How many times have we heard the term, “Things sure aren’t what they used to be”? Most of us have probably even said it ourselves. I know I have. Because we have looked around and seen a gradual change in the moral fiber of our country. Once upon a time, when I was a kid, even married couples were not shown in a bed together on television—they slept in twin beds! Now, you see unmarried couples doing everything but sleeping when they come near a bed! This is the times we live in.
Considering the times we live in, it should not have come as a surprise to us that we would one day have the two major candidates that we have. They simply represent the times. Surely, after Bill Clinton was allowed to continue as President after his sexual misconduct in the oval office and lying about it under oath, we should have known there was no going back—unless a full scale revival grabbed hold of the land. Afterall, Bill Clinton, and now, our two main candidates for the White House, are a reflection of where we are as a nation. The sad thing is that we have come to the place that it is all thought of as being “just the way it is”. And for now, unfortunately, it is “just the way it is”.
I am a firm believer in prayer though, and God has promised His people some things if they would humble themselves and pray, turn from their wicked ways, and seek His face. If we are honest with ourselves, it is not only the “world’s” fault that we have come to this place. We in the Church can ask ourselves what we can do differently. I will save those thoughts for maybe a different post at a different time.
So, here we are, and unless God does the miraculous (which we all know He can do), one of these two representatives of our culture will win this race to the White House. And with so much animus flying around on social media and the television, I started thinking about a few things and asking myself a few questions…
–HOW DID A VOTE FOR OR AGAINST ONE OF THESE TWO CANDIDATES BECOME THE MEASURE OF OUR SPIRITUALITY?
I think the fact that Christians can disagree about some things shows that we are indeed NOT the Stepford Wives. We have different personalities and gifts which serve to edify the body. Sometimes we are going to have some differences of opinion about some things.
A wise pastor has taught a number of times about the difference between principles, opinions, and traditions. There are certain principles we hold to if we are going to claim Christianity as our faith—Jesus Christ died, He was buried, He rose again, and we can have salvation through none other. The Bible is our guidebook for living and what it calls sin, we call sin. What it calls righteousness, we call righteousness. It also says He will one day return to judge the world. The Bible is truth. We can compromise on opinions and traditions but never compromise on the principles.Christians believe in baptism. We are commanded in Scripture to be baptized. We can compromise on the “how”—whether you should, “sprinkle” or “pour” water OR whether you have to be totally submersed in order for it to “take”. But we cannot compromise on the principle. To be Christian is to believe as Christ said in Scripture, that He is the only way to the Fateher. This is principle. There is no compromise. Many of our problems and squabbles arise when we try to elevate our opinions and traditions to the level of principle.
To my mind, much of what we read which is swirling about in this election, is at the level of opinion, including what I say here. We have Christians who are supporting one or the other of these candidates. Though I do not understand some of them, they have their reasons. You have Hillary’s supporters pointing fingers at Trump’s supporters and vice versa. Meanwhile, you have a whole other group of people standing aside pointing fingers at anyone who would dare support either of the two, while the first two groups are pointing a finger right back at them! Me, I am wondering, “What is God thinking as He looks at all of this?”
I remember reading in the Book of Acts about a disagreement which arose in the early Church about whether Gentile converts had to be circumcised and made to follow the law of Moses. James offered a compromise which was well received by everyone. These brothers did not accuse one another or question the others’ salvation or spiritual strength. They compromised in order to reach a workable solution. Granted they based their compromise on what they saw God already doing. He was doing salvation work among the Gentiles without benefit of circumcision.
Christians are making tough decisions in this election. They disagree with one another. I have not heard one Christian Trump supporter say that they approve of sexual assault, vulgar talk, or any other impropriety he may be involved in. In fact, they have vehemently denounced it. Their conscience is clear that given the present set of circumstances, considering which direction they wish to see the country go in, they plan to vote for Trump because his name is at the top of the Republican platform this time around. About two thirds of the evangelicals did not wish Trump to win this nomination. They voted for other candidates who seemed to exhibit the moral principles they held dear. But their candidate did not win the nomination. Trump did. Now, it is the platform (which includes religious liberty and pro-life work) for which they are casting their ballot—and AGAINST pro-abortion and limiting the freedom to speak God’s truth (AGAINST being made to bow to political correctness rhetoric). Most of them have not stopped trusting God. They are trusting God to help them make good decisions for their country. It is quite possible that there may be some who have placed too much trust in a candidate and not enough in God. I become suspicious of that when we begin to ridicule one another and forget to act and speak in love as Scripture instructs us to do, because we know that in the end, God still has control.
Another Scripture I am reminded of is when Paul warned against causing our brother or sister to sin by going against their conscience. It was about eating meat sacrificed to idols. It bothered some because it made them feel that they were taking part in the idol worship. Others were not bothered by it at all, including Paul. But Paul told them it was sin to cause their brother to stumble. If they did eat the meat believing it was wrong, then to them it was sin. Some Christians feel that to vote for Trump is a violation of their conscience and they would be supporting his lifestyle if they did. That is their sincere conscience.
