by Todd Strandberg
Would Jesus Vote Republican?
The politics of Rome during Jesus' day was simple and to the point. Whatever Caesar said was law, that law was rubber stamped by the senate, and woe be unto anyone who expressed a different opinion. All who dissented were killed or imprisoned.
Pax Romana (Roman peace) prevailed everywhere Rome exerted its full authority. The keepers of the historical record often laud that empire for the peace that resulted from its imposing power. The historians conveniently forget that it could be a hard and bitter "peace" for those whom Rome occupied. It was "peace" enforced by the sharp, bloody edge of the Roman sword.
But, as stated, the politics were simple: Pay your taxes, do what you are told, and stay out of the way of Roman authority. By this means you could live in Caesar's version of "peace."
You could live in peace, that is, unless you came into conflict with the pious Jews who used the Law of Moses like a battering ram to get their own way, and keep themselves in sub-authority just beneath the occupying Romans. Jesus was railroaded to trial by the malicious use of just such religious politics.
Today the "art" of politics hasn't changed much in terms of the goals its humanistic wielders seek. While politics is, in theory, but a structure by which to elect leaders for government that is supposed to make society peaceful and orderly, it is more often than not a wicked instrumentality with which to bludgeon anyone and everyone who might have differing opinions.
In short, the political process is the end-justifies-the-means way to achieve power over others. And, as Lord Edward Acton quipped: "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Democracy Is a Balancing Act
One of the ironic things about tyranny is that it does not need to be maintained. Once a nation falls into totalitarianism, it's no small task to regain liberty. Brute force is the only qualification a despotic leader needs to rule over a nation. He will remain in power until death or someone with a stronger army removes him from power.
Democracy on the other hand, needs constant care. Because the beliefs and values of the press, religions, and private citizens often conflict with the policies of the governments that represent them, a system of checks and balances is needed to maintain freedom.
Because the enemies of liberty are ever on the offensive, Christians don't have the option of walking away from the political battlefield. Liberalism has already gained an advantage by taking over the schools, the media, and many denominations.
Because believers are neglecting to become involved in politics, the enemy continues to use the political process to manipulate and herd America into ungodliness. Unopposed, that tyrannical power will ultimately enslave us.
The Lord Would Certainly Not Be a Democrat
There is one thing certain we can state, based upon the integrity of Bible truth. Jesus would never endorse or be a member of any party whose platform supports abortion, gay rights, and a general hostility to Bible-believing Christians.
Another thing can be confidently stated, based upon observations of current facts about American politics. The Democrat Party would never have Jesus as a member. Much of the basis for that observation is found in the issues mentioned above.
The Democrats' leadership consistently supports abortion--or, as they term it, "the right to choose." They continue to support homosexual activists and their "gay rights" causes, a debased, debauched lifestyle that God calls abominable. Democrats defend pornography as art that comes under the heading of "free speech."
This political party comes down on the side of liberal federal judges who have ruled that God should be thrown out of the public places of America. These judges --and the Democratic Party by supporting them--declare "The Ten Commandments," "In God We Trust" on our currency, and "One nation, under God" in the "Pledge of Allegiance" dangerous to our school children and our society.
This party champions taking ever-increasing tax money from the pockets of those who work to give to those who won't work, even if they have opportunity. Thus there has been created a dependent welfare class that trillions of dollars of taxpayers' money since the implementation of "The Great Society's War on Poverty" --instituted by a Democratic president and a mostly Democratic Congress-- has not been able to improve. Catering to a welfare class -and that means people who refuse to make a genuine effort to work, even though they are healthy--violates a basic precept of God's Word, the Bible.
"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat" (2 Thess. 3:10).
The Democratic Party continues to be led by those who believe pacifism is the easiest pathway to world peace. They constantly do all within their power to support legislative action designed to disarm the military of the US and the American public. Again, that woolly-minded leadership violates basic biblical precepts. Jesus spoke about being vigilant and prepared to defend one's home: "Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house" (Matt. 12:29).
Jesus would never be invited to be keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention, that's for sure!
Jesus Would Not Be a Republican
We can say with equal certainty that Jesus would not be a card-carrying member of the Republican Party. The Grand Old Party may share many values that can be traced back to the Bible, but it is still the GOP, not the GOD party. Because the party is run by corrupt man, a perfect and Holy God would never lend His credibility to that or any other earthly organization.
The Republican Party has been branded by the Democrats to be the "party of greed." This label is not stamped without a degree of legitimacy. Man is a greedy being in his fallen state. Politicians within both major parties use the love of money to step on the backs of those they are supposed to serve. There are few innocent of power-grabbing for riches within the American political process.
When it gets down to the bare facts, the only advantage the Republican Party offers is that it is the lesser of two evils.
