What does Jesus want in this election? Ultimately, Jesus wants the Church to be united and live the way He called us to live. No matter who wins or loses, our mission will remain the same– to introduce everyone to Jesus and teach them to follow Him. Pastor Jeremy gives some helpful tools on what should inform our voting in the upcoming election, and be encouraged that no matter who is elected, Christ will ALWAYS be King!
Notes 📓✏️:
Outsiders With Influence – Pastor Jeremy DeWeerdt
As Australian Theologian, Dr. Michael Bird recently wrote: “The globe is awash with terror, tyranny and trauma, divisions and despair, not just in the West, but also in Asia, Africa and the Americas. Our world seems dangerously combustible, due to financial crises, pandemics, increasing injustices and inequalities, democratic chaos, geopolitical upheaval, wars and rumors of more wars to come.”
Historian Tacitus writes: “They [Romans] ransack the world, and now that the earth fails to contain their all-devastating grasp, they scour even the sea. If their enemy has wealth, they are greedy; if he is poor, they are ambitious; … They plunder, they murder, they rape, all in the name of their so-called empire. And where they have left desolation, they call it ‘peace.’”
Is it important to try to elect candidates who will not attack or prohibit the work of the Church?
ABSOLUTELY!
N.T Wright, “Jesus and the Powers”: “If Jesus’ kingdom is of such an order, not from this world but for this world, then keeping out of politics is impossible. We must be political in some sense because the kingdom of God has political implications for proclamation and poverty, for justice and judgment, for Congress and Church, for love and liberty. While Church and State are separable, there is always going to be a connection between religion and politics because of the intersection of values and voting. Religion is going to be part of the political conversation whether everyone likes it or not.”
Martin Luther King Jr.: “The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state.”
Jeremiah 29:4-7 (NIV); “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
Romans 13:1-2 (NIV); “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”
Acts 5:29 (NIV); “Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” We are submitted to our government but pledge allegiance to our King.”
Barna Research: Only 51% of people of faith are likely to vote in this election.
32 million Christians who “regularly attend church” are unlikely to vote.
2020 Election – The margin of victory in 9 swing states was roughly 600,000 votes.
What should inform our voting? (in order of importance):
What is the Bible clear about?
What are Biblical principles?
What does the Bible infer?
What are your personal preferences?
When we cancel each other in our culture, we feel temporarily victorious, yet have collectively become less intelligent.
You cannot hate people and share the Gospel with them at the same time.
This isn’t about thinking alike, it’s about thinking together.
“10 Guidelines for Christian Voters” Pentacostal Evangel, October 14, 1984
1. Do not confuse patriotism, national pride, and Western culture with Christian faith and practice.
2. Do not confuse secular political activity with the purpose of the church, nor campaigning with witnessing and preaching.
3. Do not make slanderous or false accusations against your opponents, but maintain your integrity. Do not consider a brother or sister who is of like precious faith an adversary if he or she holds a different political view.
4. At all times endeavor to verify information before accepting it as true or before repeating it to others.
5. At all times endeavor to know and understand the candidate’s positions and evaluate him or her on that basis, on the basis of his or her ability to perform the duties and functions of the office, and his or her integrity.
6. At all times endeavor to know and understand the issues; do not excuse yourself from this duty by saying, “God will show me whom to vote for.”
7. At all times compare a candidate’s position with Scripture but only where the Scripture addresses the issue; do not force Scripture to address issues that the Author did not intend it to address.
8. Neither vote nor work for a candidate merely because he or she professes to be of the Christian faith.
9. Do not neglect your family, worship, prayer, or Bible study.
10. At all times uphold your leaders in prayer.
N.T. Wright: “Look around. We live in interesting times, dire times, dangerous times, tragic and terrible times. What will you do with your life? Give it over into staring into a luminous screen or do something that echoes in God’s new creation?
The world needs kingdom-minded Christians now more than ever… Put your faith where your fear is; fill your mind with things of love, not the love of things.”
John 17:13-21 (NLT) – (Jesus is about to return to heaven) “Now I am coming to you. I told them [disciples and followers of Jesus] many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with My joy. I have given them Your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by Your truth; teach them Your word, which is truth. Just as You sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by Your truth.”
I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all [us] who will ever believe in Me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one—as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in Us so that the world will believe You sent Me.”
“Introducing everyone to Jesus and teaching them to follow Him.”
Discussion Questions 📝❓:
- What does it mean to be an outsider with influence in today’s culture, and how can we apply this in our daily interactions
- In the sermon, Pastor Jeremy mentioned the importance of loving our enemies and living out the teachings of Jesus above political debates. Why is this perspective so vital for Christians today?
- According to Jeremiah 29, God instructed His people to seek the peace and prosperity of the cities they were in exile in. How can this apply to our own lives in our communities today?
- How does the concept of being model citizens as Christians relate to our participation in politics and elections, according to the sermon?