All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
RAMBLING: VOTING
In my "old age" I am having voting issues. See below
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Did you notice Paul states (under divine inspiration) we are to obey the gov't there is nothing about voting . Now I realize that there are numerous reasons why we should vote...lets see, "Its our civic duty," or "Its our Christian duty." Oh yes here is one I hear almost every election,"If you don't vote you don't have a right to complain." So...does this mean voting gives a license to complain about the Gov't if I don't like what they do? I hear so many folks who are christians complain, grumble, denounce, damn the gov't for some of their policies or lack of. Many christians say its ok to be a politician and a religious person. I heard one of our former Prime Ministers (and some cabinet members) state that they keep their politics and faith ( I assume that means their christian faith) separate. Ok I am a bit confused. Should ones politics be kept separate from God's will? There are Christians who say its a sin to have an abortion but its ok to be gay, I mean after all God is love and will overlook our faults. I mean if God overlooks one "fault" why not others, eh? Ok let me infuriate you even further why is it acceptable to complain, grumble, say nasty things, judge and condemn the Gov't (this of course means politicians) but only give lip service when we pray for them. You see I have heard people pray for the gov't and later they bitterly and angrily denounce them. How many Christians have had their "spiritual bond" severed from eacher other because they like the political party that you don't like? Last night at work I got into a political argument with one of our volunteers. We do not like the same party. You know what I found out? I had no idea what I was talking about. By the way we shook hands and buried our political hatchet. Seriously how many of us fully understand 21st century politics (I didn't understand the 20th century politics either). Folks, my deep concern is this if I accept one party's politics am I still in agreement with God's Word? His will? If you notice carefully each party ( There are at least five parties in Canada) has at least two things (actually more) that go against God's will, His Word. How can I vote (i.e. support) a political party that wants to break up this great and beautiful country? How can I support a party that wants to raise taxes ( I mean billions of $$$$) to support their views and ideas that conflict with my Christian views? I can I support a party that is more interested in financially benefitting big corporations, banks, the wealthy? Can I honestly support a party that has made a mess of our Social System? Can I vote for a party whose platform is a bit on the shady side? I am certain there are well meaning folks in all parties - even in the party that wants to destroy our society as we know it. You know what? I believe if we prayed for our gov't as much as we complained, grumbled, condemned, etc. etc. it we would not have many of the problems we have today ( hmmm...is this true for us as members of the Lord's church?). We should obey the gov't (as long as it does not conflict with God's will)...I mean Peter did say we ought to obey God rather than men - or does that not apply here? We need to pay or taxes (without grumbling - OUCH!!!) as we need those taxes to pay for medical services, roads, sewers, water mains, education, etc. (oh-get this "churches" are exempt from taxes - hmmm for how long eh?). Oh-get this (1) the gov't is God's servant (2) it carries out God's will by passing laws that help us be good and honest citizens (you know no murdering, no stealing, no speeding) (3) punishes the wrong doers - or supposed to. (4) helps us in need (hmmm...welfare and other social assistance). I grew up in a culture where I was taught to love and honour God, to pray for the gov't. to pay my taxes - even though we never voted. We lived in peace and harmony.
I have a problem - or not! On May 2, 2011 is election day here in Canada. To be very honest with you folks I am not impressed with any of the political parties running to capture the governing position in Ottawa (for those who don't know it Ottawa is our Nations Capital) for a varety of reasons. To vote or not to vote that is the question. Will my vote make a difference? To whom (or is it "to who?") ? Should I just follow my conscience....? But then folks (even some Christians) will ridicule me, blame for being un-Canadian, for being wishy - washy, for ignoring my civic duty, etc. Some will say , "its God's will" or "its your Christian duty as well as your civic duty." Can we truly keep our faith and politics together? Can we truly keep our faith separate from politics or should I simply follow God's will? decisions, decisions, decisions. I will vote...I will not vote...I will vote...I will........????