From what I understand, we are up to 60 million lives taken because of abortion. 60 million lives. The Democratic Party’s platform will allow for this number to grow because of a woman’s right to choose. Many of those voting for Trump are really voting for the Republican platform which intends to curtail this onslaught on innocent lives. Some may say that abortion is the law of the land. Move on. So was slavery at one point in our history. And abortion rights have not remained stagnant. Liberals and Democrats have steadily pushed for more and more liberties with the law. Initially, abortions could be done in the first trimester (first three months). It was increased to 5 months. Then Bill Clinton vetoed a bill which made partial birth abortion illegal. Partial birth abortion is where a baby could be aborted at any time as long as part of it is still in the mother’s womb. So you could deliver a baby’s head (or feet up to the chest if it was breech) then scramble its brains to kill it. What is the next logical step? As long as you kill the child within so many seconds or minutes after birth, you are okay? Don’t think it could ever happen? They came up with reasons why a woman would need a partial birth abortion. You don’t think they will for the next step? When abortion became the law of the land, did you ever think you would see the day that this was okay? Young desperate girls are throwing babies in trash cans right after birth. Do you really believe liberals are willing to stand by and allow these girls to be prosecuted? Fortunately, the Republican congress managed to get a ban on partial birth abortion in 2003 and the Supreme Court upheld it in 2007.
Some of the Christian “Never Trumpers” can’t get over words and past indiscretions to bring themselves to vote for Trump. Their conscience won’t allow it. Some of Trump supporters can’t get past the 60 million babies (and potentially millions more).
At this point, I will share something I have never shared with anyone except family, but it seems pertinent to what I see happening here. PLEASE. PLEASE, I do not wish to start a debate on this one. I only mention it as a point to reference the political disagreement the Church is battling today. When my children were about 6 and 8 years old, the Lord suddenly impressed upon me quite strongly to stop celebrating Halloween. Period. No costumes of any kind. No substitutes. No giving out candy on that day. Take no part in it. To me, to do the smallest thing was to take part in it. Here is the thing—I have men and women of God (whom I respect and admire and trust) who take some part in the festivities. I have not once questioned their devotion to God or their salvation or spirituality. God obviously did not speak to them. He spoke to me though. If I partake, I really feel that I will be in sin. So I don’t. I figure if God wants someone else to stop, He will speak to their heart, but I will not be starting a “movement” about Halloween.
I don’t think we should be pressuring someone whose conscience will not allow them to vote for either candidate, anymore than they should look down on those who have no such qualms. If each group of Christians are holding fast to the principles, we have to learn how to show love and grace when we disagree.
–WAS TRUMP SINCERE WHEN HE GAVE HIS HEART TO CHRIST?
I find that I don’t second-guess someone’s profession of faith. At least I try not to. I think sometimes I have been guilty of it though. I can speak to whether their behavior is Christ-like—or if their talk or teaching is Biblical. If someone says that they have asked Christ to come into their heart, then I would prefer to be there to help them grow, even if it means I am only going to be praying for them. But God is going to be the one to separate the chaff from the wheat in the end. In the meantime, He has given us some direction for the brother or sister who persists in willful sin. It is difficult not to second-guess whether someone has genuinely professed Christ given the many times we have seen celebrities or others come out in a blaze of glory, on fire for God, then to see them return to the world’s beckoning after renouncing their faith. And depending on their past, it may be even more difficult to believe the profession of faith. I guess that is how the disciples felt about Saul after God changed his name to Paul.
Trump has said he is a Christian (so has Hillary, by the way). He has at least shown himself friendly to the faith and the people’s desire to live their faith. He has surrounded himself with people of faith. Some people even want Pence to head the ticket and want him to keep Ben Carson close as well.
Trump has a past though. An audio recording showed just how crass he could be. If he has sincerely given his heart to Christ, what do we do with him now? Does anyone have videos or tapes in the present (and not a decade or more ago) in which he is speaking this way? Is it possible that he realized the error of his ways and is on the road to recovery with the help of those he is willing to surround himself with? He has apologized. Do we continue to heap accusations for decade old sins, or do we show grace? Just what do we do with Donald Trump? If in fact, he has changed, he would be a perfect one to admonish kids to be careful what they speak. It can always come back to haunt you. Thank God for second chances.
–WHAT ABOUT HILLARY CLINTON?
Why is it that we can open social media and we can find multiple blogs about whether Christians should vote for Trump? “Why Christians Should Vote for Trump”. “Why Christians Should Not Vote for Trump”.
“Should Christians Vote for the Lesser of Two Evils?” And so on, and so on.
What about Hillary? What little the media allows to leak out does not paint a pretty picture—from lies and ridicule of groups of people, to leaving soldiers to die and lying to their families, and placing the country’s national security at risk. The list goes on. But the people who don’t even trust her are willing to vote for her to keep Trump out of the White House.
