Dear Friends,This Tuesday is Super Tuesday! In the Church calendar that means absolutely nothing, but in our culture, it means a great deal. This Tuesday many Americans, especially in the South, will have the opportunity to vote in the Presidential election primaries. This begs the question, "Should Christians care about politics that much?"The short answer is, Yes! The reasons for this answer will vary a great deal. Unfortunately, many believers and non-believers in our country have a mis-placed hope in politics. There are many who believe that God's sovereignty resides in who gets elected, while others simply turn the channel to binge on their latest television show in order to ignore the political world around them. What should be the posture of the Church?I'm going to advocate to you that we absolutely need to participate in the election process because the Church is called to be active in culture. Christians are to be salt and light. Salt and light are two elements that radically effect their environment. One practical way we can do this is by voting - specifically voting for a candidate and for policies that reflect the teachings of Christ in our broken world.A friend recently share some information that was quite discouraging. In the last three major election cycles, it is estimated that 10 to 20 million evangelicals did not vote or were not registered to vote. It is estimated that 45% of voters say that their faith influences their vote, yet there are still a large number of evangelicals that simply do not vote. It is also estimated that the number of evangelical Americans is about 25% of the population - maybe upwards of 100 million people. That is huge! Are evangelicals affecting culture? Could the church actually make a difference in the political climate of our country in 2016?Now that we are full-steam-ahead in a moral revolution, or dare I say an amoral revolution, that has left nothing unaffected including the definition of marriage, sex-change, etc..., could an election season actually make a difference in the moral direction of our culture?This same friend opined that, "A democratic society depends on moral people to participate. If they do not, our democratic republic and constitution will fail." Are Christians called to make a moral difference in our culture?I purposely left most of the questions unanswered. I would like for you pray about them and pray about your answers with regards to a biblical world and life and view. How would Jesus have you be salt and light?Perhaps another way to help you think through a Christians' part in the political process are a few thoughts from the late Irish Statesman, Edmund Burke:
- The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
- Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.
- Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.
These statements are worth pondering as we meditate on Jesus' call to be salt and light and our right to vote in this country.See you Sunday!
Your pastor,
Wilson
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