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If ..., then....
A real question for a Christian is- to change the nation, what comes first? Do we go for the better of the candidates who has a chance at winning at the expense of compromise? Or do we go for broke with someone who 'doesn't have a chance' but more solidly puts moral issues first? Do we worry about what direction the Democratic president will take us if we vote for the candidate who doesn't have a chance and the worst possibility wins?
As with everything, the answer is found in scripture. The following scripture is taken from the prophet Samuel when Israel wanted to have a king, although God was not pleased with that decision. The Israelites wanted to be like other nations. God allowed it but spoke through Samuel these warnings. These parallel our situation. {For clarity with the if-then logic, the following is a quote taken from the New American Standard Version (as compared to NIV version elsewhere on the web site).}
1 Samuel 12:13 "Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen, whom you have asked for, and behold, the LORD has set a king over you. 14 If you will fear the LORD and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the LORD, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God. 15 And if you will not listen to the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the command of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you, as it was against your fathers.
Let us dissect this to determine our answers.
Verse 13-
The king (Saul) was asked for and chosen by the people but it was the LORD who set him over them. This is echoed in multiple other verses. It is Almighty God who establishes who become our leaders. We should take comfort in this fact, in that a loving God only sends us a leader we should have for our best interest. If we are doing God's will, he will bless us with a good leader, if not, He may judge us with a bad leader to push us into changing. After all, from His eternal perspective, that is more important.
Verse 14-
IF- YOU - fear and serve Him, listen to His voice and not rebel against His command
THEN - BOTH (you and also the king who reigns over you) will follow the LORD your God.
Dissected, we find that the action needed is on our part to get a Godly leader. In order for us to have a Godly leader, we must fulfill the "if" part of the formula. Once we have fulfilled the "if" prerequisites, then we will have a ruler(s) that will follow the LORD. Even the worst leader we may find in office will not prevail over this truth. Folks, there is no room for compromise in the "if" part. Each individual is called to fear, serve, listen and to do what He commands.
The second part shows that it really doesn't matter who becomes our leader(s) if we individually, repent and change our own ways. According to this, that leader will change and follow the LORD (or may be replaced by the LORD with a leader who does follow the LORD). This is not a maybe. This is a guarantee.
The truth is that the leader will follow the people's moral direction, a guarantee from God. Compromise only allows the leader to do the same and feel justified.
Verse 15-
Is self-explanatory. We are the worst fools if we are not concerned about the LORD's hand being against us. Possibilities are endless and awful. God's commands include those on homosexuality and adultery. Each of us must ask - "where do I stand?".
Serving Him, listening to Him and following His commands (verse 14) implicate we are to vote for the candidate(s) who choose to put God's values first. This is our duty and we should embrace God's will with passion and joy.
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