The devil really tempts me. He is crafty and he doesn’t want me or other people who are offended and hurt by what has happened in America to write negative things about the Democratic Party. That last line named a political party and that made it hard for me to even type it.
He makes me think I am too uninformed–not politically savvy enough to comment about conventions and platforms. But, first, I know what I saw on the news and, second, I can take the time to educate myself further if I need to know more in order to speak out. I can read and the resources are there.
He makes it hard because whenever I say something political in nature, there are always those who are critical of what I say. But first, the Lord did not promise a life of ease for those who speak out for righteousness (Luke 6:22) and, second, criticism is good for us; it fosters self examination and humility.
The devil makes it hard because there are no perfect political alternatives. Each time I say something disparaging about the Democratic party or its platform, there are those who are quick to point out the inequities and sinners in the GOP. But, that’s why I am not a registered Republican. That’s why I am committed to vote for whoever it is that most nearly represents my personal Bible-based values system.There are lots of crooked people in the GOP and there are candidates in that party that support things that are contrary to the will of God, too. Please don’t take the time to send me that well worn response.
The devil tries to get me to refrain from writing about anything political by touting his message that Christians should just not talk about things political, especially from religious platforms. He does this rather boisterously under the banner of “separation of church and state” a phrase taken from a private letter of Thomas Jefferson; a letter that never really meant anything close to keeping God out of government. He, the devil, would have my husband believe that he should not speak about abortion, homosexuality or even the wicked victim mentality of entitlement for those who will not work from his pulpit. But the aforementioned issues were issues of morality, issues of the human conscience before America was ever inhabited, much less colonized or emancipated.
So why is it that I get so nervous about writing the plain-as the-nose-in-front-of-your-face truth about today’s Democratic party in my own blog? After all, a blog is supposed to be about my own observations and opinions. I should feel free to express them here.
I think the number one reason that I feel intimidated is because there are so many in the body of Christ who are yet quick to defend the Democratic party, regardless of how far the party moves away from righteousness or morality. There are those in our congregations today, who tenaciously defend the party, turning a blind eye to the blatant promotion of abortion, homosexuality and to the abandonment of any nod to the power and supremacy of Jehovah God. It’s those people who make it hard for me to write what I am about to write.
I do write, always, with the utmost consideration for the unity of the body. I am aware that God hates those who cause strife among brethren (Proverbs 6:19). I am aware that if I hurt the church, it is His body that I wound (Ephesians 1:22,23). So, I think and pray about the following paragraphs seriously before I click the “publish” key. But, as I think, I’m convinced that the body is hurt, really injured, when we put any political or social affiliation above the Lord’s Will in our lives and affections. If I love the Democratic Party or the Republican Party so much that I am willing to sacrifice principles of truth in order to remain loyal to that political affiliation, I don’t love the Lord as I should. Further, if our congregations should become filled with people who are using their time and talents and money to promote a political agenda that clearly stands against the moral truths of God’s Word, it necessarily follows that individuals within those churches will lose their personal moral convictions in the process. Those churches will cease to be moral lights in their communities and the evangelism process will be much hindered, if not halted. I love the body of Christ. I believe it is high time that we be sanctified in our politics as in all areas of our lives. Our voices and votes in our communities must be affected by the fact that we are Christians.
Now, what does this mean in practical terms? I do not know all of the answers. But I am going to go ahead and say that I do not believe any Christian who reads these statements in the platform of the Democratic party can conscientiously support candidates who give credence to the document:
“The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay. We oppose any and all efforts to weaken or underm that right.”
“We support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples.”
“We oppose discriminatory federal and state constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny equal protection of the laws to committed same-sex couples who seek the same respect and responsibilities as other married couples. We support the full repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.”
“…in his first month in office, President Obama overturned the “global gag rule,” a ban on federal funds to foreign family planning organizations that provided information about, counseling on, or offered abortions.”
It is important to note that the above comments are not propaganda. They are quotations from the published platform of the Democratic party.
And then there was the mock vote taken on the floor of the Democratic National Convention…you know, the one in which somebody (it’s still unclear who) wanted to put the name of God back into the platform which traveled all the way through the primaries and to Charlotte, North Carolina completely void of His name. The proposed amendment to the platform simply included a statement that described talents of Americans as being “God-given.” The change would also list Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel. (That amendment is neither here nor there with me, but Jerusalem has been the official capitol of Israel since 1950.) It wasn’t the Israel part of the statement that was the problem with the delegates. It was the “God” part.
I noticed several pertinent things about that mock vote. First, any Democrat who cares about truth had to be deeply disappointed. No observant person would have any confidence that there was a two-thirds majority anywhere in that chaotic yelling match. Truth was ignored as the leader made the statement he had prepared. Second, Anyone who cared about God, would have been sickened by the cries of the maddened throng. It made me so sad to watch it. For anyone who trusts in Jehovah who was present, it must have felt much like it did for the disciples who heard the crowd cry out “Crucify Him” on that long-ago day in Jerusalem. I cannot see how anyone who claims Christianity could endorse a political environment that fosters such blatant disrespect for Jehovah. Third, any recognition of God was obviously a last-minute nod, whereas the original omission was purposeful, since the line about God was obviously and intentionally removed from the 2008 platform.
Watching the multitude who shouted their “boo”s and mocked the name of my God first filled me with fury and then made me feel sick at my stomach. It really made me want to go before God and ask for forgiveness in behalf of a country in which so many people, maybe even a majority, can clamor for the re-election of this party’s candidate. But I cannot plead for national forgiveness when there is clearly no national repentance.
My third reaction is thankfulness. I am thankful that I am a citizen in a perfect Theocratic Monarchy; a kingdom in which there is no threat of dissolution or overthrow. It is a kingdom that will stand eternally. Whatever becomes of this America, my most true citizenship is secure. The existence of false gods is always dependent on the beliefs of men. But no matter how many people stood in derision in Charlotte, no matter how many people mock in their hearts across this land, Jehovah still exists and He still exacts justice. Those who quickly jumped to their feet shouting “Nay!” will one day fall as swiftly to their knees and their answer will be “Aye”, but it will be everlastingly too late to acknowledge and revere Him.
I’ve perused both platforms tonight, as I write. I do not agree with every statement in the Republican platform. But, let me say this plainly: There is a world of difference in the moral tenor of the Republican platform and the Democratic platform. There is within the GOP platform an open recognition of God as the source of our blessings, a clear statement about the sanctity of marriage and a very clear statement that pledges to de-fund the abortion industry.
Bottom line: The devil will not win. As of the resurrection of my Lord, he is the captain of a sunken ship. But, I will not let the devil win over my voice. (I understand that my influence is minuscule, but still, however small, it’s all I have.) I will use it to advance truth. I just can’t ignore the elephant in the auditorium in so many of our congregations. (That’s not a Republican pun. It’s an English idiom.) We can no longer ignore obvious truth. There is a party in our country that has mocked the sanctity of marriage and of human life. Its leader proudly placed in its platform that, during the first month of his term in office, he restored federal funding to the abortion industry, even in foreign lands. This week crowds of delegates for that party mocked the name of our God. I, for one must speak–for the innocent unborn, for the God-ordained and time-honored value of marriage between a man and a woman and for the proud inclusion of Judeo-Christian values, and yes, God, in government. It cannot be that we, as His people, give lip service to His Word, but lend our voices, dollars and votes to influential organizations that blaspheme His Name and mock His statutes.
