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​Prophecy/
​News

What Will We Do on November 9th? (A Passionate Call to  Live with Eternal Purpose)

10/20/2016

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November 8th is approaching quickly - what to do - what to do!?  That is the scenario that most of us face as we watch the time when we will step into a voting booth and express our right and responsibility to be patriots.  The problem we also face is how to be both a patriot in the United States and also be a Christian in our conscience.  To be perfectly honest with you - I am also in the throes of such a decision.  I continue to pray about it - read to become better informed - and maybe - just maybe fret about it a little more than I should (Told you I was going to be honest).  


First of all, I need to be candid.  I will not under any circumstances vote for the Democrat Party or their standard bearer Hillary Clinton.  The Bible teaches us that the life in the womb does have rights.  It may not have rights in the eyes of the Democrat party or in the eyes of their presidential candidate - but God’s authority is infinitely higher than theirs - and He says that the precious baby in the womb is His masterpiece.  God forbid that I would do anything to strengthen the hands of those who add innocent blood through abortion to the massive amount we’ve already spilt advancing erotic freedom without responsibility.  I also cannot vote for this agenda because I am not in agreement with giving the LGBT community a carte blanche to rewrite the first amendment to the Constitution so that religious freedom is stamped out via the revisionist decisions made by the Supreme Court.  There are a host of other reasons that would take too long to list here, but suffice it to say that until the agenda in the Democrat party changes - I will be casting no votes for any of their candidates.  


Now to the much harder part of the coming election.  Can I vote for a man like Donald Trump - who if he said and acted toward my wife or daughters in the manner in which he has - I wouldn’t want him to be in charge of anything - other than his own reformation of character?  If I can do this - what would I be sacrificing as a believer and as someone who holds to a biblical definition of character? (all the time knowing that I don’t even measure up in some areas myself - thank God for His grace and gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ!)  That is where I am having such a difficult time - even today.  These are matters that I will have to continue to wrestle with for a few more weeks.  Eventually I will go into a booth and vote my conscience - and hopefully support someone who will lead our country, albeit haltingly, in a somewhat better direction that it is currently being led.  Each time I consider that - I am no more excited than I was before.  


If you began reading this hoping I would come up with some magic formula to make this easier - I’m sorry that you will be disappointed.  God has begun taking me in another direction - even as I continue in the quandary over how to cast a vote that will in some way honor Him.  It has always been a comfort to me to remember God’s sovereignty in this world.  That sovereignty can both change the direction of a nation toward righteousness - or allow a nation that turns from Him to descend into ruin.  Both are seen clearly in Scripture - especially when it refers to His people.


God began putting the question into my heart, “What are we going to be doing on November 9th?”  If Trump is elected, and that is a big “if” will all our problems be solved?  I am so glad to see so many prayer meetings and special times of prayer being called.  It is an encouraging thing to watch God’s people pray.  But can I ask if we will be praying after the election?  Will we have the same passion to pray - when maybe, and it is a big “maybe” Hillary Clinton may be elected president of the United States?  Are our hopes so set on electing one candidate over the other that we are blind to the spiritually desolate condition of the church in the United States of America?  Are we so set on protecting our Constitutional rights that we are deaf to God’s call for bus to lay down all our rights for the sake of His gospel and His kingdom?  Will we be so depressed that Christians were so divided over - and let’s be honest about this - such a divisive candidate that we don’t see our need to come together over a greater need of loving one another and living to glorify God and advance His gospel - no matter what form or perversion of our government that will exists after this election?  Will the upward call of God in Christ Jesus be enough to motivate us to pray as passionately after the election as the political call to win an election over the ungodly agenda of the Democrat party?  I hope and pray the answer to such questions is that we will pursue God with greater passion - knowing that no government has ever been able to extinguish the glorious light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.


The early church and the persecuted church have shown us that regardless of those who reign in the realms of men - God still reigns over the hearts of His people.  They had no political standing and yet turned the world upside down.  They advanced the gospel through their willingness to lay down the lives for Jesus Christ.  They advanced the work of God with no favor in the courts - no favor with the emperor - and often with great persecution from others within their society.  Yet God prevailed.  The one thing God is graciously allowing me to begin to see is that when it comes to His gospel and His plan and purpose - neither Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton will prevail over it.  God is sovereign - and His eternal purpose WILL PREVAIL.  I hope you will forgive me for quoting such a long section of Scripture as I close this article - and engage in a little exegesis as well - but here we go.  Paul wrote something we need to grasp - prior to a call for prayer.  We might need to see it again - in light of our current circumstances.


