Voting- Humility Lost

*Again I must open with a warning, I am going to write about politics, and I am going to do it based on what should be guiding our thought life and what should be guiding our actions…Gods word. I did so 4 years ago here and really nothing has changed.

“Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, 

Who have upheld His justice.

Seek righteousness, seek humility.” -Zephaniah 2:3

Humility lost

Your word O Lord be ever present, in thought, in deed to the very depths of me.

You shall not give your glory to another, and it is You who have called us to righteousness. Holy because You are holy. 

Forgive us of pride, for it is pride that keeps us out of truth and out of righteousness. To You be the glory alone, and let us be humbled in Your sight.

Politics and religion, two dirty words nobody likes to bring up in conversation because they are opinionated subjects. Here is the thing though, I am a very black and white person, I am a person that doesn't normally speak or write for the sake of an “opinion” I speak/write in truth. Truth is not something that is relative, truth is not an opinion it is either true or it isn’t, and I get that statement is hard to understand in this generation of “What is true for you, is not necessarily true for someone else” but honestly..I don't care what you think…I care about what the truth is.

Let me get some things out of the way right off the bat: 

1. I am not Mr. Political activist, I don’t claim to have all the answers, or to know all the ins and outs of how the political system works.
2. I am not a conspiracy theorist and I don’t think the world is going to end depending on who you vote for. 
3. I am not a loyal Republican or Democrat
4. I am not Mr. Patriotic wave a flag and put the country above biblical standards.
5. I don’t believe this nation is a Christian nation(it hasn’t been in a long time)

I am just your regular common sense view point who loves God and is committed to actually living like it. I looked back at what I wrote on this blog 4 years ago, and I just couldn’t believe how things have become even worse. Where is our humility? I speak to you Christian, where is your humility? I get the world is crazy, and I get the world has its ideals and they are contrary to ours, but why have so many bible believing people become so much like the world? I am appalled at how many believers have rallied behind Donald Trump…

“Woe to the rebellious children,” Says the LORD, “Who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of my Spirit,” Isaiah 30:5

For all those that hold to the belief that the founding fathers of this country were sincere believers and founded this nation based on Christian principles…what would they think of Trump? MORE importantly what does Your savior think? What does God think? If you actually want Trump to be president of this country you have to do these three things;

1. You have to ignore biblical standards for leadership
2. You have to take God completely out of Politics
3. You have to ignore his lack of humility 

Many people, believers included, think the first 2 points don’t matter anyways. Who cares about biblical standards for leadership, and politics has nothing to do with God…right? I mean we are not voting for a pastor.

I have heard that statement “We are not voting for a pastor” more times than I can count this year. They are certainly right though, we are not voting for a pastor, we are voting for somebody who has the freaking authority to lead our country!! By that statement, you are saying that God doesn’t matter…that somebody who holds the power of leading a country doesn’t need God to do it. Isn’t it ironic, Christians will tell everyone that God is needed, that we need to hold to His word for guidance and direction in every aspect of life…but just not the political aspect? God isn’t needed or welcomed there is HE? 

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying the leader of our country has to be the perfect christian, because there is no such thing. What I am saying, is we shouldn’t throw God out of politics, we shouldn’t treat them like separate issues, because if we honestly believe and claim to follow God, than that means we do that in every aspect of life….in marriage, in friendships, in how we speak, how we act, how we serve, how we do work, and how we lead. If God is our top priority our devotion, that would mean the principles and standards He sets would be something we adore and seek after. We have the privilege to be able to vote for our leader, other Christians do not have that choice, and while generally speaking you are not going to agree with everything a candidate believes or stands behind and you are not going to always have the choice of voting for a believer. We should be seeking Godly character traits, or at the very least a leader with humility and honesty, someone who puts others above themselves, that is the mark of a true leader.

So while we are not voting for a pastor, we are voting for someone who is leading our country, and we should seek to vote without throwing God out of politics like He doesn’t belong.

The Christians that are voting for Trump, will vote for him because they will ignore his lack of humility, and they will ignore his lack of God. They will make the excuse its voting for the lesser of two evils…

I covered the myth that is “Voting for the lesser of two evils” 4 years ago, again what does God think of evil? Does He consider lesser of evils? Evil is evil any way you slice it, that statement is a statement of fear too. For far too long people have ridden that train to the ground, the fear that you must vote R to keep D out of office or visa versa. 

