Wow! "Election Day 08" has come and gone in our country, and our church is a voting location and the voters were out the door and down the sidewalk when I showed up to vote. What most people(especially God's people) know and understand is that there was a huge amount at stake in this election. And we all know there are many that will never see or understand the real issues at stake in 2008. And I'm not talking about gas prices, war in Iraq, or the economy and $700 billion bailouts.
I'm talking about the really IMPORTANT issues. We call them moral issues. Things like abortion, marriage, and sexuality(and all three seem to have a connection to each other). Some folks just don't understand that there are things more important than the economy(believe it or not).
As I stood for about 30 minutes and waited my turn to punch the screen to vote, and as I smiled at each face in line, there were some questions that I wish I could have asked each and every person in the room without starting an all out brawl...
Q #1 – What are you really voting for?
Are you voting for or against a black man? Are you voting for or against a white man? Neither of those reasons are good enough! What's really driving your vote? High gas prices? Listen, I hate as much as anybody that gas prices are high, but gas prices don't determine anyone's salvation. What about gambling? Gambling can and will have something to do with the moral state of our state, town, and society. The state of the economy won't determine whether a person goes to heaven or hell. But babies being aborted or not aborted are pretty good reasons to cast a vote and speak for God on the issue. Men and women marrying people of the same sex is another great reason to get out and vote and say NO to that lifestyle!
Q #2 – Are you simply voting for a party?
I'm afraid that there are some folks simply voting for a party - meaning Republican or Democrat. In other words, some folks step to the voting booth and simply vote for a Republican or Democrat because that's the way they voted for the last 50 years! That's what they've always done. Geez...is about all I can say to that.
Is that really good enough in today's world? A little risky, don't you think? Maybe you could tow the party line 50 years ago, but you just can't do that today. As I've already said, there's just too much at stake spiritually. I mean, so you've always voted for one certain party, but what about the candidate's beliefs, morals, and faith for crying out loud? As a Child of God, can you simply & honestly vote for a certain candidate along party lines even though he or she is opposed to the things of God? What if they are for abortion? Homosexual rights? What do they believe about same sex marriage? Voting along party lines because that's the way you've always done it doesn't speak much about your heart. Where's your conviction? Where's your courage? And most of all, where's your guts? We must vote for the man in today's world that we best feel will honor God...not just for some party.
Q #3 – Who do you ultimately trust in?
Yes, I will practice my God-given privilege and step up and cast my vote. Sometimes there's not a perfect choice or candidate. But regardless, I don't put my trust in the President of the United States or the Vice President of the United States. I put my trust in the God of Heaven, the maker of heaven and earth. I put my total faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for me, and His Holy Spirit that lives in my heart. And though I really was thankful for the 'stimulus check' we received this summer, I don't put my hope and faith in money.
I appreciate that Barak Obama if the first black president, I really do. I believe that race relations can be POTENTIALLY HELPED during his Presidency. But I'm not putting my faith & trust in Barak Obama or any other candidate for that matter. It seemed that Obama was being worshipped the night he was elected. I've never felt that with any other candidate in my lifetime. There's been excitement that a certain man was elected. But I've never felt before what I felt on election night. There was just something that I sensed...and I didn't like the feeling. I just don't think that this choice will help the climate of our country spiritually one bit in the years to come.
The old saying says, "I don't know what the future holds...but I know who holds the future." And this is what I know...It's not Barak Obama or John McCain!
It's our God in Jesus Christ.
Blessings!
Bro. Eric
I'm talking about the really IMPORTANT issues. We call them moral issues. Things like abortion, marriage, and sexuality(and all three seem to have a connection to each other). Some folks just don't understand that there are things more important than the economy(believe it or not).
As I stood for about 30 minutes and waited my turn to punch the screen to vote, and as I smiled at each face in line, there were some questions that I wish I could have asked each and every person in the room without starting an all out brawl...
Q #1 – What are you really voting for?
Are you voting for or against a black man? Are you voting for or against a white man? Neither of those reasons are good enough! What's really driving your vote? High gas prices? Listen, I hate as much as anybody that gas prices are high, but gas prices don't determine anyone's salvation. What about gambling? Gambling can and will have something to do with the moral state of our state, town, and society. The state of the economy won't determine whether a person goes to heaven or hell. But babies being aborted or not aborted are pretty good reasons to cast a vote and speak for God on the issue. Men and women marrying people of the same sex is another great reason to get out and vote and say NO to that lifestyle!
Q #2 – Are you simply voting for a party?
I'm afraid that there are some folks simply voting for a party - meaning Republican or Democrat. In other words, some folks step to the voting booth and simply vote for a Republican or Democrat because that's the way they voted for the last 50 years! That's what they've always done. Geez...is about all I can say to that.
Is that really good enough in today's world? A little risky, don't you think? Maybe you could tow the party line 50 years ago, but you just can't do that today. As I've already said, there's just too much at stake spiritually. I mean, so you've always voted for one certain party, but what about the candidate's beliefs, morals, and faith for crying out loud? As a Child of God, can you simply & honestly vote for a certain candidate along party lines even though he or she is opposed to the things of God? What if they are for abortion? Homosexual rights? What do they believe about same sex marriage? Voting along party lines because that's the way you've always done it doesn't speak much about your heart. Where's your conviction? Where's your courage? And most of all, where's your guts? We must vote for the man in today's world that we best feel will honor God...not just for some party.
Q #3 – Who do you ultimately trust in?
Yes, I will practice my God-given privilege and step up and cast my vote. Sometimes there's not a perfect choice or candidate. But regardless, I don't put my trust in the President of the United States or the Vice President of the United States. I put my trust in the God of Heaven, the maker of heaven and earth. I put my total faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for me, and His Holy Spirit that lives in my heart. And though I really was thankful for the 'stimulus check' we received this summer, I don't put my hope and faith in money.
I appreciate that Barak Obama if the first black president, I really do. I believe that race relations can be POTENTIALLY HELPED during his Presidency. But I'm not putting my faith & trust in Barak Obama or any other candidate for that matter. It seemed that Obama was being worshipped the night he was elected. I've never felt that with any other candidate in my lifetime. There's been excitement that a certain man was elected. But I've never felt before what I felt on election night. There was just something that I sensed...and I didn't like the feeling. I just don't think that this choice will help the climate of our country spiritually one bit in the years to come.
The old saying says, "I don't know what the future holds...but I know who holds the future." And this is what I know...It's not Barak Obama or John McCain!
It's our God in Jesus Christ.
Blessings!
Bro. Eric