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To Vote or Not to Vote??
newgene87:
alrighty, this is something i did want to ask you all. Seekers of Truth and "seasoned" in life (yes yall old ;D ;D), but where do most of yall stand on politics? Now, I am only 25, yes young. But once i devoted my Life to seeking the Kingdom of God and Jesus wholeheartedly in my life - i have no interest whatsoever in politics. I mean, i think it's all a show, WWE at it's best: one party versus another party; but behind the curtain, somebody is swaying a side. My parents are democratic i guess, and as a young black man, i feel pressured to be in this mess; but that's how i feel, i feel it's a mess. Should i be in politics? is the "voting" of the next president that vital to my life that i feel he actually has influence and authority to make my life easier?? i mean who's to say this guy would make a utopia and the other guy would make a hell out of america??? like seriously, I take Jesus as King of my life, Lord and Master; i'm a full time Husband and Father and i seek to only lead my family through Christ who strengthens me - so does having credence in a man holding office in the white house make me any better?? Im just annoyed of the pressure.... example, my family throw it in my face, that my ancestors marched for me to have the right to vote and yada yada yada; but i mean no disrespect to my history or whatever; i feel so much like a new creature in Christ - politics just seems dull to me. I am in the Army, so whoever it is, He's gonna be my Commander in Chief anyway. and oh yea, i just read an article showing this is gonna be the first election in 80 years with no military service on either ticket -- i sort of think that's important (???). but whatever, Just wanted to share. hopefully my family here can enlighten me.
oh btw Joshua 5:13-14 is my favorite verse regarding politics -
"When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?"
speaks volumes to me on what side to choose on things
Eugene
believerchrist100:
A few emails of Ray's on the subject. Simply put, we are not supposed to be entangled in the affairs of this world which includes politics which includes voting:
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,1808.0.html
Hello Ray,
I really enjoy your articles, especially those on the subject of Hell. I have two questions:
1. Should "True Christians be involved in Politics and vote ?
2. When "Searching the deepthings of God", is using one's analytical skills and logic a stumbling block, or a god-given help ?
Thanks for your time.
Willie
Dear Willie:
No, a true follower of Jesus cannot be involved in politics. Jesus certainly did not take part in any such worldly activities.
As the Scriptures can hold up to analysis and logic, there is nothing wrong in using analysis and logic in studying and/or teaching the Scriptures.
God be with you,
Ray
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,35.0.html
Hallo, Mr.Ray SMITH:
I email you before about trying to get a law to stop the church requirement of the sin of tithing by petitioning for it to the State Rep. My next move for the no-tithing law is already in the hands of this state's representative again. I had written to the Rep. that tithe money is a steal and therefore the churches are laundering stolen income in the regular income of the church. You see it is not unconstitutional to regulate businesses away from laundering income from other sources. I hope that you as a man of God who cares for the real church of christ as shown by your tithe-paper will be intersted in trying to demostrate to the State Rep in your community that the church is not a business venture but a non-for-profit organization with offerings and sales income.
Thank you for being concern.
Best Regards,
Cesar
Dear Cesar:
I am an "Ambassador for Christ" (I Cor 5:20). Ambassadors cannot legally take part in the politics of foreign nations. Jesus never, ever got involved in the operations of the Roman Government over the Jews. We are never taught to "march on Washington," etc. But we are told to COME OUT OF THE WORLD and be separate. "Let the DEAD bury the dead."
God be with you,
Ray
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,7290.msg57982.html#msg57982
Ray, should we as believers waste our time voting. If every thing happens according to Gods plan, does it even matter. I haven't voted for a candidate since Reagan. Instead I find myself voting for the lesser of two evils. And in the end we seem to always head down the same path of morale decline and national self destruction. Does my vote even matter. Should I vote for a person simply to keep the more corrupt person from obtaining office. Thanks Billy
Seriously, Billy, do you think that had Jesus lived in a democracy He would have voted for "the lesser of two evils?"
