In light of our recent election, I thought I'd share some things. Just recently I was talking with someone and they informed me that some Christians don't feel that it's necessary to vote; that as believers we should not get involved with the politics of this world.
This reminded me of a movie I am fond of, the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie.
There are four ninja turtles Leonardo, Rafael, Donatello, and Michelangelo.
Each turtle has a distinct personality.
During one part of the movie, I believe it was Raphael who was very upset and angry that they had to hide from the public and live in the sewer.
Ninjas must learn to practice the art of invisibility when they fight. Anyway, Raphael leaves the other turtles and storms out of the sewer, fuming and postal about the situation. The next scene Raphael is all dressed up in a rain coat and a hat coming out of a movie he just saw called, Critters, I think.
Now you';ve got to understand he';s a teenage mutant ninja turtle and this is what he says about what he watched in the theater.
"Sheesh, where do they come up with this stuff!" It's a classic statement especially coming from a talking turtle.
Well I think that statement applies to some of the opinions regarding the question, "should a Christian vote."
Where do they come up with this stuff?
I'll tell you where; from uninformed and misinformed teachers and preachers.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is righteous government. That's what it's all about. The future kingdom of God, the day of the Lord, the millennial kingdom and the eternal kingdom is God's righteous government for mankind.
Psalm 67:1-7 1God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. 2That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. 3Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 4O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. 5Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 6Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. 7God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.Isaiah 9:6-7 6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.KJG Jeremiah 23:4-6 4And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. 5Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.Genesis 42:5-6 5And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. 6And Joseph was the govoner over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
We are responsible and accountable to steward what God has given us.
Psalm 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.KJG Mark 16:15- 16 15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Does the world stop at Washington D.C.? Do you put your light under a bushel when it comes to the people of government?
Genesis 1:26-28 26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
The word dominion means to reign or rule. In order to rule you need power and authority. You need to be able to govern, manage, administrate, lead, direct, instruct, regulate etc.
There are basically three types of government.
1. Republic
A literal democracy is impossible in a political system containing more than a few people. All "democracies" are really republics. In a republic, the people elect representatives to make and enforce laws.
2. Monarchy
A monarchy consists of rule by a king or queen. Sometimes a king is called an "emperor," especially if there is a large empire, such as China before 1911. There are no large monarchies today. The United Kingdom, which has a queen, is really a republic because the queen has virtually no political power.
3. Dictatorship
A dictatorship consists of rule by one person or a group of people. Very few dictators admit they are dictators; they almost always claim to be leaders of democracies. The dictator may be one person, such as Castro in Cuba or Hitler in Germany, or a group of people, such as the Communist Party in China.
We are blessed to have a republic type of government. In a republic, the people elect representatives to make and enforce laws.
This is why I often remark that the government is a reflection of the people.
Now, we have already established that God has commissioned a man to rule over the earth.
Genesis 1:26-28, Psalm 115:16, Proverbs 29:2, Jeremiah 23:4
Man was to govern and protect what God entrusted to him.
Genesis 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
The word "keep" means to guard, to protect. This is very plain. Adam was to watch over the earth.
The same charge to watch over and guard the earth given to Adam is entrusted to us today.
In Adam's case there were not a lot of people to be concerned with. Nonetheless, the command was to guard and protect, to govern.
In our day the charge is the same, but we implement it through the voting process in which we elect men and woman who will represent our best interests at Capitol Hill.
We enjoy great deliverance and blessings because godly men and woman who were politically active took a stand in government.
Many good godly laws were passed as a result of these believers. Believers declared that all men have a God given right to be free.
Christians should be involved in government. Who is better to sit as a judge than an instructed believer with an accurate knowledge of God's word?
To Be Continued… ÿ