2024 Voting
(Above from Pixabay)
Democracy was known before the time of Christ. In ancient Greece, all the male citizens were expected to vote on the issues facing their society. The Greeks introduced the concept of democracy to the Romans. The Romans (who were somewhat skeptical of the Greek model) set up a modified form of democracy called a republic. In a republic, elected representatives are supposed to vote for their interpretation of the will of the people.
But not the will of God.
Yet many people in western societies seem to feel that some form of democracy is the best form of government. Would God agree? The Bible warns us, “there is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25). It also warns us, “It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).
In Genesis 2:17 God warned Adam and Eve to not partake of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But Adam and Eve did not listen to God. After listening to Satan, they decided that they did not need to listen to God but that they should decide for themselves (Genesis 3:1-6). This is the first recorded act of human democracy in action.
Nowhere in the entire Bible do we see God sanctioning democracy.
The Bible shows that God appointed His leaders and made them known to His people. From Enoch to Noah to Moses to David to the Prophets to Jesus and even to the Apostles, we read nothing about God encouraging democracy. Actually according to the Bible, democracy is condemned. When Samuel was God’s appointed leader/judge, the majority of the people wanted a king like the rest of the world. Even though there appeared to have been legitimate criticisms of Samuel’s leadership, God told Samuel that the people had rejected God and not Samuel (I Samuel 8:1-9). The Bible says it was evil in the sight of God for the people to ask to have a government like the other nations around them (I Samuel 12: 17).
In 2024, there have been elections in the European Union, United Kingdom, India, Iran, and elsewhere.
The USA has its presidential election later this year.
Should a Christian vote?
Before getting to more scriptures, let’s consider the following from Daily Reckoning:
The World Wants to Be Deceived
April 3, 2024
“Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur” — the world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived.
We believe there is vast justice here. The world yearns to be deceived, eternally and infinitely deceived.
Why else — sisters and brothers — do people attend magic shows… consult psychics… or read New York Times editorial columns?
Why, indeed, do people vote?
The answer, so far as we can discern, is because they wish to be deceived. https://dailyreckoning.com/the-world-wants-to-be-deceived/
It is a deception, at least, from the perspective that humanity can solve its major problems itself ignoring the word of God and not placing its hope in the return of Jesus and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
The Bible teaches:
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. (Revelation 22:14-15)
Yes, the Bible warns against believing and loving a lie. We should not believe the lie that voting, per se, will solve the problems of a nation.
In 2023, Daily Reckoning posted the following:
The ‘lesser of two evils’ voters who could decide 2024
June 28, 2023
President Joe Biden’s path to victory in 2024 runs through voters who think he’s been a disappointment in the White House — but say Donald Trump or another Republican would be even worse. …
A man from California who is a self-described “very liberal” voter likened the matchup to “choosing the lesser of two evils.” …
https://www.aol.com/news/lesser-two-evils-voters-could-090000198.html
I am NOT a voter nor part of any political party–I am a non-partisan Christian looking for the return of Jesus and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
Notice something that Daily Reckoning posted related to the 2012 USA presidential election:
When confronted with the false dilemma of the democratic political process, many individuals settle for the “less of two evils” as a kind of compromise. But one suspects (or hopes) they do so with a certain degree of moral discomfort. . . .
Contrary to the popular snipe that “only those who vote have the right to complain,” common sense leads us to quite the opposite conclusion. It is only those who have not aggressed against others who have the right to complain when they are aggressed against. Those who, to invert a phrase, “feed the mouth that bites them,” may stand firmly, but do so on shaky ground.
A vote for either evil is nonetheless a vote for evil. (Daily Reckoning, October 19, 2012)
It is interesting to see a secular source coming to similar conclusions regarding the ‘democratic system’ and, in the case above, a US presidential election.
Understand, in most nations the following is true about nearly all the candidates on the ballot:
- They do not strive to according to “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
- They normally support aspects of the LGBTQ+ agendas and/or other forms of immorality.
- They usually support increasing government debt.
- They do not call for national repentance.
- They do not encourage people to seek first the Kingdom of God.
- Many have have been accused of serious corruption.
- Many have been accused of hypocrisy.
- Most are covetous.
Now, I am not trying to say that there are no differences.
But as far as being hypocritical goes, the Book of Job teaches:
13 … And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish, (Job 8:13)
The Bible prophecy warns that God will punish and destroy “an hypocritical nation” (Isaiah 10:6, KJV) in a prophecy related to the USA.
