The Christian Vote 

How Should Christians Vote?

Note: Please READ this and pass it on—especially the Charles Finney quotation and comments at the end.

Last night, rather than tune in on the democratic convention, I had a strong urging to sit quietly, journal and talk with the Lord. Like so many, I’m concerned about the coming presidential election, so I questioned the Lord in prayer.  I wanted clarity because I don’t have clear thoughts. I endorse values and positions of both left and right. I feel a weight on my heart about the candidates. I’ve a sense that the changes that might possibly come to the nation under the different leaders are not being clearly discerned by many, including me. I think many votes will be cast against Trump without the voters knowing who or what they are truly voting for—and vice versa. I think that knowing who or what we are voting for and against matters very, very much.

The key points are muddied and obscured because of fear, media bias, personalities and the influence of actions and reactions against extremely loud fringe weirdness and dysfunction associated with both political parties. I wish there was a third candidate with a steady head and a pure heart. Now all this thinking is “me” and it gives me a headache, but I think my confusion is typical of many and it is background for what follows.  You see, I was thinking and seeking “in my own mind.”

So I asked, “Lord, under which candidate’s victory will more people come to know You and will more of Your kingdom come and will be done on earth?”

I heard a name which I will not say. My response was, “Really?”

Next I asked, “Will Your will be done in peace and well-being or in more chaos, turmoil and violence? Will it come in recession and depression or in economic recovery? In protection of our freedoms or in increasing control?”

(I’m not sure it matters. The Bible picture is contradictory. In the OT God’s people cried out to the Lord more fervently when in distress and turned away from Him to idolatry and self-sufficiency in prosperity. In the NT, Paul urges us to pray for peace for the spread of the gospel, yet history testifies to the fruit of persecution and martyrdom. So, once again I chuckle in gratitude that I’m not God and this Christian life is one of faith.)

I heard no answer to my questions, only silence, long silence.

Then a clear thought came. I do not know for sure if it was the Lord or not, but I believe that it was the Holy Spirit speaking within me. The thought was, “I think the answer does NOT depend upon who wins the election but upon the church, upon God’s people.  I sensed, “Our work is just beginning.”

I’d heard those words before—but they were  so often spoken  with overtones of guilt and condemnation that I’m hardened. I turn off  messengers who might imply that I am a second-rate Christian, not doing my part. We’ve all heard the often well-meaning evangelist, missionary or fund raiser who makes open hearted believers and seekers feel guilty or condemned because they’re not out evangelizing or giving enough or offering themselves for the mission field. Any truth in “It’s up to the church” that hits me with a get-on-the-bandwagon twist showing lack of respect for God’s initiative, timing and His various uniquely individual callings loses me.

But this time was different. In the depths of my spirit, I heard and felt truth, hope, encouragement, invitation, possibility, faith and life in the words, “It’s up to the church.”

Since I was exploring new ground with the Lord, out of familiar territory, I asked God for a scripture and in the quiet of my heart I thought, “Joshua 14.” I’d no idea what was in Joshua 14 and was surprised to read that Caleb was asking Joshua for the land that God had promised him 40 years earlier. It made sense.

Immediately my thoughts turned to a prayer meeting I’d joined on Zoom last week. A young man visiting the group told us about prayer and revival at a Prayer Mountain in North Carolina.  It was spurred by an elderly believer, a man in his 90’s, who senses that revival is here and now, (interestingly, “here and now” the name I gave my computer). He senses that awakening has come; the time to seek is ending and the time to usher in revival has come.

It then struck me that the N.C. Prayer Mountain awakening is only a beginning. That the elderly believer is only one of many in the Caleb generation who are to ask God for our portion of the “promised land.” By promised land, I mean the fullness of His Spirit for ourselves and for others that He promised to us many years ago. I believe that we are to rejoice and thank God for what is happening in North Carolina but that we are NOT to focus on it or join in that effort (or any other) unless, like our visitor at the prayer group, God calls us to it. I believe that God wants our eyes on Him for what He wants for us as individuals, families and communities.

On the tail of this thought, all of a sudden I had a “Eureka” flash. I remembered how strongly the Holy Spirit’s energy stirred in the midst of that very prayer group a couple weeks ago. He lifted us out of the ordinary—a fresh vitality seemed to flow when He reminded us that many of us, in our seventies and eighties, are the Caleb generation. Our work, our faith, our prayer and our obedience of love all matter. He is not done with us.

