Casting the Deciding Vote
1 Timothy 2:1-2:8
I recently got a paper in the mail that listed what I can and cannot legally say from the pulpit and at church board meetings regarding politics and the supporting of candidates. I was incredulous at first, and then sad. Sad that the world we live in is such that even pastors need warnings about what not to say from up here.
But it’s an excellent example of American politics. As usual, during this campaigning time before the upcoming election, there has been vast confusion, an abundance of mudslinging advertisements and personal attacks. And ever present is the “media circus,” which is increasingly biased. As a former reporter myself, I have always taken pride in presenting whatever event I was covering unbiased, as it should be. As I thought about all of that this week, it occurred to me that everyone who is voting will be doing so in the belief that their candidate is the best… and that the others are either less competent, incompetent, or even demonic. And that reminded me of a story I read several years ago:
A candidate for city council was doing some door to door campaigning, and things were going pretty well, he thought, until he came to the house of grouchy old man. After the he gave his little speech, the old man growled, "Vote for you? Why I’d rather vote for the devil!" At this point, the candidate realized he didn’t stand a chance of swaying the old man, but with a smile he said: "I understand. But in case your friend is not running, may I count on your support?"
When we cast our votes in city, state and national elections, we do so under the belief that we have the power – through our vote -- to change things. Perhaps you didn’t believe that or maybe still don’t believe that, but we saw in the last presidential election that one vote CAN make a difference.
Back in 1984, the California Secretary of State compiled this list: In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England In 1649, one vote caused Charles I of England to be executed. In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German. In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union. In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment. In 1876, one vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the Presidency of U.S. In 1933, one vote gave Adolph Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party. In 1960, one vote change in each precinct in Illinois would have denied John F. Kennedy the Presidency.
Our votes do make a difference. And we who are Christians should honor this sacred privilege and vote at every opportunity.
But, having said that, we need to realize that there are two inherent weaknesses in the democratic process. There are two problems that plague the voting public.
1. We are voting for mortals. I don’t care how moral and upstanding the politician is that we vote into office… he’s still a sinner. He’s still prone to the same weaknesses and sinful tendencies and the same temptations as the rest of us. These politicians are not God… they ARE mortal. They do not walk on water. They do not perform miracles… they will make mistakes, they will say things they come to regret later (even if they don’t admit it publicly) and they will disappoint us.
2. When we Christians vote, there are times that - when we cast our vote… we often do so under the mistaken belief that the candidate, or the party for which we vote has the power within themselves to change the course of our city, state, or national destiny.
That’s not true. And it has never been true. And some of our best politicians have recognized this. Benjamin Franklin once addressed an assembly struggling with a decision with these words: "In this situation of this assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth and scarcely able to distinguish it when it is presented to us - how has it happened that we have not once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings?"
Abraham Lincoln once said, "It is the duty of nations (as well as of men) to own their own independence upon the overruling power of God . . . and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures (and proved by all history) that those nations only are blest whose God is the Lord."
But perhaps Ronald Reagan said it best, back in 1984: "Without God... there IS a coarsening of the society; without God democracy will not and cannot long endure...If we ever forget that we are ’One Nation Under God’, we will be one nation gone under."
(pause) If we ever forget…” (pause)
Why would we forget that we are a “nation under God?” Our money, our pledge of allegiance, many of the sayings on the public buildings throughout Washington D.C. proclaim this desire to be a nation under God. How could we forget? Well, actually, even with that overwhelming set of witnesses, even we who are Christians can literally forget God’s power over our nation… if we put more faith in our politicians than we do in our God.
The Old Testament has an interesting story about Israel’s experience with a national referendum. The nation was in an uneasy position, and it had good reason to be uneasy. They had enemies threatening them on every side. The prophet of God who was their leader at the time (Samuel) was growing old and soon would be unable to guide them as a nation. And his sons who might succeed him were no bargains. They were corrupt and selfish boys.
The people looked the situation over and came to a conclusion that they needed a king. Every other nation had one… and they wanted one. On the face of it, that made sense. Having a king symbolized their desire of strength. Having a king meant they could feel they were on equal footing with the nations around them. Having a king would give them the feeling of security and power in an unsure world.
1 Samuel 8:4: “Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, ‘You are old and your sons do not follow in your ways; appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other nations.”
Israel was uncomfortable. They were uncomfortable in waiting for God to supply their needs in His time. They wanted - what they wanted - NOW! And because of this, they had not bothered to approach God and ask for His leading in this issue. They hadn’t called for a time of national prayer and fasting to ask for His opinion. They simply held a vote and decided that it was time for Samuel to go and a new king to come in, so they could be like other nations.
God later told Samuel: “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.” 1 Samuel 8:7
What was the problem? The problem was that they had put their faith in an earthly politician… and they had taken their eyes off God. They mistakenly believed that the “candidate” they had chosen would give them something they unconsciously felt God would not: safety, power, and financial security.
I believe that as Christians we need to be involved in the political process. I believe Christians should, at a bare minimum, vote and if you feel called to do so, also actively work in the system to bring about righteousness in our nation.
It is a dangerous mistake to put more faith in politics and politicians, and political parties than we do in God. It’s an easy trap to fall into.
How do we know when we’ve started relying more on politicians than on God? Paul gives us a pretty good thing to watch for when he writes, at the end of today’s scripture lesson, “I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument…” (I Timothy 2:8)
Have you ever known someone who gets so involved in politics that they get into arguments all the time about it? We’ve all heard it said, “Don’t discuss religion or politics!” Do you have any idea why? That’s right. People get into loud and nasty fights over those topics. These arguments can even lead to broken relationships, where a person refuses to speak to another because of their differing beliefs!
