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Hear these words of wisdom and warning from the Apostle Paul as found in the Book of Romans 1:19-22: For the truth of God is known to them instinctively. God has put His knowledge into their hearts. From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and the sky and all that God made. They can clearly see His invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead. On this the 19th of October 2008 I have a deep concern that I need to share with you. A deep concern I have never felt before in thirty-five years of being a registered voter and a proud citizen of the United States of America. As we, the United States of America, prepare to vote for the 44th president on November 4th, 2008, in alphabetical order, Republican Senator John McCain or Democrat Barack Obama. To be honest with you my biggest concern is that the American public is so hungry for a change from the last eight years that they will vote forgetting when Moses was upon the mountain getting the Ten Commandments. The people demanded of Aaron to make gods for them in the Book of Exodus 32:1-14, breaking the first and foremost Commandment of the Ten Commandments, “You shall not worship any other Gods but Yahweh.” Open your Bible to our Scripture Lesson, Exodus 32:1-6: When the people saw Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron, and said to him, “Up, make us gods, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what made has become of him.” And Aaron said to them, “Take off you’re rings of gold which are in the ears of your wives, your sons and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off the rings of gold, which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And Aaron received the gold at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made a molten calf; and they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” And the people rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. In the people’s eyes their leader Moses was taking too long to accomplish what they wanted so they went looking for something to lead them. Something materialistic that would make them feel good while holding onto their false hopes. In substitution of God the people went to an idol of their own making. As Americans approach November 4th 2008 and voting booths are we making an idol of our own making instead of trusting in God’s wisdom? Trusting in the false wisdom of skin for our own gain? In the words of one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, Benjamin Franklin: “Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature…. I never doubted the existence of the Deity that He made the world, and governed by His Providence…. The pleasures of the world rather from God’s goodness than from our own merit…. Whoever shall introduce into the public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world.” In the words of the 28th President of the United States of America Woodrow Wilson: “There are a good many problems before the American people today, and before me as president, but I expect to find the solution of those problems just in the proportion that I am faithful in the study of the Word of God. In our lives the United States of America is in troubled times economically, domestically, and at war all at the same time. As Americans we need to be careful to not be seeking a false god as our salvation/satisfaction. We need to enter into this election prepared, knowing who is running for political office, and what they stand for. As you came to worship today, in your bulletin, you received a pamphlet from the Ohio Christian Alliance titled "VOTER GUIDE". On this pamphlet it states the positions of American politicians on major issues and concerns for each of us as Christians and American citizens. On the front cover we see the positions on important issues of Senator McCain and Obama as 2008 presidential candidates. Opening the pamphlet the heading reads “2008 Ohio State Senate Candidates” Carefully read the headings and the State Senate Candidates positions. As we open the pamphlet it reads 2008 OHIO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CANDIDATES District 7 pertains to where we live As we close the pamphlet the back reads Vote No on Issues 5 and 6 and states the reason As we enter into this election 2008 let us remember what the Apostle Paul warned us in the text at the beginning of this sermon, Romans 1:19-22, as he saw a tendency for people to create for themselves a god who symbolized the political and economic interests of their own special interest group and who ordained the values of their own particular lifestyle. So what is Jesus? A Democrat, an Independent or a Republican? Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not a member of any political party as He was not a member of the Pharisees or Sadducees. For Jesus Christ is not about polarizing politics. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is an example for all of us of the ministry of reconciliation and being an ambassador as He demonstrates to us in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20: All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their faults against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God made His appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. There is another reason I believe our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not a Democrat, Independent or a Republican. Unlike the representatives of the Democrat, Independent, and Republican parties, Jesus has no sin, 2 Corinthians 5:21: For our sake God made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Now I realize you did not come to church this morning to hear about politics but this message was heavy on my heart as I prayed, read, agonized over this message. In the words of George Bernard Shaw “God made man in His image, and we have decided to return the favor.” What George Bernard Shaw is saying in his cynicism about religion is that various political parties have the tendency to define God as little more than a collective representative of themselves. Saying that Jesus Christ is one of its members. The Bible calls it idolatry and the Apostle Paul saw in this a tendency for people to create for themselves a god who symbolized the political and economic interest of their own special interest group and who ordained the values of their own particular lifestyle. Maybe it isn’t that Christians of various stripes on the political spectrum ought to be looking for common ground but for higher ground. We cannot allow political divisiveness to mar the possibilities of a new political coalition, The God Squad, for a better tomorrow for all. For those who think that we have to think alike to work together for the Kingdom of God they need to remember what Jesus said about all of this. In Jesus day there were reports of people who were not followers of Jesus who were committed to the same ministries that Jesus was about. Jesus said in effect, “Those who are not against us are for us.” If Jesus Christ could declare a common good among those outside His party and theology. If Jesus could urge His disciples to recognize such people were involved in a common cause for the kingdom, ought we not to do the same? After all in Christ the Apostle Paul states in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female.” If the Apostle Paul were here with us today I believe he would add, “and there is neither Democrat, Independent nor Republican. All are one in Christ Jesus, and in the cause of the kingdom building. This is the higher kind of politics that does honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” I ask of each and every one of you, as for myself, to pray to God for direction for this election. I believe the presidential election of 2008 may have a major impact on the future of the United States of America and the world. Pray to God for direction of how to vote not only for change needed from the last eight years in the United States but also internationally and change to make the Kingdom of God better for all of God’s children. God calls us as His followers to rise above all of this, and God expects us to use the Scriptures as a touchstone to test whether the policies and practices of political parties are in harmony with His will. God expects us to not allow a partisan loyalty to tempt us into reading the platform idea of any political party into the Bible. As followers of God we must remain loyal to what God has said. We must remember as we prepare and vote on November 4th 2008. the wisdom of Ephesians 6:10-16: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against all the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench the flaming darts of the evil one. Let us pray, Father God may we seek wisdom, seek solace, in you during these trying times as a ship safe in the harbor from a storm. May we not react but be pro-active in the hours that are yet to come and seek your guidance in what we do. And Father God, God bless America and the right and freedom to openly vote with no fear of harm or persuasion. Amen. |
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