Why have we become a country without humility? Believers are to be the example of this, we are called to show that we have ultimate reliance upon GOD.

For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:12

If we don’t live according to His word in every aspect of our life, then what are we even living for? What is our purpose? 

Our life is supposed to be transformed and renewed in Christ, How can one who holds to Christ support Donald Trump? I am not even speaking upon his lack of belief in God, I am speaking about his total character is the complete opposite of what we are called to be, how can you support that? Now, you may be asking yourself; “Why am I just ragging on Trump”..because he has the evangelical vote…and I see more Christian support for him than I do Hillary. So back to the “Christian chosen one”…

Christ tells us in John 7:24 “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” And we are suppose to judge the fruit, identify false hood by their fruit Matthew 7:16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” 

This is directly at those who would say “You cant judge Donald Trump” first of all, you are making a judgement about him in voting for him, and second I can judge him, in fact infant-Christian…we are called to judge by the fruit. Donald Trump claims to be a believer and will flat out lie about it and that doesn’t bother any of you, why? because he’s a good business man? he's a freaking con artist….a snake oil salesman who will say whatever you want to hear. It would be fine if Donald Trump were honest about his belief in God, and had a little humility, just a freaking ounce of humility and ability to lead. However, not only is he not a believer he is a flat out liar about it. He claims to be Christian, and yet has never asked forgiveness from God because he doesn't need to. Yeah, that is who I want to lead my country..a person who thinks He is not accountable to God for ANYTHING he does.

Those who vote Donald Trump again either reject the need for God in politics, don't care about biblical standards for leadership or are completely naive. I guess Paul Washer was right about Christianity in America…it is not Gospel hardened it is gospel ignorant.  We completely throw God out of this country, don’t care if our leadership is accountable to Him, and we wonder why this country is totally backwards and is lacking in humility. 

Trump is not the answer for this countries ills, Repentance and GOD is the answer, Trump is not going to fix this country, if elected he will be the punishment of this country that it deserves. Trump is mentally disturbed and self centered, to the point that I honestly believe he has a narcissistic disorder. I understand the popularity of Trump, amongst the worldly, I don’t understand it for the Godly.  

I know God is in control, I believe in Divine Providence; God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things. 

I will honor who ever receives the position, because Gods word says I have to, but I wont vote for Trump nor will I vote for Hillary, because I can not do so in good conscience ….because neither of them are fit to run this country, and neither stand by principles that I respect.

We need humility as believers, we need to humble ourselves before GOD, we need to submit our worries, our stresses, our fears, our vote to HIM. God is our ultimate authority not man. I will be voting third party again, and there are plenty of options. Voting third party is not a wasted vote, and it is a vote that goes against both parties because both parties are corrupt…

I am not  for someone who should be in Prison(Hillary) and I am not for someone who should be in a mental institution(Trump).

Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote … he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.
Samuel Adams

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. 

Proverbs 29:2

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 

2 Chronicles 7:14

Faith Refining

I am ADONAI; there is no other. I form light, I create darkness; I make well-being, I create woe; I, ADONAI, do all these things.

Isaiah 45:6-7

This is where you prove your faith opened up to every mistake closed in by trials and tribulations and pulled to pieces in every direction.

This is where trust comes in when dark clouds of doubt overwhelm and your flesh screams there is no hope This is the moment we DIE to our self.

This is where we sink or swim Only by the spirit can we stand again opened eyes moving past what made us blind every failure nailed to my saviors hands

This is where we prove who we are in every struggle and pain in our heart 

to keep rising up as children of G-D and not let it tear us apart.

Bring on distress and pain

bring on rejection and heartache enemy,world, and flesh do your worst

for in His death i’ve found my rest

Now forever I crucify my self-image and this is only the beginning

of how He brings change just a taste of how we prove our faith.

G-D is faithful, He is merciful...He pours water upon the thirsty. Isaiah 44:3

Ending with encouragement, the direction and focus is to be upon G-D, it’s easy when you get a vision, but hard once you start walking in it...

But keep focused on Him as Proverbs 3:5 says; do not lean on your understanding but His!

