Comments on: The Voting Booth

By: dianeric

dianeric — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:06:36 +0000

Thank you Mark C!! First let me say that we are Blessed to live in a nation with the rights that we have. Those rights, though, are being eroded……by special interest groups, which, Jimmy Carter warned Mr. Reagan about as their Presidential transition took place.
This year, I am troubled as to whom I will vote for. Both parties want the two rewards: Power and Money! Both parties do have evil tendencies: Love of Money (Capitalism/Big Oil/big business), dare I say Republicans? Eventually, the dismantling (jobs to other nations……it just happens to be expensive to live here!) of the middle class will make this nation crumble.
Allow anyone to do anything at anytime, even if it means to squash the right to free speech of others (Homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle; ABORTION….
the murder of God’s creation…….. The fact that this procedure exists has taken away the blessedness of life, and/or, the respect of it. I shudder to think of the judgement of individuals, or nations, that support this), the person that supports the right to choose will have to answer for this belief; I may be judged harshly because I do not act like an advocate (radical, or, otherwise)for the unborn; the sheer number of abortions that have been “legally” performed indicate the procedure is a form of birth control. Dare I say Democrats?
A conservative party may serve to prevent further liberalization of existing laws. A liberal party WILL attempt liberalize further. I DO have to vote for a candidate that would be the lesser of two evils! I get frustrated by my intensity in such matters, which always leads to the thought of doing nothing politically because God is in control and prayer changes things! I try to make this less of a stress point in my life by remembering the Greatest Commandment: “Love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (NIV, Matt. 22:37-40). This is tough, because more times than not, when I openly express support for God in a conversation regarding our national situation, I can expect that there is a good chance of having to deal with a closed mind. We truly do need to lead by example and love the person and hate the sin.
That being said, I cannot accept being TOLD that homosexuality is a legitimate alternative lifestyle and should (possibly) be honored in the public schools AND taught to my children. NOT!! I have the right, verbally and morally, to disagree and should have the right to state exactly how I feel regardless of “polictal correctness”. As an example: homosexuals have changed the English language by giving a new, if not priortoral meaning to “gay”. It use to mean happy, playful……… As a result, my free speech has been effected. How? If I describe a homosexual specifically as a “q….”, would this disortation be allowed in this forum?
Neither party will truly do anything to help the majority of voters in this nation. If there were someone that would, why has there been NO Legislation that has placed controls on Big Oil, or, amended the financial LAWs that mandate corporations to make as much profit as possible at all times?. I would not expect Mr. McCane to do so. If Mr. Obama is such a people person, then why didn’t he? Ron Paul may be right. How much more can the economic balloon take?
Politically, I think the only answer is term limits, even for those that have done some good. Most are out of touch with the true needs of the majority of the American public. Have you ever researched the retirement package for the US Legislative Branch?
I struggle continually, but remain Blessed…..
God Bless!

By: DanEdwin

DanEdwin — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:57:51 +0000

Because believers in Jesus Christ are the church, and because we are also the citizens of our democracy (the state), we see there is no separation between the church and the state. The members of the church as the people of our democracy are also the state. The leaders or administration of any particular religious institution or denomination should have no controlling influence over the members of the church as to how we fulfill our part in matters of state. As responsible citizens, the members in Christ should arise and stand up for what is right, to do our part in bringing the Kingdoms of this world to become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. Are we loving our neighbor and country if we sit back and let the world go to hell? Please forgive my lack of grace for words. Take care, and may God bless.

By: Ted M. Gossard

Ted M. Gossard — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 22:02:54 +0000

I so much agree with your point here, Mart. Way too much weight is put on politics and our government and nation by Christians. But the answer is not to retreat and discount it. Not at all! It has its place, and like you say, we must see it for what it is.

As for me, I guess I see problems idealistically from the kingdom of God in Jesus, with both candidates now. And no doubt this is subjective to how each of us work through the same values we have as Christians. I don’t see voting either way as a slam-dunk and I think there can be good arguments on either side. I know how I’d vote now, and how I’m leaning and will probably end up voting in November. But I hold it with both some idealism as to what I think God calls govt to as well as realism.

