Voting Wisely – Outline
With America's election of a president in 2008 as the example, here are various ways to consider a political situation wisely and to vote prudently. Since Christians are bound to godly character and conduct themselves, they think they must vote the same way, but that will backfire in a two-party system.
Wise Men and the USA National Election of 2008
“And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.”
I Chronicles 12:32
“Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.”
Proverbs 13:16
“The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.”
Proverbs 14:8
“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”
Proverbs 22:3
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
John 7:24
We are not Israel, the combined church-nation of God under the Old Testament. We are Gentile Christians living as strangers and pilgrims in a pagan nation with a few ancient public references to Christianity (pledge, money, oaths, etc.). Therefore, invoking Exodus 18:21 or other civil or national laws from Moses does not directly apply. Such laws provide godly and idealistic standards for thought, but they are practically and prudently impossible, and they are not obligations or even principles of living in our greatly different civil situation in America today.
We are not postmillennialists or anything close. We do not subscribe to the recent inventions of Christian Reconstructionism, Kingdom Now Theology, Dominion Theology, and such like. The world is getting worse. There is not another phase of Christ’s kingdom coming other than the eternal state. Christians have never had a mandate from either testament to get involved in national politics or social activism in pagan nations. Paul, apostle to Gentile Christians, did not write a single word against the Roman Empire. He taught saints to submit, honor, pay, and pray.
God gave us His word and wits, and we are supposed to use both. The men of Issachar, as noted above, were able to understand the changing times and knew what Israel should do. We do not have a direct Christian duty to fulfill in voting in a pagan nation, for God has not specified any such thing in either testament. He expects us to use our wits and survive in changing circumstances (I Cor 7:26; Jer 29:4-7). Exodus 18:21 does not apply to us any more than Exodus 34:24 and other O.T. scriptures applying in a civil sense only to God’s church-nation of Israel.
There is no option to elect a Bible president. The standard of Exodus 18:21 was for the church-nation of O.T. Israel. Being American citizens does not make us citizens of God’s nation or of God’s church. We are not electing bishops or deacons in a N.T. church. Our option in a two-party political system is to choose the one candidate from the only two viable candidates that would do saints the least harm and preserve the status quo in a nation bent on perversion and rebellion. Voting is not an issue of doctrine or principle; it is an issue of practical prudence.
Not voting is a vote for Obama by default. Most persons reading this article are conservative, “conservatives,” and/or registered Republicans. If they avoid the polls for any of the silly reasons commonly given, they in effect cast a vote for Barack Hussein Obama. Since they are citizens that in the voting booth would be opposed to the godless Democrat agenda, candidates, and supporters, by skipping the election they reduce the votes to keep the black-liberation-theology and friend-of-Islam candidate out of the presidency. They vote positively for Obama by default.
A vote for a third presidential candidate is a vote for Obama by default. Voting in our two-party system is not a matter of principle; it is a matter of prudence. There is no real principle left in our political system, if it ever had any. No one can see your “principle.” We face only two choices … Obama-Biden or McCain-Palin. There is not a third choice. A vote for any third choice is not just a wasted vote – it is a vote by default for Obama, for if the voter had limited himself to the only two viable candidates, he would have voted McCain, which is a vote against Obama.
Voters in 2008 can flush Ross Perot folly. Blind ignorance moved the simple to vote for Ross Perot in 1992 (18.91% of the vote) and 1996 (8.40% of the vote). These wise ones who voted for a third candidate in a two-party system were entirely responsible for the Clintons in the White House for eight years. They proved nothing except their inability to reason through an issue and realize they were single-handedly responsible. They sent no message. They brought no reform. They did nothing but endorse Barbara Streisand and Gloria Steinem for their Clinton love.
We do not live in normal times for normative action. We live in perilous times requiring practical wisdom, not Pharisee black-and-white interpretations without spiritual sense, common sense, or prudence. Wisdom is the power of right judgment to know what is right beyond appearance (John 7:24) and beyond black-and-white interpretations (Matt 12:1-7; Mark 2:23-27). But few men have such wisdom today. New circumstances require new thinking (I Cor 7:26; Jer 29:4-7). Prudence uses what options are available for protection (Pr 22:3; Acts 25:10-11).
We must reject an over-righteous, over-wise approach. Some holler for principle, but they have no prudence, and they push extremes due to pride. Solomon warned against righteousness and wisdom beyond God’s word (Eccl 7:16). It was Pharisees who missed the forest for adoring the trees (Matt 12:1-7; Mark 2:23-27). It is not principle to vote for a candidate that will only gather .002% of the popular vote and not get a single Electoral College vote. It is sheer folly. These confused persons should write themselves or Jesus in to make sure they honor ultimate principle!
