Your Worldview and Your Vote Part One - Christian, Why Vote?

(This is the first part of a message entitled "Your Worldview and Your Vote," from Romans 13:1-4; 12:1-2, that I preached at Pines Baptist Church in Pembroke Pines Florida on November 4, 2012. See "Your Worldview and Your Vote - Part Two - Worldview & the Ballot Box" Here and "Your Worldview and Your Vote Part Three - Forming a Biblical Worldview" Here)

In any general election, of the 60 million Christians in America, only 30 million of them vote. To put that in perspective, in the state of Missouri in the 2008 presidential election, the voting margin between the two main presidential candidates was 3,903 votes, and there were 102,522 unregistered Christian voters  in Missouri that did not vote in that election.

In the state of North Carolina in 2008, the voting margin between the two main presidential candidates was 14,177 votes, and there were 281,212 unregistered Christians in North Carolina that did not vote.

You might remember the 2000 presidential election where Governor George W. Bush narrowly defeated Senator Al Gore. That election was decided when Governor Bush won Florida by less than 600 votes, 537 votes out of six million votes cast in Florida.

You have probably already realized that I am assuming if you are a citizen eligible to vote, you should vote. So first of all this morning, let me tell you why we should vote.

Jesus was asked a question by his enemies, as recorded in Luke chapter 20. (vs. 20-26) “Is it right for us” they asked, “to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Jesus seeing their duplicity took a coin and asked them whose portrait and inscription were on the coin. They said “Caesar's” to which Jesus replied,  (Luke 20:25) “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.”

With those words, Jesus acknowledged we have a responsibility to government just as we have a responsibility to God.

In the opening verses of Romans 13 the Apostle Paul, writes to the Roman church regarding their responsibility to those in authority over them.

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1 ESV)

According to Paul, the institution of government was God's idea. He instituted it and its authority comes from Him. Therefore the church in Rome was to be subject to the governing authorities.

In America, unlike the days of Jesus or Paul, we don't have a Caesar. So how does Jesus' answer apply to us? What do Paul's instructions say to us, if anything, about the Christian's civic responsibility particularly the issue of voting?

As citizens of the United States, we participate in a form of government known as a Republic. You know “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands....”

Unlike other forms of governance, in a Republic, those who govern do so with the consent of those they govern. In other words, those who govern are accountable to those who elect them to their positions of authority.

Therefore, in a Republic the citizen not only has the right, but the obligation, to participate in the political process in order for the system to work. This form of government is defined in the founding documents of our nation, the United States Constitution.

In 1778 the Constitution of the United States was ratified. This document gave the citizens of the U.S. the right to vote. Subsequently several amendments extended voting rights to even more citizens as gender, racial and economic barriers to voting were eliminated by amendments to the Constitution.

The Constitution makes provision for the election of the members to the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the president. Similar documents provide for our participation in elections at every level of government state, county, municipalities, and so forth.

May I suggest to you, therefore, that the U.S. Constitution is our “Caesar.” It is our “Caesar” because, as the governing document of our nation, it defines our responsibilities as citizens of the republic.

And the centerpiece of our governing process is the right and responsibility of  each citizens to vote. In our Republic, the vote of the citizen is THE most critical and indispensable part of the political process. And Jesus said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's" and Paul said Christians were to be "subject to the governing authorities."

President Calvin Coolidge said,

"If the people fail to vote, a government will be developed which is not their  government…. The whole system of American Government rests on the ballot box. Unless citizens perform their duties there, such a system of government

is doomed to failure.”

The late Chuck Colson said, "Our first civic duty is to vote. If you don't vote, you are abandoning the biblical obligation to be a responsible citizen."

Just a few weeks ago Pastor Rusty Lee Thomas of Elijah Ministries, wrote,

"Some have been convinced to simply stay at home and leave the ballot blank. Not an option for the true Christian your vote is the currency of your virtue."  (Elijah Ministries email 10-17-12 "Election 2012: A Different View")

I think he's right, if you are a citizen, you should vote.

Democratic Party and Abortion (click on image to enlarge)

"Abortion is...not an act of selfishness"?

Last week while participating in the 40 Days For Life Fort Lauderdale prayer vigil, I watched as abortionist Dr. Theodor Lehrer measured the base of the large blue and white ALL WOMENS CENTER (954) 772 HELP sign with a tape measure. I figured he was planning something - now I know what he had in mind.

Arriving at the center today (day 26) 

I saw the new bright red, white lettered sign that had been erected since last week -

VOTE WOMENS LIVES, HEALTH AND JUSTICE.

"In a perfect world, every pregnancy should be an invited guest in the woman’s body and a wanted potential addition to her family. Unfortunately, our world - and practically everything we can think of - is far from perfect...

