Anyone who is not aware that a national election is scheduled for November 6, 2018 has either been living on another planet on the far side of the universe or perhaps in an igloo in the vicinity of the North Pole and doesn’t have a radio or television set.
“Reform” and “change” are two words we have heard again and again by candidates and their surrogates in political ads that dominate every medium of communication. Why is this true? Big money, special interests, and self-promotion have produced an unhealthy amount of cynicism among voters. Promises by candidates made before elections are consistently forgotten as soon as the last vote is counted. Political platforms that claim to be a roadmap toward tomorrow regularly settle for yesterday’s status quo. This has led to millions of Americans becoming so disillusioned they do not vote.
Our democracy suffers when we choose not to participate in the electoral process. To fail to vote is to surrender our voice to those whose primary goal is to pursue personal gain and/or power. No one has a greater reason to vote than does a Christian. But do remember that God is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. He has plenty of bones to pick with both political parties.
Choosing the best candidates is not always an easy task amidst the kind of mudslinging that often takes place in elections. Rabid partisanship and negative personal attacks garner too much coverage in the print and broadcast media – and spills out onto our streets and other public places in rowdy ways. Even so, to fail to vote is to surrender a sacred right for which our ancestors fought and died.
The kind of candidates who are worthy of our votes:
- Those who are service oriented, not those who are self-centered.
- Those who love America and believe in the principles that have made our nation great, not those with the gift of gab and the gift of grab.
- Those who build bridges, not those who rock the boat.
- Those who concentrate on sharing their ideas and goals for America’s future, not those whose primary objective is to tear down their opponent.
- Those who have the kind of integrity that has never been questioned, not those whose integrity has seldom if ever been mentioned or could legitimately be questioned.
- Those who know what they believe, but are willing to listen to the ideas of others.
The United States has had many great leaders in the past. It still has many who are worthy of our support – on November 6th and thereafter. Let me encourage you to do your very best to try to choose such persons when you cast your vote. Millions of people live in countries where the right to vote does not exist – or it is seriously infringed in some way. Thankfully, our country is not one of them.
The most dangerous votes in every election are those not cast. If you do not vote, you do not have the right to criticize what is wrong with our government. Let us be grateful that our elections are by ballots, not bullets. Jesus said to His followers: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17). It is the duty of every citizen to vote on November 6th. It is especially the duty of every Christian.
Pray for guidance, and then go vote! Our nation’s future depends on it. God bless America!
The Paper Pulpit 