Scandal and the November Election

 But when Cephas [Peter] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. (Galatians 2)

 

One plus one equals two. That simple equation is the foundation of  virtually everything that makes our lives easier. Tailors could not create clothing without the ability to measure material, architects could not design homes without the use of consistent numbers, engineers could not design cars if one plus one did not equal two.

Not only has God provided us with consistent mathematical truths, He has also provided us with consistent moral truths, and He has made them available in the Scriptures for anyone with an open heart to understand.

There are multiple issues that divide the two major parties and their nominees this November. However, abortion and same-sex marriage most clearly illustrate the difference between the godly and the ungodly moral truths promoted by each party.

One party wants us to believe one plus one equals three. The other insists one plus one always equals two.

Jesus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. (Luke 17:1-2)

Americans have killed more than 56 million babies since 1973 when the US Supreme Court ruled that a woman has the right to kill her baby in the womb.  Mathematically, 56 million equates to approximately 1.3 million abortions in America each year. That number equates to 3500 killed each day Monday through Sunday in our nation.

Today 3500 babies will die. Tomorrow, 3500 more will die. The next day another 3500. And so on. 24,500 by the end of seven days. More than 100,000 by the end of this month. And so on. And on. And on.

Stop for a moment and picture in your mind the map of the United States. That number of killed babies since 1973 equals the COMBINED populations of Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia.

Not only does this election have to do with that kind of slaughter, but it also has to do with protecting the largest provider of abortions to continue selling baby parts to alleged researchers.  

Let’s now turn our attention to another issue that should be of critical importance to the Christian: Same-Sex Marriage.

One of the political parties asking Americans to put them into power in November has stuck their collective thumbs in the eyes of 10,000 years of human history when they recently enshrined into the law of the land the rape of the sanctity of marriage. They boast that one plus one now equals three, and that the God-ordained sanctity of marriage established by God in the Garden is good only for the manure pile.

Many of you who know me respect me as a man of God who does his best to follow the fundamental truths of the gospel. If I told you I will vote for the party that insists one plus one equals three – I guarantee I would cause  great scandal and confusion among the faithful Christians who know me. And they would have every right to wonder – if I would vote for such people, then perhaps one plus one sometimes DOES equal three, and the issues of abortion and same sex marriage are not as serious as other Christians say they are to God.

And yet, I know of many who attend church every week, and those who wear a clerical collar, and those who teach Bible classes, and who sing in choirs – who call themselves Christians and yet will vote for the candidate and the party that spits in God’s face every day.

Think of the scandal this is causing among our weaker brothers and sisters in Christ. What happens to their faith and ability to live a holy lifestyle?

No wonder Jesus said, and I will quote it again for emphasis: Luke 17:1f “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.

 

The Psalmist tells us in the 11^th psalm: For, behold, the wicked bend the bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string to shoot in darkness at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Satan has an army of disciples who have not only bent their bows and readied their arrows, but they have now let them loose. They have let them fly against God’s faithful to destroy the bedrock of our faith and culture – which was built on obedience to God’s word.

And if that foundation is destroyed, what can the righteous do?  If one plus one is no longer two, then everything we have known and hold dear is in grave danger of disappearing. Just as one plus one always equals two, voting for those who promote abortion and same-sex marriage is always wrong.

Christian, what will you do in November?