Obama, Believers, the Election, and Evil
There are far too many believers who are rather mixed up on some very important issues facing us. I refer particularly to perhaps the most important election America has ever faced. The great evil which Obama has unleashed on America and the world has been well documented both here and elsewhere.
And that evil will only be compounded exponentially if he gets back in for a second term. Yet the purists – whom I have discussed before – will sit back and smugly pat themselves on the back as they allow all this to happen. They will foolishly take pride in how “pure” and “righteous” they kept themselves – just like the Pharisees. Yet they are guilty of great complicity in evil.
They will go on and on about how they just can’t vote for Romney, when all they are really telling us is they are quite willing to see Obama get back in. That is the only reality that exists here. Not to vote for Romney is to cast a de facto vote for Obama. That is the simple truth here.
The purists keep rambling on about their purism: they cannot vote for him because he is a Mormon, or he is not conservative enough, or he is not prolife enough, etc. So in their effort to remain “pure” they will simply not vote, or waste their vote on a third party candidate or independent. In other words, they will deliberately allow Obama to get back in. Way to go purists: allowing the worst possible outcome, while feeling good about yourselves in the process.
But these misguided believers will still claim that not voting for Romney does not mean they are voting for Obama. Puh-leeese, spare me. That is technically true but practically false. One might as well say, ‘I will not fight against Hitler, but that does not mean I support him’. Yeah right, try telling that to those languishing in concentration camps.
To refuse to vote for the only person on the planet who can displace Obama is to side with Obama. Thus the purists are fully complicit with evil, despite all their protests and false righteousness. And they have already compromised, despite all their phony claims to the contrary.
There is plenty of other sloppy thinking and misguided moralism going on here. Let me deal with a few more examples of this here.
Single issues
Some of these guys take their stand on the abortion issue alone. But guess what, as important as abortion is, it is not the only issue we must all be concerned about – certainly in this election. There are plenty of obvious things, like the continued destruction of the economy under Obama, the continued erosion of freedom of speech, religion and conscience, and the steady assault on our very ability to proclaim the gospel. Those are some big ticket items as well.
Then there is the continual appeasement and bowing down to Islam that Obama is guilty of. His anti-Israel, pro-Islam policies will simply mean that the enemies of America and the free West will be further emboldened to seek to destroy us. That is just as important as the abortion issue.
Then there is Obama’s utter contempt for traditional marriage and family. His non-stop promotion of the radical homosexual agenda and his war against the family is a major concern – or should be a major concern to every believer, not just in America, but in the world.
So there are plenty of absolutely vital issues which are at stake in this election – not just abortion. And even if abortion were the only issue, there are light-years of difference between the positions of Obama and Romney. The inability of the purists to see these basic differences renders them rather unqualified to even be speaking on this issue.
No choice
Some folks act as if we have no choice here at all: ‘It’s either a Mormon or a Muslim’ they say. But even here there is a very real difference. Romney as president really cannot do much to push Mormon theology and beliefs on the nation. Maybe some of its pro-family values will get through, but if so, that is basically fine by me.
Obama however, as already mentioned, can do much to implement the Muslim agenda, by allowing sharia law, creating a dhimmi state in the US, warring against Israel, appeasing the Islamists, etc, etc. So there really is no moral equivalence here at all. Obama can do great damage, while perhaps at best, Romney can keep evil at bay for 4 or 8 years.
And in a fallen world that is perhaps all we can expect. The promotion of righteousness at a governmental level can perhaps mainly take place by ruling against evil, by keeping bad policies and bad practices in check. We will without doubt get that occurring to some extent under a Romney administration but not under an Obama one.
Non-Christian rulers
Some of these confused purists think that we must vote for Jesus Christ or no one at all in the election. Indeed, some of these confused purist groups are waiting until some perfect candidate comes along. Well I got news for these guys: Jesus Christ isn’t running – and he never will. They can wait till the cows come home, but it just ain’t gonna happen.
That means we will only have one class of people to work with: imperfect, fallen, finite, and sinful human beings. Every single candidate we can choose from will be imperfect on every level. But that is all we have to work with in a fallen world.
And the Bible is quite clear: God can use pagan rulers – indeed, he uses them all the time. If he is happy to do so, why are some believers so opposed to the idea? They seem to think they are more pure and righteous than God is. They are just like the Pharisees here.
But this is all basic Bible 101. Are these guys completely unaware of the many passages which speak to this? I guess they are. So let me refresh their memories, or inform them for the first time. Time and time again God could use pagan rulers for his purposes if needed.
In Isaiah 10:5-19 the pagan Assyrians are referred to as God’s “rod”. In Isaiah 44:28 the pagan ruler Cyrus is referred to as God’s “shepherd”, while in Isaiah 45:1-13 we read about Cyrus called God’s “anointed”. In Jeremiah 27:4-11 we read about “my servant Nebuchadnezzar,” and in Jeremiah 51:20-23 Babylon is referred to as God’s “hammer”.
Consider what Daniel 4:34-35 says about the pagan Nebuchadnezzar: “And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
So if God can and does work through pagan rulers to accomplish his purposes, then it seems to me he can work through a Mormon President to help put the brakes on evil, and help bring about what we read of in Proverbs 14:34: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”
Now at this point someone might object, “Well if God can use pagan kings, then he can use a pagan like Obama”. Yes, but it makes a huge difference if God uses a pagan as an instrument of judgment, or if he uses one to help restore righteousness. A righteous ruler is to be preferred to an unrighteous ruler of course:
Proverbs 28:2: When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
Proverbs 28:12: When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.