The ultimate decision to get an abortion is a personal matter and not an act of selfishness. It can be an act of caring about yourself and about others."

You will find these words on the All Womens Center's (AWC) website under the "counseling" section.

There is a mixed message here. I agree that our world is not "perfect."

For years now, I have been pointing out that over 50% of women who have abortions feel they have no choice. Therefore, those of us who oppose abortion should not trivialize the circumstances many women are facing in an unplanned pregnancy. Instead it should lead to a compassionate and practical response by the Church.

Frederica Mathewes-Green identifies some of the reasons (difficult circumstances) why women have abortions:

forced by their mother
father opposed (keeping the child)
persuaded by husband or boyfriend 
no other option given
loss of family support
would have been kicked out
persuaded by the clinic
(Real Choices)

This is a complex issue for many women. AWC is right. It's not a "perfect" world. But to then conclude that abortion is "not an act of selfishness" but "can be an act of caring about yourself and about others," is an oxymoron.

EVERY abortion unjustly takes the life of another human being. AWC comes close to admitting that: "...every pregnancy should be an invited guest in the woman’s body and a wanted potential addition to her family." (emphasis mine) The words "invited" and "wanted" expose the deception upon which the pro-abortion argument is based. Since Roe v. Wade, "choice" has given a mother license to kill her unborn child.

You cannot extend to a woman the right (choice) to kill her unborn child, as the Court has done, without at the same time, denying her child the right to live. As Randy Alcorn has written,

"To be prochoice about someone's right to kill is to be anti choice about someone else's right to life....The prochoice position always overlooks the victim's right to choose...And the babies don't choose abortion."  (Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments)

Where is the "VOTE...JUSTICE" for the unborn in abortion?

The glaring inconsistency of the new bright red sign, once again confirms the deception inherent in abortion. Jesus exposed the devil's character and strategy when he said,

"He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."  (John 8:44 NIV)

The fire department does not fight fires from the fire station. Doctors don't perform life saving surgery from their homes. Police don't prevent crime sitting around police headquarters.

Abortion is a gospel issue. 40 Days for Life, is an opportunity for the Church to proclaim life saving truth and grace as it engages the spiritual forces behind abortion where the child killing takes place, for, "...where sin increased, grace abounded all the more."

James' challenge finds no better application than here.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27 NIV)

There are no greater orphans than the unborn abandoned by their mother and father at an abortion clinic and for the reasons noted above, many mothers having abortions are functionally widows. 

Earlier in that same chapter James wrote,

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22 NIV)

You can find further information or register to join the prayer vigil, by going to

www.40daysforlife.com/fortlauderdale.

Why Fast to End Abortion

(This is a slightly edited version of a message I gave at the Mid-Point Rally of 40 Days For Life Fort Lauderdale, on October 18, 2012, Day 23 of the prayer and fasting campaign.)

Last Friday, well into the second hour of my vigil at the All Womens Center, I watched a man, perhaps in his mid thirties pull into the parking lot and enter the center alone. About twenty minutes or so later, he and a women left the center, got into their late model automobile and drove off. From everything I had observed over that last hour or so, they had just made an irreversible decision and taken the life of their child.

I was overwhelmed with a vicarious sense of their loss. It was emotionally painful with tears of sorrow, even momentary sobs.

You see, at least two things had contributed to that visceral response. First of all, I realized this couple had just denied themselves the privilege of ever looking into the eyes of their child. They would never know the unique and distinct personality of a child God had meant for them.

My mind was filled with the imagery of looking into the eyes and the joy I have of knowing my three and a half year old grandson Adrian, who himself was the result of an unplanned pregnancy. Born out of wedlock, but by the grace of God given a chance to live by his mother. [Most aborted children are conceived out of wedlock.]

He and his mother have lived with us for over three years now. Just the day before, it had been "Papa time" when I cared for Adrian as his mother went to work late that afternoon. We had spent several precious hours together down at the beach and the jetty.

Secondly, on that Friday, every client that went in or exited during the two hours I stood alone in front of the center, were African American. For five years I have been working in the African American church community seeking to sound the alarm of the genocidal effect of abortion in America's Black community.

At Friday's vigil, I realized that I was witnessing Black Genocide, and it was not easy to watch.

The founder of World Vision, the late Dr. Bob Pierce once said,

"Break my heart with the things that break the heart of God." That was his heart cry.

In April of 2009, Christine J Gardner, writing in "Christianity Today" commented on those words.

