The Christ in Prophecy Journal

Christian Approach to the 2012 Election: Aligning With Scriptures

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Which political party best aligns with the Scriptures?

On Thursday, September 27, 2012, I was interviewed by host Brian Thomas of Blessings to Israel Ministries on his “God First” program. During the 45-minute interview we discussed how Christians should approach the 2012 election.

Brian Thomas

Brian Thomas: What do you think which party best aligns with the Scriptures? We know, of course, that no party anywhere in the world is going to be perfect, but between the Republican and the Democrats which do you think best aligns with biblical principles?

Nathan Jones: We have to go back to the Bible first. What does the Bible teach about God’s law? After all, God is the sovereign King of the Universe. Therefore, we need to as a nation, as a people, and individually to be following the biblical foundation God has set for us. So, we have to look at who we vote for, whether Republican or Democrat or Independent or whatever, based on the ultimate King who usurps all of our man-made laws. We start with God’s laws and look at biblical morality.

For instance, when we look at government, do we want a secular, atheistic government that worships the government itself as communist and socialist governments do. By the way, let me give you just two examples — the Soviet Union and China. When they adopted a secular, atheistic government the result was the slaughter of millions of their own people. The result is always a blood bath when a people adopts that form of government. Is that the kind of government the Lord wants?

When it comes to the way we handle our money, Capitalism and free trade are meant to be an open, honest system which has supposedly created the greatest wealth in history. It gives us jobs and money for charity for the poor and needy. Do we get rid of the Free Market System and go to something else much less effective, or do we continue to follow that system?

What about where the Bible talks about “thou shall not murder” which is the Sixth Commandment from Exodus 20:13? Murder is what we are doing when we commit abortion.

What about redefining the family through homosexuality? The Bible tells us neither to fornicate nor to engage in homosexuality. Leviticus 18:22 and 1 Timothy 1:9-10 and other verses reveal that fornication and homosexuality are sins and they’re wrong. They are what the Bible says we shouldn’t be doing.

What about the idea that we move into a society that removes Jesus from the public realm? It censors the views of Jesus. Well, how can we have justice? Proverbs 8:15 says, “By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just.” So, if we don’t have Jesus who is the maker of the laws, what does that end up putting us in? It ends up putting us into slavery to our own human government. Most importantly, the sin of idolatry is something that God hates the most. It is the very First Commandment. God hates idolatry; when we put ourselves up before God. What politician or what political party removes God from the equation and puts themselves up as government in God’s place, which is definitely idolatry?

We need to vote based on biblical moral standards and not on man’s standards. Because you asked, Brian, if I had to choose what party right now embodies, though not perfectly obviously because we are all human and we sin, I would say the Republican Party right now represent God’s moral law better than the Democratic Party does.

Brian Thomas: Yes, and I agree with you.

How can Christians support a candidate or party that believes in the opposite of what the Bible teaches?

Brian Thomas: I want to highlight a few things you just said. You spoke about same-sex marriage and you also spoke about abortion. There are a lot of Christians out there who will say they do not support those things, and yet they stand behind a political candidate or party which does support same-sex marriage and abortion. So, I ask myself, how do they really reconcile that? How do they come to the point where that contradiction is acceptable to them? Because, I honestly have to say that I cannot sleep at night if I know I am supporting a party or a candidate who I know is going to push abortion, which is the murder of the innocent unborn, and who is also going to push homosexuality. As you stated, Nathan, the Bible is very clear on God’s view of those two topics. I also have what I call sort of my litmus test of three things I look for in a candidate, and it’s same-sex marriage, abortion and their stance when it comes to supporting the nation of Israel.

I see Christians who go along with those evil practices as far as supporting a candidate or a party, but then they turn around on the other side and say they don’t personally support those practices. What are your thoughts on that? How do they come to such a contradictory conclusion?