There's your answer.
God be with you,
Ray
Hope this helps clear up a few things.
Patrick
newgene87:
--- Quote from: Abednego on July 08, 2012, 09:08:56 PM ---Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities. For there is no authority but of God; the authorities that exist are ordained by God. (KJV)
.....
*****NEWS FLASH****** God is not running a democracy.
As I see it mainstream churches have a belief that they need to pick the best candidate. Who opposes abortion, who is the most honest, and a thousand other things. God changes not, and when He appointed authority centuries ago, they weren't always the most Godly of people. So why do we assume they need to be today? We know God will use evil, (ie Ray's paper on 9/11) so why should we think He won't use it coming from those who rule over us?
My most compelling reason does not have a scripture to back it up. It's basically me coming to an understanding that God really doesn't need my help.
--- End quote ---
thank you Abednego. beautifully said. i do remember that first verse; and it's like, whatever is gonna be is gonna be. God is All in All.
and thank you Patrick for pulling those out. i feel as though i've seen those before so thank you. i feel alot better cause Ray made it clear about politics. It wouldve been something to see Jesus speaking out against the Roman government ??? ::)
darren:
I've been interested in politics for awhile. I know I'm as carnal as they come. Yet, I prayed in the past, in the now and in the future that God the Creator of All things in the universe to guide and teach me first His Will.Then do HisWill and change my human heart to a loving kind spiritual heart. I do vote in the presidential elections.
however, i will not vote this time around. As Ray had put it. Do you think Jesus would have voted for the lesser of two evils. I have to be in this world. Live in this world and die in this world. Ipray to God that He gives me the wisdom and the strength to be "Not" of this world. Carnality what a bitch.
Darren
Gina:
Public stance on political parties
As the leader of the SCLC, King maintained a policy of not publicly endorsing a U.S. political party or candidate: "I feel someone must remain in the position of non-alignment, so that he can look objectively at both parties and be the conscience of both—not the servant or master of either."[29]
In a 1958 interview, he expressed his view that neither party was perfect, saying, "I don't think the Republican party is a party full of the almighty God nor is the Democratic party. They both have weaknesses ... And I'm not inextricably bound to either party."[30]
King critiqued both parties' performance on promoting racial equality:
Actually, the Negro has been betrayed by both the Republican and the Democratic party. The Democrats have betrayed him by capitulating to the whims and caprices of the Southern Dixiecrats. The Republicans have betrayed him by capitulating to the blatant hypocrisy of reactionary right wing northern Republicans. And this coalition of southern Dixiecrats and right wing reactionary northern Republicans defeats every bill and every move towards liberal legislation in the area of civil rights.[31]
Personal political advocacy
Although King never publicly supported a political party or candidate for president, in a letter to a civil rights supporter in October 1956 he said that he was undecided as to whether he would vote for the Adlai Stevenson or Dwight Eisenhower, but that "In the past I always voted the Democratic ticket."[32]
In his autobiography, King says that in 1960 he privately voted for Democratic candidate John F. Kennedy: "I felt that Kennedy would make the best president. I never came out with an endorsement. My father did, but I never made one." King adds that he likely would have made an exception to his non-endorsement policy in 1964, saying "Had President Kennedy lived, I would probably have endorsed him in 1964."[33]
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr. )
I don't vote either.
I don't believe that MLK would have a problem with anyone not voting. Even he voted privately - and that in and of itself speaks volumes and begs the question. Why if he came to preach voting (which he did not as we all know), did he vote privately? Maybe he wasn't aware that the Electoral College is ultimately the one who makes the decision who gets in office (well, at least that's what we're being led to believe).
I voted once. Never again. I know too much now. :)
My grandmother (very Caucasian ;) ) was heavily into politics, always being invited to inaugural balls and just a real crotchety you-know-what (she turned me off to politics).
Of course in the end, none of it mattered to her.
God is no respecter of persons.
You're a smart man.
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