Pastors and Voting

Pastor and church leader, do you anticipate encouraging your congregation to vote in the general election on November 3rd? I hope every pastor and church leader will help make the Christian vote, the highest turnout among any group.

I understand churches may feel uncomfortable or even resistant to utilizing their church to encourage voting. Perhaps they think it smells of politics and want to get as far away from the odor as possible, especially with political tensions running too high in America right now.

What I am talking about is simply encouraging the act of voting. I do not want the church promoting certain candidates or political parties, nor turning Sunday morning into a political rally. This is just about encouraging followers of Christ to vote, and vote prayerfully and intelligently.

I see voting as an act of loving Christian citizenship when I read the Apostle Peter’s letter in the New Testament. His words are not specifically about voting, but about the Christian’s relationship to government. 1. Voting is honorable. It is written, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable . . .” (1 Peter 2:12). 2. Voting is good. The Scriptures say, “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people” (vs. 15). 3. Voting is an act of freedom. The Bible says, “Live as people who are free” (vs. 16). In the United States men and women and people of all races and religions, or no religion, are free to vote. 4. Voting is loving our neighbor. God’s Word states, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (vs. 17). The candidates up for election are our fellow citizens, and in a sense, are our neighbors. It is an act of sacrificial love to them when we take time and go vote.

But what if some candidates are lacking the character or will not support Christian principled policies or legislation? That is a valid concern, but please do not let that keep you or your church out of the voting booth. Participate, but do so with greater attention to prayer, seeking the Scripture for guidance and learning about the candidates.

If you lead or are involved in a church that sees voting as part of the messy political process, consider a different viewpoint. Look at it through the lens of God’s Word and Christian citizenship. It is our opportunity to be salt and light in the community when we show up at the polls on election day. And when our votes are joined with prayer and fasting for the candidates along with our city, state and nation – election day can truly be a spiritually impactful time.

When it comes time to cast our vote, believers in Christ do so with a theological understanding of sovereign Kingship. Jesus died, rose from the dead and is alive today sitting at the right hand of His Father in heaven, waiting to come again. Christ is King no matter who is on the ballot or in political power. It is in Him whom we ultimately place our trust with the realization that no earthly power can thwart the purposes of our Lord and Savior.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, I pray you will give pastors and local church leaders wisdom and unity in discussions about encouraging their congregations to vote. Open the eyes of fellow believers to the biblical importance of voting. And I pray that our nation will turn toward you. We are in desperate need of a special touch of your glory and grace. Come Lord Jesus. In your holy name, Amen.”

Can Baptism Forgive Your Sins?

I walked into the hospital room and Terry was lying on her bed.  Her physical condition was deteriorating and she was not ready to face her Creator.  I got down on my knees and shared with her the good news of Christ,realizing her time was short.  Afterwards as I prayed, she cried out for God to save her.  It was an incredible moment.  Weeks later Terry was home in her bed surrounded by family.  She wanted to be baptized, so with a cup and towel I conducted her baptism.  What a blessing!  Then hours later Terry died, going to her heavenly home.  

What prepared her for an eternal dwelling with Christ?  Was it her conversion to Jesus at the hospital or her baptism at home? 

Like with Terry, I have been at the bedside of the dying many times and I am greatly concerned over the misunderstanding about baptism.  If someone is fatally sick, knows their time is short, and realizes they have never been baptized, they may request a clergyperson to come and administer it, giving them a false sense of confidence,that they will go to heaven (because of their baptism).

Baptism is a part of our American religious culture.  Millions of followers in Catholic and Protestant churches have experienced the sacrament.  From infants, to youth and adults, men and women have been baptized during memorable religious ceremonies filled with family and friends.  Sometimes it is a quiet, solemn, reverent event.  At other times it is filled with hoots and hollers.  The occasion is looked upon as an important religious milestone in a person’s spiritual life. 

Whydoes someone get baptized?  Simple.  It is a command given by God in the Bible, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins . . .” (Acts 2:38)

If you have ever attended a baptism ceremony here is the meaning of it.  As a person stands ready to be baptized, they are a picture of their old self, standing dead in their sin, just as Jesus hung dead upon His cross.  Then as Jesus was buried, so they are buried.  Their old self gets buried in the waters of baptism.  The water is an image of the Holy Spirit washing them of all their sin while being immersed into the life of Christ and His church.  Then as Jesus rose from His grave with a resurrected body, so the one being baptized rises up out of the water, a new creation.  The old is gone.  The new has come.It is a powerful thing to watch, an honor to administer, but most of all, it is life changing to personally experience, as I have.  The mighty grace of God is almost palpable in those moments.

