Politics: Whose Side Is God On? 

                                                            

                                                         By: Bishop Waymond L. Burton, Jr.

Over the last 32 years, I have been giving some serious attention to the mindset of voters in national, state and local politics. Years ago, I had the privilege of serving as the campaign manager for a candidate who ran for Lieutenant Governor for the state of North Carolina. I have also served as a political advisor for other state and local politicians. As a result of this experience, I have gained a unique perspective about voters; especially Evangelical Christians. Over the years, I have noted that many people vote emotionally and not on the basis of facts or what is right or wrong about the candidates' positions. As a Christian, I find that particularly fascinating in light of the potential impact that a candidate's position can have on our lives. From my assessment, it appears that the educational level of the person has a lot less to do with the decision than most people think. This is especially noticeable among African - American and ethnically sensitive Caucasians.



Do we really know what God thinks about our political decisions? Joshua 5:13-14 says, "And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and behold a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?" Please note in verse 14, God said, "NO or NAY" depending on the translation you use. What God is really saying is "neither". God is neither a Republican or Democrat, He is God! Therefore, the issue is not whose side God is on but whose on God's side? In other words, what is God's will for us in this situation? What is God's will for Evangelical Christians in this current political atmosphere? Could it be that God would allow an unjust person to get into public office to accomplish His will? I believe the answer is yes. However, I do not believe that God would allow those who follow Him fully, those who really hear His voice - the truly righteous, to support someone's position which is totally contrary to His Word. I Corinthians 14:33 says, "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace...." If God wanted to do that, there are enough ungodly, carnal thinking people who are more than willing to allow themselves to be seduced by a spirit of deception. However, the truly committed Christian should not allow this to happen. During the Civil War, many Southern Whites and so-called Christians failed to discern the voice of God and used the Bible to justify their position on slavery. Because of their lack of discernment, over 600,000 lives were lost during the Civil War. God does not need to use the truly righteous to make wrong decisions in order to judge a nation. Many true believers, during the Civil War, spoke out against slavery just as many true believers today are speaking out against abortion. Truly committed Christians have a responsibility to take a strong stand to do what is right in God's sight. Remember, God is not confused. I have trouble believing that God would tell one Christian to vote one way and another Christian to vote the opposite way.



In a few months, the person who ascends to the highest office in this country will make decisions that will affect hundreds of millions of people, including the lives of millions of unborn babies. The course of this nation's destiny could be at stake. There is a cause greater than our pocket books. Just as in the Civil War, there was a cause greater than cheap labor to pick cotton. Proverbs 14:34 states that: "Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people." After reading a scripture like this, Christians should ask themselves, " Is allowing babies to be killed righteous or a sin and would God ask a true believer to vote for someone who insist on perpetuating a system that is nothing short of infant genocide.?" The Bible does not give clear cut answers on some political issues. However, the Bible is very clear on the issue of life. In Jeremiah 1:5 the Bible says, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." Over 23 years ago, a pastor friend of mine stated that we are killing our "generals" through abortion. If those babies were alive today, some of them would be young leaders now. I believe our nation has lost its moral compass for the sake of expediency. In Matthew 23:23-24 Jesus said, "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the other undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!" There was a time in this nation that many ungodly people would agree that aborting babies, especially late term abortions is morally wrong.



So, whose side is God on? I beg the question, where is the justice and mercy for the unborn? We have marginalized the importance of the unborn child to the degree that animals, the environment and taxes are more important than people. My question is what are the weightier matters in God's sight? If I am on God's side, certain issues are clear and weightier. Everything else would be straining out gnats while swallowing camels. Get on God's side before it is too late.



The longer we wait to get on God's side, the more desensitized we become. Our cynicism has caused many Evangelical Christian to major on the minors and minor on the majors. For example, while many Evangelicals are vehemently outraged over the War in Iraq, which caused the deaths of over 4000 Americans since 2002, they do not have the same outrage for over 7 million aborted babies during that same period. Have we grown so cold that the War in Iraq, National Health Insurance and taxes are more important than life? I can not find any place in the Bible which deals specifically with the aforementioned issues but the Bible deals specifically with the value of life. This does not imply that those other issues are not important. However, the question is: "Are those issues weightier matters in God's sight?" How will preserving Roe v Wade heighten our moral sensitivity for the unborn children in this nation? I submit to you that it won't!



There was a time when Afro-Americans were the largest minority population in this country. That is no longer true because there are more aborted babies per day than live births. If just one-half of the aborted Afro-American babies had been allowed to live, since the Supreme Court decision of Roe v Wade, they would still be the largest minority group in this country. This would have given Afro-Americans more political power as well as economic and social prowess. Nevertheless, because of millions of abortions, generals, scientists, pastors, evangelist, engineers, teachers, skilled workers as well as politicians have been murdered. According to Life Education And Resource Network, over 13 million Afro-American babies have been aborted since 1973. In Romans 1:28 the Bible says: "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased (reprobate) mind, to do those things which are not fitting." Could God say that today about some Evangelical Christians as they contemplate whether to support candidates who insist on maintaining the status quo on abortion? If you choose to maintain the status quo, then Adolph Hitler could be called a saint. Why do we continue to elect politicians who say they are Christians but do not produce the fruit with their lips and deeds to show it? Do we really want the blood of millions of aborted babies on our hands? I do not think so! If not, we need to get on God's side. I believe that the same spirit that tried to kill Moses as child and Jesus as a child is the same spirit behind the abortion genocide today.



Our moral standards should not be defined by race, age, gender prejudices which often cloud good judgment. We should decide to do what is right in God's sight. Therefore, as Evangelical Christians, our moral standards should be based on the Word of God. Our Forefathers used the Bible as the standard for our moral code even though some of them were not Christians. Consider the matter prayerfully and determine if you are on God's side or is God on your side!



Article by: Bishop Waymond L. Burton, Jr., Senior Pastor, Zina Christian Center, Inc. * All Rights Reserved WJB Ministries * 8/22/2008 * Audio available @ WJB Ministries, PO Box 25613, Raleigh, NC 27611* Cost: $12 per CD