To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9  and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10  so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11  This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12  in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. 


Paul makes it clear that our purpose is to “preach the unfathomable riches of Christ” which is the riches made available to us in His gospel.  This glorious message has been being presented to our world since it began.  It truly began to mean something to us at the Fall - when our sin meant separation from God - and the prospect of eternal punishment for such a foolish rebellion.  This message is called the “manifold wisdom of God” which is supposed to be being made known to all “through the church.”  This plan and purpose - that the gospel be proclaimed through the church is in accordance with God’s eternal purpose.  LET ME PUT THIS IN ALL CAPS - NOT BECAUSE I’M MAD - BUT BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT.  GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE IS THAT THE CHURCH LIVE AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD.  According to Paul it is through the relationship we have with Christ Jesus our Lord - that we have boldness and a confident access to God - so that we might carry out this purpose!  


13  Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory. 


Paul also states. in one small sentence, the reality of his life as he lives to accomplish God’s eternal purpose of preaching the gospel to the world.  He is facing tribulations - troubles - trials - hardships - beatings - all because he chooses to embrace God’s eternal purpose.  He tells them, “not to lose heart” at the tribulations he is facing.  Instead he says that those tribulation are for your glory!  What?!  Yes - it is our glory to see that living for and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ will involve tribulations.  In fact Jesus Himself told us that we would be treated just like He was if we embraced true discipleship.  So where does this lead us?  Paul had to preach the gospel in a hostile environment - without political support - facing persecution and difficulty.  Yet he spoke of boldness and confidence in the midst of it.  HOW!?


14  For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15  from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16  that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19  and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20  Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21  to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.   -  Ephesians 3:8-21 


Paul knew the true battle was not for a political win over society - but over the manifestation of Christ dwelling in the hearts of His people.  He knew the true battle was that we all would be rooted and grounded in love for God and one another.  He knew the true battle would be to know the breadth, length, height, and depth of the love for Christ.  This is a love for the Father.  This is a love for one another.  This is a love for the lost.  It is even a love for those who hate us, persecute us, and speak evil falsely of us on account of our embrace of Jesus as Lord.  And this battle was so that we might be filled up to all the fullness of God Himself - as His Holy Spirit works in and through us to preach the gospel, speaking the truth in love.  Paul also promised that this battle was going to be won on our knees as we trusted in the one who as able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or imagine - according to the power with which God will work in us and through us.    This battle was to see God glorified in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever!  


Dearest precious saints of God - on November 9th our calling will be the same as it was prior to the election.  It will be to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  It will be to love one another as Christ has loved us.  It will be to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth for the glory of God.  It will be to see the glory of God shine ever brighter  THROUGH His church!  So - regardless of whether Trump or Clinton become president - our purpose remains an eternal one.  And just as Paul has indicated through the Spirit in Ephesians - HOW MUCH MORE DOES THAT CAUSE CALL US TO PASSIONATE PRAYER!  Oh pray, dear saints - pray prior to this election.  But please, I beg you, please don’t think all is lost if it does not turn out as you hope and pray.  Regardless of who is our president - our Lord still reigns supreme!  So, therefore, let us be bold, be loving, be prayerful, and always be abounding with hope that our work in the Lord is NOT in vain!  And may that work always be to take the gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere for the glory of God! 

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Where Do We Go From Here?  Day 3 - Considering Our Marching Orders . . . and the State of the Church

11/14/2012

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Where Do We Go From Here?
Day 3 – Considering Our Marching Orders . . . and the State of the Church

After taking a week to digest some of my early thoughts, I want to come back today to address the Evangelical Christian Community on where we are to go after this election.  Today, what I am going to offer is going to seem simple – yet it is something that the Christian community has yet to do.  We need to return to our marching orders from Jesus Christ – and have them become of utmost importance to us.

