Light in Darkness:

Interesting Findings of the Election

Many God-fearing people had a sense of defeat and despondency after the 2008 election on November 4.  Some of them labored long and hard for what they assumed was the will of God, but they ended up in defeat.  They attempted to promote righteous principles in government and some of them appealed to the earlier history of America to encourage each other in what proved to be an insurmountable task that resulted in a clear defeat.  While many of them were not pleased with the available options, they knew that the principles of respect for life and the promoting of moral relationships are God’s will and they tried to use the ballot to do the best they could under the circumstances.  

The outcome of the election was revealing.  Notice these results:

• 89% of Muslims voted for Obama
• 93-95% of blacks voted for Obama
• 66-67% of Hispanics voted for Obama
• 66% of 18-29-year-olds voted for Obama
• 56% of women voted for Obama
• A majority of liberal Protestants voted for Obama, in contrast to Evangelical Protestants
• A slight majority of Catholics voted for Obama
• Obviously, a vast majority of sodomites voted for Obama

On the other hand, there were some inconsistencies.  Consider the Proposition 8 issue in California, which identified the union of a man and woman as marriage.  The result of this initiative was that a slight majority of 52% favored traditional marriage, while 48% favored sodomite “marriage.”  This overturned the liberal judgment of the court that sodomites could “marry” for they were presumably entitled to “equal rights.”  A slight majority of the voters didn’t agree with this perverse decision.  Who composed the 52% who supported traditional or natural marriage?

• A majority of African-Americans favored traditional marriage
• A slight majority of Hispanics favored traditional marriage
• Mormons favored traditional marriage
• Evangelical Protestants favored traditional marriage

Many other facts and figures could be noticed but this is sufficient to make a few observations.

• Sodomites or homosexuals favored Obama since he is an avowed proponent of “same-sex” unions.
• Probably many African-Americans favored Obama, although he promotes the killing babies and sodomy, but when it came to sodomite issue itself, blacks helped to defeat the sodomite view in California.  (Surely many of these voters voted their ethnicity rather than their morality.)
• A majority of Hispanics voted for Obama, although a slight majority favored the traditional marriage amendment in California.
• Interestingly, while Muslims would generally oppose abortion and homosexuality, they were more interested in the economy, and this is why they overwhelmingly voted for Obama.  (Obama’s father and step-father were also Muslims, which may account for part of this.)
• Young people probably have been indoctrinated in humanistic philosophies at school and in the media, thus they were more open to voting for Obama.  They are more open to killing babies and homosexuality.
• Liberal Protestants were more likely to vote for Obama, while Evangelicals were not, presumably because liberal Protestants do not believe in the inspiration of the Bible with its absolute moral principles.
• Interestingly, a slight majority of women voted for Obama, even though Sarah Palin was running on the Republican ticket.  One would have thought that women in general would have voted for their own gender.
• Mormons obviously didn’t vote for Obama, and they voted for the California marriage amendment (and have suffered the angry opposition of the sodomites in the process).
• Significantly, many modern Catholics apparently were more interested in voting for Obama than they were in heeding the directives of Catholic authorities who strongly opposed abortion as well as sodomy.  Politics superseded religion in this case.  (Another interesting note is that Biden is Catholic, thus he has violated church law in his own voting record.)

What can we say about all of these findings?  The Christian is a citizen of a heavenly nation, a spiritual kingdom, one that is not limited to any earthly political domain (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Peter 2:9).  All of the nations of this earth show the effects of Satan’s extensive power and influence (Luke 4:5-6).  John wrote, “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).  Whether America is under a Republican, Democrat, or Independent administration, whether the congress is dominated by the Republicans or Democrats, Satan yet makes his power known—for “the whole world” is under his sway.  His diabolical influence is felt in every sphere of national life—whether it be the realms of education, entertainment, commerce, or politics.

The Christian must not assume that God is on the side of either the Republicans or the Democrats.  Some Evangelical Protestants seem to assume that God does support one party over the other.  While it is true that the platform of one party and the candidates of one party may be more in keeping with righteous principles of life and morality, we must yet conclude that vast amounts of deception are found in both major political parties. 

We must also acknowledge that there are many, many positions that political candidates speak about and we cannot have a comprehensive view of all of this.  Further, many issues are not as clear-cut as moral issues, such as respect for unborn life and same-gender marriage.  Many issues have to do with economic policies, international relations, educational issues, and so forth.  It may be that one candidate is clearly sinful in his thinking on one issue, while the other one is more in error on some other matter.  The Christian must be very cautious about expressing unambiguous opinions on non-moral, non-spiritual, and non-Biblical matters. 

Further, since every candidate for public office, especially the presidency, has compromised in hundreds of ways to arrive at his position, the Christian should be slow to give anyone the impression that he can endorse any presidential candidate.  While one may definitely oppose a certain candidate for his outspoken immoral and sinful positions, we must never give the impression that we can give unqualified approval to any candidate.  Years ago I wrote a booklet entitled, “A Christian as President?”  In this treatise, I listed ten or twenty different reasons why a true, faithful, uncompromising Christian could never run for the office of president or any other major office of the country or state.  (He probably would get no more than one or two votes!)

