It is obvious that the kingdoms of this world cannot be attained to, using current methodologies, and yet leave the candidates guiltless. One candidate has as his slogan “Make America great again” while the other has “Stronger Together”, and even though these may be worthy goals yet the end will never be justified by the means or methods employed. Here is where many politicians and theologians are sadly deluded, for no one can utilize evil methods and principles to achieve upright results. It just does not work that way.
In order to accomplish any real or lasting good, the human agent must use scriptural methodologies, or else the efforts will come apart sooner or later. This is the reason why the apostle James rightly stated that peace initiatives must be sown in peace, not in rivalry, heated debates, finger-pointing, accusation, threats, insults, and character assassinations. For us to employ these satanic methods and principles and then speak of being stronger together, or of making our country great again is a paradoxical phantom of impossibility, which goes against both the spiritual, and natural laws of sowing and reaping.
These truths are borne out clearly in several verses of scripture which present to us both the frailty and futility of these motifs. Hence the reason why those who look to mortal man for solutions to our most pressing problems, will find that their hopes were built upon the shifting sand, and will be subjected to bitter disappointment. Let’s read:
James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.
It becomes clear that the presidential candidates have not been utilizing scriptural methods, hence the reason why we should allow for good spiritual lessons to be learned from their mistakes. Several issues were raised during the campaign season, and as we look back in retrospect, we will see where we have fallen short of God’s ideals, and how we may make straight paths for our feet moving forward. The fact that both presidential candidates claim to be Christians, should cause us to consider all of the inherent dangers of trying to blend Christianity with secular policy, a mismatch which always leads to strife, and which takes us to our very first lesson:
[1] It’s always a bad idea to mix politics and religion. The two concepts are antithetical, when divorced from the principles and laws of God’s kingdom, and
that’s why we are advised not to blend Caesar and Christ into one diabolical mix. Satan’s kingdom is a kingdom of force, and everyone who seeks the high office of President will inevitably be drawn into the ring, with many bouts of mudslinging, for that’s just the nature of the beast. Mixing politics and religion is derived from a papal template and should never be adopted by Christians. Let’s read:
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings.
5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard.
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it.
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
All of these worldly kingdoms are represented by predatory animals, thus revealing the very nature and principles upon which they were established. When God called Daniel, and Joseph to serve as statesmen, He did not permit them to run for office employing the principles of competition, for this is contrary to His methods. Instead, they were placed in their high positions of authority solely through the providences of God. Hence the stern warning for us not to voluntarily engage in such aspirations or tactics, for they not endorsed or recognized by God. Let’s read:
Psalms 75:5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.
6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
[Fundamentals of Christian education. pp 482] The Lord desires all who bear the message for these last days to understand that there is a great difference between professors of religion who are not doers of the word and the children of God who are sanctified through the truth, who have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul.
The Lord speaks of those who claim to believe the truth for this time, yet see nothing inconsistent in their taking part in politics, mingling with the contending elements of these last days, as the circumcised who mingle with the uncircumcised, and He declares that He will destroy both classes together without distinction. They are doing a work that God has not set them to do. They dishonor God by their party spirit and contention, and He will condemn both alike.
[2] We should stand for principle, not for party. Any person who is willing to overlook the evil traits of character in their party nominee, together with the facts of past, and ongoing transgressions, just for the sake of winning, will prove to be dangerous for the greater good of the country. When any person deliberately blinds themselves to issues which need redress, and when the desire to win causes known sin to be brushed under the rug, then we may know that we are headed for very dark days ahead, with potential social unrest looming just on the horizon.
As a matter of fact, any individual who is willing to sacrifice principle for policy, and righteousness for public favor, will not scruple at anything, no matter how degrading to achieve a desired end. This is the reason why the satanic phrase, “The end justifies the means” has become the motive principle driving this election cycle. In other words, some people will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals, whether it be good or evil. Now, that’s we call a dangerous mentality, as is outlined in the following scriptural examples. Let’s read:
Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.
1st Kings 21:2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.
3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.
4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?
6 And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.
7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:
10 And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.
11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.
14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.
15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.
16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
[Education pp 57] The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.
[3] Whatever is done in secret, we may expect it to come out in broad daylight sooner or later. Certain “Emails” were supposed to be secret, and certain raunchy comments, and actions were supposed to remain as skeletons in the closet, but they took on a life of their own and are now scattered far and wide for the world to see and hear. This is because the word of God never fails of accomplishment.
Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
[4] It’s never good to be double-minded, to switch sides and convictions because of peer pressure. Nor should we be swayed by political pressure, or the majority opinion. This lesson is to have very real implications in the near future for all Christians who will be forced to choose between Christ, and the mark of the beast. If something is true and has been ordained of God, we should believe it unto death. In fact, Christ was crucified by pagan Rome for political reasons. By his own admission, Pilate stated that he had found no fault in Christ, yet he authorized His crucifixion. Let’s read:
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Exodus 23:2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.
John 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
4 And saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
6 Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement.
16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
[5] Thou shalt not bear false witness. It has been said that in order to be a good politician, one has to be a good liar, and since most of them tell lies, your vote for one who may seem to be a savior today, may turn out to be a ballot for a wolf in sheep’s clothing tomorrow.
Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.
Psalms 120:2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
[6] We should avoid talking over others, or whilst others are speaking. As we observed the debates, this one, rude element kept resurfacing, where one candidate would begin to speak before the other was finished, and vice-versa. As Christians, Christ instructs us to be kind, courteous, and respectful, even to those who are not of similar persuasion, or who mat otherwise exhibit the characteristic of the dragon in anger and inflammatory speech. Several warnings and counsels are therefore given in the scriptures, so that we may shun this common pitfall. Let’s read:
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Matthew 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last
came two false witnesses,
61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63 But Jesus held his peace.
1st Corinthians 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.
God bless!