Tag: voting

How We Decide To Live After A Leader Is Elected

Gary Pollard

A “satan” (σαταν) is an enemy or an obstacle of some kind. A “devil” (διαβολος) is one who puts down another person’s character or accuses them. Both describe a similar goal: to make someone less favorable in the eyes of another and prevent their acceptance. Our enemies did this in God’s presence (cf. Job 1 & 2 and at least one non-canonical source), but this is no longer the case thanks to Jesus’s sacrifice! He defeated them for good (Col 1 and 2), so “who is there to condemn when God is the one who justifies?” (Rom 8.33-34). 

My point is this: there is one leader of the satans, but there are many who accuse and put down. Perhaps this is why we’re told to avoid even entertaining an accusation against elders if there aren’t multiple witnesses (I Tim 5.19). We often absolutely deserve these accusations — we’re human, we fail all the time. That’s not the way God sees our relationship with him, though! Look at Rom 8.1ff, Jn 3.18, I Jn 1.9, and all of Hb 8. Provided we believe in him and aim higher than our physical bodies, he gives life and not condemnation. 

I’m writing this shortly after noon on Election Day 2024. I’ve not kept up with the details of the presidential race, and have mostly unplugged from the rhetoric. This is not out of self-righteousness or some other holier-than-thou attitude. To put it bluntly, I don’t need another reason to view others in a negative light! It’s way too easy to become a satan/devil when all I choose to be exposed to is the weakness of others. Everyone sins, everyone fails to live up to God’s intrinsic perfection (Rom 3.23). Even we who believe have to fight our sinful selves for as long as we’re in our current bodies (cf. Rom 7-8). I have to think that those who shove only the evil of other humans down our throats 24/7 are motivated by the same spirit as those who accuse(d) us before God. It’s much harder (for me anyways) to be “perfected in love” if all I see is the worst of humanity. 

In a roundabout way, this article is about how we decide to live after God puts a leader in charge of this country (cf. Dan 2.21). We all have a sense — rightfully so — that this election will determine the viability of our great country in the short and long term. We will likely either lose our national identity and freedoms and security, or we’ll push that decline further into the future. Will we get who we deserve or will God spare us for a few more years? I don’t know. But we beg God to give us the power to love other people and live like Jesus — whether he gives us Trump or Harris, economic prosperity or decline, national security or devastation, freedom of speech or censorship, etc. 

“When the assembly of the godly will appear and sinners will be judged for their sins and driven from the face of the Earth, when the Righteous One will appear before the eyes of the righteous whose chosen works hang on the Lord of armies, light will appear to the righteous and chosen who live on the Earth. Where will the sinners live then? Where will those who denied the Lord of armies find shelter? It would be better for them if they had not been born: when the secrets of the righteous will be revealed, the sinners are judged, and the godless are driven from the presence of the righteous and chosen, those who possess the Earth will no longer be powerful and exalted. They will be unable to see the faces of the holy ones because the Lord of armies will cause his light to appear on the faces of the holy, righteous, and chosen. Then the kings and the mighty will perish and will be given into the hands of the righteous and holy. None of them will seek mercy for themselves from the Lord of armies, for their lives will have ended”(I En 38; non-canonical book, for comparison).

Praise God’s name forever and ever! Power and wisdom belong to him. He changes the times and seasons. He gives power to kings, and he takes their power away (Dan 2). 

Lord, you are a great and awesome God. You keep your agreement of love and kindness with people who love you. You keep your agreement with the people who obey your commands. But we have sinned. We have done wrong, we have done evil things. We turned against you. We turned away from your commands and good decisions. The prophets were your servants. They spoke for you to our kings, our leaders, our fathers, and to the common people of this country. But we did not listen to them. Lord, you are innocent, and the shame belongs to us, even now. Shame belongs to the people from Judah and Jerusalem, and to the people of Israel, and to everyone who lives near and far in many nations across the Earth. They should all be ashamed because of the evil things they did against you. Lord, we should all be ashamed. All of our kings and leaders should be ashamed. Our ancestors should be ashamed, because we sinned against you. But Lord our God, you are kind and forgiving, even though we rebelled against you. … All of these terrible things have happened to us, … but we still have not asked the Lord our God for help. We still have not stopped sinning. We still do not pay attention to your truth, Lord. … Now, our God, hear your servant’s prayer. Listen to my prayer for mercy. For your own sake, do good things for your holy place. My God, listen to me! Open your eyes and see all the terrible things that have happened to us. See what has happened to the city that is called by your name. I am not saying that we are good people. That is not why I am asking these things. I am asking these things because I know you are kind. Lord, listen to me! Forgive us! Lord, pay attention, and then do something! Don’t wait! Do something now! Do it for your own good! My God, do something now for your city and your people who are called by your name (Dan 9.4-19). 

Lord, I have heard the news about you. I am amazed, Lord, at the powerful things you did in the past. Now I pray that you will do great things in our time. Please make these things happen in our own days. But in your anger, remember to show mercy to us. 

