Miscellaneous Lesson The Christian and His Vote Selected Scriptures Presented Live on September 30, 2018 I. Introduction A. Rarely do we ever stop a series in mid stream in this class, for doing so would injure continuity B. But there are some issues of great import that I have become convinced we need to address C. And it has to do with voting what we consider the right to vote to be II. The Christian view of the right to vote A. Our country is unique 1. It was the only nation founded as a Christian nation in the history of the world 2. It is a government of the people, for the people and by the people 3. And each of those people, that is each citizen, has a right, a duty and an obligation to vote B. How do Christians view that right? 1. About 50% of Christians in our nation are not even registered to vote 2. Of the 50% of them who are registered, only 40 to 50% of them vote in national elections 3. Why is it that only 25% of Christians vote? 4. There are a number of reasons, but one clear reason is their view of the vote C. How should a Christian view the right to vote? 1. God has made all of us stewards of the blessings which He has given to us a. Remember the stories that Jesus told about the Page 1 of 7
III. master that his servants talents to administer for him while he was gone [Matt. 25:14-30] b. In the same way, our Lord has called us to be stewards of what He has given to us c. Stewards are not owners but merely managers d. What has God given to believers? (1) Time, (2) Talents and (3) Treasure e. These gifts are universal to believers, even though the amount and quality of each differ f. But to Americans He has given something more government (1) America is the only nation in the history of the world to be founded as a Christian nation (2) It embraced the concept that all men were created equal (3) And that government should be of the people, for the people and by the people 2. Therefore the right to vote is a stewardship that the believer in America has been given by God 3. And we must understand that our Master will return on day and hold us accountable D. Will we ever find a candidate that s perfect? 1. Why not? 2. Mankind is sinful and evil rules in the hearts of men The question then is how should one fulfill or honor that stewardship? A. Does God really expect stewardship from His children? 1. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 2. 1 Corinthians 9:17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. 3. 1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. B. It s a Biblical issue 1. How do we vote in a way that pleases God and satisfies His Page 2 of 7
IV. entrusting us with this stewardship? 2. We research every candidate as to where he or she stands, not on the issues of the day, but on the principles announced in the Scriptures 3. Consider 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 4. And 2 Peter 1:3-4 Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. How should we exercise that stewardship? A. Rely on Scripture to guide our vote B. In doing that, we must learn to recognize what the key and important principles found in God s Word are and then allow them to guide us when we vote C. Today and for a several Sundays to come we will consider those principles and the issues surrounding them 1. They will be divided into four categories 2. Economic issues, 3. Governmental issues, 4. Social Issues and 5. Foreign Policy issues V. Economic issues and principles A. I have selected five such issues and the corresponding principles on which our votes should be based B. They are: 1. The right to own private property 2. The right to pursue your own economic self interest 3. The proper view on the obligation to provide charity 4. Allowing the family to retain what it has accumulated 5. Opposition to excessive national debt C. The importance of private property 1. Deuteronomy 19:14 "You shall not move your neighbor's boundary mark, which the ancestors have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the Page 3 of 7
LORD your God gives you to possess. 2. Exodus 20:15 You shall not steal. 3. Exodus 20:17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor. 4. Covet to want to have something very much, especially something that belongs to someone else 5. The moment the idea is admitted into society, that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. If "Thou Shalt Not Covet," and "Thou Shalt Not Steal" were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society before it can be civilized or made free 6. John Adams, A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America. 3 vols., American Constitutional and Legal History, ed. Leonard W. Levy (London: Dilly, 1787; reprint, NY: Da Capo, 1971), 3:217 7. Consider the Communist Manifesto: a. The first act after having taken over: Abolish private property D. The right to pursue your own economic self interest 1. We must first consider the condition of men s hearts a. [Before the Flood] Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. b. Did that change after the flood? c. [After the Flood] Genesis 8:20-21 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. d. Romans 3:10, 23 as it is written (Ps. 14:1-3), THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Page 4 of 7
2. Such a man will not work for the communal good but will work for himself if he gets to keep the fruit of his labor 3. Paul suggested as much in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 4. Consider now the words of William Bradford, the Governor of the Plymouth Colony a. Having tried what Bradford called the common course and condition the communal stewardship of the land demanded of them by their investors Bradford reports that the community was afflicted by an unwillingness to work, by confusion and discontent, by a loss of mutual respect, and by a prevailing sense of slavery and injustice. And this among godly and sober men. In short, the experiment was a failure that was endangering the health of the colony. b. So the Governor then assigned various plots of land to individual families who could keep what they raised and thereafter the Plymouth colony was never hungry again E. The proper view on the obligation to provide charity? 1. What is God s view on charity? 2. It is not to be a handout nor is it to be administered by government a. Charity should come by and through God s people b. Consider what the Scriptures teach, for example the way that the Israelites were to harvest their crops (1) The first fruits (2) The general harvest (3) The gleanings c. Leviticus 19:9-10 'Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 'Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God. d. The needy were treated with the dignity of working for their living e. Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be Page 5 of 7
VI. complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 3. The poor and needy in our country actually receive about 20% of what is set aside for them a. The other 80% goes to: b. Administrative costs, c. Fraud and d. Waste F. Allowing the family to retain what it has accumulated 1. Death should not be a taxable event 2. But does the Scripture teach this principle 3. Proverbs 13:22a A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, 4. See the Manifesto a. In Marxism the state is god b. And it wants no competitors 5. 2 Corinthians 12:14b... for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. G. Opposition to excessive national debt (Prov. 22:7) 1. Proverbs 22:6-7 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave. 2. We are approaching a national debt of 21 trillion dollars 3. There is an old saying once you realize that you are in a hole, stop digging! 4. Consider what God told His people: Deuteronomy 28:12-13 "The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 "The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, 5. In other words you should strive to be a creditor nation and not a debtor nation 6. If the nation of Israel chose to disobey their God then one of the results will be: Deuteronomy 28:44 He (your neighbor) shall lend to you, but you will not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you will be the tail. How to exercise the believer s voting stewardship Page 6 of 7
A. There is a four step process 1. Determine the Biblical principles that the Word of God teaches a. Then translate each such principle into one or more questions b. For example: if this person is elected will he allow the national debt to grow or will he work to lower or decrease such debt 2. Listen to the candidate and see what he or she says on these issues 3. Then research their record to see how they really stand on the issues a. Why do both? b. To see if they are lying to you c. Cortez out of New York claims to be a socialist and I believe she s telling the truth d. I have had other politicians tell me things such as your can keep your doctor, you can keep your health care plan, and the cost will decrease 4. Pray over who to vote for and for the election and against voter fraud www.believersbibleclass.com & www.believersbibleclass.podbean.com 2018 Believer s Bible Class, & Douglas W. Brady Page 7 of 7