| Christians And Political Participation: As Christians in | | | | emotional hot-buttons to swing us one way or |
| a democracy, it's our duty to Jesus and to our | | | | another. Vote, yes, but don't let political |
| country to participate in the political system, trying | | | | manipulation take us off our game. The stakes |
| to influence it for the good...this really isn't the | | | | are too high for us to spend much time, effort or |
| question. We should do our best to make sure | | | | money on an election's hot-button issues. We |
| whoever and whatever we vote for matches up | | | | have far greater work to do!Love And Good |
| with the principles we see in God's Word. The | | | | Works: The work our Lord called us to is not to |
| problem is, as this election season bears out...no | | | | change laws but to heal hearts. When evangelical |
| one matches up! We get as close as we can but, | | | | Christians sit atop their ivory towers and decry |
| in doing so, we begin to compromise our own | | | | the sin in the world, they're looking the wrong |
| values. That's politics, you say? How, then, do you | | | | place for sin. Sin in the world is a given! Jesus said |
| think we can politically achieve our goals as | | | | for us to get the log out of our own eyes...not to |
| Christians? ...that is, if we even agree on those | | | | judge others. Once you're perfect, you can start |
| goals! We conservatives support the Republican | | | | throwing stones. When prominent Christians say |
| Party only to empower corruption and moral | | | | 9-11 or earthquakes are because of the sin in |
| decay...the very things we were voting against. | | | | America, how does that make people want to be |
| But there are liberal Christians, just as committed | | | | a Christian...like them? Jesus didn't come to |
| to Christ, supporting Democrats and getting the | | | | condemn the world...He came to save it. Maybe |
| same or worse results. Vote, yes, but don't | | | | it's about time we evangelicals stop judging the |
| expect things to dramatically change even if your | | | | world, get out of our churches and into the world |
| champion gets the job. As hot as the issues | | | | to help one more person find the love of Christ. |
| are...the battle isn't in the ballot box.Abortion, | | | | Where are the people today who will "become all |
| Homosexuality and Death Penalty are just a few | | | | things to all people" so some will find Jesus? Jesus |
| of the hot-button issues repeatedly brought | | | | gave us a 2-step plan for evangelism...love |
| before us, to win our votes. Our mailboxes, TV's | | | | everyone...do good works. This is how the world |
| and radios are full of accusation, innuendo and | | | | will know His people and want to be His people. |
| outright slander to try to convince us that the | | | | Everything else is a distraction. Vote, yes, but if |
| other guy doesn't measure up...that our guy will | | | | you really want to change things, spend your time |
| deliver. Christians are deep in this game on both | | | | and money sharing love and good works...this is |
| sides, even publishing craftily-worded voting | | | | the battleground of true Christians. "God is love...in |
| records to prove this person is for or against the | | | | this world we are like Him." 1 John 16-17 The |
| issue of the day. Prominent Christians promote | | | | more we're like Him, the more they'll want to be |
| both sides in news, film and the arts, to push their | | | | like us.Glen Williams is an Ordained Minister, |
| political agendas. The liberals say, "How could | | | | Founder and CEO of E-Home Fellowship (EHF), Inc. |
| Christians be for the death penalty and against | | | | and Webmaster for He has been active in |
| government aid to the homeless and hungry?" | | | | ministry since 1989. You can comment on his |
| The conservatives say, "How can Christians | | | | articles at Web-Church |
| support abortion and homosexuality?" These | | | | Christian Forums. |
| Political organizations are just pushing our | | | | |