Edward Klassen
1 Every person should obey the government in power. No government would exist if it hadn't been established by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God. 2 Therefore, whoever resists the government opposes what God has established. Those who resist will bring punishment on themselves. 3 People who do what is right don't have to be afraid of the government. But people who do what is wrong should be afraid of it. Would you like to live without being afraid of the government? Do what is right, and it will praise you. 4 The government is God's servant working for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid. The government has the right to carry out the death sentence. It is God's servant, an avenger to execute God's anger on anyone who does what is wrong. 5 Therefore, it is necessary for you to obey, not only because you're afraid of God's anger but also because of your own conscience. 6 That is also why you pay your taxes. People in the government are God's servants while they do the work he has given them. 7 Pay everyone whatever you owe them. If you owe taxes, pay them. If you owe tolls, pay them. If you owe someone respect, respect that person. If you owe someone honor, honor that person. Romans 13:1-7 (GW)
Did you notice Paul states (under divine inspiration) we are to obey the gov't there is nothing about voting . Now I realize that there are numerous reasons why we should vote...lets see, "Its our civic duty," or "Its our Christian duty." Oh yes here is one I hear almost every election,"If you don't vote you don't have a right to complain." So...does this mean voting gives a license to complain about the Gov't if I don't like what they do? I hear so many folks who are christians complain, grumble, denounce, damn the gov't for some of their policies or lack of. Many christians say its ok to be a politician and a religious person. I heard one of our former Prime Ministers (and some cabinet members) state that they keep their politics and faith ( I assume that means their christian faith) separate. Ok I am a bit confused. Should ones politics be kept separate from God's will? There are Christians who say its a sin to have an abortion but its ok to be gay, I mean after all God is love and will overlook our faults. I mean if God overlooks one "fault" why not others, eh? Ok let me infuriate you even further why is it acceptable to complain, grumble, say nasty things, judge and condemn the Gov't (this of course means politicians) but only give lip service when we pray for them. You see I have heard people pray for the gov't and later they bitterly and angrily denounce them. How many Christians have had their "spiritual bond" severed from eacher other because they like the political party that you don't like? Last night at work I got into a political argument with one of our volunteers. We do not like the same party. You know what I found out? I had no idea what I was talking about. By the way we shook hands and buried our political hatchet. Seriously how many of us fully understand 21st century politics (I didn't understand the 20th century politics either). Folks, my deep concern is this if I accept one party's politics am I still in agreement with God's Word? His will? If you notice carefully each party ( There are at least five parties in Canada) has at least two things (actually more) that go against God's will, His Word. How can I vote (i.e. support) a political party that wants to break up this great and beautiful country? How can I support a party that wants to raise taxes ( I mean billions of $$$$) to support their views and ideas that conflict with my Christian views? I can I support a party that is more interested in financially benefitting big corporations, banks, the wealthy? Can I honestly support a party that has made a mess of our Social System? Can I vote for a party whose platform is a bit on the shady side? I am certain there are well meaning folks in all parties - even in the party that wants to destroy our society as we know it. You know what? I believe if we prayed for our gov't as much as we complained, grumbled, condemned, etc. etc. it we would not have many of the problems we have today ( hmmm...is this true for us as members of the Lord's church?). We should obey the gov't (as long as it does not conflict with God's will)...I mean Peter did say we ought to obey God rather than men - or does that not apply here? We need to pay or taxes (without grumbling - OUCH!!!) as we need those taxes to pay for medical services, roads, sewers, water mains, education, etc. (oh-get this "churches" are exempt from taxes - hmmm for how long eh?). Oh-get this (1) the gov't is God's servant (2) it carries out God's will by passing laws that help us be good and honest citizens (you know no murdering, no stealing, no speeding) (3) punishes the wrong doers - or supposed to. (4) helps us in need (hmmm...welfare and other social assistance). I grew up in a culture where I was taught to love and honour God, to pray for the gov't. to pay my taxes - even though we never voted. We lived in peace and harmony.
I have a problem - or not! On May 2, 2011 is election day here in Canada. To be very honest with you folks I am not impressed with any of the political parties running to capture the governing position in Ottawa (for those who don't know it Ottawa is our Nations Capital) for a varety of reasons. To vote or not to vote that is the question. Will my vote make a difference? To whom (or is it "to who?") ? Should I just follow my conscience....? But then folks (even some Christians) will ridicule me, blame for being un-Canadian, for being wishy - washy, for ignoring my civic duty, etc. Some will say , "its God's will" or "its your Christian duty as well as your civic duty." Can we truly keep our faith and politics together? Can we truly keep our faith separate from politics or should I simply follow God's will? decisions, decisions, decisions. I will vote...I will not vote...I will vote...I will........????
Edward Klassen
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