Godsloveandlaw's Blog

There is no doubt that currently the nation is witnessing a new phenomena. Politics as we know it is being turned on its head. Just look at the two of the leading candidates from the Republican and Democratic side–  Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. This voting season is causing a real uproar.

But with all this mass media coverage, we must step back and put in all into perspective. Voting has been a God-given right as proclaimed by our fore fathers yet our Lord has made this issue clear through His last and final message to us as Seventh-day Adventists.

Let us take a look at this issue as shown in the Lord’s Elijah message.

As we have pointed out many times the “restoring” message is the message that restores all the hazy areas that we are really not sure about such as “Do we as strivers to be among that fateful number, the 144,000, need to concern ourselves with voting and involvement in the political process?”

Let us look at the some direct questions asked about this issue.

IS VOTING BECOMING TO A CHRISTIAN?

Question No. 145:

   Is it right to vote?

Answer:

   As the franchise is one of the inalienable rights of a free people, there cannot be any wrong in exercising it if thereby either the law or offices of the land can be better served. To cast a vote though, which will further such an end, requires conscientious study; failing that, one’s vote can only be unintelligent guesswork, and thus adverse  rather than conducive to good government.

   Those, therefore, who are in no position to devote the time and study necessary to inform themselves on political issues sufficiently to qualify them to vote intelligently on them, cannot  conscientiously cast such a vote.

   Being ministers of the gospel, with our time completely preoccupied with the spiritual interests  of the people, we ourselves are not able to give attention to their political interests also, just as the people’s political representatives are not able to give proper attention to their spiritual needs also. And therefore rarely, if ever, do we see our way clear to vote. (Answerer, vol. 5, p.75)

This really gives us quite a bit to digest. Summarily, we can see that , while it is not wrong to vote, we as faithful  workers in God’s vineyard should not have the time to devote the necessary study to proper voting. It seems there is no doubt the intended instruction is that we do not. At least if we are striving to be among God’s servants.

VOTE FOR OR AGAINST PENSION?

Question No. 144:

   Would you please explain your position relative to the pension issues that are now being presented to the public? Do you think they merit our voting on them?

Answer:

   We are admonished that the cause of God “should engross the whole mind, the whole attention.”–Early Writings, p. 118. Consequently, as we cannot conscientiously devote enough time to  the study of these political and economic issues and of their ultimate results, intelligently to pass judgment upon them, we cannot conscientiously vote either for or against them. For our uninformed voting might work hardship and deprivation upon some, while leading others into the paths of idleness and extravagance. “Behold,” says the Lord “this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness.” Ezek. 16:49.

   In the world of today, both its political and its religious interests are far better served by specialists. Only those who have their whole heart and mind in the temporal things of life, who can devote enough time to the study of the world’s economic and political issues, are qualified for participating in such interests.

Those who are heart and soul devoted to the world’s spiritual needs, which are eternal and of far greater importance than the temporal concerns of life that are soon to perish and be forgotten,  can no more serve the world in its economic and political needs than can those who have their hearts and minds engrossed in the temporal things, serve the world’s spiritual needs.

   “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord! Yet He also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back His words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.

Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out His hand both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.” Isa. 31:1-3.  “The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in Him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.” Ps. 64:10. (Answerer, vol. 5, p.73-74)

All this points to a greater point, and that is — are we wasting time on earthly temporal matters? The matters that are foreign to our work? Sure, this voting season there is much excitement with all the debates and the national media attention, but what does that get us in our eternal reward?

You see my brethren, we are to be in sacrifice mode, meaning that all earthly time-wasting activities are to be given up as much as reasonably possible for the outreach that we are called to do now. There are souls right within our very own church that will soon perish unless we reach out and warn,educate and enlight them on what the Lord is about to do. The leaders aren’t doing it  so it is up to us.

“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.”(Psalms 50:3-6)

The message tell us what Satan’s trick is for today —

“.. Satan’s supreme effort at this hour must be to cause the time to be wasted and the work undone.” (Answerer, vol. 1, p. 6, Q-4)

It doesn’t matter to Satan how he gets us–time-wasting, pleasure-seeking, and now–political time spending (TV, online reports and news, etc.). Let us not get side tracked for the great work of calling the great multitude out of Babylon is almost at the door.

“God’s children are to separate themselves from politics, from any alliance with unbelievers. Do not take part in political strife. Separate from the world, and refrain from bringing into the church or school ideas that will lead to contention and disorder. Dissension is the moral poison taken into the system by human beings who are selfish.” {CCh P.316.6}

This entry was posted on March 5, 2016 at 4:43 am and is filed under Present Truth, Proper teachings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.