Nathan Jones: I would say, Brian, it is because we’ve gotten very, very narrow focused, as well as placed our focus on ourselves. We as individuals have become one issue voters. If there is one particular issue that means a lot to us then it doesn’t matter what the party represents concerning anything else, as long as our one issue is being addressed. So, let’s say that you are particularly concerned about abortion. You’re either for Pro-Choice or Pro-Life, and you vote only because you want to have an abortion or you don’t want other people to have an abortion. Then you totally forget everything else that that party represents.

Another example, let’s look at how both parties represent helping the poor. I think this issue is probably the biggest divider when choosing a party. There is this general idea that the Democrats are so good with the poor and they are always helping the poor and needy, whereas the Republicans just don’t care. And yet, when you look at the leaders of the Democratic Party’s released financial statements, we discover remarkably that they don’t even give at all to charity. Then you look at the Republican candidates’ financial statements and discover that they give so much to charity.

Look at how the parties differ in approaching charity. The Republican view is that you have to produce wealth. If you create lots of jobs and people are working, that creates wealth which pulls people out of poverty and puts money in their pockets so that they can give to charity. That approach is very different from the Democrats who believe that they should take money from people and then through the government redistribute other people’s money. Such an approach makes it so that they never give the poor a chance to pull out and get a job for themselves because they become dependent on the government to provide.

So, to answer your question, Brian, I would say the reason we’ve betrayed our Christian beliefs when supporting a party or candidate is because we have become one issue voters instead of looking at the overall big picture.

Brian Thomas: Yes, and I’ve see how you answered confirmed in polls recently in which pollsters would ask, “What is the most important issue to you when it comes to supporting a candidate?” They would even ask if religion is important, and well under 50% would say religion is important. We will talk a little bit later about the religious beliefs of our two Presidential candidates. We’re not going to elect a pastor, so religious views aren’t so much about that, but we do have to acknowledge that often a person’s view or their stance concerning religion is going to influence their policy.

With a lot of people, their main concern is economics. They want to know what’s good for the economy. How is the candidate going to better my lifestyle as far as my bank account goes? I believe when it comes to people’s money, they can look the other way when it comes to other important issues like abortion, homosexuality and same-sex marriage, and the nation of Israel. That is really troubling to me.

As you said, we should be not just one issue voters, but we must look at the entire picture. I think if we don’t then we are going to have to answer to God some day for putting money before morality.

Nathan Jones: You’re absolutely right. I agree 100%. We cannot be so center-focused, so selfish, so me-generation that we install a government and a system that’s totally antithetical to our Christian beliefs just because of one or two issues that directly concern us.

In the next part of Brian and my interview concerning the Christian’s approach to the 2012 election, we’ll see if a Christian in good conscience can vote for a Mormon.

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Dr. Nathan E. Jones

As the Internet Evangelist at Lamb & Lion Ministries, Nathan reaches out to the over 4.5 billion people accessible over the Internet with the Good News of Jesus Christ. He also co-hosts the ministry's television program Christ in Prophecy and podcast The Truth Will Set You Free.

21 CommentsLeave a Comment

  • Im a christian in goo conscience voting for a mormom!! I feel that preaching the gospel and taking care of the needy are the responsibilities of the church.

  • The choice is clear. The Mormon who will stand by American principles and Judeo-Christian values or the (so-called) Christian who will stand by United Nation principles and secular values.

    Romney-Ryan 2012

  • I believe scripture is clear how we are to deal with Mormons regardless of their political affiliation. In good conscious and according to scripture I can not and will not vote or support a Mormon. Nor will I support Obama!

    We need to vote based on biblical moral standards and not on man's standards.

    Servant of the Lord, Frank

  • Frank,

    We are voting for a secular political office not a pastor.

    While it is important that American principles and Judeo-Christian values are upheld it is not required that the president be a Christian. Desirable yes, but not required.

    Susie,

    Great point (preaching the gospel and taking care of the needy are the responsibilities of the church.)

  • Also, Frank, please address this:

    Jesus will regin for 1,000 years on Earth and yet a lot of people at the end of that time period will join satan against Jesus.

