The Great Divide: Christian Voters

 WHY ARE CHRISTIANS DIVIDED IN THIS ELECTION?

If we all read the same bible, and believe in the same bible,  how can we be divided?

We all as people have convictions.   We live by them, we decide  by them.  It  seems  it would be  easy to vote our conscious  based on these convictions. After all, these are basic beliefs we all share and believe should be adhered to.    When it comes to the sanctity of marriage or life, there is no other choice?  Right?  Wrong.  Hence the divide.

There is so much riding on this election that we are not hearing about.  Some people have educated themselves beyond the hype and have very real concerns.  They have paid attention to issues and are concerned and praying about the systems and where the country is going all together.  Those concerns are swaying them to vote in a way that may seem  to others to be "not Christ like."   Others have very basic thoughts about the climate of our country, and they don't care about what happens with some of the government issues, they just want to be able to spread the gospel and  are more concerned with honoring God in a different way.  What baffles us is that both opposing views can be held by equally dedicated CHRISTIANS!

Some are so concerned that the pattern God made for marriage has been compromised.  They believe marriage is one man and one woman. Period.   With that thought in mind, they would vote one way.  In fact the others that I spoke to who believe in the sanctity of life would do the same.   In the church, we have always had both sides.  One is not more spiritual than the other.  It takes both to pray and cover different areas.  Despising each other and unfriending or arguing, will not allow the world to see God. 

This is not the first time believers have disagreed!

 Acts 15:36 reminds us of this:

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,     but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.    They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,   but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.                          

Paul and Barnabas disagreed so strongly on whether or not to bring John Mark on a ministry trip that they parted ways.  But here is the catch, they still fulfilled ministry.  They both did what they were supposed to do, and continued to work. 

IT IS NOT PERSONAL

 The best thing we can do, is stop taking this election personally.  It will not stop you from being who you are, doing what you do or achieving what God wants.  Yes we are disgusted by a lot that we see, but is it really going to affect you as a believer? Should it?   A believer who trusts God and acknowledges Him?   When Abraham lived in a land with famine, God continued to bless him during that time.  When his son got older he also went through a famine in the land.  But the Bible tells us this about Isaac:

Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him.   The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous;   for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him.           Genesis 26:12-14

Two things happened here that can also happen with us.   If we obey and honor God, He will bless us even when others are struggling.  He will allow us to be so blessed and at peace that others take note.  God does not bless us so we can look good, but so He can.  It is called letting our light shine, so others can see. Then we have open doors to tell others about His goodness and provision.  (even in famine)

Laws v/s Heart

To help those who are concerned about laws being put in place that will corrupt America.    Think again.  Corruption does not come from our laws.  It comes from hearts that have not been changed by God.  When hearts are changed lives change, we decide differently and talk to Him about what He wants for us.  We have a law in our hearts, we simply choose whether or not we will obey.

 Romans 2: 14-16 says:

(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.  They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.     

I have no desire to smoke marijuana, so they can legalize it if they want,  I will not want it.  The same applies to other  controversial laws.  If we really want to see the word of God manifest itself in America, we THE CHURCH need to do our jobs.  Touching the hearts of all men, encouraging them to know Christ and follow Him. So, it really does not matter what the law allows us to do, if it is not in our hearts to do it, then we won’t.

So you see,  it won’t matter much  HOW you vote.  You might hear some issues in the final debate, that may help those of you who are still undecided.  If not, continue to pray for God to give you peace in your decision.  We really don’t have a sure God send on the ticket.  I’m not sure if we ever have had one.  It has been quite awhile since a prophet selected and anointed a leader.  God often uses leaders for various reasons, sometimes just to bring us back to Him.  So listen to what God allows you to hear and vote accordingly, love your fellow Christians who think differently than you; (that is the only way others will know we are His disciples, by our love) and finally, just be sure your heart is in His hands.