We find our marching orders in a couple of places in Scripture.  The first I will turn to is found in Matthew 28:18-20.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."   (Matthew 28:18-20, NASB)

This is what Jesus told His disciples at the close of Matthew’s gospel.  Let’s take a close look at this very familiar passage.

First – This order comes from someone who has “all authority in heaven and on earth.”  Therefore we can be assured that this command of Christ matters to us – or at least it should.  The greater the authority – the more it should matter.  Therefore since this statement comes from ALL AUTHORITY – it should matter MORE than anything else we hear.

Second – He says to make disciples of all the nations.  That involves leading them to Christ first – and then leading them to a worldview that is embraced in Scripture.  We are to be teaching men and women to be “learners” of Christ.  We also might want to get a better grasp on the breadth of our orders.  “All the nations” are our target.  We are not be become so focused on the United States that we forget we are to take the gospel everywhere to everyone! 

Third – We are to do this focusing on several things.  We begin by baptizing them – which is a rite of identification.  They are to fully identify with the Trinity – God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Then we are to teach them to actually obey all that Jesus commanded them.  Finally, we are to make sure they know Jesus will be with them all the way to the end – even the end of the age! This means that these orders – remain in effect until it is all over – until Christ returns.

At this point I will try to be brief – but considering all that God has been saying to me – something needs to be said.  If we approached our call to disciple others with the passion many approached this past election – things would get awesome in the church in a hurry.  There would also be a change in the world around us – because when true revival – true evangelism – and true discipleship are practiced – people change radically.  When that happens with larger numbers of people – the whole society begins to change as well.  The reason I say this is because of something I read recently in a book entitled, “Vertical Church” by James MacDonald.  Let me fire away and list the things I read. 

The State of the Evangelical Church in 2012

• Six thousand churches close their doors every year.

• Thirty-five hundred Americans leave the church every day.

• Only one pastor in ten retires while still in ministry.

• Less than 20 percent of Americans attend church regularly.

• Only 15 percent of churches in the United States are growing numerically.

• Only 2 percent of growing churches are effectively winning converts to Christ.
[From MacDonald, James. Vertical Church: What Every Heart Longs for. What Every Church Can Be.  David C Cook.]

This is, as MacDonald puts it, epic failure.  He goes on to say that in order to keep up with our current population – we would need 10,000 churches a year to be planted in the United States.  Last year only about 900 were attempted.  Here is the fact of our current situation.  We are being overwhelmed by a lost world that could care less about our political opinions.  And . . . to be brutally honest . . . we should care far less about their political opinions than we do about the state of their souls!  Can we honestly say that the church is making a difference in our nation?  Could it be that this past election IS an honest reflection of where our nation is?  I’ve always held that we get the government that we deserve – because we get the one we choose. 

Let me ask some very hard questions to the church.

1.     Is it a reflection of our effectiveness that a member of what theologically is defined as a cult (Mormon) was selected for the so-called conservative candidate?

2.    Is it possible that the weak moral stances on abortion and homosexuality actually reflect how well we are speaking of and advancing Biblical morality? 

3.    Is it possible that our relevance to society is greatly diminished because we are reaching so few people with the gospel?

4.    Could it be that this past election reflects on our lack of true life-on-life discipleship in the church?

5.    Could it be that a focus on political change has blinded us to the fact that politics has NEVER changed a single human heart and made it possible for anyone to stand before God with their sins forgiven?

6.    Are we called to establish a “Christian nation” through political means – or could it be that we’ve forgotten that Christ’s kingdom is “not of this world?”

Now, having asked these questions – I want to offer some positive things for us to DO as we seriously consider where we go from here.  I’ll list them below.

1.     Commit to praying every day for revival in the church - and spiritual awakening in our nation.  I’ve been doing this since January of this year.  It is NOT easy – and God will work us over as we do it (revival always starts with our own heart first – and works out from there). 

2.    Commit to sharing the gospel with one person at least once a week.  This may be difficult since many Christians don’t know how to share their faith.  Then your first step may be to go to your pastor/church leaders and beg for them to offer not just teaching, but training for this.  Once you have the training, make it a point to share Jesus with someone every week – and eventually get to where you do it just about every day – as a lifestyle!

