Oct. 24, 2016

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (Romans 13:1 ESV)

On Tuesday, November 8th, each of you has the right to vote for one of the candidates running for President of the United States. It is a privilege won at great cost by the many who over the years served this nation and us, fighting and dying to make us, and keep us, a free nation. However, make no mistake, the freedom to vote is a blessing granted us by the LORD who maintains all things for His Purpose. Whatever means He chose to allow for the right to vote to be ours, we must never lose sight of this truth: it came to us because the Father of Lights, in whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17), wanted us to have it. Since the LORD has given us the right to vote, we are expected to be good stewards of it. What does that mean?

It means that Christians have a responsibility to God to vote. I have heard many people say that they are not voting this year because there is no “good” candidate for the office. I refer you to the Scripture above; these are the candidates that the Lord has allowed to stand in this time for His Purpose. He has a reason for limiting our choices to what many consider to be a “no-win” scenario. It does not negate our responsibility to vote. Why? Because the LORD gave us that right as an avenue to keep things on track or promote change within our government as necessary. In other words, since we are to live for the LORD, He gave us the right to vote in order to ensure that the moral fabric of this nation glorifies Him. So let me ask you for your Christian point of view. From a Godly perspective, are things on track in our society or do we need change? Regardless of your answer, I encourage you to evaluate each party’s platform because when you vote for a candidate, you are voting for the platform of the party.

Each national party has a platform: an ideology or set of ideas that defines what they believe and what they would implement as law given the opportunity. When you vote for the person, you are voting for the party’s platform because those who get in office appoint people. Typically, these people have ideology similar to their own. After all, it is a logical thing to appoint people who share your vision for the future. Once these appointees are in place, the policies/laws that are implemented affect the moral fabric of our nation for much more than the person’s term in office.

Below, I have included some information from the platforms of the two major parties represented in this election. In it you will find excerpts from each parties stance on three issues, abortion, marriage, and the appointment of judges to the Supreme court. Any emphasis in the text below is mine. I did not include all that was said by either party. However, I do not believe that I have misrepresented either party’s position on the issue by what I have omitted. If you want to read more you can find each party’s 2016 platform on line or request a copy at their political office in your area.

Marriage
2016 Democratic Platform (p. 19)
Democrats applaud last year’s decision by the Supreme Court that recognized that LGBT people—like other Americans—have the right to marry the person they love. . .

2016 Republican Platform (p. 11)
Traditional marriage and family, based on marriage between one man and one woman, is the foundation for a free society and has for millennia been entrusted with rearing children and instilling cultural values. . .We, therefore, support the appointment of justices and judges who respect the constitutional limits on their power and respect the authority of the states to decide such fundamental social questions.

Abortion
2016 Democratic Platform (p. 37)
Democrats are committed to protecting and advancing reproductive health, rights, and justice. We believe unequivocally, like the majority of Americans, that every woman should have access to quality reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion. . . We will continue to oppose—and seek to overturn—federal and state laws and policies that impede a woman’s access to abortion. . .

2016 Republican Platform (p. 13)
The Constitution’s guarantee that no one can “be deprived of life, liberty or property” deliberately echoes the Declaration of Independence’s proclamation that “all” are “endowed by their Creator” with the inalienable right to life. Accordingly, we assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to children before birth. . .

The Judiciary
2016 Democratic Platform (p. 25)
We will appoint judges who defend the constitutional principles of liberty and equality for all, and will protect a woman’s right to safe and legal abortion. . .

2016 Republican Platform (p. 10)
. . . A critical threat to our country’s constitutional order is an activist judiciary that usurps powers properly reserved to the people through other branches of government. . .Only a Republican president will appoint judges who respect the rule of law expressed within the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, including the inalienable right to life and the laws of nature and nature’s God. . . The legitimate powers of government are rooted in the consent of the American people. Judicial activism that includes reliance on foreign law or unratified treaties undermines American sovereignty. Foreign laws and precedents should not be used to interpret our Constitution or laws, nor should foreign sources of law be used in state courts’ adjudication of criminal or civil matters. . .

I want to leave you with two more Scriptures:

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. (Proverbs 14:34 ESV)

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2:1–2 ESV)

Regardless of who wins, please be in prayer for them, their appointees, and the ones who are hired. May each one turn to the LORD, seeking His Wisdom before any decision is made.