Once again –Thank you for reading this blog and we hope you’ve been blessed by our reports.
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 7,200 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 12 years to get that many views.
As we near the date of our national vote, we thought it would be helpful to examine what inspiration has to say of this patriotic act. Because there is very little in Scripture on this subject, we will look to the two last prophets, Ellen White and Victor Houteff, for their inspired views that can guide us in this area.
We all have the human nature to have opinions on policies, national and local. The purpose, as we know, for our public voting is to effect rules and government that we deem right and fair. As a Christian we want to be in line with what our Lord has spoken through the prophets on any subject, including voting. Let us see what we should know about this. We’ll not only look at voting but the general practice of being involved in politics .
Our prophetess said the following ” Whatever the opinions you may entertain in regard to casting your vote in political questions, you are not to proclaim it by pen or voice…My brethren will you not remember that none of you have any burden laid upon you by the Lord to publish your political preferences in our papers, or to speak them in the congregation, when the people assemble to hear the word of the Lord..We are not as people to become mixed up with political questions…Keep your voting to yourself. Do not feel it is your duty to urge everyone to do as you do.” (Selected Messages, volume 2,p.336-337).
That’s quite specific in instructions. Let’s try to grasp its significance. In the first part , we “are not to proclaim it by pen or voice” would appear to guide us in not advocating our own beliefs. Next we see that our “publishing or speaking” of our political opinions is not a work that is given us by the Lord, and we should not take part in this.
So from a general viewpoint, we see that she is advocating that we keep our political views to ourselves. Activism in this regard is certainly to be refrained from.
As we mentioned we all have our human nature to want “our view” to be understood and followed. Even right now, at times I find myself sometimes speaking privately to people on my political views. But it would be wrong to post those views or even engage in a public dialogue with others over political views. The only exception would be when such views are connected with Biblical or moral issues, such as prophecies or breaking the Commandments, for example.
If a presidential candidate said “I want all grade school children to stop reading the Bible at home and start doing their homework instead”, you can be sure we would have free reign to discuss this “political” situation and our views.
This political issue came up in a meeting in the early pioneer days of our church. Ellen White explains, “Attended meeting in the eve. Had quite a free, interesting meeting. After it was time to close, the subject of voting was considered and dwelt upon. James first talked, then brother (J.N.) Andrews talked, and it was thought by them best to give their influence in favor of right against wrong. They think it right to vote in favor of temperance men being in office in our city instead of by their silence running the risk of having intemperate men put in office.
Brother (David) Hewitt tells his experience of a few days (since) and is settled that (it) is right to cast his vote. Brother (Josiah) Hart talks well. Brother (Henry) Lyon opposes. No others object to voting, but brother (J.P.) Kellogg begins to feel it is right. Pleasant feelings exist among all the brethren. O that they may all act in the fear of God.”(Selected Messages, Volume 2, P.337)
The above is quite significant. EGW basically records an obvious approval of voting. The main concern being that “right” doing (by voting) is much preferred than allowing wrong doing into office. Sister White puts the final stamp of approval on this with her next comments.
“Men of intemperance have been in the office today in a flattering manner expressing their approbation of the course of the Sabbath keepers not voting and expressed hopes that they will stick to their course and, like the Quakers, not cast their vote. Satan and his evil angels are busy at this time, and he has workers upon the earth. may Satan be disappointed, is my prayer. (Selected Messages, Volume 2, P.337)
Clearly EGW confirms that our voting for the “right” in the political arena certainly is good to do, and that Satan would have us to not vote for the right, thereby helping him to sow wrongs among us.
In our studying the issues, obviously we as Christians stand with all issues that stand for good solid moral values. Anything that involves God’s creation such as the very hot topic on GMO foods. We shouldn’t be for man being allowed to tamper with God’s wholesome food. This would be one of the issues that sister White would obviously not be including when she spoke of not “proclaiming” our opinion. Why? Because we are standing up for our Lord and “His” creation (food), thus this is not a “political” issue in the real sense. It’s a moral and health issue (keeping our temples healthy).
Our last prophet, the Elijah prophet , brother Houteff, had this to say about this voting issue in The Answerer, question 145. “Is voting becoming to a Christian?”
“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 in 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 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.”
Here we see an approval of sorts. Brother Houteff let’s us know we should only vote if we are well informed on the issue or candidate, as is our right. But those of us who are too active in the work most likely won’t be up to speed on the issues due to our devoted work to save souls. Bottomline, if we vote we are to be very sure of that issue or candidate, no guess-work should be involved. This answer compliments EGW’s earlier statements well, by letting us know that the informed voter is the correct voter, and conscientiously voicing his opinion for the right as opposed to the wrong.