Even so, the Republican Party brings to the legislative table in America a much safer, more sound course of governing, in our view. The GOP, for the most part, opposes abortion, legitimizing homosexuality as equal to heterosexual relationships, and huge programs that create and perpetuate destructive, mammoth social programs (welfare in nature, based upon the definition of welfare given above). That party is, by and large, in favor of a strong national defense, national sovereignty, and keeping God's name at the heart of our national character.
That said, humanism remains at the core of the GOP's, or any party's, attempts to rule. This means that it, like its Democratic counterpart, is fatally flawed. To be specific, sin reigns supreme within its ranks because human beings, most wanting to see their star rise above all other stars, as often as not throw character and integrity aside to achieve goals--usually of a self-serving nature. Again, ends justify means in the political process.
The Duty To Vote Falls on Man
Jesus, when He walked the Earth in the flesh, didn't fall prey to Satan's attempts to bribe Him with earthly power when the devil offered Him all of the world's kingdoms.
"Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matt. 4: 8-10).
Jesus didn't correct the evil one by telling him that the kingdoms of this world were not his to offer. That is because Satan indeed is allowed for the present time to control, to a great extent, the political realm of this fallen planet.
The fact that the God of all creation would not even consider such an offer of earthly power makes it more than certain that He would not lower himself to participate in a humanistic election.
The answer to the question posed by the title of this article is, "No, Jesus would not vote Republican." He would not vote, period!
Jesus would, however, offer very pointed advice on issues to those who do participate in the election process. He would enunciate the godly principles underlying the issues upon which the voters must decide. As a matter of fact, He did just that.
Jesus is the Living Word of God (John 1: 1). God's love letter to mankind is given through His blessed Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible gives us God's precise rules for conducting all areas of our life--including our participation in the political process.
Human beings must, in the final analysis, vote upon the issues of life that will determine how we will be served by human government. Departure from wise, godly principles delineated in the Bible invites the sort of confused and debased culture in which we are mired today. Such foolish decision-making ultimately brings foolish, even debased, perverted leadership, and even devilish tyranny.
Majority Rules and That Includes Christians
The liberal media today demonstrably hate the idea of Christians becoming actively involved in the political process. Bible-believing ministers are usually portrayed as hateful zealots who are narrow-minded, bigoted, and homophobic when they oppose the anti-God wrongs wrapped up in those key issues described above. To express opposition--especially organized opposition--to the "pro choice" or "gay rights" agendas is to invite hate-filled fire from media, whether from news organizations or from Hollywood and entertainment in general.
The humanists seem to think that Christianity is so naturally offensive it needs to be excluded from areas of public life.
Homosexuals make up less than 5 percent of the population. Yet they are immensely effective in their efforts to impose their minority view on the rest of us. Although they are much greater in number, the same goes for those who push the right to abort babies--most all such killings done for the sake of convenience. The news media and entertainment industries consistently and loudly beat the drums of support for these anti-God practices.
Even within a republican form of democratic government, such as America's, majority input is supposed to serve as society's guiding principles. With 90 million claiming to be evangelical believers, those Christians have a constitutional right and a moral responsibility to demand that Christian values be reflected in American society.
Tragically, rather than exerting stronger influence on culture, evangelical Christianity seems to be losing the battle in producing godly results within the American political process. This is due primarily to many federal judges of this nation being allowed to legislate from the benches of the courts they have given over to the humanists.
Thankfully, one day, when Christ reigns and rules on earth, the humanistic form of governance will be a long-past memory.
Vote Republican and Vote Often
When it comes to Christians determining whom will get their vote, many base their decision on the candidate who offers them the greater financial reward. It doesn't matter if a Democrat has a poor record on moral issues. Many believers apparently think nothing of putting their pocket book ahead of their faith.
All disciples of Christ need to realize that some political issues should take priority over all other concerns. If a white supremacist group formed a national political party, it would be foolhardy for people to support that party based upon the fact they like the white supremacists' health care platform.
It was this type of narrow-minded thinking that got Adolf Hitler elected to office. Most citizens of Germany knew full well that the Nazis were brutalizing the Jews, but those citizens were mesmerized by utopian propaganda Hitler and his henchman were preaching.
Because we all will have to give an account of our lives, it is very important to realize the choices we make in the privacy of a voting booth will someday need to be defended before the open throne of God.
All end-time minded Christians should know that at some point freedom and liberty will be surrendered to a global government.
The Bible tells us the God of this world is the devil. The influence of Satan is the reason 90 percent of the press and Hollywood elite are liberals who vote exclusively for the Democratic Party. The one-minded eagerness of the left to influence the electoral process should act as a warning sign to the conservative base of this nation.
You can be a perfectionist and find a hundred things wrong with the Republicans. It is serious error to try compare a floundering friend to a deadly enemy.
Human government never will be able to solve the world's problems. There never will be true peace until the Prince of Peace establishes His Millennial Kingdom. That understood, until the Lord Jesus comes for His Church in the rapture -- presuming both major political parties in America continue to hold to their present party lines -- it is the view of Rapture Ready that Republican values are America's best political option.
Devotions with Emotion
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