"A Vote for Romney is a Vote for Satan" - Crosswalk the Devotional - August 3, 2012

SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST | LISTEN TO DEVOTIONAL

A Vote For Romney is a Vote for Satan
Stephen Sanders, A/V Editor at Salem Web Network

OK, so I confess. I used this devotional title as bait to get you to click on it. I don’t really think Mitt Romney is the devil. Now, Obama…well…that’s a different story.

I’m just kidding again. I love our president. He seems like a nice guy.

However, I recently discovered that some Christians are convinced that, because he is a Mormon, a vote for Mitt is a vote against Jesus.

www.votingforsatan.com

So, can I ask you guys a question? Actually, that was a question…let me ask you another one. Why do we do this to ourselves?

You know, as Christians…why do we feel like we need to tear down certain political nominees as the world does? Is it because we are convinced that God doesn’t have control over the situation? Are we really so naive that we believe that Jesus and Mitt Romney are enemies?

I mean, I understand that most Christians think Obama doesn’t really seem to know what he believes. He says one thing now. He said something totally different in the past it seems. All politicians seem to say whatever they need to, whenever they need to, in order to get the most votes. I get that. We can’t trust them any more than we can trust ourselves when we tell little white lies to get what we want…

I haven’t studied this thoroughly, but the Bible seems to indicate that God is in control of our government. That He created all things, both seen and unseen, and has a birds eye view of everything that is happening in our world. That no matter how much CNN we watch or how involved we get in the government, God will still know a ridiculously larger amount more about what’s going on than we will.

And when we feel the need to take a stand against certain politicians, there are instructions on how that should be handled. Take 1 Timothy 2: 1-3 for example:

“The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.”

We are actually encouraged to pray for these people. Why? So that “we may live peaceful and quiet lives” (that’s the opposite of militant and loud lives…in case you were wondering). And when we pray for them, God considers that to be a good thing and our behavior pleases Him.

Now, does that mean we aren’t supposed to take stances against certain issues? I don’t think that’s what’s being said here. I mean, the same Apostle Paul that urged the church to pray for the authorities also spent a great deal of time warning churches of authorities who were teaching false doctrines. So there is a lot to be considered here…so much more than I could possibly wrap my head around at 4 o’clock in the morning.

Intersection of Faith and Life

Is there anyone in your life that you are so against that it would make it impossible for you to pray for them right now? Would you even consider praying for them before you take action against them? Let’s take a few minutes and think about that one. I can think of a few just off the top of my head.  And even if I have to force myself to speak positive things into their life, I’m going to do that this morning and I’m asking you to do the same for those who have offended you.

Why? Well…

In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus told his disciples,

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best – the sun to warm and the rain to nourish – to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

For Further Reading
Matthew 18:21-35