As far as voting goes, notice something that international author Doug Casey wrote about it:
March 29, 2019
Democracy is vastly overrated. …
Most of the founders of America were more concerned with liberty than democracy. …
Voting encourages politicians. A vote against one candidate—a major, and quite understandable, reason why many people vote—is always interpreted as a vote for his opponent. And even though you may be voting for the lesser of two evils, the lesser of two evils is still evil. It amounts to giving the candidate a tacit mandate to impose his will on society. https://internationalman.com/articles/5-reasons-not-to-vote/
The Book of Daniel has the following:
17 ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order that the living may know
That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the lowest of men.’ (Daniel 4:17)
There are or will be elections taking place in something like 50 countries in 2024. Yet, Christians know that we should pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-3), and God will decide who they should be.
(Pixabay photo)
After I gave reasons why we in the Continuing Church of God do not vote in the Letter to the Brethren: January 25, 2024, one man pointed to a couple of portions of the Bible which he felt supported voting.
So, let’s look at some.
Notice the following:
13 Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you. (Deuteronomy 1:13)
God had the nation of the children of Israel choose wise understanding men from their tribes, and He said He would make them leaders.
From a biblical perspective, probably no one that is on the ballot anywhere is a “wise, understanding, and knowledgeable” man and few would even be from the same tribe in places like the USA. So, no, that is not an endorsement for modern voting.
Notice also the following:
14 When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’ 15 you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. (Deuteronomy 17:14-15)
Now that seemingly suggests the people pick the top leader. But there are at least two issues which show that was not really the case:
- The Bible shows that God says by asking for a king, the children of Israel rejected Him ruling over them per 1 Samuel 8:6-7.
- God, Himself, directly chose the first kings of Israel (1 Samuel 9:15-17; 1 Samuel 16:1-13), so this was not a voting election by the people.
Another issue here was the children of Israel were supposed to be God’s people with His laws and function as a physical nation. No nation currently on the earth makes any serious effort to function according to the laws of the God of the Bible.
Of course, the Bible shows that Christians are different from those of the world:
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1 Peter 2:9)
Furthermore, Jesus said:
11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, … 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. .. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (John 17:11,14,16)
Brethren, we are not to be of this world or its politics.
Let’s look at some of what the scriptures teach are to be traits of godly leaders:
19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. (Exodus 18:19-21)
2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me,
And His word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel said,
The Rock of Israel spoke to me:
‘He who rules over men must be just,
Ruling in the fear of God. (2 Samuel 23:2-3)
Few, if any, politicians truly endorse His laws and statutes, do not possess covetousness, and rule in the fear of the true God. Hence they are not people that Christians should endorse.
Understand that political divisions among Christians can “cause disputes rather than godly edification” (1 Timothy 1:4), hence they tend to be truly unprofitable.
Related to voting and other aspects of this world’s systems, here is something from the Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God:
NOT OF THIS WORLD
Jesus taught, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). Early Christians understood “the gospel of peace” (Romans 10:15; Ephesians 6:15) prohibited them from engaging in violent military behavior. John the Baptist taught, “Do violence to no man” (Luke 3:14, KJV). Historically, those of the Church of God have considered military service as wrong for its members. From Revolutionary War times to the Civil War and to present, countries like the United States have tended to have had provisions to exempt Church of God members and congregants from military participation because of conscientious objections. Early Christians did not participate in military warfare nor watch violent sports.
The Apostle Paul taught “we are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 6:20; see also Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian). The Apostle Peter taught that God’s people were “a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out” (1 Peter 2:9). The Bible also teaches that this world has been deceived by Satan the devil (Revelation 12:9) and that God’s people need to be separate from the world (John 15:19; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; James 4:4; Revelation 18:4). Since a Christian is God’s ambassador and this responsibility is our duty above any arising from human relationships (Matthew 10:37; Acts 4:18-20; 5:26-31), it is our normal religious practice to not participate in voting for national elections nor participate in jury duty, nor do we voluntarily join the military. Historically, the faithful Church of God has long taught that its members should not participate in secular juries and secular politics.
However, Christians are expected to listen to (1 Peter 2:13-17) and pray for (1 Timothy 2:1-3) governmental authorities and to pay their taxes (Matthew 22:17-21). Yet, if there is a conflict between the laws of men and the laws of God, “We must obey God rather than any human authority” (Acts 5:29, NLT).
