General Elections 2008
General Elections 2008
In Britain in 1774, during parliamentary elections, the towering Church of England evangelist John Wesley recorded, "I met those of our (Methodist) society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them (1) to vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy: (2) to speak no evil of the person they voted against; and (3) to take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side."
In 1981, another genuine evangelistic colossus Billy Graham (USA) declared, "Evangelicals can't be closely identified with any particular party or person. We have to stand in the middle, to preach to all the people, right or left. I haven't been faithful to my own advice in the past. I will in the future."
During New Zealand's General Elections this year, will Christians take to heart the counsel of these two Godly men, employed by the Lord to profoundly and lastingly influence the destinies of many nations according to the power of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jews, then for the Gentiles." (Romans 1.16)
Or are we yet again going to be assailed and blasted by Dominion Theology ("When we rule the world for Jesus!") barked from pulpit, platform and full-page newspaper advertisement? And will the personal, inward-witness of the Holy Spirit again be brutally suppressed and trampled underfoot by Christian leaders (local church and other) claiming divine revelation concerning which political party God has commanded "the faithful" to vote for this time around?
This kind of worn-out and predictable posturing dishonours God Himself, brings shame upon the Gospel, and draws ridicule down on the heads of all the members of Christ's Body.
It would be very encouraging to think that Wesley and Graham's divine wisdom will be heeded. Sad to say, I for one will not be holding my breath.
"Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house." (Ezekiel 3.27)
"Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; and let him who is right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy." (Revelation 22.11)