I have no idea what this all means— I think it would be disastrous to set out in the flesh to receive and do what can only be given and done by the Holy Spirit. The visitor to our prayer meeting exhorted and encouraged us to abide in Jesus. That is key—and His pattern is found in the beatitudes—seeking the humility of poverty of spirit is surely the place to begin . . . but the election is before us—

Will you pray with me that the Holy Spirit will visit everyone who reads this?  That we-all, young and old alike, will receive faith to seek God for more of Himself? For fuller faith and grace to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit who lives within us? I am believing that if enough of us begin to listen more intentionally for God’s nudges calling us to worship, prayer and action, if enough of us increase our small choices to follow His will, it can powerfully influence the outcome of this election and, regardless of the winner, steady the course of our nation. I believe we can make a difference. Not by pitting one opponent or party against the other, but by seeking God with renewed intensity for ourselves, our families and our own small circles of influence—for finding and obeying His will in the decisions He puts before us each day—may we boldly and courageously speak that word of faith in our hearts, determine to forgive, humbly ask help to overcome that bad habit, take time to pray, and stop putting off that procrastinated kindness.

OH LORD! Let your spirit be on this to stir up Your people to seek you until you are found alive in our midst.
I’ll be praying that everyone who reads will this be stirred to set aside more time for Jesus— to receive new hope for His plans for you and your spheres of influence. If enough of us open ourselves to His reviving Spirit, we’ll be like Caleb; we’ll know that God is more powerful than the giants in the land.

To conclude—I shared these thoughts with a few friends before deciding to put it on-line. A pastor friend sent me this strongly helpful comment. He said,

Reading through some of Finney’s Lectures on Revival. He really weighs in on this political issue. The context of his comments is that believers lose their witness in the world through little compromises with it, that destroy their integrity when wanting to proclaim the eternal truth about Jesus. Thought you might enjoy it. Blessings,

“. . .  Only let Christians generally determine to vote for no man who is not an honest man, and a man of pure morals; only let it be known that Christians are united in this, whatever may be their difference in political sentiments, and no man would be put up for election who was not such a character. In three years it would be talked about in taverns, and published in newspapers, when any man set up as a candidate for office: “What a good man he is – how moral – how pious!” and the like. And any political party would no more set up a known Sabbath-breaker, or a gambler, or a profane swearer, or a rum-seller, as their candidate for office, than they would set up the devil himself for President of the United States. The carnal policy of many professors, who undertake to correct politics by such means as wicked men employ, and who are determined to vote with a party, let the candidate be ever so profligate, is all wrong – wrong in principle, contrary to philosophy and common sense, and ruinous to the best interests of mankind. The dishonesty of the Church is cursing the world. I am not going to preach a political sermon; but I want to show you that if you mean to impress men favorably to your religion by your lives, you must be honest, strictly honest, in business, politics, and everything you do. What do you suppose those ungodly politicians, who know themselves to be playing a dishonest game in carrying on an election, think of your religion, when they see you uniting with them? They know you are a hypocrite!”

_____[Finney, Charles. The Works of Charles Finney, Vol 1 (15-in-1) Power from on High, Lectures on Revivals of Religion, Autobiography of Charles Finney, Revival Fire, Holiness of Christians, Systematic Theology. Kindle Edition.]

Another friend wrote, “I agree . . .  sometimes, I think the US is running parallel with Israel when they asked God for a King, and God gave them Saul. For far too long, the U.S. has relied on outside forces to enforce God’s laws rather than having their hearts turned towards God.”

And from another:  “. . . many voters suffer from the same ambivalence. But I think if you went to Biden’s campaign website and to Trump’s campaign website and read the platforms/agenda of each, what they want to accomplish as President—the ambivalence would clear.” 

This is incredibly important. So I did that. The platforms are long—over 120 pages together. I looked for summary comparisons. All I found so far are too biased one way or another to appeal to Christians in both parties. The most factual site I found for comparisons on the election issues is https://2020election.procon.org

Comparing the platforms — all I can say is, “Lord, our nation is divided. We need You!  Please use my prayers, my life and my webpage and for what YOU want. Please use the prayers, lives and choices of all who read this to expand Your Kingdom— Help us to put YOU first.  Empower us with faith, hope, wisdom, mercy, strength and above all, Lord, with love.