Saturday, February 27, 2016

Evangelical, Before You Vote Consider This

We are about to elect a new president of our United States of America.  Depending upon your political bent, you are either excited that the current president is finally leaving office or you are sad that he cannot be re-elected again.  But for both sides of the political landscape, we are all somewhat concerned about the outcome of the upcoming election.  On both sides of the debate, we are all asking the same question: “What if _____________ actually gets elected?”

As a pastor, I have to be very careful about political endorsements because getting to active in the political process from the pulpit can jeopardize the legal standing of the church.  Honestly, I don’t know how some pastors get away with saying some of the things they on Sunday mornings.  Nevertheless, what I can do is provide some biblical insight into how a believer ought to go about making their decisions.

I think it would be fair to say that everyone is fed up with the political process right now.  It seems as if nothing ever changes and it certainly seems as if nothing you or I could do makes any difference whatsoever.  The old adage that says one man (person) can make a difference doesn’t seem to hold much truth.  However, what we must consider regarding that proverb is that the extent to which that one man can make a difference may very well depend upon his influence and authority.

In that regard, I would ask you to consider the difference that one godly man in a place of authority can make.  To make my point, I would ask you to consider King Hezekiah.

In the 8th Century BC, the spiritual condition of God’s people had reached an all time low.  For generation after generation, the Northern Kingdom of Samaria had been ruled by one evil king after another.  Despite repeated warnings, Samaria had refused to repent of its idolatry and evil ways.  The result was rampant injustice, oppression of the poor, and considerable violence and bloodshed.  In the Southern Kingdom of Judah, things were a little better.  Neither the people nor the kings were perfect – and there were times of rebellion - but in generally they followed God faithfully – that is, until King Ahaz.   His story is in 2 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28

King Ahaz was the grandson of one of Judah’s great kings, Uzziah.  But for some reason, Ahaz did not follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Uzziah, and father, Jotham.  Instead, he followed in the footsteps of the kings of Samaria.   Ahaz brought Judah to a new spiritual low.   He made idols to the Baals, offered sacrifices to them, and even burned his on sons as an offering to these false gods.

The evil of King Ahaz – in conjunction with the ongoing evil of the kings of Samaria – spurned a wave of prophets not only declaring judgment, but also crying out for repentance.  It is during the reign of King Ahaz that the prophets Isaiah, Micah, Amos, and Hosea are all proclaiming the word of God.  These prophets all declare imminent judgment against Samaria, but also prophecy that Judah will experience judgment as well.  They all plead for Judah and Samaria to repent so that God would relent of that judgment.  During this time, God begins to bring about his judgment against Samaria as Assyria begins conquering Samaria one tribe at a time. Eventually, in 722BC, God finally brings final judgment on Samaria as Assyria utterly destroys Samaria and carries its people off into captivity.

As all this is happening, Ahaz’s son, Hezekiah, is growing up and seeing all that is taking place.  When his father dies, Hezekiah becomes king.  Listen to these words that God speaks of King Hezekiah from 2 Kings 18.

“And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done”

“He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him.”  

“For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses.”

One man in a place of authority during a time when everyone was turning away from God took a stand and said “I will follow God.”  Immediately Hezekiah set about to undo all the wrong that had been done by his father.

  •  He torn down the high places (the places of improper worship)
  •  He broke down the pillars and the Asherah
  • He broke the bronze serpent of Moses because the people had been worshipping it instead of God
  • He cleansed the temple of all its “filth”
  • He restored the temple sacrifices
  • He assigned ministers to the task of musical praise and worship
  • He reached out to the remnant of those still in Samaria calling them to come to God and to Jerusalem to worship
  • He re-established the Passover relationship
  •  He reorganized the priesthood


Essentially, one man in leadership who was faithful to God and not afraid to live out his faith in the public square sparked a nationwide spiritual revival. The result on the nation of Judah was unmistakable.  Consider these words from 2 Kings 18

“And the Lord was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him.  He struck down the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.”

All of this happened because of his faithfulness.  But that faithfulness did not come without consequences.  Under his father’s rule, Judah had been a vassal nation of Assyria, but no longer under Hezekiah.   Assyria, which had utterly conquered Samaria, still had its eyes set on the remainder of the Fertile Crescent, Judah, and would not accept Hezekiah’s rebellion.  Assyria was much greater and mightier than Judah and had conquered EVERY nation it went up against.  It besieged Judah and Jerusalem and for all conventional wisdom should have utterly destroyed it.  However, because of Hezekiah’s faith and his willingness to believe the prophetic word of Isaiah that God would protect Jerusalem, God supernaturally delivered Judah from the hand of Assyria.


So what does this story have to do with our upcoming elections?  It has EVERYTHING to do with them because just as one righteous leader made a difference in the nation of Judah, so one righteous leader can make a difference in the United States.

Despite what you may think of our current president and his social and political agenda, it is a fact that he has no real fear of God.  He neither honors him as God nor gives him thanks (Romans 1:21) and the result has been a growing spiritual darkness in our land.  That can change – and every time we have an election, we have an opportunity to put someone in leadership who can help lead that change.  Yes, we need jobs.  Yes, we need a good foreign policy.  Yes, we need strong leadership on issues such as trade, and terrorism, and immigration.  But more than anything else, we need revival.  And while it is neither the responsibility nor the authority of an American president to bring about such revival – it is absolutely essential that the one we place in leadership is a man (or woman) who honors God and gives Him thanks.

My evangelical brothers and sisters, I beg you not to be fooled by the promises and political rhetoric of those running for office.  Courage is good, but it must be courage of the right kind – courage to stand up for faith.   Don’t listen to those who say we need to keep faith out of the political process and don’t fall for a candidate who sounds like they stand for your principles but won’t stand strong for your faith.  That is a tactic of our adversary, the devil, to keep us from electing a leader like Hezekiah.  Take another look at the candidate you have been supporting.  Will he be a Hezekiah?  Or an Ahaz?

I will not use the pulpit to support or detract against any particular candidate, but I do think there is one that just might have the courage and faith to be our Hezekiah – but it just might not be the one you are thinking of…

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