Figs may not grow on the fig tree, and grapes may not grow on the vine. Olives may not grow on the olive trees, and food might not grow in the fields. There might not be any sheep in the pens or cattle in the barns. But I will still be glad in the Lord and rejoice in God who saves me. The Lord God gives me my strength (Hab 3.1-2, 17-19). 

Who can accuse the people God has chosen? No one! God is the one who makes them right. Who can say that God’s people are guilty? No one! Christ Jesus died for us, but that is not all. He was also raised from death. And now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us. Can anything separate us from his love? Can trouble or problems or persecution separate us from his love? If we have no food or clothes or face danger or even death, will that separate us from his love? … But through all of these troubles, we have complete victory through God who has shown his love for us. Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love — not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us — nothing in the whole created world — will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our master” (Rom 8.34-39). 

Jesus is the one who says that all of this is true. Now he says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” I agree completely — come back to us, Jesus our master” (Rv 22.20). 

Effective Prayers For An Election Year

Dale Pollard

God’s people are going to be lifting up many prayers for the USA this year. In order for those prayers to be as potent as possible, here’s four biblical principles that will give them more power. 

  1. Evaluate your spiritual life. The prayers of righteous men and women make the most impact (James 5:16). 
  2. God can’t be seen as just one option. Think of the rascally child who, after receiving a “no” from his father, approaches his mother in secret seeking a “yes.” That child should receive a stern chat— perhaps a spanking? When we approach God, we must do so with His will above our wants. Sometimes the two line up! If they don’t, accept the answer and press on. 
  3. Saturate your petitions with praise and thankfulness. Even when odd viruses seem to mysteriously appear or the “wrong” man takes the office— God deserves your praise with a thankful heart. After all, He reigns with perfection and justice on His throne (Psalm 97:1). God has given us the cure to a horrible sickness that not even all the scientists in the world could cure (Ephesians 2:8). Nothing that happens today or any day will ever change those things. We’ve only just scratched the surface here, too. God deserves every bit of your praise and thankfulness, no matter what. 
  4. Don’t miss the big picture when you pray. Our minds have a way of fooling us into thinking that current events are the big picture. That’s just not true. What’s more important? The growth and faith of every member in His church. For an encouraging study, look at all the congregations in biblical history that were built up numerically and spiritually— despite who was leading the country at the time. What’s most important is not this country or nation, it’s His kingdom and that kingdom to come. 

Are you righteous? Please pray for this world and pray for His church. If there’s something keeping you from the righteousness of God, that’s far more urgent than anything else and that’s what deserves your full attention. 

Let’s be a happy and hopeful people— let’s be those who practice righteousness. 

What’s On The Ballot?

Neal Pollard

For some, it’s their wallets. But, “beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).

For some, it’s their walls. Whether the one at our national border or the ones around our home. National security is important. Law and order derives from God and Scripture (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-14). But, remember, “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain” (Psa. 127:1). There should be higher motivation.

For some, it’s wokeness. Whether to protect hyper-racism or to combat cancel culture, some on either side will be driven by this issue. This certainly has been central to those whose vote is driven by education matters. Yet, it is so easy to let subjective ideas supplant God’s authoritative Word. We must be convicted by the truth of Jesus’ words in John 12:48: “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.”

For some, it’s the womb. How sobering to vote in support of taking the life of the unborn or to be motivated by such. May we remember that one of the things God hates are “hands that shed innocent blood” (Prov. 6:16)!

For some, it’s worry. It may be general unease and anxiety about the “direction” of our country. There’s a fine line between civic duty and sinful worry. God is always on His throne. As ever, “…the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes” (Dan. 4:32).

For some, it’s the Word. The continued ability to teach the gospel to the lost, to worship together according to that Word, and to live according to God’s Word should underlie everything we do. That includes informing our votes in elections. But, may we keep in mind what the angel tells Zechariah to tell Zerubbabel: “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Zech. 4:6). No election, however favorable to our convictions, is a substitute for making disciples (Mat. 28:18-20).

Many say “democracy is on the ballot,” though what that means depends on who says it. Hopefully, we all prayerfully deliberate and do our best to align everything we believe, endorse, and encourage with what the Word says! But when we leave the voting booth, we need to “go into all the world” and give them what they need more than anything–the hope of eternal life!

PREACHERS AND POLITICAL ACTIVISM

Neal Pollard

Being patriotic and having a political heritage like we do in this country, we may have strong, personal convictions in the realm of politics. Engaging in the political process, from volunteering to voting to political meetings, can help us not only be a positive agent of change but also salt and light before the world. But nothing can have a quicker negative impact on ministry than a “stumping sermonizer” or “campaigning church man.” I’ve known preachers who seem CONSUMED with politics and can hardly speak without ranting about it.  It just comes out! Beware that the mouth speaks out of the abundance of what’s in the heart (Mat. 12:34). Some preachers betray that they’re dwelling more on things below than things above (Col. 3:1-2).