Proverbs 29:2: When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.
That does not mean Romney is pure good and Obama pure evil, it just means that in a fallen world someone like Romney will help do much good, all things considered, while someone like Obama will continue to do much evil. In a fallen world where there are no perfect choices, we simply go with the one closest to biblical values, and it is a no-brainer as to which of these two fits the bill.
Conclusion
In sum, the plain truth is this: politics is a dirty game. But in a fallen world everything is dirty, everything is contaminated with evil, and everything is less than perfect. There is no perfect politician, political party, policy platform, or type of government. We are stuck with less than perfect everything in this life.
Evil and good are mixed through everything as well. The only way we can totally abstain from all evil is to hole up in a cave somewhere for life – but that too is evil since we are commanded as believers to be salt and light in this world. So the purists miss the point big time: evil is everywhere, as is compromise.
To refuse to vote for Romney for whatever purist reason that can be given is already to compromise, and is already to be contaminated with evil. Respectfully, those who think otherwise seem like Pharisees to me. But at the end of the day we must do what we believe is right, so on this hot potato issue, at the very least, some of us will simply have to agree to disagree.
But it is important that we all keep in prayerful thought and consideration on these important issues.
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This is such an awesome entry. Thank you very much for presenting this Bill! Written perfectly! Reposting this!
God Bless you.
Katie Crossman, US
Many thanks indeed Katie
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
A123 Systems Inc, is a prime example of King Obama’s hair brained ideas.
An injection of $249 million 3 years ago from yours truly, and this company is filing for bankruptcy.
Oh yeah it’s the same old mantra isn’t it. Identify a problem, and throw bucket loads of cash at it. Just don’t use your own money.
Daniel Kempton
Dear Bill,
I rarely use the term ‘awe’ or ‘awesome’ unless it is referring to something which God has done/is doing/ or will do in the future. For me, it is HIS Word: AWE.
After having read this inspirational appeal to the people of America, (and therefore the Free World) discussing the ‘rights’ and ‘wrongs’ of the the coming Presidential Election, about which I am praying CONSTANTLY, I feel ‘awed’ to read a human-wrought text, which God has so clearly inspired, BREATHED, if you will, (without ANY blasphemy intended.) within you. You are like His Trumpet! You always place yourself intentionally in the place where He can Use you best!
I give God Thanks that He uses you so AWESOMELY, Bill. Your words of advice, admonishment, warning and encouragement sometimes speak so loudly to to my soul, that I find it difficult to draw breath.
Please continue to be a Real Church Elder to all of us Christian folk, Bill, because some of us are not getting very much in the way of inspiration, guidance or example from the ones running our Churches or Sessions of Worship – we get to much ‘purity’ and not enough ‘righteousness’. I sometimes think Theological Faculties at various Universities are the Devil’s Own, rather than Teachers of Faith, or the Word of God.
Comparing Mitt Romney to Barack Obama has its difficulties – we do not know much about Mr Romney, do we? Why is that? In my opinion it is because the ‘newsies’ ~ Those Who Decree What We Will Know and What We Will Do With That Knowledge, make sure that not much that could be judged as ‘pro-Romney’ is allowed out in the ‘public domain’, so it cannot be damning by comparison to WHAT WE KNOW OBAMA HAS DONE, and WILL DO in the future, if, God Help Us All, You the People fall for his lies all over again, and he is re-elected!
In a few words, politically speaking, America is VERY much like it is here in Australia with ‘Ms-anthrope’ Gillard and Tony Abbott – where everything insulting and outrageous which can be said about Mr Abbott IS SAID, and the Prime Minister skates by along the back streets, hopefully unnoticed by the majority the Left are depending upon to get her returned to the Office she has YET TO WIN!
This article is outstanding, Bill. I have sent it on to all of my Facebook Friends – let us hope that it will out-virus Mr Psy, in the number of ‘hits’ it gets!
Your sister-in-Christ
Kenya Lowther
Thanks Kenya – bless you
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
A four-year term of Romney is a far lesser risk compared to the possibility of another four years of the Obamination that currently occupies the oval office. Given the attack Obama has subtly waged on the Judeo-Christian faith over his term in office, any so called “purist” is without excuse if their actions indirectly result in his re election. We know what to expect from Obama – more of the same evil. If Romney stuffs up, kick him out in 2016.
Anthony McGregor
Yes quite right Anthony
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
I noticed this morning that Romney is still pushing ahead in at least one poll.
David Morrison
There is only one word to describe these religious recalcitrants – MORONS!
Steve Davis
The same applies for State or in my case, A.C.T elections.
Most candidates are nice people but it’s what they stand for or what their Party has a proven track record for doing that makes it right or wrong to vote for them.
Forget about personalities and go for someone or Party who is at least is not trying to re-engineer society into some perverted form and which crushes any form of dissent. That’s why I can’t vote Labor or Greens.
Lyle Hutchinson
Bill Whittle gets it quite right here. This 5-minute video is well worth watching:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5v7QQ5vQWg&feature=youtu.be
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
And Wild Bill is certainly right here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfWIxRrvFy8&feature=share
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
My latest piece on this is here:
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2012/10/26/on-dealing-with-abortion/
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch