Thursday, October 23, 2008
One of my favorite catch-phrases in church, and perhaps yours, is, “If you’ve got your Bible, say GOT IT!” I know the grammar is poor but the phrase is good. I’ve recently been informed that some people in church are saying in a hushed voice, “For” and in a loud voice saying, “Got it”. Forgot it.
While we may forget to bring our Bible to church (occasionally), we should not forget our Bible when we vote.I believe the Bible is the best voting guide we posses.
In Matthew’s Gospel we read about an encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees. The question they asked Jesus was about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus perceived that this was a question intended to trap him and asks for a Roman coin and gives this reply: “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s”, they replied. Then He said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”. When they heard this they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (Matt. 22: 15-22).
There are some things we give to Caesar. In the strictest interpretation we would give taxes to Caesar. I believe Jesus was teaching that there are some things that we give to the government: taxes, votes, support and obedience to laws that don’t violate God’s law. However, the other side of that coin (pardon the pun), is that we give to God what is God’s. What is it that God owns? Everything! Even Caesar’s government. The fact that there is a government is ordained by God. Caesar had his inscription on some things, but God has stamped His image on everything and everyone.
Therefore, when I give my vote, I should do so in light of God’s kingdom because He owns everything. So what the Bible says about life, death, marriage, money, children, the poor, the rich, the weak, the elderly, the innocent, the guilty, the alien, the resident…should guide the way I vote. I shouldn't just consider what is best for me, but for God's kingdom.
Consider what the Bible says about serving when voting for a person.
Matthew 20:25-27 says, “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” This is the character of serving that Jesus modeled. A quality of serving that blesses people and thinks of them first. Wouldn’t that be a great quality to see in our elected “servants”?
God bless you as you head to the polls. And don’t forget your Bible. It’s the best and most reliable guide we have.
Pastor Tim
While we may forget to bring our Bible to church (occasionally), we should not forget our Bible when we vote.I believe the Bible is the best voting guide we posses.
In Matthew’s Gospel we read about an encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees. The question they asked Jesus was about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus perceived that this was a question intended to trap him and asks for a Roman coin and gives this reply: “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s”, they replied. Then He said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”. When they heard this they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (Matt. 22: 15-22).
There are some things we give to Caesar. In the strictest interpretation we would give taxes to Caesar. I believe Jesus was teaching that there are some things that we give to the government: taxes, votes, support and obedience to laws that don’t violate God’s law. However, the other side of that coin (pardon the pun), is that we give to God what is God’s. What is it that God owns? Everything! Even Caesar’s government. The fact that there is a government is ordained by God. Caesar had his inscription on some things, but God has stamped His image on everything and everyone.
Therefore, when I give my vote, I should do so in light of God’s kingdom because He owns everything. So what the Bible says about life, death, marriage, money, children, the poor, the rich, the weak, the elderly, the innocent, the guilty, the alien, the resident…should guide the way I vote. I shouldn't just consider what is best for me, but for God's kingdom.
Consider what the Bible says about serving when voting for a person.
Matthew 20:25-27 says, “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” This is the character of serving that Jesus modeled. A quality of serving that blesses people and thinks of them first. Wouldn’t that be a great quality to see in our elected “servants”?
God bless you as you head to the polls. And don’t forget your Bible. It’s the best and most reliable guide we have.
Pastor Tim
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Thanks for the excellent counsel, Tim. Sandy and I will definitely heed it on November 4.
Noah Webster, in his 1828 edition of "An American Dictionary of the English Language" states that government begins with the individual and the "regulation" of his "conduct." Government is moral and personal before it is practical and institutional. Without self-governed individuals who follow God's moral code, we cannot expect good family, church, or civil governments to be developed. Self-government (or self-control) under God is the foundation of any society. (Thoughts taken from Gary DeMar's "God and Government - A Biblical and Historical Study"
Noah Webster, in his 1828 edition of "An American Dictionary of the English Language" states that government begins with the individual and the "regulation" of his "conduct." Government is moral and personal before it is practical and institutional. Without self-governed individuals who follow God's moral code, we cannot expect good family, church, or civil governments to be developed. Self-government (or self-control) under God is the foundation of any society. (Thoughts taken from Gary DeMar's "God and Government - A Biblical and Historical Study"
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