The 2024 Election - A Christian Perspective (By Gary Patterson)

 

The 2024 Election - A Christian Perspective 

(By Gary Patterson) 

 "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love" (Ephesians 1:4) 

"We are in the middle of an election season, and it’s not just any election season. This election season is proving to be the most volatile election season that our country has seen in a very long time. And this election season is falling in the midst of a world that seems like everything is broken all around us." (Matthew A. Scogin’s speech on christian political discourse, delivered to a Hope student and employee audience via Zoom from Diment Chapel, on September 24, 2020.) 

These words were spoken four years ago, but what has changed? No doubt this 2024 coming election, will completely change the direction of this nation. I do not want to pick a side, although as a Christian pastor, it may be evident that I have. How should we as Christians, look at the 2024 Presidential election? 

In our text, when God chose us, before the foundation of the world; His intent was that we be a people who are to be holy, and blameless. As a Christian nation, that is to be "Under God", we are to be a people who are holy, and blameless. That includes all of us; our presidential candidates, and all who are in government leadership, along with all the citizens of this great nation. 

But let's be honest. We are far from being what God intends for us to be. But this is no excuse for us to stop striving to be a nation that lives up to God's expectations. The Word of God is to help us with the issues we face in this Country. 

1. Character and integrity: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people mourn…The king by judgment establishes the land but he that receives gifts overthrows it…If a ruler listens to lies, all his servants are wicked” (Proverbs 29:2, 4, 12). 

2. Sanctity of human life—abortion, stem cell research using human embryos: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). 

3. Same-sex marriage or civil unions among same-sex couples: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination” (Leviticus 18:22). 

4. Freedom for religious speech: “So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard’” (Acts 4:18-20). 

5. Racial equality: “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26). “…and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God” (Revelation 5:9-10). 

 6. National Security: “And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night” (Nehemiah 4:8-9). 

7. Taxation and government spending: “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards…we are forcing our sons and daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards” (Nehemiah 5:4-5). (How Should A Christian Vote? -moodymedia.org) 

 From a Christian perspective, we are to apply the truth of God's Word to every issue that is up for consideration in the coming 2024 election. It is our responsibility as Christians, and godly citizens of the United States Of America. May God help us to be faithful in preserving the righteousness, and freedoms that God intends America to have! GP 

 Photo: TheDigitalArtist - Free for use under the Pixabay Content License - www.pixabay.com