2024-07-31 Choosing Between Flawed Candidates

Vote for the lesser of 2 evils.

Or…

Vote to lessen evil.

 

What kind of candidates are we looking for?

• Simply put: Jesus. But he’s not on the ballot

 

Underline/circle desired characteristics in the following scriptures:

Exodus 18:21 (NIV) But select capable men from all the people–men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain–and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

Proverbs 29:2 (NLT2) When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.

“Wicked” = “evil” = רָשָׁע (rasha)

• Good/evil – At least part of the meaning is NOT a moral designation. “Good” Means “fitting, doing what it was intended to do” (like a “good” car).

 

Genesis 1:10 (NIV) God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

• Good = being where you are supposed to be, doing what you are supposed to be doing – What you were created for, what is fitting, beneficial, and/or helpful.

 

A choice is morally “good” is because it’s the fitting/beneficial/helpful choice.

 

• Evil – Means the opposite: “doesn’t fit; doesn’t do what it was intended to do; broken”

Matthew 7:9-11 (NIV) ⁹  “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

 

• “GOOD” candidates will support what is fitting, what works, what aligns with the God’s intentions, what solves the problem
• “WICKED/EVIL” candidates will support what doesn’t work, doesn’t solve the problem, doesn’t align with God’s intentions
• Every candidate is a mixed bag.

 

• Here’s another quality for our political leaders

Mark 10:42–45 (NLT) ⁴² So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. ⁴³ But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

What kind of leader should we be looking for? A -leader

• Did Jesus just do what those around him wanted? 

 

Continue to underline/circle desired characteristics:

Romans 13

¹  Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ²  Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. ³  For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, ⁴  for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

 

Look for candidates who…

• Are Capable
• Fear God
• Trustworthy
• Won’t accept bribes
• Can provide the appropriate leadership needed for groups they serve
• Are servant-leaders
• Consider themselves accountable to God
• A terror to BAD conduct
• Approves and does what is beneficial, helpful, right according to God’s intent
• Restrains evil (what isn’t beneficial, what doesn’t align with God’s intent)

 

Are you suggesting a Theocracy?

• No. A theocracy is Government of a state by the immediate direction of .
• We don’t want to have church and state unified in power.
• We want leaders who submit to God and govern by His principles

 

Proverbs 29:2, 16 (NLT) When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan. ¹⁶  When the wicked are in authority, sin flourishes, but the godly will live to see their downfall.

 

All laws and policies are based on somebody’s values and worldview.

There are no better values and worldview than what we find in Scripture.

 

• Should Christians only vote for Christian candidates? 
• Without Christian influence, government will have no clear moral compass
  • Many current issues have significantly moral components
    • War
    • Marriage
    • Abortion
    • Pornography
    • Poverty
    • Capital punishment
    • Education

Not all political issues have clear biblical positions, but some do.

For instance: 

 

Some political issues DON’T have clear biblical positions.

For instance: 

• Christians may disagree faithfully on the latter

Sometimes we should all agree on the goal, but will disagree on the method of attaining it.

For instance: 

Sometimes we agree on the result we want, but disagree on the relevant facts or actions that are pertinent.

For instance: 

 

What kind of candidates do we have?

• Is it as bad as Paul wrote?

Romans 3:10–18 (NIV84)

¹⁰ As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;

¹¹ there is no one who understands,

no one who seeks God.

¹² All have turned away,

they have together become worthless;

there is no one who does good,

not even one.”

¹³ “Their throats are open graves;

their tongues practice deceit.”

“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”

¹⁴ “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

¹⁵ “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

¹⁶ ruin and misery mark their ways,

¹⁷ and the way of peace they do not know.”

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

• Our Founders set up the system we have to slow the spread of evil
  • through Checks and Balances;
  • and by intentionally making the process of changing the Constitution difficult.

 

How do we evaluate candidates?

• Evaluate their plans and their fruit

Matthew 7:18 (NIV)  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

• How are our candidates doing?

(MULTILINE REVEAL BIG)

Borders & Immigration

• God seems to regard borders as meaningful and important

Deuteronomy 32:8 (ESV) ⁸  When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples [under the care of divine guardians.

 

• We need to know who is wanting to cross so we know how to act.
  • Ger – want to be naturalized (taught our ways, values, beliefs, worldview)
  • Nohkrim – can be allowed to enter (for visits, touring, education, business), but they don’t get the benefits that citizens do
  • Zur – have no good reason to enter
• You have to evaluate ALL candidates: Presidential, Congressional, State, Local

How well does each candidate follow these precepts? Consider each of them.

(MULTILINE REVEAL BIG)

 

The roles of Government and Church… including the 1^st Amendment & the Separation Clause…

Daniel 4:25 (NIV84) …the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.

• Who outranks the other between God & Government? 

 

• Government has been given authority for God’s purposes:
  • To restrict evil and reward good
  • To govern so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity so the Gospel can go forth
  • To protect the Rights given us by the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God

 

• Earthly rulers have authority only to the extent their rule follows God’s will

Acts 5:29 (NIV) Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”

 

• The 1^st Amendment restricts Congress from limiting the free exercise of religion to any person or group

How well does each candidate follow these precepts. Consider each of them.

(MULTILINE REVEAL BIG)

 

Last week: Self Defense & the 2^nd Amendment

• We have a God-given right to life, and the right to defend ourselves from those that threaten to take our life.
• Weapons are allowable scripturally to assist in our defense, Including powerful and damaging ones.

1 Samuel 17:48-49 (NIV) ⁴⁸  As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹  Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

How well does each candidate follow these precepts. Consider each of them.

(MULTILINE REVEAL BIG)

 

• Finally, pray pray pray

Ephesians 6:10–12 (NLT) ¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.