What Your Vote Means

The following are some articles that apply to the coming United States 2004 Presidential Election. Your vote does count, and as a child of God, your vote is very important. The following articles by Arnold Martin, James Coldiron, and Herb Peters deals with this.

FROM A PASTOR’S HEART
October 29, 2003

WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS!

by Pastor Arnold Martin of Immanuel Church and www.wordtoyou.org

(The following message came from Don Pinson of the Kentucky Family Foundation) “He was a young king, but a good one. He had chosen to live right and consequently, had been blessed in everything he undertook. However, in the neighboring nation, this was not the case. A very selfish king ruled who oppressed his people and made all his decisions based on the thought, "what's in it for me". The only thing the two kings had in common was an enemy to the north who was threatening to take over both his southern neighbors.

The wicked king suggested to the young king that together they attack their enemy in the hope they could surprise him and overcome him. The good king, Jehosaphat by name, had always trusted the God of the Bible to protect his land. But this proposal seemed reasonable, and being young, he made a decision based on human logic instead of consulting God: He joined forces with the wicked king, Ahab. The battle was a disaster! The combined forces of Jehosaphat and Ahab were soundly defeated; Ahab was killed and only by a miracle did Jehosaphat escape with his life.

While this story happened over 2500 years ago, it was used by John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, to illustrate a very important truth concerning elections and our personal vote. In answer to the question; "Is it permissible for a Godly person to vote for an un Godly candidate?" John Jay replied to him: "[This] is a question which merits more consideration than it seems yet to have generally received, either from the clergy or the laity. It appears to me that what the prophet said to Jehoshaphat about his attachment to Ahab affords a salutory lesson." Notice what God said to Jehoshaphat by his prophet, “Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD” (2 Chr 19:2).

Chief Justice Jay was making a strong statement that we have no right to vote for ungodly candidates! Why does God feel so strongly about us voting-- and voting for godly candidates? God led our Founding Fathers to establish a Biblical form of government known as a republic. Our Supreme Court, in the early 1800's, explained: "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty...of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

The Supreme Court was saying that our very existence as a nation depends on Christians voting-- and voting for Christian candidates! Noah Webster, the Father of American Education, strongly confirmed this in his book “Advice to the Young,” (p.37). He stated, "When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers..,God commands you to choose for rulers, just men who will rule in the fear of God."

The very word "vote" comes from a Latin word which means, "a solemn promise to God". Our vote is our choice of a ruler, which we make in the very presence of God! On Election day, let's heed the command of a colonial minister in Connecticut, Matthias Burnet, who told his people concerning their voting, "You, whose high prerogative it is,...to save or destroy your country, consider well the important trust ...which God...[has] put into your hands. To God and posterity your are accountable...Let not your children have reason to curse you for giving up those rights, and [destroying] those institutions which your fathers delivered to you."

This message from Mr. Pinson is valuable for all of us. Whether we vote and who we vote for says much about our beliefs and knowledge of Scripture. Everyone votes on election day. Those who do not cast a ballot are voting to remove themselves from being salt and light as God commanded. They vote to let others decide the future of this nation. They vote to let the evil element take over without firing a shot.

Many Christians do vote, but vote the wrong way. They vote for a party instead of voting for the right person. All political parties are getting farther away from biblical standards. Christians should have standards of right and wrong and never move. The political parties will move from standards depending on what the polls say. God’s people should know and obey Proverbs 14:34 which says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

Please answer this question: Is it wrong to practice homosexuality and other sexual perversions? Is it wrong to have abortions? Is it wrong to make laws to make it easy for people to commit those sins?

The answer is obviously YES!

Then it is equally as wrong to vote for the people who will make the laws to support these things. It is wrong to vote for a man who will appoint the liberal judges who are for these things and misinterpret the constitution to make them legal. God will hold us accountable for not protecting innocent life and for not putting up barriers to make it harder for people to sin.

Any person who votes for a person who is for things God is against is partakers of their evil deeds. We want God to bless us, but how can God continue to bless this nation when God’s people are failing to be salt and light? Should there be a difference in the way a God fearing and God hating person votes? Should God’s people sit back and do nothing while their country is being taken over by those who will not be satisfied until God is completely removed from everything?

How did those judges who are siding with the ACLU to remove God from everything in this country get their positions? They got them because God’s people either did not vote or they voted for the wrong people. Find out what the candidates believe and how they vote on moral issues and then be salt and light in a dark and diseased country by getting godly people into office!

(IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH: Pastor, Arnold Martin)

Voting and Yoking Together in the coming Election

by James Coldiron

The following is an article I wrote several months ago on the Warriors of God Forums, and it created quite a stir for weeks. It was not my intention to create a stir, but to obey the Lord. I am going to add this to the end of Pastor Martin's article above. It is the burden of my heart over this election.

A Cry of the Watchman

2 John 1:7-11 " 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. "

2 John 1:7-11 (NASB) " 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ [as] coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God ; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into [your] house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. "

This is short... so please give it a read. It might save you some troubles with the Lord later.

Quickly... there are a few things to note in these passages... first, if one teaches a false doctrine... or one who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ then does not have God. If they do not abide or live in the teachings of Jesus, then do not wish them Godspeed... don't greet them even, or you participate in their evil deeds.

What?   How can that be?

In other words... its not saying don't be friendly to strangers... but when someone is teaching something and living in open sin, then don't do anything to support them or you will have part of their sin as well. There is a spirit of Antichrist that stands against Jesus and the Bible, and it is dangerous to do anything that supports such a person in such opposition to Jesus Christ. It should be a no-brainer, but apparently it is a problem.   Here's some more...

The thing is, it is wrong for us to be "yoked" together with unbelievers.   It is "bad" to support them or help them in their works of evil :

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 " 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. "

See... we are called out of darkness, and if we do anything to support darkness, then we have part of that darkness and we will answer to God. In fact, there is a danger that you can lose rewards for what you have already done if you yoke yourselves with unbelievers and stand with them for unrighteousness.

What am I coming to?

This...

I tell you now... I am a watchman on the wall set so by the Lord... and I will deliver the word He has given to me. God has risen up watchmen for this hour to sound the alarm. In America, there is an election coming up. I am not telling you to vote for a party or some political idea. But I tell you, that whoever you vote for... be very sure that they do not stand against the teachings of Jesus Christ. If they are for abortion... if they are for homosexual marriage... you get the idea, and you actually cast a vote for them... then you have gone well beyond just wishing them God speed... in fact, you will have part of the sin that they openly promote. These things stand against Jesus Christ and the Bible and if we vote for someone who supports it, then we have part with that same spirit of Antichrist that is moving through them to destroy lives.

If someone lies to you and you don't know about it... that's one thing. But if you know that they stand for evil things against the Word of God and you vote for them anyway, understand that you will reap what you are sowing and you are standing against God in your support of their evil.

Galatians 6:7-9 " 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Honestly, I am not telling you to like one man over another one. If I were to give you my personal feelings on the matter, I don't care too much for any of our choices. But this isn't about my feelings... its about what God says in His Word is right and what He says is wrong. Know this... if any Christian who calls Jesus "Lord" votes for someone who is against what the Word of God teaches, then they set themselves against Jesus Christ and will reap the consequences.

Most of you that know me know that I don't care much for politics, though I understand them. But I know this... the Bible speaks to us about all our avenues of life including our government. And I know that God is very clear that we are not to yoke ourselves together or even wish this kind of evil God speed... what communion do we have with darkness? WE ARE COMPROMISED WITH SIN AND EVIL ITSELF WHEN WE TELL OURSELVES THAT OUR VOTE FOR THEM DOESN'T MATTER OR THAT IT WON'T HURT TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE THAT STANDS FOR THIS EVIL.

Tonight... the Lord burdened me with this message. I have delivered it. It is now up to you as to what you will do with it. You may receive it or reject it... I simply had to obey to deliver it. I love you all... but most of all, I love the Lord. May God grant all of us wisdom in Jesus' name.

Jim Coldiron aka "FireStorm "

The following is posted with permission by Herb Peters and the fulfilled prophecy website. It fits in well with the last two articles.

The Time Is Ripe

by Herb Peters

http://fulfilledprophecy.com/time_is_ripe.html

After watching the presidential debates and the reaction of the American people, I could only shake my head. Candidate John Kerry's popularity actually grew. I couldn't believe it

How we Americans have changed. Back when Kerry was leading his radical left, anti-war marches in the late sixties and early seventies, the majority of the American people saw Kerry and his associates for the danger they were. This is especially true for America's Bible believing Christians. The fact was, many of these Bible believing Christians saw Kerry's movement as an anti-Christ movement. I know. That's how I understood it.

Now, here we find this same Kerry in a debate arguing for his same leftist cause, and instead of the American people seeing his leftist agenda for what it is, Kerry's popularity grows. And, what are Christian's in America saying? The answer to this question is for me the most scary part. Evidently, a large segment of Christian's in America are actually saying it won't make any difference who wins this election. That's because, they've been slowly made to believe both candidates are equally taking our country into the global government foretold by the Bible.

One reason some think this way is because, in their college days, both Bush and Kerry were members of the very secretive Skull and Bones. You know what? I went through the rebellious sixties with a group of friends. We all saw and experienced the same things. However, spiritually speaking, we didn't all come out of the sixties on the same side. I became a Christian. And, I believe this to be the case with our President.

Friends, nothing could be farther from the truth thinking our vote won't matter. Almost every international treaty the prior Clinton administration either signed, or was preparing to sign, the present Bush administration rejected. The worst of these was the Rome Statute that, if ratified, it will establish an authority over us American citizens that is above our Constitution. This issue was even brought up in the debate. But, for some reason, few seemed to catch the full significance of the words.