Now, if you find yourself getting wrought up about politics so that you are angry and argumentative, that’s a pretty good sign that you’re faith is less in God than it is in your politics.
There’s a story told of the man who had lived in a small town and had been a staunch Republican all his life. Now, he was 90, and his health began to fail. His doctor told him: “George, I’m sorry to tell you this, but, from the state of health, I’d say you’ll not live out the year." The next morning, the old man asked his son to take him to the courthouse so he could change his registration from Republican to Democrat. "But Dad," protested his the son, "you started this town’s Republican Party and attended every function. Why would you want to become a Democrat now?" The old man replied: "Son, if someone has to die, it might as well be one of them."
Some people get so fired up about politics that they can be very unpleasant to be around. I admit that I have been one of those people and I want to apologize to any of you I may have offended with my attitude.
But by God making me aware of this argumentative behavior of mine whenever politics are discussed, I have discovered that if a Christian ever finds themselves engaged in a discussion about politics and find themselves getting angry or getting caught up in a heated debate where their temper is getting out of hand… it’s a pretty good sign they’ve taken their eyes off of God and put their hope in a politician or political party.
The Apostle Paul tells us of a method we can use to correct that kind political shortsightedness:
”First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions…” Pray for all the politicians… even the ones you don’t like. Especially the ones you don’t like! And why? The second part of 1 Timothy 2:2 says, “so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.”
Gerald Flurry has written: “Prayer is political action. Prayer is social energy. Prayer is public good. Prayer shapes more of our nation’s life than is formed by legislation. That we have not collapsed into anarchy is due more to prayer than to the police. Prayer is a sustained and intricate act of patriotism in the largest sense of that word--far more precise, loving, and preserving than any patriotism served up in slogans…. The single most important action contributing to whatever health and strength there is in our land is prayer.”
You see, our DECIDING vote, in any election…is NOT the one we make in the privacy of the ballot box, it’s the vote we make in the privacy of our prayer closets. (REPEAT) The vote you make on your knees has the power no ballot box can equal.
Why? Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” God has the power to direct the decisions of our leaders… even the bad ones And when we pray… that power of God is unleashed. It doesn’t matter if that leader professes to be a man of faith or doesn’t talk about his faith at all. It is OUR prayers that can release the power of God upon this fallen country.
So…what should we pray for?
1. We should pray for an open mind and for God’s guidance as we vote in a little over two weeks. Even if your mind is made up, be open to the Holy Spirit of God to vote GOD’s mind and not yours. Then we should pray for the success of “whoever” is in leadership.When Israel was held captive in a pagan nation, God told them “…seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare…” (Jeremiah 2:7) And then this warning, from Jeremiah 2:8-9: “…Do not let the prophets and diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, says the Lord.” Now there are some words we should pray over.
2. We should pray for the healing of our land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Through prayer, the future of this country is not in the hands of the president or the governor, it can be in God’s hands. With our prayers.
3. Pray that the decisions of all our leaders will bring honor and glory to God and that we can reach more and more people with the message of Christ’s love. This is also a litmus test we can use when discerning who to vote for. The time of voting strictly by whatever party you have belonged to your entire life is over. As responsible citizens and responsible Christians, we must inform ourselves of all the facts we can find on each candidate. Then test each statement, each decision made by that candidate: Did it bring honor and glory to God?
That was the major thrust of Paul’s comment to Timothy when he wrote: “I urge, that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for everyone, (even kings and all who are in high positions…(why?) so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity (because) this is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth.” I Timothy 2:1-4.
I once read a daily devotion in Upper Room that I never forgot. It told of a ship tossed to and fro in a storm. The crew did its best to ensure the safety of those on board. As the storm worsened, an anxious passenger asked the captain if there was anything else to be done.
”All we can do now is pray,” he replied. “Has it come to that?” the passenger asked in alarm. We see signs all around us as we consider the upcoming election that it, indeed, has come to that. All we can do now is pray, but praying is more than enough. Prayer needs to be a steady, daily light in our lives, in our country, not a distress flare. Let’s pray: Heavenly Teacher, we do not always pray as we ought. Help us to pray unceasingly, that we may be transformed by the renewing power of the Spirit. Create spaces in our prayer, that we might hear and live out your words back to us, words of love and justice, grace and forgiveness ...Amen.
BENEDICTION:
Brothers and sisters in Christ, hear these words regarding prayer: “Ask and it will be given to you; search, and you find; knock and the door will be opened for you.” Know that God longs to hear our prayer, and longs to communicate back. Go to Him in prayer!
Children's Sermon
Show the children a cell phone, and extend its antenna. Let them know that the message they speak into the phone doesn't stay inside, but instead goes out of the phone and into the air. Ask them if they think their message goes directly from their phone antenna to another person's phone antenna. No, not exactly - their message first has to go to a large cell phone antenna, one that is located on a tower, or in a high building, or even in a church steeple! Explain that lots of different phone messages go through one big antenna before they reach their destination. Challenge them to think of Jesus as a kind of big antenna for our prayers: The Bible says he is the "one mediator between God and humankind" (1 Timothy 2:5), the one person who helps us to communicate with God. Encourage them to talk with God as though they were talking with a friend on a cell phone, always trusting Jesus to connect them with their heavenly Father.
