For Whom Should A Christian Vote? Pt. 1

The following is my sermon notes from part three of my series, "Politically Incorrect".

For Whom Should A Christian Vote? Pt. 1

Matthew 10:16 (ESV) — 16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Intro

1. Some people wonder why a pastor would pointedly preach on subjects concerning politics, government, and voting.

Matthew 5:13–16 (NKJV) — 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Ezekiel 33:1–9 (NKJV) — 1 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3 when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’ 7 “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

2.  Some wonder why we would ever preach a sermon that did not have an explicit evangelistic appeal.

Acts 20:26–27 (NKJV) — 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV) — 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

We exist to produce fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ for impact in Robinson and America, and around the world.

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) — 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Review

1A.  The Lord God is the supreme authority in the universe.

2A.  God established government to promote good and deter evil.

3A.  God decentralizes government and distributes its power.

1B.  This means that more power ceded to governments or institutions farther removed from the people governed are against God’s plan.

2B.  Central control of public life and economic activity are characteristic of the Antichrist. 

1C.  All government control.  Revelation 13:1 (ESV) — 1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.

Revelation 13:5–9 (ESV) — 5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

2C.  All religious control.  Revelation 13:11–15 (ESV) — 11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.

3C.  All economic control.  Revelation 13:16–17 (ESV) — 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.

4A.  God demands that government exercise justice in judgment.

1B.  Justice regardless of economic condition.

2B.  Justice regardless of race or ethnicity.

3B.  Justice regardless of place of origin.

4B.  Justice regardless of social standing, popularity, or influence.

5A.  God charges government with protecting its people.

Body

 1A.  Your vote is a stewardship from God.  1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV) — 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

1B.  We are charged with using our resources and abilities to further the agenda of the Kingdom of God. Note: the parable of the talents.

2B.  We are to use wisdom in dealing with the imperfections of living in a fallen world. Matthew 10:16 (ESV) — 16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

3B.   If we fail to vote, we have shirked our responsibility and have sinned.  James 4:17 (NKJV) — 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

4B.  We must choose from the existing candidates and vote for that person.

1C.  When I vote for any man or woman, I am voting for someone who is not entirely good.  Romans 3:10 (NKJV) — 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;

Romans 3:23 (NKJV) — 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

2C.  Voting for a Christian or the person who is “more” Christian is not always an option in a society in which Biblical Christians are the minority.

1D.  Governor Romney is a Mormon.  The Mormon religion diverges from Biblical Christianity theologically, but shares many of its ethics and values.

2D.  President Obama is a nominal Christian.  The church he was affiliated with for many years teaches Black Liberation theology.  His belief system indicates he is a liberal Protestant.

NOTE:  We cannot see into either man’s heart.  But we are called to discern their fruit, ie, their words and behaviors.

3C.  Historically, one of the nominees of the two major parties will be elected.

NOTE:  The nature of our system of government is that more choice exists earlier in the process.  The time for influencing the choices or changing the system is early in an election cycle.

4C.  Voting for a minor party candidate, writing in a candidate, or abstaining from voting has the effect of electing the candidate whose views are most different from yours.

NOTE:  Personal experience in voting third party.

5C.  The likelihood that both candidates for an office will be identical in the good and evil they do is infinitesimal.  One will very probably do more good amid the bad, even if only a little.¹

NOTE:  It is therefore the Christian’s job to be prayed up and to research the candidates, their positions, and the parties they represent.

2A.   You should consider these issues when casting your vote.

          1B.  Abortion.

          2B.  Marriage.

          3B.  Debt. 

          4B.  Religious Liberty.

Conclusion

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¹ John Piper, http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/i-am-going-to-vote.