Split: A Divided America

(including an email sent out 9/24/2008)

Today I watched a program on TV entitled: “Split: A Divided America”, a documentary on the many factors that divide Americans along political party lines. Later in the day, I saw an advertisement, which encouraged Christians to “Vote the Bible.” Trying to discern which political party and/or candidate seems to support biblical teachings has recently been a task that I have been pursuing.

If Christians are endeavoring to “vote the Bible,” then why is it that they too are divided?
Perhaps this is a dialogue that has become completely impossible to have today, and never the twain shall meet. If that is true, then the body of Christ in America is truly lost already, for a house divided cannot stand. Voting the Bible means to see what the word of God says and then seek to vote for the person(s) which have demonstrated by words/deeds to support what the word of God says. The goal is not to determine on whose side God is, but to determine who is on God’s side. If you would care to take part in this discourse, please present your choice of candidate, the issues which were important to you and scripture(s), when possible, which you believe exemplify how he/she is representing God’s commands or principles. I know that there are sincere Christians on both sides. I am not asking you to share your “feelings.” I am looking for an honest statement of your Christian biblical standards and facts supporting the basis of your decision.

To begin with, I will state that I am a Christian that presently happens to be biased towards voting for the Republican candidates. Notice, I did not say I am a Republican. It is not a party that I seek to uplift. Remember I said it was my goal to seek to be on God’s side, not the side of any particular party. In the past, I voted for Jimmy Carter, a Democrat. Democrat or Republican was not the information I found of importance in making my choice. I believed that he was a Christian and would do what was needed to protect the sanctity of life. God’s word says, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.”(Jeremiah 1: 5) For me, that settled the question about being pro- life or pro- choice. Unfortunately, after he got into office, he did not support the sanctity of life. I seek to discern which candidate, regardless of political party affiliation, supports the teachings of God. Other examples of issues of importance to me are the sanctity of marriage, and relationships based on God’s purpose for making man and woman for each other rather than men for men or women for women. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis2: 24) The president has an effect upon what kind of judges are placed on the Supreme Court of our nation. It seems that the more liberal judges favor removing all evidence of faith in God more and more from public life creating a culture based increasingly upon secular, or humanistic values. “..they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord; they would none of my counsel: and they despised all my reproof. Therefore, they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.”(Proverbs 1:29-31) This is only a sample of issues/scriptures; please add others as they come to mind.

I am sending this out to friends and family who profess to be Christians. Why only Christians? Well, it only makes sense not to send it to non-Christians. They have no need, desire, or reason to base their choice on any counsel given by God from His word.

I do not want to start any kind of feud. This is an opportunity for you to speak up without judgment or recrimination from others. This is not meant to be a debate where any of us is trying to convince another to change his/her “side.” It is merely an opportunity to state the issues facing Christians today and facts/scriptures that illustrate how your candidate supports the standard of God’s will in the Bible. It is also to encourage each of us to seek God’s will for our country based upon His word, and not on the basis of our “opinion” as humans. I look forward to learning from each of you in hopes that this discourse will promote understanding, and have a positive value for all of us. I also invite you to forward this on to include other Christians of both parties.

September 24, 2008

After I sent the above letter to several friends and members of the family, I received a response that I was “political baiting.” That was the farthest intent of my heart. However, something good did come of it. I had hoped to receive biblical knowledge and insight as to how we, as Christians, should develop and reach conclusions about voting in the will of God. Instead, I learned that even Christians can not come to unified bases for voting.

My sister, Phyllis, had previously been sent an email, which I have copied in part below. I also begged the forgiveness of anyone to whom I had sent my own previous email above. The concern was sincere, but it proves that one can be “sincerely wrong.”
The message below was far more uniting, and since it is truly seeking God’s wisdom, is the best action and insight I could have ever received. For that, I am sincerely thankful to my sister for passing it on to me.

ONE MINUTE EACH NIGHT....

This is the scariest election we as Christians
have ever faced. We all need to be on our knees. Do you believe we can take
God at His word? Call upon His name, then stand
back and watch His wonders to behold. His scripture
gives us, as Christians, ownership of this land and
the ability to call upon God to heal it.
I challenge you to do so. We have never been more
desperate than now for God to heal our land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 :
If my people, which are called by my name shall
humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and
turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal
their land.

During WWII, there was an advisor to Churchill
who organized a group of people who dropped what
they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for
one minute to collectively pray for the safety of
England , its people and peace. This had an amazing
effect as bombing stopped.

There is now a group of people organizing the
same thing here in America, The United States of
America and our citizens
need prayer more than ever!!
If you would like to participate: each evening
at 9:00 PM Eastern Time, 8:00 PM Central, 7:00 PM
Mountain, 6:00 PM Pacific, stop whatever you are
doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of
the United States , our troops, our citizens, for peace in the world, for wisdom and courage for our
leaders in the up-coming election, and that the Bible
will remain the basis for the laws governing our
land and that Christianity will grow in the U.S.
If you know anyone who would like to
participate, please pass this along. Someone said
if people really understood the full extent of the
power we have available through prayer, we might be
speechless. Our prayers are the most powerful asset
we have. Thank You.

Ginger Rahn