cannot say that I at all trust our rulers. However, that is not an issue for me, because God has complete authority over all rulers and no one can do anything outside of His plan. Thus, I trust not man, but God.



Now that I have said that, here is what I have to say about voting in the next election:

1) Do not put your trust in your candidate. Both of the top candidates are unsaved men. Furthermore, they are only men, prone to evil and foolishness. They are not the deciding factors in what happens in the world, rather, God is in complete control.

2) Vote for the candidate whom you believe is closest to your own views. 

3) Do not slander any of the current rulers, nor any of the candidates, nor anyone in general. Much of Politics rides on mud-slinging, where you slander your opponents and treat them as garbage. Do not take part in this, for it is truly evil and sickening in God's sight.

4) Trust God with the outcome. Please remember that all authorities are appointed by God, even in a democratic/republican system. God will appoint whomever He wishes, no matter what men may wish.

5) Do not act as if the world rests upon this election, nor upon politics in general. Again, this election is not the deciding factor in what happens in this world. God is the "deciding factor" and Supreme Ruler, not America's elections or leaders. Also remember that this world is not our home, nor is America our ultimate Country. We are not citizens of this world, we are citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom.

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ..." (Philippians 3:20)

As I read what I write and look at my knowledge of God and the Scriptures, I continually see how so many men whom God has called are far greater than I. This is not of their own doing, but of God's, so that His Name may be praised. So, I leave the expounding of this last point which I have given, to Charles Spurgeon. Please read this sermon or listen to the audio which is on it.

Citizens of Heaven

Note: I do not completely agree with Spurgeon, especially about Politically-Involved Christians. However, as Christians, the politics of this world are not of the worth of the Heavenly Kingdom. God is our King and He alone, not the worldly country in which we reside, deserves all our allegiance.

Still, something continually comes to my mind, can a truly godly Christian become the highest official in the land? Will not the hatred of the whole world be upon him because his God is the Lord and he speaks out against the sin of Mankind and reminds them of the Hell which is justly theirs? Can hell-bound Man love a Christian enough to put him into a seat of high honor and power?