Who's Side?
Joshua 5:13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he
looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua
went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"
Many American Christians have claimed that the candidate for the Republican Party has
God's blessing and therefore will be a blessing for our nation. Many see a victory
of the Republicans as a reward for the Christian's supposed faithfulness and an answer to
our well meaning prayers. Is this the way God sees it?
14 "Neither," he replied, "but as
commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the
ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his
servant?"
No. God is not on the side of any candidate. Rather, our job is to be
on His side, as seen in the scriptures above.
With Republican control in the House, Senate and Presidency, we should be winning the
moral issues as compared to 4 years ago, right? No. We are much worse off as
is obvious with no babies saved, oppression of Christians and the radical homosexual
agenda racing forward. Our reasoning has failed us and disappointed Almighty God.
Every political season the Christian leaders draw lines in the sand and tell the
Republicans 'don't you dare step over this line'. Time and time again, they
do. Our response becomes drawing another line and daring them again, perhaps with a
little more desperation, 'you better not step over this line...or else...'. The
question asked here is: What will it take for us to finally decide that enough is
enough and it is time to oppose the Republicans who have chosen to side with the
world?
Isaiah 65: 11 "But as for you who forsake the
LORD and forget my holy mountain, who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed
wine for Destiny, 12 I will destine you for the sword, and you will all bend down for the
slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did
evil in my sight and chose what displeases me."
Having said that, are we on His side? Let's look at the current candidates who
have their names on enough state's ballots that they could theoretically win. We can
quickly dispose of some who choose to either take a view that the moral values are not
important to the government or are actively opposed to those things God considers very
important such as life (abortion) and normalization or even elevation of
homosexuality.
These candidates fail on both
non-negotiable 'issues' for a Christian following the scriptures:
John Kerry, Ralph Nader, Walt Brown, Michael Badnarik and David
Cobb.
What about President George Bush?
God makes a strong point for all of us. The First Commandment says:
Exodus 20: 3 "You shall have no other gods
before me.
As Christians, we also have Christ Jesus' own affirmation of this truth. God
takes this most importantly.
Matthew 25:36 "Teacher, which is the greatest
commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: "`Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and
greatest commandment .
Would any Christian knowingly vote for someone who violates this most important
commandment?
The Republican Convention was orchestrated by President Bush to win the election.
Unfortunately, he chose to have the first morning invocation on Monday, August 30, 2004
given by Sheri Dew of Salt Lake City, UT. She is the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Director of Publishing. The evening invocation was
given by a Muslim chaplin to the New York Fire Department, Imam Pasha,
New York, NY. (see http://mldb.byu.edu/whatswhr.htm
and
http://www.thenorthstarnetwork.com/news/topstories/183108-1.html )
At this time of war, immorality, terrorism, economic difficulties, oil prices rising,
natural disasters, increasing crime (including thousands of complaints of price gouging
following hurricanes and many looters) and decreasing belief in fundamentalist Christian
views, do we dare violate the greatest commandment in the name of winning?
Don't we realize we must be serious about our prayers to God and that prayer to any other
god will anger Him, according to the scriptures? Aren't we in enough trouble
already? Surely we don't need the most powerful force in existence to be against us,
right?
The Republican convention required 2 policemen for every delegate. Doesn't this
say something about the cost of not following God's direction? The compromising
'church' has lost the salt and the light. God's direction is to stand firm and not
to compromise, in love. We must wake up.
Proverbs 16:7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
If violation of the greatest commandment isn't enough, how about a failure regarding a
sin our Almighty God considers an "abomination"?
We now have both a president and a vice-president that are openly supporting the
homosexual agenda without fear of reprisal (see below). In other words, they are
openly offending Almighty God. So is anyone who chooses to vote for someone who does
just this. God told us not to do this sort of thing and by choosing to do so, we ask for
His punishment. The current, mainstream, American pseudochurch deserves His
judgment as much, if not more, than those who claim to be lost. Why are we
testing God?
The current Republican Convention in New York highlighted (primetime) keynote speakers
who are almost all pro-abortion.
