Should Christians Vote?

For some this may be a silly question, others, it may be a long journey to a decision. We have an election on November 2nd, only 5 days from this writing, and yet what is our responsibility in participation in our democratic community as Christians.

There is an argument that we do not have a direct statement, example or command to vote in either the Old or New Testament. In reference to Jesus responding to Pilate “My Kingdom does not belong to this world” (John 18:36) and Paul stating “our home” or ‘citizenship is not of this world.” (Philippians 3:20), is to separate ourselves from the secular world of government to either run for office, participate, or even vote.

While respecting my Christian brothers who hold onto their view, I believe we have an obligation to vote when we live within a society that invites and protects our participation in government. We have examples in the Old Testament where the Israelite Tribes would gather and voice support for a particular Judge to rule, or allegiance to a King, and the Apostle Paul used his Roman citizenship to the fullest extent (Acts 16:37, 21:39, 22:25-29, 25:11) to further his call and role to establish the early church. We are called to be set apart from and not conform to the world, but to live in love and Truth with influence in our world as Salt and Light.

Our nation’s forefathers understood this:

George Washington referred to the United States as “a great experiment.” And in his farewell address he said, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”

“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.”– Benjamin Franklin

“We have no government armed with powers capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice [greed], ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through a net.”– John Adams

This Tuesday we have an invitation and opportunity to influence our cities, counties, state and nation by the men and women we vote for and the measures on our ballot. In Oregon we have individuals, at all levels, who have strong opinions on protecting life or protecting choice, gambling, marriage, drug use, education, etc. and measures that will affect all of us: some fiscal accountability, minimum sentencing for repeated sex offenders/DUI, legalizing selling Marijuana, and opening the door to Casinos. Check out http://www.oregonfamilycouncil.org/ for more detail info.

So should Christians vote? Obviously I think so. We should take every advantage to influence our world for Christ. We are blessed to live in a country that invites and protects our right to influence government by participation, run for office and be the Salt and Light in the political process.

I Thank Christ...

Little fingers instinctively grasp onto my finger as the 2.5 lb baby girl struggled for life. Eyes sparkled as a man in his 50’s gazed into the eyes of his long awaited bride. Joyful little faces filled a room with enraptured attention as the puppet came to life telling a Bible story. Snapshots in my life as a pastor.

It is a great privilege to be given the opportunity to step into the lives of others. To hold the hand of an elderly great-grandparent with concerned family all around and pray together as a family for God’s strength, peace and blessing, to make a toddler giggle while he's holding onto his father’s leg, to share the eternal Truth’s of God’s Word, to be invited into someone’s inner circle of tears, celebration, frustration, or victory. That is the privilege of being called pastor.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. – 1 Timothy 1:12

Thank you Jesus for giving me strength and considering me as faithful to appoint me to your service in WA, UT, CO and now presently in Damascus. This is my prayer today as I reflect upon your words of appreciation and thanks in my cards and gift given this past Sunday. Thank you for your thoughtfulness to me, the Pastoral Team and our wives. You are very special and your kind, generous words mean a lot to each one of us.

I also know that as a part of the family of God we can all share in being invited into someone’s inner circle of fears, frustrations, hopes and dreams. As we walk side-by-side in our Journey in Christ we can share one-another’s burdens, celebrate victories, encourage, strengthen and offer a cool, refreshing cup of companionship on a hot thirsty day. When you develop lifelong friendships with a brother or sister in the Lord, you open your life, become vulnerable, and allow a deeper relationship to take root. The roots of brotherhood in Christ grow deeper. When the drought comes or storms of life threaten, the intertwined roots of brotherhood hold secure in the firm, life-giving soil of Christ.

My hope for you is that you will open up your life to others, to allow your life roots to become intertwined with others in the family of Christ, and that as you reflect upon your snapshots of life with family and friends you will give thanks that Jesus gave you strength and considered you faithful to be appointed to serve.

Ambassador of Gentleness

I would like to share a story I read in Calvin Miller’s devotional on Gentleness:

   

     Dr. Phillips Brooks, all his life a bachelor, was a great pastor because he practiced childlike gentleness.
     On one occasion a young mother in his congregation had a baby -her first- but the baby was stillborn. The poor woman panicked and suffered a severe denial that would not let her face the facts. She clung to her dead baby and cowered in the corner of her room in a rocking chair. When anyone tired to take the baby away, she clung all the more fiercely. It finally became clear that the baby would have to be forcefully taken from her arms in a desperate and grasping scene. But then God intervened in the desperate situation.
     Enter the gentle servant Phillips Brooks.
     He walked to the woman’s rocking chair, smiled kindly at her, and said, “What a beautiful child. Would you mind if I rocked her a while?”
     He was so gentle and kind that the woman extended to him the child, and to the surprise of all, Dr. Brooks took her seat in the rocker and tenderly rocked her baby.
     An ugly crisis had been solved by a gentle spirit.

Gentleness is the key to unlock the conflicts and crisis’s we may find ourselves in. God’s gentleness displayed through us in compassion, tenderness and leniency. Can God’s gentleness calm the storm of angry bitter arguments? Can God’s gentleness heal the open wounds of offense? Can God’s gentleness mend what has been torn apart? Yes, and God chooses to use us as his ambassador of hope, healing, and peace – his ambassador of gentleness.

Gentleness is a mature expression of love, applied God’s truth, wisdom.

The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. – James 3:17

Silent but Deadly

Sitting in my hard wooden school desk, I nervously fidgeted with a building pressure deep inside my intestines. As sweat began to form on my forehead I pleaded with the clock to please move faster. Tick, tick, tick…the seconds seemed to plod along nearing the end of my 5th grade class day. Like a rock climber holding on for dear life, I held onto the expanding gas, but slowly my grip failed and the pungent odor filled the classroom. Although my nostrils cringed in toxic fumes, I was overjoyed for one, the release of pressure, and two, thank goodness it was silent. But one of the girls near me interrupted the teacher and said loudly “Pewwwww, who stinks” as she held her nose looking around for the culprit then fixing her eyes right at me. Trying not to give away my offense, I replied as a defensive cover up, “Whover smelt it, dealt it”. The class laughed, gagging as the bell sounded saving me from the embarrassment knockout. My classmates rushed out to the fresh air of the cramped school hallway. Silent but deadly.

I know I am not the only one with a silent but deadly experience…it’s a part of life. As I am continuing my study on Gentleness, there is a silent but deadly principle that unfolds each week. A hardened heart cannot bear the spiritual fruit of gentleness. Hard shells form around our hearts either through suffering, offense, pride, or immaturity. Often times they remain silent where we are unaware of our own hardened heart, yet we react in ways that may be unapproachable, harsh, critical, defensive or self-exalting. Negative experiences and immaturity is something we all face…it’s a part of life.

To grow in Christ’s love, to mature in character, to imitate Christ, and to bear spiritual fruit is our desire as an obedient follower of Christ. We first need to soften our heart. When we have a malleable spirit in the Master’s hand, He will create a beautiful, glorifying masterpiece. In our daily submission to the Holy Spirit we will bear good fruit. Gentleness is one of those fruits that reveal the maturing love of Christ at work within us.

“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” – Jeremiah 18:6 (NLT)

When we smell that pungent odor and it is emanating from a hardened heart, remember it may be silent but deadly.