By: abqbishop

abqbishop — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:11:36 +0000

I think we are largely going to get who God thinks we deserve according to His will at this time and possibly according to the consequences of our sin over the last 4 years. Many times in the Old Testament the Israelites wanted a king, and many times they got kings that ended up being borderline if not full-blown crimminals! Be careful what you wish and pray for.

By: pansy919

pansy919 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:01:10 +0000

I agree with Mark and from looking at and hearing all the candidates, I am waiting on the Lord to tell me who He needs in there at this time in History. It may not be the person that I would pick, but God knows what need to happen next in this world to accomplish His will for the return of Christ Jesus our Lord.

By: 1000mike

1000mike — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:35:05 +0000

Hello Again:
WOW! Folks please please remember how Jesus taught strongest was NOT JUST by Words which have SO very many “Extra” baggage–BUT INSTEAD JESUS LED by Example.
Its True ACTIONS do speak louder than words!!!
I hope thay we, as Christians do not get sucked into the “debate with words”. I strongly believe that words are very slippery things…one day they mean one thing IN THAT CONTEXT and the next day the exact same words IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT mean something ENTIRELY DIFFERENT!
That is WHY I advocate Walking the JESUS walk–BECAUSE ACTIONS NEVER CHANGE THEIR “GUT MEANING”!!
I know “For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of GOD.” BUT I strongly feel that is is our duty as Christians to TRY to “Walk the Talk>” :):)

By: Mart De Haan

Mart De Haan — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:58:03 +0000

sjd, I feel the weight of what you are saying. My problem is that I can’t see how, by politicizing a few select moral laws, we are doing justice to the Law of God. Has the political process helped to reinforce the credibility and compassion of the church on either “the right” or “the left”? Aren’t the select laws that are being built into party agenda already written on the heart? What about the many other laws of pride, greed, envy, materialism, covenant breaking etc?

By: sjd

sjd — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:18:54 +0000

No we would not suddenly become a moral nation. I agree we can not legislate morality. But I can not help but believe that Satan is enjoying seeing the law removed from public places, seeing the law removed from prominence even among our churches, that he would be overjoyed with Christians not wanting to see Christ like values continue to be promoted at every level of life. Would it be the loving thing to do, to not express God’s moral law? It seems that when ancient Israel had a strong leader who followed the LORD with all his heart, this was a positive thing. I realize we are not a theocracy, but to advocate not promoting Godly direction in our government seems wrong.
Keeping God’s law was never meant to be the way to salvation. God’s moral law has never changed. It still stands. God’s character has not changed. We are not promoting our thoughts on judgement, but rather God’s. And we are clearly told in Scripture that we are to share this with others. To tell someone they need a cure for something and not explain to them what they need to be cured of, seems ridiculous, and they would not see their need for the cure. I do agree that government is not ultimately responsible for this declaration. God’s people, the Church, are/is responsible. We are the minister’s of reconciliation. I respect your thoughts Mart, and do see some merit in your position, even as I continue to write.

I will need more time to process some of these thoughts. But, frankly, I do not see where removing the Law from prominence could ever be good, when I consider some of the purposes of the law as taught by Paul:

Romans 3:19-20 (NASB95)
19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;
20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Romans 7:7 (NASB95)
7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”

Galatians 3:24 (NASB77)
24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.

By: lilu1314h

lilu1314h — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:37:06 +0000

I’ll ask God b4 cast out the vote, to choose the person that He has put in my heart. Continue to pray that God will give wisdom to His chosen person to rule the country according to His plan.

What’s the difference a Christian can make in the country is – Christian can pray for “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done”

God bless.

By: Elaa

Elaa — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:53:10 +0000

The need for politicians to ‘legalize’ religion – as it were – is because people are unwilling to accept responsibility for their lives. I think people will feel more comfortable telling their children it’s against the law to have premarital sex, rather than tell them it’s unscriptural.

I say frequently that when I was growing up, the fear of my mother was the beginning of wisdom, because a) God I could not feel His immediate discipline, and b) God could manifest Grace and show mercy (even though my mother did so also occasionally.)

But listen around, what do you hear? People want the educational system, Sunday school teachers, Pastors and now politicians to be responsible for how their lives and/or their children’s lives turn out.

But we know how human beings can have a phobia for legal compliance. Yes, this is shaky grounds.