Election Sermon: 2024
Notes
Transcript
In January I stood behind this pulpit and told you that this year I would be bringing a message on the election that is now just a few days away, nine days to be exact. Let me be clear on a few things before we get started:
This message is not uplift one candidate, or one political party above another. This is not an endorsement on any office.
This message is not persuade you to vote for a particular candidate, merely, this message is to persuade those of you who are conflicted to go vote.
This message is intended to communicate what is on the line in this election, and make no mistake about it, our very religious freedom is at stake.
Church, we are living in a day where the consensus among people in this country is not that freedom of religion, but freedom FROM religion. We are living in a day where we are being told our religious views have no business entering into the political realm, be that in the form of Christians running for office, or be that in the form of Christians in the ballot box. There are three misconceptions in America today regarding the role of Christians in the political arena and I want to take the Bible and clear them up for you. The first misconception is centered around...
The Separation of Church and State Romans 13:1-4
The Separation of Church and State Romans 13:1-4
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
There is perhaps no phrase in all that concerns American politics and the church’s responsibility more misunderstood than the phrase: separation of church and state.
Pop Quiz class: In which founding document do we read about the separation of church and state? Is it:
A. The Declaration of Independence
B. The Constitution
C. The Bill of Rights
D. None of the above
Answer: D. None of the above.
If the afore mentioned documents are our only founding documents, then from where did the concept of “Separation of church and state” derive from? The phrase first appeared in letter that Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists of Connecticut in 1802. And what was his purpose in writing this famous, but misunderstood phrase? The Baptists of Danbury Connecticut wrote to the third president of the US expressing their concern over the fact that the STATE of Connecticut had declared the Congregational Church to be the OFFICIAL STATE CHURCH.
Do you know what Jefferson declared in his letter back to the Danbury Baptists? He declared that the FIRST AMENDMENT, you know, the one that provides us FREEDOM OF RELIGION, was to keep the GOVERNMENT out of the affairs of the CHURCH, not to keep the CHURCH out of the affairs of the GOVERNMENT. Church the first amendment protects the people of our country against government sponsorship of one particular religion or denomination. Religious freedom ensures that you have the right to voice your opinion as a Christian in this country about your government.
What about Romans 13? Read those verses with me… Those verses declare that we are to show our respect for, and our obedience to our government, but now now, we must remember from where government orginated! Genesis 9:5-6
5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
In the days following the flood of Noah’s day God decreed that man would rule over man in civil matters. However, when man ignores and repudiates the laws of God, we are expected to stand up and be counted among the faithful.
Daniel refused to eat the king’s meat and chose to face the possibility of death to do so.
The same Daniel stood up to the king and called on him to repent when he violated the laws of the God of Israel, the God he didn’t even worship! Daniel 4:27
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
What about Daniel’s three friends that refused to bow their knee to Nebuchadnezzar’s idol?
What about the countless prophets in Israel’s history that stood up to wicked kings?
One more truth to ponder on this subject, biblically speaking — there was a KING in Israel, and a PRIEST. Both had separate roles, BUT the priest was expected to have influence in the life of the king, but not the other way around.
Let’s move on, we’ve seen the misconception of the separation of church and state. The next misconception is the idea that...
The Church Should Stick to the Gospel and Not Politics Acts 20:27
The Church Should Stick to the Gospel and Not Politics Acts 20:27
Paul declared to the leaders of the Ephesian church:
27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Church, I’m going to very clear on this: I love the gospel of Jesus Christ! I believe that in the church the name of Jesus ought to be lifted up, His name ought to be praised, His gospel ought to be preached, His coming again ought to be shouted from the rafters....but as your pastor, let it never be said of me that I have shunned (withheld, or drawn back from) preaching the WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD.
While it sounds spiritual to say, “Churches should stick to the gospel and leave politics to the politicians.
When someone says this to you ask them, “Which parts of the Bible should we teach?” The Word of God has a lot to say about government. In fact, to this point, the apostle Paul stood before Roman governors and eventually was heard before Caesar.
19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
Why was John the Baptist shut up in prison? Becasue he faithfully called out Herod for his adulterous relationship with his brother’s wife. Who’s law did Herod violate? God’s moral law. What did John do? Did he say, “Well, Herod is not a Jew, so therefore God’s law does not apply to him. Guess I’ll keep my mouth shut”? Nope. He told Herod he was wrong.
What about other men and women in the Bible that were used by God IN government roles?
Joseph — promoted to prime minister of Egypt.
Moses — raised as a prince of Egypt, but used of God to end Israel’s captivity.
Esther — Married a heathen king and still remained faithful to her God and was used by Him to spare her people.
Church, the Bible is full of examples of men and women who refused to remain silent in the face of evil governments. The Bible is full of men and women who were actively involved in their government for good.
Here is what I don’t understand about Christians who do not think our voice should be heard on these issues: To whom do you want to entrust moral decisions to be made? We have political parties right now claiming that the murder of innocent babies MUST Be defended nationwide because it is a woman’s RIGHT TO CHOOSE. Those same claiming a woman has a right to choose cannot even tell you what a woman is. Right now we have a movement that wants to place pornographic books inside public school libraries while at the same time refusing to allow the Gideon’s to bring in Bibles.
If God’s people do not speak out on these issues, who will? Better yet, if God’s people are not participating in the decision making process, then from where will these moral decisions be made?
Three misconceptions: separation of church and state, the church should stick to the gospel, not politics, and lastly, the misconception I call...
The “Lesser of Two Evils” Trap Romans 3:10 Romans 3:23
The “Lesser of Two Evils” Trap Romans 3:10 Romans 3:23
I have heard many make a statement like this: “I just cannot vote for either person. I don’t like their personalities or their policies. I can’t bring myself to vote for the lesser of two evils.”
My friends listen to me carefully: Until Jesus Christ has His name on the ballot, the only choice we have is to vote for the lesser of two evils.
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
For whom then should we vote? I said in the beginning that my purpose in today’s message was not to tell you who to vote for, but to encourage you to vote. Who should you vote for? Here is my advice:
While neither party is anointed by the Holy Spirit of God, while neither candidate claims or shows evidence of knowing Jesus as their Savior, before you vote ask:
Which candidate/part stands on or closest to what the Bible says about:
Life. The number one issue in this election is abortion. Read that again. Which party is going to be closest to the pin on protecting life?
The home. Which party is closest to the Bible on protecting children from radical ideology such as questioning their gender, sports, bathrooms, irreversible surgical procedures?
Religious freedom. Which candidate/party is most likely to uphold the Constitution and protect religious freedoms within our country?
Security. Listen, God respects borders. God created government to protect the people of its nation. Which party is most in line with God’s demands of a righteous government?
Nowhere are we commanded to vote for a perfect candidate, and thank God for that, because there isn’t one; but we are expected to choose our leaders wisely, and to exercise our vote with prayerful consideration.
Nine days. You say, “Pastor, will my vote really matter?” That’s like saying, “Does my tithe check really matter?” Or “Will it really make a difference if I miss this one service?” What if your tithe check made the difference of the church making is quarterly budget or being in the hole? What if your attendance to a single church service was all the encouragement that someone needed who was going through a tough time? OR, what if that church service you didn’t want to attend was the one where you heard and responded to the gospel of Christ? Would that make a difference?
Does your vote matter, yes, it does.
Listen, no matter how this election turns out, come November 6th ( 26th), God will still be on the throne. Have you made Him king of your heart? If not, what are you waiting on?
