Good morning,
Tuesday, 8 November, is Election Day. We will be exploring our five responsibilities as Christian citizens. They are to pray, register to vote, become informed, get involved, and vote.
William R. “Bill” Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, the world’s largest Christian ministry, is the author of the booklet entitled The Four Spiritual Laws, which has been printed in over 200 languages and distributed to more than 2.5 billion people.
Bill Bright also authored Your 5 Duties As a Christian Citizen, outlining your relationship as a Christian Citizen with the great system of self-government that assures every Christian a voice in the affairs of the nation and enables us to bring a heavenly perspective to the earthly realm.
America is one of the last strongholds of freedom on earth—and citizens who are dedicated to God are the only resource for the preservation of our freedoms… including the freedom to serve Him.
Noah Webster said, “In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate—look to his character…It is alleged by men of loose principles, or defective views of the subject, that religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications for political stations. But the Scriptures teach a different doctrine. They direct that rulers should be men who rule in the fear of God, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness…
“When a citizen gives his vote to a man of known immorality, he abuses his civic responsibility; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor; he betrays the interest of his country.”
Charles Finney, who helped introduce half a million Americans to Christ, wrote in 1835: “The time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics, or the Lord will curse them… God will bless or curse this nation according to the course Christians take in politics.” Finney’s words are no less true for us today. The course of our nation, state and local governments are up to us.
To protect His people, God warns against ungodly leaders. The rule of the wicked is a direct violation of His will. “The wicked shall not rule the godly, lest the godly be forced to do wrong “ (Psalm 125:3). Instead, God’s plan is for us to have leaders who know Him and will rule according to His Word. “He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God” (2 Samuel 23:3 NKJ).
Voting for and supporting moral candidates who support moral public policies is the minimum required of Christian citizens in a system of self-government. Godly people must vote for godly rulers.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com