That said, we tell people who are compelled by their governments to force them to vote, may do so. Not with the hope their vote will help their nation, but simply to avoid jail or punishment.
As far as church governance is concerned, consider reading the article: The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government.
Of course, many professing Christians believe that they need to vote even though that concept is not endorsed in the Bible. But notice two concepts that are:
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).
2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; (Exodus 23:2)
The “lesser of two evils” is still evil.
Let’s not follow a crowd to vote for evil.
Instead, we look forward to the coming Kingdom of God–and we are to pray for it to come. Unlike voting, that is something that Jesus enjoined on Christians (Matthew 6:10).
It is interesting to note something mentioned in the Book of Acts:
38 “And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it–lest you even be found to fight against God” (Acts 5:38-39)
You cannot overthrow God’s plan. Yet, those who vote in worldly elections apparently believe they know aspects of the plan of God that there is no human way they could know.
Furthermore, look at what God said to Samuel, one clearly called and appointed by God, when Samuel thought he knew who should be the next king over Israel:
6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him.” 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:6-7).
If a prophet of God could not tell who should be the leader, do you feel that you are more qualified to do so?
It is also interesting to realize that many who believe that the New Testament sanctions democracy also believe that God’s future ruling government (in the Kingdom of God) will not be a democracy.
Jesus told the apostles that they would be rulers over the twelve tribes of Israel in his kingdom (Luke 22:30). Jesus chose the disciples, they did not get their positions from any form of democracy (John 15:16; 6:70). God, not man, chose David to be king over Israel originally (Acts 13:22) and has also chosen him to be king over all Israel in the world ahead (Jeremiah 30:9).
By the way, Jesus said that God the Father has reserved who will have certain positions of authority in the kingdom of God (Mat 20:23). The rewards in the kingdom will be Jesus’ to give (Revelation 22:12); they will not be for the people to take for themselves.
Democracy will not be God’s form of government in His kingdom.
More on voting can be found in the article: Should a Christian Vote?
07/07/24: We just uploaded the following related video:
Should Christians Vote in 2024?
There are elections in over 50 nations scheduled for 2024. How old is democracy? Does the Bible sanction it? Do people often act like they want to be deceived? Are there men on the ballots that meet the Bible’s criteria for leaders? How does the Bible show that leaders are to be put in place? Is the lessor of two evils still evil? Does the Bible teach that, “the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men in Daniel 4:17? Could someone vote against God’s plan? Do people know more than a prophet of God when it comes to choosing leaders? Are there truly pro-voting scriptures in the Bible? Are God’s people to support a crowd in doing evil? Will voting change the coming destruction that the Bible prophesies? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel go over these matters.
Here is a link to the video: Should Christians Vote in 2024?
Destruction is coming to the USA–as well as its British-descended allies (UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand)–and it will be worse than most people will believe–no matter who anyone will vote for.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Might the U.S.A. Be Gone by 2028? Could the USA be gone by the end of 2028 or earlier? There is a tradition attributed to the Hebrew prophet Elijah that humanity had 6,000 years to live before being replaced by God’s Kingdom. There are scriptures, writings in the Talmud, early Christian teachings that support this. Also, even certain Hindu writings support it. Here is a link to a related video: Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028? In Spanish: Seran los Estados Unidos Destruidos en el 2028?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand. A video of related interest is available titled: Should Christians Vote? Another video is Biden, Trump, and the Bible.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. Two related sermon are available: Identifying the USA and its Destruction in Prophecy and Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to four related sermons: The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2024, 2025, or 2026? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? A shorter video is: Tribulation in 2024? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.Donald Trump in Prophecy Prophecy, Donald Trump? Are there prophecies that Donald Trump may fulfill? Are there any prophecies that he has already helped fulfill? Is a Donald Trump presidency proving to be apocalyptic? Two related videos are available: Donald: ‘Trump of God’ or Apocalyptic? and Donald Trump’s Prophetic Presidency.
Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction Can the USA survive two full presidential terms? In what ways are Joe Biden and Kamala Harris apocalyptic? This book has hundreds of prophecies and scriptures to provide details. A Kindle version is also available and you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to your free Kindle reader app (or if you already have one or a Kindle), you can go to: Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction (Kindle) to get the book in seconds.
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