    So if the rebellious heart of man will reject a perfect world ruled by Jesus how can we expect any mere man to uphold Biblical standards as opposed to human standards?

    Per your thinking we shouldn't have any type of government or leaders at all.

    Our world is what it is. Men are what they are. Thefefore we are stuck with our systme of government, however flawed, but we must have it and we must work with this system. The alternative is anarchy.

  • Billy, good point…
    And also we should all keep in mind that God allows leaders to gain position in order to carry out His purposes. Not all leaders are Christian the God puts in power. Having said that .. i feel strongly that if a person isnt going to vote then they are not doing what we should do as christians.
    its a shame!

  • Personally, I did not vote for President Obama the first time because of his stance on the issues of abortion and the other issues as well. Now with a mormon running for office I'm not sure. Personally because I did not vote for a man who was the same color as I am I did get the puzzling looks and some questions asked of me.
    I have been thinking of voting for Romney.

    I was there were somepeople taken aback at this

  • Billy you have made sense to me about the reason to vote………….

    "Our world is what it is. Men are what they are. Thefefore we are stuck with our systme of government, however flawed, but we must have it and we must work with this system. THE ALTERNATIVE IS ANARCHY".

    Jesus said render to caezar what is his, and to God what is His. Rodneys view is escapist and anarchy would render peace impossible and stall the preaching of the Gospel. Thats why we have to vote hear on earth, even tho our citizenship is in heaven. No one has to be happy with either choice, its what is less of two evils for the sake of the Gospel is what I think. Also O has had a chance to prove himself and failed, Mitt could do no worse for sure

  • Anon,

    Glad I planted a seed for you to grow to the Biblical example which I did not do – good for you!

    You took my point and validated it as I did not via your "Jesus said render to caezar what is his, and to God what is His."

    Excellent!!!

    Thank you and God bless.

  • Jan,

    You said "I did not vote for a man who was the same color as I am I did get the puzzling looks and some questions asked of me."

    As a white person, I have difficulty understanding this. If I voted based only on the color of skin I would consider myself a racist.

    This is what puzzles me. Black people in the country suffered from racism more than any people in the United States. No other people as a whole were slaves of another race. Blacks understand racism more than anyone.

    So why is voting for someone based on their skin color not considered racist to blacks, or is it and it is considered acceptable because of the past horrors of slavery and segregation?

    And why would a black person make another black person feel uncomfortable based on not voting for a black over a white? Don't they see how wrong that is?

    Again, I understand if a white only votes for a white. That person is a dirty racist. But how can the equivelent exist in a race that should know better?

  • Billy, You asked! We can not draw a circle around this election and leave God out of it. In fact everything we do is done from a bible and scriptural view based on who we are as believers.

    I believe there is a great deception concerning this election or 2012.

    This deception that I speak of has cost me friends, ostracized by fellow professing christian brothers and sisters and persecution of the likes I have ever encountered in all the years of my life as a believer and minister of the gospel of Christ Jesus. It will probably cost me even more after some of them read this.

    What I am referring to is the stance that I take from a biblical perspective on this presidential election of 2012.

    I contend that to support Romney in this presidential election is a act of disobedience to God and His word.

    Before I go any further, I would like to make it perfectly clear that I do not and have never supported Obama and have exposed him as another evil and as the worst president that we have ever had. He is ungodly also!

    Now, I would like to share what I believe every Christian has overlooked or just ignore that supports Romney.

    1. He is a Mormon
    2. He is a false teacher 2 peter 2:1-3
    3. He is a false prophet and a wolf in sheep's clothing.Matthew 7:15
    4. He is ungodly like the scripture in Psalm 1 warns us not to abide in their council. 2 John 1:7
    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.
    5. He has no Godly wisdom because his wisdom comes from a wordily perspective.
    6. He is an antichrist according to 1 John 2:22
    Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son.

    What he believes! That are all lies straight from the pit of hell!
    1.About God! That He was once a man!
    2. About Jesus! That he was created and the spiritual brother of Satan.
    3. About Salvation! He believes in universal salvation
    4. About man! He believes man can work and eventually become a god.

