A Christian's right to choose?
Well, I musta been the last person to know here in Merry Ole England, that Prime Minister Tony Blair has called a General election for this year. He will either be re-elected as Prime Minister, or, the opposition (The conservatives) will oust him and take office. After 17 years of Tory Rule, most of those under the oppression of Margaret Thatcher, who single handedly did more to set this country onto the path to destruction than any Prime Minister I recall neither the thought of another 4-5 years of Tony Blair in office or the Conservatives gaining power, "floats my boat."
Now, a question? Should we as Christian's vote?
There is currently in America a dispute between two well known ministries. James Dobson's Focus on the Family and John Macarthur's Grace to you. Click here about Christians trying to use politics to make a difference in such things as Abortion, Homosexuality, drug abuse and other issues of moral decline. So, this brings me back to my original question. Is it a Christian's God given duty to vote? Or:
Do we as Christian's take the old and New Testaments as the infallible word of God and accept them as our rule of faith and practice and try to establish Lordship for Jesus Christ in all areas of life, whether that be,personal, family, church, or state?
Another ponderizaton: Are there limitations on what constitutes God's Kingdom or is His dominion Universal? Is there any place or corner on earth exempt from God's rule? When Jesus said in Matt 28:28 that ALL authority...had been given unto Him, did that only include a minority part of it? As Christians generally speaking are a minority anywhere in the world. Does His rule only extend to those tiny little corners where there are Christians? And if so, does that mean that unbelievers don't owe loyalty and allegiance to Christ? So, why would anyone who believes in Christ's Lordship over all areas of life, elect a government anywhere in the world, that will manage its own affairs without any reference to Christ?
Psalm 2
1Why do the nations rage[a]
and the peoples plot in vain?
2The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,
3"Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us."
It can be clearly seen from this and other verses that every nation has a responsibility towards Christ. And every government or ruler a duty to enforce God's will on all matters. Failure to do either is a very serious sin. And a national sin. Yet what government today, either here in Britain, or America or any other country that comes to mind, does actually give all Authority to Christ? And I won't point to specific disasters or plagues upon the world, but God warned us of such, and that a turning back to Him was the answer. And yet, governments get elected, and we as Christians often help to get them into office. I have heard it said by many Christians in America that George Bush, was a good choice because he is a man of faith. And leaving George Bush's faith out of it, as no one except God can know what is in his heart, he may have good intentions, yet does he give all authority to Christ and govern in accordance with God's will in every matter, big or small?
If God is left out of the equation, and that includes in governing the nations, and being given ALL authority, then the nations are destined for destruction. And IMO it is not only a Bible believing Christian's duty to NOT vote. But to do so, and have these governments put in place who rule under their own authority is a matter of serious sin.