Where are the blogs about whether Christians should vote for Clinton or why they shouldn’t vote for Clinton? Where are all of these opinions? Is it politically incorrect to ask the same questions regarding Clinton (political correctness is one of the reasons Trump garnered the nomination. People are sick of it)? It is okay to dump on Trump and his sexually explicit talk from a decade ago, but somehow it would not be so readily acceptable to point out the questionable actions of Mrs. Clinton. Are her sins any less than Trump’s? We don’t have to go back 10 years. We just have to look at 10 months ago.
In a character race based on previous behavior, neither one of these would end up smelling like a rose. So why isn’t the media focusing on the issues and plans each candidate has for the direction of this country instead of heaping on one candidate and allowing the other one to move about with impunity?
–IF TRUMP WAS A DEMOCRAT WOULD EVANGELICALS BE AS TOLERANT OF HIS SEXUALLY EXPLICIT TALK?
Bill Clinton is notorious for his sexual escapades—and so is the disgust those on the right, and Christians, held for them. Granted, Bill Clinton WAS President and WAS in the Oval Office during quite a bit of his sexual escapades, whereas Trump was a private citizen ten years ago. But just that many years ago, Christians would have never helped someone with Trump’s reputation get the nomination. What changed? Well, society continued to go the way of moral decline until unfortunately, we are no longer as scandalized by such things as we once were. I have other thoughts, but again, I will save that for maybe another time.
–IF TRUMP WAS A DEMOCRAT WOULD DEMOCRATS BE MORE TOLERANT OF HIS SEXUALLY EXPLICIT TALK?
About 10 years ago, Trump WAS a Democrat. He was good buddies with quite a few who vilify him now, even Hillary Clinton. The fact of the matter is, America has become so divided along political lines that there is a tendency to be blind to the faults of the party of choice and look upon everything with a jaundiced eye from the opposing party.
–HAVE WE ALLOWED THE MEDIA TO FORM TOO MUCH OF OUR OPINION OF EITHER ONE?
I think it is obvious that the media is all too human and just like society at large, has become too politicized. We the People are going to have to ask questions and require validation when something is said for or against any candidate. Otherwise we are no different from the North Koreans and people of China who are fed propaganda all day long. For instance, when the media began the rhetoric that Trump is racist, was it because he actually admitted he believed in white supremacy or went around using the “N” word? Or did he have an idea for policy which disagreed with the way they felt things should be and so he got a label which stuck and everybody began to repeat the rhetoric. I find it rather ironic that this “racist” has worked with so many Blacks and fought to open his club to minorities, and is the first Republican nominee since the Civil Rights Act to siphon so many Blacks from the Democratic Party.
Some of the conservative sites who unload on Clinton are beyond believable. I look at the picture designed to make her look like a madwoman, read the caption, and just keep on scrolling.
We need discernment and should desire it in order to navigate the quagmire and get at the truth. We should learn to ask questions and look for our journalists to ask EVERY candidate followup questions and investigate.
–HAVE WE FRIGHTENED OUR SPIRITUAL LEADERS?
We are given direction for about every area of our lives—marriage, raising children, sex, etc—but most ministers dare not hint at how to choose political leaders. Can you blame them? They can’t win! Whatever they say, someone will be offended and complain about their teaching. The Democrat-leaning Christians are going to say he is partial to the Republicans, and the Republican-leaning Christians are going to complain that he is partial to the Democrats. And then they all will decide that the rest of his teaching can’t be trusted so they find somewhere else to go. And this happens even if he never mentions the name of a candidate or party! It just SEEMS like he is partial to the one versus the other. Wisdom tells him to stay away from it.
I think we should grow up and handle differences of opinion about politics with more maturity, allowing our spiritual leaders to give us wise counsel about how Christians can choose leaders from a Biblical perspective (not tell us who to choose, but tell us what factors are wise to look at when we do the choosing). I think we are in the shape we are in because Christians have gone silent in the political arena. At one point I think we went too far, practically swearing allegiance to a party. Then we went silent and left it to those with no desire to look to God’s word for direction. It is easy to say that we will just keep hands off. It is harder to learn to disagree in our opinions, yet find some common ground and work from there. It is also difficult to stand firm on the principles, but do so and say so with love. It is my opinion that we must work to find a way.
We listen to our pastors and trust their teachings, but the minute they say something that doesn’t square with our political beliefs, they lose us. Maybe it is our political belief that needs changing, especially if it does not line up with Scripture. OR have we elevated our politics above God’s law or His wisdom?
–WILL HILLARY OR DONALD REALLY BE ABLE TO BRING ABOUT GOOD CHANGE?
After the election and your choice has won, will you feel secure that America is in his or her hands? Will you believe that all is well now? We have presidents who come and go. Promises are made, and some of them kept. But soon we begin to look for the next great leader, because the one we have is, afterall, just a man with faults and shortcomings.
Christians know that we need God for our help. That is something we agree on. God told us we could repent and pray and He would heal our land.
I think that as we pray and go about our Father’s business, we should be grateful that we still live in a country where we can worship freely and spread the Gospel (for now) and we also have a say about which direction this country takes by casting our votes. Our greatest aid is prayer. Our provider is God. Always.
PKnott
pknott 