A Striking Example
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood…Proverbs 6:16-17a (ESV)
I understand that a responsible citizen should vote.
I also understand that a responsible Christian will vote according to the Word of God.
These two things do not usually mesh well for me.
This week I decided to get serious about my vote so I did some digging. In my little section of Pennsylvania there is a short ballot. It took very little time to see that there were no candidates who hold to scriptural values.
This morning I was reading in the “Institutes of Biblical Law,” by R.J. Rushdoony. In the 9th commandment (You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Exodus 20:16 {ESV}) he has a section he calls “The Lying Tongue.” One thing he points out is that it has become accepted practice within the realm of the state to lie as deemed necessary to accomplish the desired agenda.
I am always skeptical about that kind of blanket statement. I questioned it in my mind.
The Lord never lets me doubt for long.
In the car with the radio on, I heard an advertisement by the man running for Governor against the incumbent. He made a promise (he made several but this one struck me) saying he “will” remove the school taxes from our properties.
One man running for office said he will come in and change the way we pay for public schools. He did not say we would not pay for them, just that it would not be attached to our property.
This struck me as a lie. If he said he would “fight for’ or “introduce a bill” to eliminate them I may have believed him. But he made a promise.
It is hardly necessary to look for more but as I was driving I passed a billboard with “Uncle Sam” on it which read:
If you want to Fix:
Healthcare
Education
Social Security
Vote Democratic on November 6th
There could be some discussion on whether or not this is a promise, but it certainly surprised me. Leaving aside the question of whether the government should be involved in any of these things, there are different ways to “fix” them. So far, no politician has been able to pass any legislation that has helped with any of them.
As a Christian I need to vote for godly candidates. A”lying tongue” will not do. Voting for the lesser of two evils is still evil. So this is my appeal to godly people; please run for public office so I may vote with a good conscience. I want to leave the voting booth having remained faithful to my God and responsible with my duty to my nation.
Please tell me if I have missed the godly qualities of someone on this ballot.
Well said. But what are we to do? Not vote? I struggle with “the lesser of two evis”. But, unfortunately, there are faults in all candidates as there are in me. Our country is in a desperate shape. I read of the Old Testament saints who told terrible lies and committed many sins. Abraham, David for example. And yet God used them greatly. I agree with what you are saying and I thank you for it. But it leaves me in the dilemma of how to vote. I too live in PA, in fact, not far from you. I see the despicable ads. I’m a 75 year old female who has watched our country deteriorate. I fear for my children and grandchildren. Thank you for making me go to my knees in prayer. I sincerely appreciate your posts. Thank you for taking a stand on your walk with God.
Thanks for the comment, Sharon, I have been battling this issue for quite awhile. Yesterday, after a sermon about voting (which I can send you a link to if you want it once it is up on our website), there was an interesting discussion. One man said it so plainly for me to see. He gave David as an example and said David was a Godly man who did not get everything right. He said he would rather have David than an ungodly man who occasionally gets things right. The more important criteria is that our civil authorities be godly people, basing decisions on what is important to God, not their own selfish gain. God calls us to seek the godly man as our civil magistrate (2 Samuel 23:3-4; Exodus 18:21). In Exodus 18 Moses’ Father-in-law, Jethro clearly gave these instructions about men who lead: “Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. (ESV)” This is still the responsibility we hold.
There were two other strategies mentioned yesterday (I am grateful for these men!). One, from our Pastor, is that he takes a pen into the voting booth and writes in a godly man’s name. The other goes into the booth and pushes the vote button without voting. Both feel they are making the statement that the system is not working but they make a statement by taking the time to go to the polls. If there is a godly man running for any office on their ballot they vote for him. Somewhere along the way Christians need to make the statement that we have an ungodly system. I think we participate as much as it honors God. I trust that He is sovereign and will “turn the King’s heart wherever He will.” My responsibility is to be faithful to Him above all else, even in teh voting booth.
Thanks for the encouragement on my writing.
May God bless you with His peace as you wrestle with Him over how to proceed,
Beth