Election 2024: A Christian Perspective

 

Election Message 2024 – Sermon Notes Pastor Brad Myers

A Christian Perspective October 20, 2024

Today: Election Message 2024: A Christian Perspective

Whatever Satan can divide he can dominate.

A Common Theme

• Early preachers were not ashamed to preach God’s word no matter what the topic.

Luke 18:19 (NIV)

• There’s no good political candidate.

History: Elections & Voting!

• 1600-1700’s Colonial Early America: Only white, property owners vote.
  • Tied to land and religion.
• 1780s: Post-Revolutionary War: The Constitution gave voting laws to the states.
  • White property owners: Some states allowed free black men to vote
• 1820 -1830: Many states dropped property ownership requirements.
• 1870 – 15^th Amendment: Prohibits denying the right to vote based on race.
  • Southern states enacted literacy tests, poll taxes, & even violence.
• 1920 – 19^th Amendment: Women granted right to vote.
• 1960’s Voting Rights Act: Eliminated racial discrimination and all barriers
• 1964: 24^th Amendment: Eliminated poll taxes.
• 1971: 26^th Amendment: Lower voting age from 21 to 18
• Today: The evolution of voting continues.
  • Voter ID laws, Citizenship, felony voting, etc.
  • WHY? So, “Eligible citizens” can vote “freely” and “fairly.”

Where Does The Church Stand?

Early on, and throughout history, it was the church that played a critical role on how faith should shape the government & politics. It was Pastors who applied a Biblical standard of how the issues of the day were viewed.

How? Separation of Church and State

• Not in any founding documents.

Where did it come from?

• It was kicked around early. Not the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, or Constitution.
• 1802: Baptist Convention in Danbury Ct.
  • President Thomas Jefferson his opinion on religious freedom.
• Jefferson sent a personal letter
  • Important: To “build a wall of separation of church and state.”
  • Intent: They exercise their religious beliefs without fear of gov’t intrusion or intimidation as outlined in the First Amendment of 1791.

The First Amendment was established, in part, to keep the government out of the business of the church; not to keep the church out of the business of the government.

1^st Amendment in part.

The government cannot make laws that establish a religion or prohibit the free exercise of religion.

Separation of Church & State has still been used to remove God from the public domain and the Church from having any government influence.

1954 Gov’t goes all in!

Johnson Amendment Enacted

• U.S. tax code prohibits 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates.
• Intimidates Pastors

Maybe you’re influenced as well:

• If you are giving to Cross Pointe Church with the sole intent to get a gov’t tax deduction, then you are being influenced by the gov’t as well.

Malachi 3:10 (NIV)

• God says test me; the gov’t says challenge me…

Why speak on Election 2024: A Christian Perspective?

Many Christians are getting caught up in the emotions of political candidates while losing the Christian perspective of voting on biblical values.

Our perspective should always be viewed through the lens of God’s Word. So, when it comes to any election, we should determine which candidate more closely aligns with our Christian convictions and Biblical values.

Church, I am not looking to be political, but as a pastor, I will always be looking to be biblical! If you feel a biblical application to an election steps on your toes maybe you should be evaluating which kingdom you are more closely aligned with.

Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

God’s Word established morality way before politics was even thought of. It’s been a changing culture that continues to politicize God’s Word and not God’s Word trying to politicize our culture.

Psalm 33:12 (NIV)

Today, Politics are more dividing than uniting!

We have bought into the idea that if a Christian disagrees with something they must hate the people involved with it.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)

Why am I speaking on a Christian perspective of elections?

Ezekiel 33:1-5 (NKJV)

• Ancient Israel: Selecting an individual to sit on the city wall watching for impending dangers coming.
• He blows a trumpet to warn the people.
• Whether they listened or not was not his responsibility.

Why Warn the People?

Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

Our answer is not in a political candidate. However, how Christians act during election time is a direct reflection on whom they serve.

Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

An election is a great time for the believers of Jesus Christ to let their light shine to the world! Praying for our elected leaders, both past and future, and voting for our Christian convictions and biblical values allows us to be an ambassador of Heaven to a fallen world.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT)

We need to stop looking for the perfect candidate.

Policies are more important than personalities!

Good government cannot save us, but bad government can destroy us. —Pastor Gary Hamrick

Proverbs 14:34 (NLT)

• There is no perfect person
• Jesus isn’t running folks

In the Bible, there were some Godly leaders that ungodly things and some ungodly leaders who did godly things and God used them all!

• There’s never a perfect candidate in any election.

We are not doomed if the candidate of our choice is not elected

What does the Bible say about some of today’s political issues?

• Not an exhaustive list
• Not in any type of order.

1. Border Security: God is in favor of borders!

Acts 17:26 (NIV)

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

God divided the 12 tribes of Israel by boundaries and borders, and He allowed them to defend themselves!

God is in favor of foreigners

Zechariah 7:10 (NIV)

• Commanded to take care of the widows, fatherless, the foreigner, and the poor.
• We have laws to do this!
• Romans 13:1-2: Obey the laws of the land unless contrary to God’s law
• Borders don’t mean “no entry” they mean enter legally!

2. Israel: God Backs Israel

Genesis 12:3 (NIV)

• This doesn’t mean we agree with everything they do.
• Means: God supports them and blesses those who bless them
• Means: God will curse those who curse Israel.

3. Religious Freedom

Exodus 20:3 (NKJV)

• Over 600 laws in the Old Testament
• Summarizes 10 in Exodus 20
• The first of the ten commandants is Exodus 20:3 (The Conscious Clause)

Conscious Clause: Our allegiance is to heaven and God’s Holy Word, and no one shall compete against this.

• No one can force me to do anything that violates my religious freedom!

4. Biological Sex

Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)

• God assigns biological sex!
• 14 states have Transgender Health Care Shield Laws
• Trans refuge states: Gender affirming care. Means if a minor child wishes to explore their gender identity including changing it and if at least one of the parents says no the state can legally come in and take over temporarily.
• Biological boys in girls restrooms and competing in women’s sports.

“A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good, just because it’s accepted by a majority” —Booker T. Washington

5. Life: Pro-Life & Pro-Choice.

• Pro-Life: Opposes legalized abortion
• Pro-Choice: Advocates legalized abortion

Acts 3:15 (ESV)

We have no presidential candidate who is Pro-Life!

Republican Candidate: Advocates no abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

• Supports abortion within the first 15 weeks of pregnancy.

95% of all abortions occur in the first 15 weeks.

Center for Disease Control & Prevention

Democratic Candidate: Advocates abortion up to delivery.

Proverbs 6:17 (NIV)

We must decide which presidential candidate aligns more closely with our Christian convictions and biblical values.

Why is this so important?

Proverbs 29:2 (NLT)

Pledge of Allegiance: 1892 (edited over the years)

• 1954: The Johnson Amendment was enacted.
• 1954: President Eisenhower petitioned Congress to add the words “under God,”

Pledge of Allegiance

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Pledge to the Christian Flag

I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, and to the Savior for whose Kingdom it stands; one brotherhood, uniting all Christians, in service and in love.

Gov’t, politics, and elections are not the answer for our nation. Jesus is the answer!!