What side are you ON?

Right / Left

Without question, there is a growing political divide in our country. Yet as Christians we are expected to engage in both private and public spaces in ways that honor God, consistent with the great commands in Matthew 22:37-39 to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

exercising faith in these challenging times takes courage.

Luke 20:19–26 (NIV)

19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.

21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them,

24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.

25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

Why vote?

#1 - Voting is a way to give what you owe the government

Because we owe the government . We owe the government authority. you need to give authority to the government .

Governmental authority is instituted by God and must be respected

Proverbs 8:15 (NIV)

15 By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just;

Romans 13:1–7 (NIV)

1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.

4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.

7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

authority comes from God but He uses us to give it to people.

authority is not taken from us, it is granted by us. For us to have leader at all we need to give them the authority. That’s how the church works and how our country works.

We do not first submit to political authority, we first grant political authority , Them we place our self under it.

But you might say “I’m not from here”

Philippians 3:20 (NIV)

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

and we are strangers and pilgrims on earth, but that does not mean we should ignore our earthly responsibilities. Human government is essential to a safe and orderly society, for man is a sinner and must be kept under control.

Jesus was not suggesting that we divide our loyalties between God and government.

Since “the powers that be are ordained of God” we live as good citizens when we obey the authorities for the Lord’s sake.

When obedience to God conflicts with obedience to man, THEN we must put God first., But we must do it in a manner that is honorable and loving. Even if we cannot respect the people in office, we must respect the office.

Acts 4:19–20 (NIV)

19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!

20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Acts 5:29 (NIV)

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!

The counsel that Jeremiah gave to the Jewish exiles in Babylon follow today

Jeremiah 29:4–7 (NIV)

4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:

5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.

6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.

7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

We owe the government authority. you need to give authority to the government By Voting.

Caesar’s image and name were on the coins, so it was basically his currency. To pay the taxes meant simply to give Caesar back that which belonged to him.

#2 - Voting is a way to give what you owe GOD

God’s image is stamped on us

Luke 20:24–25 (NIV)

24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.

25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

who do you belong to?

When you gave your life to Jesus and no longer you who live but Christ in you, you belong to Him.

You owe God your life, your everything. Your money, your parenting, your politics, your job… Your sexuality… His name is on you, His image is on you.

So your first a legions and your primary identity is not something you give to a political party, is something you give to God.

Romans 12:1 (NIV)

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

#3 - Voting is a way to give what you owe ME (each other)

we owe each other LOVE

love your neighbor as yourself

Matthew 22:37–39 (NIV)

37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Romans 13:8–10 (ESV)

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

in the Book Compassion & Conviction

“Politics is ugly and imperfect because our world is broken - Because we as individuals are broken. Nothing was unaffected by the fall (Gen 3), and politics is no exception. But like it or not, politics touches every aspect of society. How and when we worship, what constitutes a crime, and what children learn in school are all subject to political decision. To avoid or dismiss political engagement is to forgo an important opportunity to help our neighbors and to promote the righteousness and justice that are the foundation of God`s throne”

We should participate in the political system and do our best to ensure that society is treating people fairly and upholding healthy standards of human dignity.

In Jeremiah 29:7 , God calls the believers to …

Jeremiah 29:7 (NIV)

7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

We’re not islands unto ourselves; we’re affected by what goes on around us and should pray and take action out of concern for it.

Whether we’re protecting the unborn, supporting fair prison sentences, or making sure the elderly are taken care of, politics provides a forum for advocating for our neighbor’s well-being and pursuing justice.

Our daily walk should be a promotion of love and truth of the gospel

Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)

15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Treating all God’s children with human dignity through the political arena is an opportunity we should not bypass. .

How to Vote?

Consider their character

1 Kings 14:16 (NIV)

16 And he will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.”

The leader has an influence to shape the people, the churches, the companies and the countries that they lead.

what are our options? what kind of leaders do we have in front of us? What kind of character do they have ?

Critique their company

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Proverbs 22:24–25 (NIV)

24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,

25 or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.

They cant do nothing on their own they need to bring people in to help,

What are the parties they bring along.

Who do you trust at the wheel giving us directions for our country?

Who do you trust to be on the wheel of our country? What kind of country do you want to live in?

Your voting for the future

Compare their competency (Ability)

2 Corinthians 3:5 (NIV)

5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

You are contracting someone for a job.

What did they built? look for a candidate that does what they say their going to do .

Them What?

Just trust GOD

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

**Discussion Questions**

Scripture: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” (Psalm 95:6). > 1. Share how your faith informs: > - Why you vote > - For whom you vote > - How you respond when your candidate doesn’t win > 2. What is your faith-inspired vision for Brasil? And how do you think Jesus is leading you to be part of achieving that? > 3. What are a few concrete ways we could help unify our community after the election results are announced?