3.    Commit to either being discipled . . . or discipling someone else.  I work with college students and youth in this area.  It is often disturbing to hear where they were prior to this election.  BUT – I had to ask myself a serious question.  Was I doing anything to instruct them biblically – and to help them see why choosing leaders who take biblical stands on things like abortion and homosexual marriage is important?  If I’m not willing to spend an hour or two a week with them – is anyone else going to either?  If we want a younger generation who embrace godly conservatism – how are we going to get there?  Political activism is not what they need – they need someone to sit down with them and consistently teach them the Bible – and how to walk with God!

4.    Commit to glorifying God in all you do.  Carry that attitude into how you view God’s kingdom.  Is it expanding by churches being planted and Bible studies being started – or – are we just content with our own personal church being a nice place to go.  If we want to see our world changed – we will once again have to embrace a radical, God-glorifying, Christ-exalting, evangelically-militant church that truly believes Jesus Christ is Lord – and that He is the only way of salvation from the wrath of God due to sinners. 

I cannot guarantee you that this will yield a different result politically in four years.  It probably will land you in hot water with some who have become accustomed to your non-confrontational Christianity that is relatively quiet about the Gospel and about their destination if they remain in their sins.  Actually, if we embrace these things – we will probably be persecuted – both inside and outside the church.  Interesting though, when I read the Gospels and the book of Acts – they were persecuted for these things too?  Maybe I ought to think about that as well?

This is not supposed to be a recipe for a return to political power.  It is meant to be a call for us to return to spiritual relevance and power.  It is a call to matter in our lives – regardless of what happens in future elections.  Neither the early church nor our forefathers glorified God for the purpose of winning elections and changing the course of a nation.  They did these things because God is worthy of glory, honor, praise, and honestly – every single moment of our lives being lived for His will and purposes.  It was just a blessing they received that as they did this – a godly nation was born as well.  Maybe we should do more than just read the document they left us.  Maybe we should emulate their lives and their purpose as well?


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Where Do We Go From Here?  Day 1 - Rejoice!

11/7/2012

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Where Do We Go From Here?
(An Open Letter to Christians After the Election)
Day 1 – Rejoice!

It is November 7th, 2012.  We have a president who was duly elected by the process we agree to as a nation.  That president is Barak Obama, who will now serve his second term as our president (note the word “our”).  For some reason (probably because I’m a pastor and I’m used to caring for God’s sheep) I feel the need to share with the body of Christ for the next couple of days.  The question I would like to address is this, “Where do we go from here?”

First of all, I want to quote a Psalm God reminded me of as I met with a couple of men to pray this morning.  If you don’t mind, I’d like to quote it in context. 

The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.  This is the LORD'S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.  This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:22-24

As I quoted this in my mind, I only quoted verse 24 – which was enough this morning.  Go ahead and say the last verse to yourself – loudly.  THIS is the day – November 7 – which the Lord has made!  I will (choose) to rejoice and be glad in it!  That should be our heart – regardless of whether your human guy won or not.  God gave us another day – that is an act of sheer mercy when you understand the holiness of God.  Therefore we should rejoice and be glad in the day He gave us!  Not even Al Gore can give us a day – therefore we should never take one of these things for granted.  If you have another day to live – God gave that to you!  Don’t waste it – live it to the full for the glory of God and the advance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Take a look now at this verse in context.  I was not aware of the context until I looked it up in my Bible.  “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.  This is the LORD'S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.”  Those two verses took my breath away this afternoon.  Who is this stone Who has become the chief cornerstone?  It is a prophecy of Jesus Christ.  It is a reminder to me that the only thing that will stand in the end is not whether a Democrat or Republican won the 2012 Presidential election.  On that day both Romney, President Obama, and everyone who voted (and even those who did not) will be on their knees before the Ultimate Ruler.  Why can I rejoice and be glad in the day God gave me?  Because this day, as well as every other one that has ever been has been (and will be) built on that Cornerstone – Jesus Christ.

God says to us in His Word, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”  The election yesterday (and every other one before it) was man’s doing.  It was men making a choice of their leader – good or bad.  But the Gospel is God’s doing!  There will be an end to any President’s term of service.  There will NOT be an end to the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ!  It is an everlasting kingdom that will endure forever.  It is a kingdom not based on race, color, or creed – not based on political party – and not based on endless political commercials.  It is a kingdom paid for by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ – and it is one given to men on the basis of grace.  Anyone who comes in repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord can come.  Oh, and by the way, this does not come up for a vote every four years.  God has done it – He has sealed it – and the resurrection of Jesus Christ put a divine exclamation mark on it for all time. 