If you don't believe me, ask yourself why almost the entire world hates the current president so very much. The simple biblical answer is, he got in the way of the spirit that the Apostle Paul tells us is at work in this world (2 Thessalonians 2:7). After eight years of having a president who was spiritually asleep at his post, America got a new president who set out to reverse things. Instead of allowing this new century to fall to the European socialist movement, Bush set out to turn it around for the United States and for freedom. That's why he's hated.

And, before we start pointing out all the international activities our current government is involved in, keep in mind what presidents have to work with whether they like it or not -- big government, international treaties and the post Cold War new world order. You see, whether we like it or not, the new world order is already here. It arrived when the Berlin Wall fell. The only question now is, who will lead and control it. Will it be America or Europe.

That's why this next election is so important. Ask yourself, why is socialist Europe so overwhelmingly supporting Kerry? Do you think it's out of concern for America?

And, ask yourself another important question: Why aren't the majority of today's Christians seeing in Kerry's leftist, globalist agenda what yesterday's Christians saw? They saw, spiritually speaking, an anti-Christ movement.

I'm afraid there is only one, uncomfortable answer.

The time is ripe.

And this was added today to this commentary: "The Bible tells us, when the AC comes, it will be along with demonically inspired deceptions. I believe much of the anti-Bush stuff floating around may be just that. Most of it that I've seen is based on SPECULATIONS AND SUBJECTIVE INTERPRETATIONS. Little is based on the type of facts I would be willing to publish.

In the physical world, I believe it's DISINFORMATION INTENDED TO COMPROMISE THE AMERICAN CHRISTIAN VOTER; In the spiritual world, it's purpose is to usher in the AC"

WHO TO VOTE FOR? by Pastor Arnold Martin

Who is responsible for anti-family and anti-church legislation? Who is responsible for creating laws to make abortion legal but praying to Jesus in the public school illegal? Of course it is the ones who make the laws, but who makes the laws? It is the people who are elected to the legislature!

But, how do they get in office? You and I as citizens vote them in which means when a person votes for an immoral person who legislates immoral laws as we have today, the voter is as guilty as the person who makes the law. A president who appoints ungodly judges is guilty before God, but also guilty is the person who put him in office! This is why it is so important for decent, moral, and religious people to know who is running for office and what they believe on moral issues.

Noah Webster said, “In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate--look to his character...It is alleged by men of loose principles, ...that religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications for political stations. But the Scriptures teach a different doctrine. They direct that rulers should be men who rule in the fear of God, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness... When a citizen gives his vote to a man of known immorality, he abuses his civic responsibility: he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor: he betrays the interest of his country.”

God ordained the home, the Church, and the government to be run according to His word, but our country has turned from God because God’s people have ceased to be “the salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” as Christ commanded. Atheism is penetrating our national life and abortion has become a means of birth control with over four millions babies murdered each year in their mothers womb and homosexuality has become an accepted life style.
We know that, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Charles Finney wrote in 1835, “The time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics, or the Lord will curse them...God cannot sustain this free and blessed country, which we love and pray for, unless the Church will take the right ground. Politics are a part of our country and Christians must do their duty to the country as a part of their duty to God...God will bless or curse this nation according to the course Christians take in politics.”

His words were true then and are true now! Our nation’s course is up to us.

Over half of U.S. citizens claim to know Jesus Christ, but because we have become poor Christians and poor citizens, we have let our country slip into the immoral state it is today. A Christian’s standard is the Word of God. We must find what God has said and obey it. Failure to do so is to become a victim of James 1:22 which says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

When people start looking to the government as the source of help, protection, and provision instead of the God who gave us our government, we become deceived. Our duty is plain. God is to be first in our life and in our country. We are to pray for our leaders and be submitted to them. Obedience to the Word of God will produce both a good Christian and a good citizen.
God’s condition for protection and provision is plain, “A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known” (Deut. 11:27-28).

It use to be that a person would have to be a high official in the church or have impeccable character to even try to run for public office. Today, because of disobedience, laziness, and inactivity on the part of God’s people, the Christian vote is not pursued as it use to be. Our country has gotten to the place where people can be elected to public office who deny the Bible is the Word of God, who deny Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and deny homosexuality and abortion are abominations to God.

Only God can restore our country to where it should be, but He will not as long as His people are not concerned nor obedient to His Word. God tells us in 2nd Chronicles 7:14 what must be done for revival and His protection and healing in our land, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Some things we must do immediately are:

1. Pray faithfully for a spiritual revival to sweep America.

2. Register to vote and encourage others to do the same.

3. Make a serious effort to become informed about the candidates and the issues.

4. Be active in helping to select and elect godly candidates to office.

5. Vote in every election for the best candidate regardless of party.

6. Practice good citizenship for the honor and glory of God.

Ezra was told what kind of judges to set over the nation in chapter 7:25, “And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.” The same is to be true today. We have ungodly judges and ungodly legislators who make and interpret law against Bible principles. The voters are responsible for that! Second Samuel 23:3 says, “...He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” Check out the candidates and vote for the most moral!

Voting for and supporting moral candidates who support moral public policies is the minimum required of citizens who want the blessing, protection, and provision of our Almighty God!