The Right & Responsibility to Vote
Proverbs 29:2
NOVEMBER 2 2014
ROGER MILLER
In 1938 the name Boston Curtis appeared on the ballot for
Republican Committeeman from Milton, Washington.
Actually, Boston Curtis was a donkey. The town’s mayor
sponsored the animal to demonstrate that people know very
little about the candidates...... .He proved his point. The mule
won!
It’s sad but true Americans know very little about their
government ... constitution, the freedoms & rights we enjoy
& those elected to office!
Let me remind you: -We live in a Republic...that is governed
by the consent of the people! -We are a Democracy...we have
a voice & a vote to chose! -We have a constitution which is
the law of the land! (explain difference between republic and
democracy)
-We don’t live under Monarchy! -We are not Anarchy! -We
aren’t Communists or Socialist!
When it comes to our country...our government...& The
elections... -What we are.... I’m afraid...is Apathist......Many
just don’t care! -Many are Indifferent & Passive! They don’t
want to get involved. -Many are ignorant! They don’t know &
don’t want to know the issues.
My friend you need to understand something! Legislators....
Legislation.... Politicians ... Politics ... Democrats ...
Republicans even Independents offer little change as it
relates to the vast number of issues that face this nation!
The only Real & Genuine change comes from the heart & its
God alone who can change a heart for he holds the hearts of
men in His hand! Scripture says...
Romans 13:1“Everyone must submit to the governing
authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and
those that exist are instituted by God.”
Proverbs 21:1“A king's heart is like streams of water in
the Lord's hand He directs it wherever He chooses. ”
Psalm 47:8, 9 “God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on His holy throne. The nobles of the peoples
have assembled with the people of the God of Abraham.
For the leaders of the earth belong to God; He is greatly
exalted. ”
Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous flourish, the people
rejoice,but when the wicked rule, people groan. ”
Scripture has much to say about our involvement in Politics:
“Politics” ~ The affairs of government...politicians....&
political parties.
-Christians are to be peaceful & law abiding citizens. Romans
13:1-7 -We are to pray for & honor our government leaders. 1
Timothy 2:1-3
-We are to pay our taxes. Matthew 22:21
-We are to work for the highest good of all people.
Proverbs 3:27
-Jesus’ call for His people to be salt & light to a dying
world...that includes those who govern us & the decision
they make that involve us! Matthew 5:13-14
-We are to submit to those who govern us. 1 Peter 2:13-15
-We are to promote Godly principles in politics and
government
Pr 29:2 When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice.
But when the wicked are in power, they groan.
My friend, the people of God must be informed & involved in
our government....& in the process of electing those who
govern us! Plato has said; The penalty that good men pay for
not being interested in politics is to be governed by men
worse than themselves.
This morning I want to give some things to consider as you
get informed & involved in Politics & the election that is just
days away!
1. You have been given the Right to vote: Psalm 33:12
“ Happy is the nation whose God is •Yahweh —
the people He has chosen to be His own possession! ”
Again, this is a democracy! You have a voice...You have a
vote! Use It!
-You’re an American! -Born in the land of the brave & home
of the free! -Thousands before us have bled & die for the
rights & freedoms we enjoy! -
You live in the land of ...baseball...hotdogs...apple pies &
Chevrolet’s!
You have the right to vote...take it & make it count for good!
When it comes to a showdown, Washington must never forget
who rules ------ the people. ~Will Rogers
You have the opportunity to be heard through your vote...to
elect those who embrace the things of God!
2. You have the Responsibility to vote: Romans 13:1
For there is no authority except from God, and the
authorities that exist are appointed by God…
As a citizen of this great nation...&...as a child of God you
have the responsibility to get involved!
Your involvement ... -Makes a difference! -It has an impact! -
Brings about change that is Godly & good!
There’re plenty of examples in scripture where God’s people
got involved in politics!
“Politics” ~ The affairs of government...politicians....&
political parties.
For example:
-Genesis 41:39-41 Pharaoh gave Joseph political control of
all Egypt.
-Exodus 5:2-4 Moses went before Pharaoh as God’s
ambassador asking for the freedom of God’s people.
-Samuel 3 Samuel the prophet & judge choose Saul as
Israel’s king.
-Esther 1 Esther the queen saved the whole Jewish nation
from execution.
-Daniel 1 Daniel served in the king’s court, while obeying
God.
-And of course there was Jesus who was one for the most
divisive figure in history religiously....socially...& politically!
As Americans & as Christians we have a responsibility to
vote!
We also have the responsibility to pray & support our
leaders.
Jeremiah 29:4-7 was written during a time the nation of
Israel was in captivity and bondage!