It is stupid to vote for Obama by default and not know it. Voting for an unknown candidate from an unknown party in a two-party system is stupid. It is the Ross Perot syndrome! Is Senator Ron Paul a good man? Sure. But a vote cast for Ron Paul, outside the rare primary election, is foolish. His votes will be so few that a vote for him sends no intelligent message anywhere, and a vote for him is a vote for Obama by default. Every minute invested and dollar spent are a waste. The real insanity is that Ron Paul and his voters cannot figure out they are endorsing Obama.
The only message sent by voting for a third candidate is stupidity. Many want to send a message … they want to bully the political system … they want to tell the world of their angst over the mess in Washington, so they vote for Ross Perot, Ron Paul, Ralph Nader, or Chuck Baldwin. If we end up with Jeremiah Wright’s understudy in the White House, you can thank those who fit this paragraph, for they will have diluted John McCain’s legitimate chance to defeat Barack Obama by their obsession to “send a message to the CFR.” Their individual votes were no different than the demented lesbian members of N.O.W. that pulled the Democrat lever.
Senators McCain and Obama both fall short of the Bible. The best reason to vote in our limited two-party, Electoral College system is to slap down the fair-haired, wonder-boy of the liberal left. While both are inferior to what we would desire for president, the nation’s anarchic, God-hating, liberal, profane, and rebellious organizations have unanimously set their affection on one of these men, and it can be our pleasure and privilege to slap them all down … again … just like we did to McGovern in 1972, Dukakis in 1988, Gore in 2000, Kerry in 2004, and so forth.
Sarah Palin as Vice President is a stroke of genius. Senator McCain without her was boring, dull, old, and weak. She brings enthusiasm, vitality, and youth to the ticket. She will draw Hillary-lovers from the Democrats. She will draw women to the polls to protect their sex. She effectively rained on Obama’s convention bounce and turned the race upside down. She has more executive experience (mayor and governor) than any of the candidates. She will galvanize conservatives to McCain’s ticket. She could keep excitement high to bring more Republicans to the polls.
Deborah and Jael are appropriate examples for a time like this. In a nation God has judged by removing its men (Isaiah 3:1-5), a woman may be the “best man” for the job. Deborah was the “best man” for the job in Israel. God blessed her, and God blessed the Israelite men who took up arms for her. Praise God for Sarah Palin. She is the best candidate running for office … based on her faith, her executive experience, and her track record … and certainly as an enhancement to the Republican ticket to slap down the opposing element that we despise and hate in our nation.
De facto governments trump de jure arguments, whether legal or scriptural. Israel’s constitution was the basis for their national existence. What was their constitution? The Old Testament scriptures inspired by God and delivered in a fiery display on Mount Sinai. Due to the nation’s sins, God sent various nations and empires to punish them. During the time of our Lord and Paul, Rome ruled over Israel, and both the Son of God and the apostle to the Gentiles taught allegiance to the de facto government in civil matters, not the de jure rule of the Old Testament.
Sarah Palin for Vice President does not alter Bible sex roles. You may not think a woman should work outside the home. You may think a wife and mother of five should be at home nurturing her children. You may believe a woman cannot pastor a N.T. church. But voting for McCain-Palin does not alter these precepts or preferences. You are choosing the best alternative from two for leadership in a pagan nation. Sarah Palin’s professed faith does not alter your option. Paul’s dilemma of a trial in Jerusalem or one in Rome was not good, but he chose Caesar (Ac 25:7-12).
Voting McCain-Palin does not endorse feminism or other Republican errors. If certain types get upset about a woman ruling over men, they are being righteous over much and over wise (Eccl 7:16). How so? Because there are hundreds of other problems with McCain’s platform, proposals, practices, and likely cabinet than just a female V.P.! The issue is not perfect candidates, a perfect platform, perfect proposals, or a perfect cabinet. The issue is whether prudent Christians will vote the imperfect McCain-Palin ticket to slap down Obama-Biden.
Choose to despise black liberation theology and Islam in any form. A vote for McCain-Palin is a vote against the fair-haired, boy-wonder of the sodomites, Hollywood, labor unions, media, NEA, PETA, NOW, etc. What a privilege! What a blessing to be yet able to vote in a two-party system and slap down the candidate of black liberation theology, compromise, corruption, and incompetence … Obama-Biden. What a privilege to make a statement along with 50 million other Americans that there is still a majority that disagrees with the profane objectives of the left.
Lord, help Christians grow up and think, before they make Obama our president by staying home, voting for Ron Paul or Chuck Baldwin, or writing themselves or you in for the sake of so-called principle.