The church began in the midst of political rottenness and corruption. Tacitus wrote of Augustus Caesar that he “seduced the army with bonuses, and his cheap food policy was successful bait for civilians. Indeed, he attracted everybody’s goodwill by the enjoyable gift of peace. Then he gradually pushed ahead and absorbed the functions of the senate, the officials, and even the law. Opposition did not exist. War or judicial murder had disposed of all men of spirit. Upper-class survivors found that slavish obedience was the way to succeed, both politically and financially” (https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~wstevens/history331texts/augtotib.html). Of course, certain Jews did consume themselves with political interest and revolted against Rome—A venture that ended badly at Jerusalem and Masada. Read Tamarin’s classic book, Revolt In Judea, if you want the horrible details.  Politicians of the first century were guilty of wanton sexual immorality, including homosexuality and adultery; They practiced infanticide and whet their appetites for death and violence in their stadiums and arenas.  Where is Peter’s or Paul’s diatribe in scripture against vices and corruptions that sound a lot like our day? Where are the early Christians with their pickets and protests against the government?  Instead, “They went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:4)!

Political activism will hurt our efforts to effectively evangelize. How tragic to lose a soul trying to win a political argument!  Political activism, in preachers, can negatively impact what the church has paid them to do. They certainly didn’t pay him to spend all day on social media trolling stories or writing quips. They didn’t hire him to go to political rallies, being more wrapped up in affairs of state than affairs of heaven.

Paul was actually able to have an audience with the most prominent politicians of his day. Was he interested in discussing national or imperial policy with them?  Before Felix and Agrippa, he preached righteousness, temperance and judgment to come.  In Acts 27, he says God appointed him to speak before Caesar.  What could happen among us if more were devoted to spiritual revival than political reform?

THE POLLS ARE OPEN

Neal Pollard

All over the nation, poll levers are being pulled, votes cast, and the office of many political positions is in the process of being filled by the winning candidate. People in this place of democracy are, at this moment, helping to decide the political fate of individuals vying for a place of public leadership. Those elected may or may not be persons of worth and integrity. Their careers may be starting, extending, or ending, depending on the majority’s say. They may gain or lose a place of authority based on their political, international, domestic, economic, and social philosophies. After all, public officials are always vulnerable to the fickle feelings of the voter.

Everywhere in the world at every moment, everyone is casting a vote of a different nature. Only one figurative ballot is used in this worldwide decision. Only two choices appear on the ballot. The issues are paramount in importance. This vote is not cast secretly behind a curtain, either. Many times, a righteous minority may be caused to suffer because of the foolish “majority vote” (cf. Proverbs 14:34). When all of life is over, the voting record of every individual will be made public. In fact, all people of all nations for all time will know which choice every individual elected to make in his life. And yet, with this poll, one can change his vote as long as life and opportunity are his.

Does the Kingdom take PRIMARY importance in your life? In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mat. 6:33). The head of this kingdom is Christ “and he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Col. 1:18, emp. NP). God demands first place. We must love Him more than anyone or anything else (Lk. 10:27). Whatever keeps us from attending the worship assembly, from actively seeking the lost, and from modeling true Christianity before the world, takes priority over serving and obeying God in His Kingdom.

Are you casting the VOTE of your life for or against Jehovah? All Israel stood before Joshua to decide to whom their life belonged. In Joshua 24:15, Joshua had said “God or gods.” “And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods; For the Lord our God, he it is that brought up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed: And the Lord drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the Lord: for he is our God” (Josh. 24:16-18). The people of God cast their vote out of appreciation, for they remembered the deliverance of God. The people of God cast their vote out of attention, for they recognized the power of God. The people of God cast their vote out of alarm, for they revered the justice of God. The people of God cast their vote out of aversion, for they rejected the enemies of God. Joshua reminded them that God would go with them only as long as they went with God. Because God is a jealous God who wants first place in our lives, He expects the import of our lives to reflect our submission and trust in His way.

Does King Jesus REIGN in your heart? The promise of Christ’s coming included the announcement of Gabriel, who said, “And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Lk. 1:33; cf. Dan. 2:44). The “throne of the heart” is often mentioned in figurative language. All of us place something there. We place our accumulation before that throne (Matt. 6:21), our affections around that throne (Col. 3:1; Rom. 12:2), and our allegiance before that throne (Jas. 4:4; 1 Jn. 2:15-17). Is Jesus “a resident” in the “castle” of your heart? If so, is He King or peasant to you? The Bible calls Jesus “the King of the ages” (1 Tim. 1:17), “The blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings…” (1 Tim. 6:15), and “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:16). How much greater than the mere prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2) is our Almighty King Jesus!

God created every person with the ability to freely choose. He will not rule us dictatorially (tyrannically). He leaves the power of choice in our hand. Yet, we must choose carefully. The decision we make has eternal consequences. King Jesus says, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me” (Jn. 12:48-50). Whether we elect Him King of our lives or not, He has been appointed by God to judge us on an appointed day. The polls are open. Will you choose Christ and His law?

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