What is the singular most important focus in baptism?  Jesus.  It is not the water.  It is not the Pastor or Priest.  It is not the one being baptized.  It is Jesus.  Baptism is foremost a picture of Christ’s work on the cross.  His suffering, death, burial and resurrection from the dead. 

Sometimes we can elevate the pomp and circumstance of a baptism ceremony above Christ.  We can elevate the water itself above Him, believing it becomes holy or takes on some type of mystical form.  We can also elevate the sacrament itself above Christ, thinking that through it we can secure the eternal salvation of our soul. 

Let me be as blunt and truthful as I can.  Unless you have turned from your sins and to Christ, and unless you have placed your full trust in Christ alone; your baptism is meaningless and of no spiritual value whatsoever.  Do not believe anyone who says otherwise.  Your baptism is not enough to forgive your sins.  It is just mere water.  Only the blood of Jesus, which was shed from His cross can save you.  Thankfully, Terry understood this when she cried out to Jesus in her hospital bed.  I pray you will do the same.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, if there is someone reading this that has been deceived, believing the waters of baptism are greater than the atoning blood of Jesus, open their eyes to see the truth.  Bring them to turn from trusting in a ceremony, and to repent of their sin and trust in Christ alone for their salvation. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.”

Does Obedience Matter to God?

Often I engage with people in conversations about God and the Bible.  Many times I do not know where they stand with God until we begin talking.  More often than not, I hear “I believe in God”, “I pray”, “I’ve asked for forgiveness”, “I’ve been baptized”, or even “Jesus is my Savior and Lord.”  Yet, in the midst of these religious professions I have noticed a glaring problem.   There is a wide chasm between their profession and daily lifestyle.  The two do not line up.  When I observe this and ask a question like, “It’s wonderful you state that Jesus is your Savior and Lord.  Do you obey Him?”  Then I hear the sound of crickets.  Somehow, someway, they have been exposed to a teaching that tells them obedience to God does not matter.  They have been taught that if they get all the right religious professions down and throw in a few important religious duties along with that, then God’s grace will cover them and their home in heaven is certain.  Is this true? 

Within days of Jesus’ death and resurrection, He was spending time with His disciples teaching them, preparing them for what was to come.  He stressed the importance of obedience to Him four times, saying, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments . . .”, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.”, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word . . .”, Whoever does not love me does not keep my words” (John 14:15,21,23-24).  Jesus, the Master Teacher, was emphasizing an absolutely essential truth in the Christian life – obedience to God matters.  Notice the kind of obedience Jesus talked about was not mere rule keeping.  It was an obedience that springs from a heart of love for Christ.  Not a romantic love that is just feeling, but a love that is rational, deliberate, sacrificial and willing to lay down its life in suffering and death for Him if necessary, just like Jesus modeled through the cross.  In addition to the obedience question, another one is, “You say Jesus is your Savior and Lord . . ., but do you love Him?”  

The lyrics in our modern worship music extols the love of God, but where are the lyrics that also sings about our obedience to Him?  Our evangelism proclaims the love of God in Christ inviting people to pray and make professions, rather than calling them to take up their cross and obey the gospel’s challenging call of repentance from sin.  Our churches teach the love of God through biblical principles, keys and steps to be followed in order to live a better life, rather than biblical commands to be obeyed in order to live a holy life.   

The church has created a whole generation of followers of Christ that elevate professions and feelings above the way of the cross.  For it is rooted in a sacrificial love that is demonstrated in daily obedience to the Word of God and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. 

What I am writing about is so important.  Eternal souls are at stake.  Every one of us is heading toward an appointment with God our Creator on Judgment Day.  This should instill a healthy fear of God, and sense of accountability within each of us.  As the Lord Jesus will one day examine us, are we just going to offer profession after profession?  Jesus predicts this will actually happen.  He once said people will come to Him on that day and say, “Lord, Lord” and He will reply, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46) 

Obedience is non-negotiable.  It is a must!  It is an expression of saving faith and love toward Christ, who obeyed His own Father and gave all for Him.  Let us follow the example of Jesus.  And let us begin by obeying the call to repentance, to turn from what we know is wrong and to God with all our heart. 

A prayer for you - “Lord God, help us as pastors, evangelists, missionaries and all believers to take your call to obedience seriously.  Help us to go beyond teaching professions and principles to teaching obedience to the King of Kings.  And may all believers everywhere humble themselves before your Word no matter the cost.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.”