Romans 1: 32 Although they know God's righteous
decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these
very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Larry King Live http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0408/28/lkl.00.html
Aug, 28, 2004On the topic of "gay" marriage...
KING: Why? Why do you need an amendment?
G. BUSH: Well, because I'm worried that the laws on the books that basically define
marriage as between a man -- not basically, do define marriage between a man and a woman
will be ruled unconstitutional, and then judges will make the decision as to the
definition of marriage. And I think it's too important an issue for judges to make that
decision. And I think that one way to guarantee that traditional marriage is defined as
between a man and a woman is through the constitutional process...
KING: What about the union of gays? G. BUSH: Well, that's up to states, you know. If states choose to do that, in other words, if they want to provide
legal protections for gays, that's great. That's fine. But I do not want to
change the definition of marriage. I don't think our country should, from the traditional
definition of marriage that's between a man or a woman.
The other thing about the constitutional process, it will get states involved. In other
words, the people ought to be involved in this decision. And so that's why I took the
stand I took.
KING: You do think...
(CROSSTALK)
G. BUSH: Well, listen, I...
KING: You don't amend easily.
G. BUSH: Yeah.
L. BUSH: That's right. It's a debate. I mean...
G. BUSH: Absolutely. But it's an important debate, Larry, and it's a debate that the
people need to be involved with, and not courts. And that's what you're beginning to see.
There was a decision here in California, it was a court decision. In other words, it's --
and it ruled that marriages in San Francisco were illegal according to California law. But
the point is that this ought to be decided by people, and I just happen to believe and
know that if you believe that traditional marriage ought to be the law of the land, that
the way to guarantee that is through the constitutional process.
And I want to say something about this debate. It is a debate that must be conducted with
the greatest respect for people. And that my judgment, I think our society is great because
people are able to live their lifestyles, you know, as they choose or as they're oriented.
KING: Gay people would honestly say they want the benefits of a marriage.
G. BUSH: Well, you can do that through the legal process. You know, people have said to
me, well, if you're gay, you can't inherit because -- and you don't get the exemption from
income tax. Well, my answer there is get rid of the inheritance tax forever, the death
tax, which I'm trying to do. And there are ways to make sure gays have got rights. And you
can do so in the law.
KING: Back with our remaining moments. Don't go away. |
We hear our Vice President Cheney, when asked by a woman in a rally- "What do you
think about homosexual marriage?", reply:
"Lynne and I have a gay daughter, so it's an issue our family is very familiar
with. With the respect to the question of relationships, my general view is freedom means
freedom for everyone... People ought to be free to enter
into any kind of relationship they want to."
"The question that comes up with the issue of marriage is what kind of official
sanction or approval is going to be granted by government? Historically, that's been a
relationship that has been handled by the states. The states have made that fundamental
decision of what constitutes a marriage."
(http://drudgereport.com/flash3.htm)
So, we can't vote for any of the above and at the same time stand firm for God's
commandments. Is there hope? But of course.
1Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what
is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can
bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up
under it. 14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
We have been tempted to choose from among completely unworthy candidates. All of
the above choose political gain over standing firm. As the scripture tells us, we
have a way out of our idolatrous temptation of supporting the Republican Party. The Constitution Party and their presidential
candidate, Michael Peroutka, and his running
mate, Dr. Chuck Baldwin, is our way this time to stand up for Almighty God and saying no
to the sin of supporting the sin of others.
As a witness for Almighty God, each Christian's vote for Peroutka sends a message to
others that God's values are most important. Our walk then resembles our
rhetoric. Hypocrisy is lessened and God is glorified. A vote for Peroutka will
be heard, especially in a tight election. His name will be on ~41 state's
ballots. Will we fail the test? We simply trust God for working things out for
His Glory when we choose to follow His direction.
As said elsewhere in these pages, the great evangelist, Charles Hadden Spurgeon said:
'When given a choice between the lesser of two evils, choose neither.'
It is a simple concept rooted in the scriptures. Duty is ours; results are
God's. Will He find us faithful?
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