Saints of God – whether you lost or won yesterday – your future is not based on a Presidential election.  It is based on that rejected Stone becoming the Cornerstone!  This should be “marvelous in our eyes.”  So let me ask a question:  Is it marvelous in your eyes?  If it is not – I bet you are not rejoicing in this day either?  Guess what!?  You can wake up every day and rejoice, if this is your focus.  For too long we’ve allowed the specter of an election to cloud our view of the glory of God’s Gospel.  Take your eyes off the things of this world – and look full into the face of glory!  Fix your eyes on a Savior Who endured the cross – Who was buried – and Who resurrected the third day to bring a joy into our hearts that cannot be dimmed by a mere mortal election. 

Where do we go from here?  We go back to the Gospel of Jesus Christ – back to the Rejected Stone Who became the Cornerstone.  We go to Him because that is where we should have been all along.  We go to Him because the future that is truly going to matter is the one we spend in His presence for all eternity.  We go because in His light we see light.  We go because we need to make a serious decision whether our joy is going to based on the kingdoms of this world – or – on the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.  Where do we go from here?  We rejoice – today – and every day God gives us in the future.  We do so because God in His mercy has redeemed us – has saved us – and has called us to a heavenly calling.  Live for that kingdom and for that calling!  


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Can a Christian Vote for a Mormon for President?

10/22/2012

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It is a week before our elections, and as a Christian, I’d like to address an issue that many conservative Christians face in voting in this particular cycle.  That issue is whether we as Christians can in good conscience vote for someone who is a Mormon.  I know that this is a serious “hot-button” issue for us.  Therefore to the best of my abilities I want to try to speak to it. 

If I were helping to choose a pastor or staff member for a church, there is no way in the world that I would ever choose a person who embraces Mormonism for that post.  To be honest, neither of the main stream candidates would meet the Biblical requirements to be an equipper in a church.  Governor Romney embraces the error of Mormon theology, and President Obama embraces the error of Liberation theology.  The fact though, is that I am not choosing a man to lead me spiritually.  I am making a choice as to who will give political leadership to our nation for the next four years. 

I find it unfortunate that those of us who are conservative, Bible-believing Christians do not have a choice of a candidate whose life manifests the fruit of someone who has come to faith in Jesus Christ.  But if I were honest, I would have to admit it has been a very long time since either candidate of either party would measure up to such a test.  So, let’s be honest and admit that we’ve not had an evangelical, Bible-believing president (or a presidential candidate from a either party) for several decades.  That may offend some people – but I don’t think I’m going too far out on a limb to assert such a thing.  So if we are truthful with each other, we will have to admit that we’ve been making a choice to elect men who are not evangelical Christians for quite a while.  It is only because this is the first time we’ve had to choose someone who doesn’t even assent to being a Christian, in the classic sense, that we are struggling with these issues now.  I’ll go ahead and say it so that we don’t have to tip-toe around the issue.  I believe Mormonism to be a cult according to their beliefs about Biblical authority, the person of Christ, and the issue of the nature of salvation.  Therefore Governor Romney, the Republican candidate for President, is a cult member if he believes basic Mormon theology.  Does that mean that we cannot vote for him for this office?

I wish I could give a straight up or down statement to that question.  The reason I cannot is because of what I believe to be serious issues of righteousness that have to be answered by “both” candidates.  What I refer to is two primary issues that MUST be answered by Governor Romney and President Obama.  These issues are abortion and how we view homosexuality in our governing laws.  Let me address both issues according to what both candidates have said.

President Obama supports abortion on demand for the entire 9 months of pregnancy.  He has supported the view that there should be absolutely no restrictions on receiving this procedure.  While serving the government in Illinois he also refused three times to support the “Born Alive” amendment which allowed medical staff to care for a baby born alive after a failed abortion.  Thus if a live baby was born after a failed abortion, his choice was to let it die.  This is no longer abortion – it is infanticide.  The President’s signature legislation, nicknamed “Obamacare” supports government funding of abortion – and has even demanded that religious organizations cover this option in their healthcare insurance. 