Personally, I do not follow politics extensively.  It is enough for me to know the basics of what are happening in our world.  Someone pointed out to me that in the past election both parties were wrong about some things and right about other things.  While the issues of respect for life and respect for traditional marriage were foremost to the Evangelical Protestants, this person claims that McCain is in a second marriage—which may be adulterous (Matthew 19:9).  We’ve not researched this to know.  Further, we know that God forbids a woman to have authority over the man (see 1 Corinthians 11:3; cf. 1 Timothy 2:11-15), and the favorite of the Evangelicals was the Republican Sarah Palin—a woman.

We can see vast amounts of hypocrisy as we view the election that is now past.  For instance, many professing Christians of the Evangelical variety earnestly fought against the issue of homosexuality.  They were aware that Obama is favorable to sodomite unions.  But think of the hypocrisy of these same people who are willing to accept “no fault” divorce that results in adultery (see Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:1-3).  It has often been pointed out that professing Christians divorce and remarry just as frequently as non-churchgoers.  I ask you: Is adultery among religious people more righteous than sodomite relationships?  Both are sinful in the sight of a holy God, even though it might be argued that sodomy is not only immoral but also unnatural and a sexual perversion.  But both are sinful, both will condemn, and both will result in hell—unless one is willing to repent (Hebrews 13:4; Revelation 21:8). 

If professing Christians—especially Evangelicals—want to promote Godliness and use their power of the vote to do this, let them not fail to see the hypocrisy of condemning one sin while seemingly accepting another.  God is holy and He expects us to be holy in all of our life and views.

Maybe we should learn some lessons from this political experience, ones that should guide our outlook not only today but in the coming years.  We should seek to view all of this as God does.  He sees the entire world in spiritual darkness.  We should as well.  Let’s not think that any president or vice-president, or any congress, or any justice of the Supreme Court, or any political party will be able to view all things from a Godly perspective.  As we mentioned above, while certain moral and righteous principles may be more pronounced in some contexts, still the world is under sway of the evil one.

Proverbs 14:34 states, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”  We may lament that the majority of the American electorate were willing to vote for an administration that favors sodomite unions and the killing of babies, but we must not wrongly conclude that the other party stood unambiguously for righteous principles.  Remember that “sin is a disgrace to any people”—and that includes the United States of America.

Let’s not assume that anything in the realm of politics is a matter of black and white.  There is much gray.  Even the good is tainted with evil.  The Christian’s standard—the Word of God—shows the true light of the political landscape and shows that the pure way of Christ is not found in either the Republican or Democrat camp.  The way of Christ is found in the body of Christ—and this is not the popular way in the world.

Many people assume that the results of this election are a harbinger of even more dark days to come.  They would say that this is a sign of the “end times” and the rise of the Antichrist.  Just today my doctor commented, with a smile, “Richard, this political situation and the result of the election, makes me think that Texas should separate and become its own nation, then we wouldn’t have this national mess!”  (paraphrase)  Then he went on to say, in light of the economic, political, and educational upheaval in this country at the present time, “All of this makes one cry out, ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’”  I immediately gave an “Amen” to his sentiment!  We also commented on the fact that this very day the Texas Education Agency is debating the matter of what will be presented in the science classes of the schools—will it be evolution only or will it be evolution along with showing the weaknesses of this theory?  Yes, Come, Lord Jesus!  On the other hand, we do know that at all times, we must use the opportunity to call a nation to repentance and faith in Jesus, “for the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Personally, I do not have the whole prophetic picture worked out, but it is safe to say that most prophetic judgments in the past by so-called “prophetic teachers” have not been accurate.  The end times have been with us since the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-17; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1; Hebrews 1:2; 1 Peter 1:20; 1 John 2:18).  There is a way to interpret Revelation 20 that would see much evil coming just before the coming of the Lord in judgment (see vv. 7-10).  Thus, some would say that just before Christ’s return, there will be vast amounts of wickednesl in the world, perhaps like at the time of the flood (Genesis 6).  While some would say that there will be great preaching and spiritual “revival,” others would say that we should look for apostasy, immorality, perversion, idolatry, and wickedness.  Significantly, these elements are in evidence today, although we would not want to make any prophetic pronouncements ourself.  Christ will do what He wishes and will return according to His plan!

Now is the time to trust God and do good.  Let’s be aware that vast numbers of people around us have little regard for righteous principles—whether that is respect for life or the morality of male-female marriage.  May we determine to be light in this world of darkness (Matthew 5:14-16).  Let us purpose to be a light, one who holds forth (or hold fast) the word of life to a dark and dead world around us (Philippians 2:15-16).  In this way, we can endure the negatives of the present world and anxiously look forward to a better Day to come!

Richard Hollerman

Sources:

newsweek.com/id/168062

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7709852.stm