For Further Study:
- The web document, “God Bless the IRS,” … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/pdf/god-bless-the-irs.pdf.
- The web document, “Christian and Taxes,” .. https://www.letgodbetrue.com/bible/practical/christian-and-taxes.pdf.
- The sermon outline, “Two Great Women,” … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/pdf/two-great-women.pdf.
- The sermon outline, “Gospel Millennium,” … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/pdf/gospel-millennium.pdf.
- The web document, “Christian and Politics,” … available in print, but not e-format at this time.
- The sermon outline, “The Ordinance of Authority,” … available in print, but not e-format at this time.
IS VOTING A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE?
OR A MATTER OF PRUDENCE?
Principle says, “I want to vote my conscience.”
Prudence says, “I want my vote to count.”
Principle says, “I want to make a statement even if I am not heard.”
Prudence says, “How will my vote be the most effective?”
We live in a two-party system. To ignore this is to waste a vote. There may come a day when a third-party candidate could possibly win, then we would weigh three outcomes.
Voting is a numbers game rather than a principle or merit or truth contest. No one cares about the principles of Alan Keyes. Our ignorant nation dictates that there will only be two candidates from which to choose. They only care about who wins the electoral college tally.
Ultimate principle would be to write yourself in. This by itself answers the question. Any argument that becomes absurd when taken to its logical extreme is absurd to begin with. Voting should be based on prudence.
Voting “principle” gave us Bill and Hillary Clinton. In 1992 George Bush would have defeated Bill Clinton easily, if Ross Perot had not taken 19% of the vote (most of which were Republicans). In 1996, Robert Dole might have beaten Bill Clinton, if Ross Perot had not taken 9% of the vote (most of which were Republicans). The Republican revival, which won both houses of Congress, was ruined by those voting “principle” for Ross Perot.
A vote for Ross Perot in 1992 was a vote for Bill Clinton regardless of the “principles” or “conscience” of those voting or the “principles” or “conscience” of Ross Perot. Conservatives and Christians voting for Ross Perot are responsible for Bill Clinton being our President.
Is there a difference between Bush and Gore? Was there a difference between Bush and Clinton? Was there a difference between Dole and Clinton? Consider wisely. Was one more of a statesman? Did one have more integrity? Did one have a more traditional wife? Did one have some morals? Did one have some manly virtues? Did one serve his country in the military? Was one consistent in public and in private? Would one have favored our Republican majority in both houses? Would one have continued the legacy from Ronald Reagan? We may conclude there are differences.
It is very likely that Alan Keyes will not get even 1% of the popular vote.
How does a vote for a candidate unable to get even 1% have any meaning?
By voting Republican we do not necessarily endorse their principles but rather keep the Democrat candidate out of office.
By voting Perot we did not necessarily endorse his principles but rather kept the Republican candidate out of office and elected the Democrat.
What does a vote for Alan Keyes accomplish?
Voting for Alan Keyes is the same as voting Democrat for Bill Clinton.
Voting is anonymous and secret, therefore how can it count for principle. No one knows how you vote, and a “principle” vote is lost by ignoring our two-party system.
If we are asked regarding our principles, we can and should give answer with the words of truth (Proverbs 22:20-21; I Peter 3:15).
If we are on trial for our faith or convictions, we choose principle. But a presidential election is merely a numbers game between two candidates, and it is our duty to protect our nation from the greater evil of the two.
Proverbs 22:3 warned us to vote against Bill Clinton by voting for George Bush in 1992. Simple Christians voted for Ross Perot and were punished by putting Bill Clinton into office.
Proverbs 14:8 warns us to understand the consequences of our vote. Regardless of how good a candidate may sound, if there is no hope at all of him winning, then a vote for him is a wasted vote or worse.
Proverbs 14:15 warns us not to get caught up in the rah-rah frenzy of a minor candidate with a good platform. It rather instructs us to carefully consider the effect of our vote.
Proverbs 14:18 tell us about those who voted for Ross Perot and what they received for their vote.
Proverbs 16:21 instructs us to wisely measure the effect of our vote.
Proverbs 18:15 tells us that we should know what we are doing when we vote.
Ecclesiastes 6:9 instructs us that realistic possibilities are superior to platforms of principle that don’t stand a chance in November.
Ecclesiastes 10:2 teaches that a wise man rules his heart and choices while a fool’s heart rules him to foolish choices.
Ecclesiastes 10:10 exalts wisdom as the basis for profitably directing one’s choices to avoid unnecessary effort and pain for foolish and hasty choices.
II Samuel 24:14 shows David wisely considering the least of three evils.