When we are going through a “refining process” it’s easy to give up, and run...but G-D has a purpose in it, let us not miss it, but glory in the fact that He is

considering us worthy to be put through the fire to refine like Gold...

Humble...young man...Humble

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly,

not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

1 Peter 5:1-4

I want you to read that….wait, actually before you read any more, before you read any blog post of mine(Brothers/Sisters in Christ), I want you to pray to Almighty God, pray that He reveals Himself through what you are reading, Pray that He reveals whatever scripture I am quoting, gives you complete understanding and knowledge in that scripture.

Look at what Peter is saying "Shepherd the flock not by Compulsion..but willingly" I.e not by force, not by your irrational motives. "Not for dishonest gain..but eagerly; Nor as being lords over those entrusted to you."

What does he mean by "lords?" what does that even mean? It means a person who has authority over others. I.E don't shepherd people like you are the authority. You must always point people to God and what He says,

without puffing yourself up in the process.

Yeah, you can just read over all that is being said in 1 Peter 1-5 and be like "yeah ok", and maybe even say "yeah this is for clergy men or preachers" but no!

this is for everyone.

A lot of people like to puff themselves up, they like to think because they know this scripture or that scripture or because they can quote this or that, that they're better then a brother or sister in Christ, or better then a non-believer in general. Yet we must remember, we are not to put ourselves or our knowledge on pedestals, who gave us said knowledge? God, that is who we glorify..NEVER ourselves. To put what Peter is saying in even more simplistic terms; Yes indeed, some of us may have more knowledge of the word. Some of us may have a closer walk with Christ, but it is not US that we are to glorify for that.

We also don't lord our knowledge over others like we are to be praised for it, we share what we have learned and give all glory to God. For nothing that I have or you have is worth boasting about, for it all comes from God almighty. We share what God has revealed through His word and our lives with each other, not to praise ourselves but to praise God, not to gain knowledge of ourselves but to gain knowledge of God.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God,not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For who makes you differ [from another]? And what do you have that you did not receive?

Now if you did indeed receive [it],

why do you boast as if you had not received [it]?

1 Corinthians 4:7

Why do you boast of which you didn't achieve?

It's not about "look at what i've done.." "Look at what knowledge I have" it's ALL about look at what Christ has done, look at what God has given.

It would be like if I got injured in a basketball game, and then the person who came into the game for me.. hit the game winning shot, and then I ran around boasting about how awesome I am.

putting yourself on a pedestal and lording your knowledge of God on others isn't how you shepherd, the knowledge you've gained by Gods grace and through the Holy spirit isn't for the purpose of YOUR GLORY! It IS NOT for you to hold in and puff yourself up with, and to show how great you are and knowledgeable….NO

It's for Gods GLORY! you humble yourself and you share what knowledge you've gained with others so that they may also boast in GOD and what He has done for them.

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to [your] elders. Yes, all of [you] be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.

Surely He scorns the scornful,

But gives grace to the humble.-(Proverbs 3:34)

Therefore humble yourselves

under the mighty hand of God,

that He may exalt you in due time,

casting all your care upon Him,

for He cares for you.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5:5-8

Interesting is it not? Do you not see what Peter is saying?

do you not see how much he is warning?

Look how he says to humble yourselves to be submissive to one another, he is talking about young people to respect older…yes, but ALL to be submissive to each other. Again not to lord knowledge over each other, not to put yourselves above each other but to be clothed inhumility.

Can we safely say we are this way? I know I can't say I have been in every situation. Notice how Peter warns of humbleness,submissiveness and then as it would seem brings the Devil up out of nowhere? But he brought him up for a reason didn't he, it's because satan is the ultimate form of prideful, the classic example, the king of pridehimself. So Peter warns us if we don't humble ourselves before God, if we start to get on the path of self righteousness and lording our knowledge over others, and boasting in ourselves we are being children of the devil in danger of being overwhelmed and devoured by him.

Pride [goes] before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

"A truly humble man is sensible of his natural distance from God; of his dependence on Him; of the insufficiency of his own power and wisdom; and that it is by God’s power that he is upheld and provided for, and that he needs God’s wisdom to lead and guide him, and His might to enable him to do what he ought to do for Him."

Jonathan Edwards