“This is what the Lord of •Hosts, the God of Israel, says to
all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon:
“Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat
their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters.
Take wives for your sons and give your daughters to men
in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters.
Multiply there; do not decrease. Seek the welfare of the
city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its
behalf, for when it has prosperity, you will
prosper.” Does America need our prayer? Does America
need the righteous to prosper?
Look you have a right to vote...then when all is said & done if
your man or party doesn’t win you have a responsibility to
pray & support that man for as he goes...so goes the
nation ...&...so goes you & your family
3. You have a Reason to vote
Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous flourish, the people
rejoice, but when the wicked rule, people groan. ” HCSB
The reason we are to vote is for righteousness to flourish.
The reason to vote is dethrone the wicked’s rule!
Proverbs 29:2 also reminds us; we are Christians
first....Americans second! As followers of Christ-our first
concern must always be his righteousness and His kingdom!
As a Christian we live under a Theocracy ~ in other words
we are subject to divine authority! King of Kings and Lord of
Lords- Jesus is our ruler! We answer to God first! As citizens
of the United States of America it must become about His
agenda!
As Americans...we live under a republic driven by a system
of representation...we have a say & vote in government.
Therefore, we should seek to elect those
whose beliefs ....morals...& values best line up w/ the word of
God! -It’s not about party...personality....or promises! -It’s
about character ... integrity....truthfulness & uprightness!
It’s about seeking his righteousness! The key difference
between a democracy and a republic lies in the limits placed
on government by the law, which has implications on
minority rights. Both forms of government use a
representational system where citizens vote to elect
politicians to represent their interests and form the
government. However, in a republic, a constitution or
charter of rights protects certain inalienable rights that
cannot be taken away by the government, even if it has been
elected by a majority of voters. In a pure democracy, the
majority is not restrained and can impose its will on the
minority.
The reason this was done by our revolutionary fathers is;
History’s most efficient genocide occurred about 20 years
ago, with as many as 1 million people systematically
murdered in less than 100 days. Rwanda was a democracy
And the Hutu, outnumbered the Tutsi. So they simply voted
to do away with the Tutsi. That is a vast oversimplification,
but a reasonable conclusion. It is why Reinhold Nebur wrote;
Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible; but
man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.
(Reinhold Niebuhr Interview with Reinhold in McCalls
February 1966) The Founders gave us unalienable right to
ensure justice and righteousness were our foundation!
The reason we vote is to bring about an atmosphere &
environment in this nation that honors God & draws us
closer to Him!
However, the mindset seems to be....I’ll vote for the one who
honors me & draws me closer to the things I want in life!
The Preamble of the Constitution says... We the people of the
United States, in order to form a more perfect union,
establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure
the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of
America.
I said that to say this... -It’s not the government’s
responsibility to provide you a job! -It’s not the government’s
duty to provide you healthcare! -The government is not
obligated to give you prescriptions drugs. -Or a house...an
education...nor a retirement check! Do you realize,
though, that most of us get back up to three times what we
paid in Social Security ? And it is our selfish sense of
entitlement will ruin America much faster than foreign aid,
subsidies for NPR, or foreign wars ever will. (John Stossel
No They Can’t page 283)
This entitlement mindset that the government owes us
something is communism & socialism & not the
democracy & capitalism on which this nation was built!
The government job is to stay out of your life & allow you to
work hard...study hard & reach for what ever star you so
chose!
In other words the less government the better!!! The less
government the more freedom and fun for all! As a Christian
your vote should enlarge the kingdom of God & not the
kingdom of self!! When we vote for self the quote by Will
Rogers is becomes truth- The promising season ends on
Election Day. That same night, the alibi season begins and
lasts for the next four years. ~ Will Rogers
Conclusion: As we approach November the 4th election day
2014.... The name-calling & back-biting will get worse...the
accusations & lie will on intensify & the promise will only get
bigger!
So how does one navigate through all the rhetoric?
It’s really simple...remember who you are! Remember who’s
you are!
You are a child of God who has been given a
Right...Responsibility...&...Reason to vote in such a way that
it honors God & enlarges the kingdom of God!
“At what point then is the approach of danger to be
expected…It must spring up amongst us. It cannot come
from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves
be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must
live through all time, or die by suicide.” Abraham Lincoln
There is 100 Million evangelical Christians today. Only 55 Million
register to vote. And only 25 million vote. That is why we are
committing suicide.
Remember Psalm 33:12 “ Happy is the nation whose God
is •Yahweh —the people He has chosen to be His own possession.
The only way we return to being God’s nation if men and women
of God vote! If you have missed my point- I apologize -here it is;
Vote!
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