Governor Romney’s position is what I call, kinda pro-life.  I say this because he has not always had a pro-life public stance on this issue.  While running for governor in 2002 Romney said he supported abortion rights.  He said the following, "I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose,"

Romney said during a debate against his Democratic opponent Shannon O'Brien. "I am not going to change our pro-choice laws in Massachusetts in any way. I am not going to make any changes which would make it more difficult for a woman to make that choice herself." 

During his term as governor Romney, vetoed a bill in 2005 that would expand access to emergency contraception. In an op-ed explaining his veto he wrote that he was "pro-life."  "While I do not favor abortion, I will not change the state's abortion laws," Romney wrote. 

Six years later, amid is second presidential bid, Romney clarified his current anti-abortion stance, writing in a National Journal op-ed that he supports overturning Roe v. Wade and defunding Planned Parenthood.  "If I have the opportunity to serve as our nation's next president, I commit to doing everything in my power to cultivate, promote, and support a culture of life in America," Romney wrote.

With this as the backdrop for our choice, we know the following things.  President Obama is and has always been pro-abortion or pro-choice, however you choose to phrase that view.  Governor Romney, although pro-abortion/pro-choice in 2002, has changed his view to be pro-life after 2005.  The troubling aspect to Romney’s position is that he has never acted in a way that would restrict abortion or change abortion laws while he was in a position of power to do so.  But, when comparing the two, we are left with only one candidate who at least will entertain a pro-life stance.  That is Governor Romney.

What I believe to be the second major issue concerning “biblical righteousness” is homosexuality.  What concerns me is that the current trend in the United States is for both candidates to court the homosexual vote by their statements.  Both support having homosexuals openly serve in the United States military.  Romney has back-tracked on this somewhat during the campaign, but has not stood firm enough for one to think he will act on the issue.  President Obama stands solidly in favor not only of homosexuals serving openly in the military – but has also repeatedly supported redefining marriage to include homosexual couples.  Governor Romney has consistently opposed redefining marriage in this way.

With these views as the backdrop once again for our choice, we know that President Obama will support homosexual marriage.  Governor Romney has consistently opposed homosexual marriage.

So, in answer to the question, “Can a Christian vote for a Mormon for President.”  My answer is, “Yes.”  One can do so if the opposing candidate’s views on important views are wrong – and the Mormon candidate’s views are better.  In that case it is my view that the Christian should support whoever has a better stand on issues. 

Let me engage in a gut-level honesty with you at this point.  Ever since I first voted for Ronald Reagan in the 80’s I’ve not enjoyed voting as a believer.  Those first two presidential elections were ones in which I boldly cast my vote for a candidate whose views were very much in agreement with my Christian beliefs.  Since that time, beginning in 1988, I’ve had to hold my nose as I voted.  I’ve wished for years that there was a choice of “None of the Above” which would send both parties back to the drawing board to give us a better candidate.  Politics is too often about compromise – and I cannot compromise on either abortion or homosexual marriage.  They are both wrong.  God has grace for those who repent – just as He gave me grace for my sins.  But the truth is I cannot embrace either position in a candidate.  Over the years I’ve watched both parties try as hard as they can to vehemently embrace the middle.  That has made voting even more complicated – and difficult.  Yet, in desiring to be a good and godly citizen I’ve had to choose the candidate who is closer to what I believe to be godly views on these matters.  It is my hope that God’s views of righteousness, as given by His unchanging Word, will help you as well to make an informed choice in a few days.  I do not envy you in this task – but I pray that God will guide you. 

NOTE:  I will do a follow-up article later this week entitled, “Where Are You Looking for Salvation?”



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    What is the Prophecy/News Update?

    At Calvary Chapel of Jonesboro, we believe that history is moving toward fulfilling God's plans and purposes.  In an effort to help us be prepared for His appearing - and also to chronicle news items you just won't see in the national media - this page is devoted to sharing those items and their possible significance to
    the return of Christ. 

     It is not our desire to cover

     the sensational - or to try to make predictions.  Instead, we will do our best to share relevant news items with biblical commentary as well.  

    May God bless you and help you to be ready to stand before Him without shame at His return.

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