    Anyone can find this information about Mormons. It is public record and it should have been taught from the pulpit concerning the cults of today. The late Walter Martin, John Ankerberg and many other apologetic ministers who defend the faith have warned continuously of the dangers of the Mormon doctrine and organization.

    It is also should be obvious to all believers who adhere and read the scriptures that we can not support a Mormon in anything that they do, especially as the leader of our great country, the USA.

    Here is what scripture dictates concerning any Mormon, no matter if it is someone running for a local community office or the president of the united states.

    1 .Ephesians 5:11 "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."

    2. 1 Timothy 1:3-4 "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work – which is by faith."

    to be continued

    Servant of the Lord, Frank

  • Nathan, Not true, I am not unwittingly casting a vote for anyone but purposely choosing to follow the commands and precepts of scripture! There is nothing in scripture that dictates to us that we have to vote we just have to be obedient to God and His word. God is in control and He is the final authority. Not voting for wither of these to evils is being obedient to Psalm 1. Do you disagree with the scriptures that I posted about how to deal with the likes of Mormons and Mormonism?

    In summary this is how believers are to respond to Mormons and false teachers.

    1. Expose them! Ephesians 5:11
    2. Not to teach false doctrine or devote any time to them! 1 Timothy 1:3-4
    3. Avoid Godless chatter! 2 Timothy 2:16-18
    4. Have nothing to do with them! 2 Timothy 3:1-5
    5. Preach the word! 2 Timothy 4:2
    6. Rebuke Them! Titus 1:9-13
    7. Teach sound doctrine! Titus 2:1
    8. Test the spirit whether they are of good or evil! 1 John 4:1-3
    9. Do not welcome them or wish them Godspeed! 2 John 1:10-11
    10. Let them be accursed! Galatians 1:6-9

    In conclusion…I have heard people say that for one not to vote for Romney is a vote for Obama or it comes down to the lesser of the evils.

    There is nothing in the word of God that tells us it is okay to choose one evil over another. In fact the opposite is true. We are to abhor what is evil and cling to what is good and you can't do that in this 2012 presidential election. They are both evil and ungodly and devoid of wisdom.

    Servant of the Lord, Frank

  • Frank said "I contend that to support Romney in this presidential election is a act of disobedience to God and His word."

    Frank,

    Since I am saved by the blood of Jesus I am free to vote for Mr. Romeny without fear of being sent to hell for it.

    Thank you for your reply, though I disagree, I appreciate it.

  • Frank,
    The Constitutional Republic of America is a unique critter in all of history, kinda like the best of the Roman Republic and "Free to live before God" Israel before they rejected God and demanded to have a king over them like the pagan nations around them.

    In America, "We the People" are Caesar!
    We are the 1st level of Sovereignty, and under the mandates of Romans 13 it is our Public Serpents who are in rebellion to our God-given authority, attempting to usurp our position as rightful masters of our own lives and, in tossing the Constitutional contract [that creates their very positions] aside, they pretend to be wise, all-knowing masters over us.

    [A Constitution is a contract, but unlike a regular contract between two real, existing parties, a Constitution "creates" a heretofore non-existent 'party' (gubmint reps) for the real, existing party to contract with. Terms & Conditions are binding ]

    Paul faithfully exercised his dual Citizenship; 1st as an Ambassador of God's Kingdom, and 2ndly, his Roman Citizenship when it was needful.

    As faithful Citizens of our God-given, but fast-fading "free" country, it is our duty before God to obey the **just laws** of this "representative" form of Government that we have, as noted by law:

    "It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error."
    American Communications Assn. v. Douds, 339 U.S. 382 – U.S. Supreme Court

    A non-vote is a vote for the worst of 2 evils!

    Like Clint Eastwood said: It's time to fire them!

    Hope this helps.

  • …meant to say: [Terms & Conditions of the Creator-Citizens are binding upon the created gubmint entity, agents, & so-called 'representatives' thereof…]

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