"...that is precisely the experience of the biblical prophets. They saw the abuse of the people God loved with his eye and loved them with his heart--and thus they wept with the tears and decried injustice with his voice." She continues, "If... the primary purpose of fasting is to draw near to God's heart, a true fast will result in our seeing as God sees and weeping over injustice as God weeps over it." (CT 04-05-99 "Hungry For God," pg. 31)

If that were the only result we experienced from prayer and fasting in the 40 Day For Life Fort Lauderdale campaign, may I suggest to you, that alone would be worth it.

What am I saying? This fast gives God the opportunity to do something not just regarding the evil of abortion, but an opportunity for God to do something in our hearts as those he has called to the work of ending abortion and to a ministry of intercession on behalf of the unborn.

Andrew Murray, wrote,

"Fasting helps to express, to deepen, and to confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, to sacrifice ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God." (With Christ in the School of Prayer)

Last week after returning from one of the vigils I told my wife, "I feel God is, 'schooling me,' to use a word from my children's generation, "as I participate in the prayer vigil." And I welcome it, as He is teaching me how to respond to America's abortion crisis as I gain a better understanding of how He views all of this.

And that is exactly what the Church is wrestling with, or should be wrestling with today. What does God think of all of this? I believe that is one thing God wants to do for us through this season of prayer and fasting at the All Womens Center or as you fast and pray from some other location.

Yes, we are there to access His power and intervention to end abortion. Yes, we are there to intercede on behalf of the post-abortive who walk out of that clinic never to be the same again. Yes we are there to intercede for the salvation of clinic staff and employees.

But I believe of equal importance, is that God wants to "school us." In other words, He wants to birth His heart for the unborn in our hearts. He wants to break our hearts with the injustice that breaks His heart. And He wants to do this by drawing us to Himself.

Friends, that is a key component of fasting and prayer. It is not just a by-product of fasting but the very the fabric of fasting and prayer.

You see, the intimacy and fellowship with the Lord experienced in prayer and fasting becomes the very conduit through which He touches and changes our lives, freeing us to respond in compassion and love to those both deceived and blinded to what they are doing by their participation in abortion.

Remember that, to God, knowing Him, is far more important than what we do for Him.

God is continually seeking to be given a larger place in our lives. He wants a larger place in our affections. He jealously wants to deepen the intimacy of our personal relationship with Him, knowing, that out of that love relationship, we become more useful to him.

In Matthew 9, Jesus was asked why his disciples did not fast as did the disciples of John and the Pharisees. Perhaps you remember Jesus' response, in verse 15,

"How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast."

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed the issue of fasting as recorded in Matthew 6:16-18,

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Two observations from these passages - first, Jesus assumed his followers would fast. He says "when you fast" not "if" you fast. It wasn't a matter of "if." It was a matter of "when." He said, the day would come when his disciples would fast in his absence.

Second, motive is key. He exposed the hypocrisy of those who fasted to be seen. We fast to the Lord, not to gain the recognition of man. On the contrary, we fast to humble ourselves before the Lord.

David said, "I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting" (Psalm 35:13)

And Peter's spiritual principle is so appropriate here, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."  (1 Peter 5:5) Through fasting, we position ourselves for an out-pouring of God's grace.

And as we noted last time [in my message, "Strategic Prayer" at the Kick Off Rally] from King Jehoshaphat's experience,  fasting is a means of communicating our desperate need of God or our desperate need of his help or intervention.

I don't know how many of you are old enough to remember the era when telegrams were used. I remember as a boy growing up in Japan in the 1950's and 60's that my parents used them. Remember, back then there was no internet , no skyping,  no emails or texting. It took several weeks to get an airmail letter from the States.

There were telephones of course, but we rarely received phone calls from the States or made calls to the States because it was cost prohibitive, around $25 a minute. So telegrams were used to send important messages quickly. 

When the man came to the door and delivered the telegram it wasn't set aside to be read at a later time. No, if a telegram came you knew it was important. You opened it and read it immediately. I remember seeing some of those telegrams. There was no concern for proper syntax, just the minimum number of words to get the message across. You paid for telegrams by the number of words you used.

Through the 40 Days for Life campaign, we are sending God a telegram. We need His help. Each of us personally need his help to do what he has called us to do. We urgently need his intervention, on behalf of the unborn threatened by abortion; on behalf of those employed at the All Womens Center; on behalf of the clients of the center; on behalf of the post-abortive and on behalf of our nation.

Again, Arthur Wallis, in God's Chosen Fast he writes,

"Fasting is calculated to bring a note of urgency and importunity into our praying, and to give force to our pleading in the court of heaven."

This is God's provision for us to call upon Him not only for His help but to seek to know His heart and passion for the unborn as we move into deeper fellowship with Him.