I don’t know about you, but before I learned about VTH’s above statement, I would sometimes vote and just check (guess) which proposal or candidate sounded best, even if I was not familiar with it. This we see, is not to be practiced.
In closing, we must conclude that when voting for issues that we are well-informed on,and appear to be the “right” course , it is right before our Lord. But we should not become an advocate of our views, unless as we stated, it’s a moral or Biblical issue, which it then ceases to be only a political issue. But the servants who are too busy doing the Lord’s work , and don’t know the issues at hand, are justified by our Lord for not taking part. They have the eternal glory foremost in their minds. Let’s be sure to follow our prophetess’ words and not “become mixed up in political questions”.
We have much more important issues to deal with now at this late hour, than to get involved in political issues. Are these issues going to stand for a long time? Of course not, they will stand for a fleeting moment, a mist of time. The Lord’s issues will stand for eternity.
May the Lord be your strength and wisdom.
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog. There was a approx. 50% increase in viewership in 2011 from 2010. I had said there was a double increase in a previous post, but even though the final numbers weren’t quite that large, it was very encouraging (going from about 3900 views to approx. 5800), all I can say is -thanks again. Your readership is what our goal here is and when God’s light shines upon us, we must share it, hopefully you’ve been blessed.
In Christ, Rob.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,800 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people.
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.
A helper monkey made this abstract painting, inspired by your stats.
A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 3,900 times in 2010. That’s about 9 full 747s.
In 2010, there were 38 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 45 posts.
The busiest day of the year was March 1st with 53 views. The most popular post that day was Germany and Croatia now have Sunday Laws.
The top referring sites in 2010 were facebook.com, adventistonline.com, mail.yahoo.com, mail.live.com, and christianboard.com.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for sunday laws, sunday laws around the world, sunday law in germany 2010, sunday laws 2010, and sunday law 2010.
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
Germany and Croatia now have Sunday Laws January 2010
24 comments
7 truths anti-Sabbath keepers choose to ignore March 2010
25 comments
The Sabbath and the endtimes, part 2 December 2009
3 comments
God protects His message August 2010
8 comments
Once saved, always saved, is it true? July 2010
13 comments
This was one of those rare weeks where the Lord didn’t particularly guide me in writing any special message. Maybe He planned it that way, because at the last minute (about 30 minutes ago) an idea hit me! One year has gone by since my inception of this blog. And I have alot to be thankful for and to tell you all how much you’ve meant to me.
Every since that FIRST EVER SABBATH OBSERVANCE almost two years ago, my life has done a complete 180! Here I was just a regular sinner doing my own thing, going my own direction. Seeking every pleasure I could. Unbeknown est to me I was living out Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes. ALL is vanity and a running after the wind! For we are a vapor as his word says. (James 5:14)”…For what is life? It is a vapor , that appears for alittle time, then vanishes away”.
Then with that fateful decision to “try” His Sabbath, My life took a different direction. Just as Jesus said (John 14:21) ” He that has my Commandments and KEEPS them, he it is that loves me and shall be loved by the Father, and I will love him, and will REVEAL MYSELF to him”. I have “seen” and felt this “revealing” so clear and powerful!
So after I saw Jesus reveal Himself to me that first Sabbath, I had a real hunger for His word and His Holy Laws. Since then He has inspired me to start this blog and tell a message of His love, ways, and Law. Many people have been touched, of which I thank God, for being used by him to reach some of you. The words and message I have posted here were inspired by the Lord, and He has guided me to show His truth.
As I have said in my posts, we are living in the last days. His message is going out to “come out” of Babylon! I am part of that message. So please know this. You are now being called to “worship Him who made the heavens and earth and seas”. That means to “worship” Him as HE HAS SAID. Not worship Him by breaking a Commandment (Sunday worship) but by OBEYING His Commandments. Those who are keeping His Commandments in these last days WILL BE SAVED. That is what Revelation says, no IF’S, AND’S or BUT’S about it!
So, I would like to thank each and every one of you for taking the time each week to read the posts. Some new features have been added ( you can Facebook, print, and email any post) at bottom of each post. Let’s “spread” His message and become active in reaching out! May God keep you and guide you until we are called up yonder! (as that beautiful song goes 😉 —– Rob
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