Obama Vs Romney. Who To Choose. Either? Neither?

Today I found myself doing some yard work on my last "official" day of vacation. I still have the weekend and the Labor Day holiday, but today is my last "paid" day off.

During the process of moving a brush pile out of my yard, the thoughts of last-night's Republican National Convention were running through my head. I started to truly seek God on how I should vote. I have, recently, been anti-Romney and have always been anti-Obama. I've wanted to do the God pleasing thing and vote for a candidate that has the moral convictions that I do, based on Biblical standards. The thing is, although there are candidates out there that do match my personal beliefs, they, in all actuality, stand no practical chance of winning this years election.

Here are my (perceived) choices:
1) Vote for Obama
2) Vote for Romney
(For many it ends there, but that's not reality)
3) Vote for a 3rd party candidate that may/ may not stand the chance in winning the election.
4) Don't vote

So there is the dilemma facing all Americans. Laid out in 4 choices. For the political liberal it is a no-brainer, vote Obama and keep heading toward full blown Socialism, keeping a man in power that sidesteps the Constitution, who spends Trillions more than we have as a nation, record unemployment, record (extended high) gas prices and so on. For the political conservative it is clear, vote for Romney who promises a lot of things in opposition to the current administration. But, what about the conservative Christian vote? Or should I say Christian vote, because liberal and Christian should not really go together unless you're talking about love, forgiveness and helping others (all of which shouldn't be a mandate, but done freely).

I find myself perplexed. I had 100% committed myself early on to vote whoever the Republican nominee would be. I was in the "anybody but Obama" camp, firmly. I still am, but now with Romney being the GOP Nominee things change. My perspective has been changing of late anyway, leading up until last-night's nomination. I have been searching out 3rd party candidates that more closely match my belief structure than Romney. I guess it boils down to the following statement:
"Can I, being an Evangelical, Bible believing, conservative Christian place my vote on a Mormon who drags the Name of Christ through the mud with his false god, trying to fulfill the LDS's White Horse Prophecy, while giving credence to his false religion as millions of other professing Christians clamor to support him."
It's really a decision that needs to be weighed in light of the Word of God, not that there are not any decisions that shouldn't be.

This decision should be a tough one for any Christian. It baffles me to see that a lot of Christians are gung-ho behind Romney. True, I do not want Obama back in the White House, un-tethered by that pesky  term limit thing, free to further destroy the fiber of this country. I can't stand that thought, at all. Which is my true dilemma. Do I vote for the "other" party, the one with the only foreseeable chance of dethroning Obama? Or do I vote for a 3rd party candidate, such as Virgil Goode, who actually would make the best choice to lead this country going forward?

Ah, but Goode doesn't stand a chance. Why? Because the bulk of people in this country think we must conform to the strict guidelines of D's and R's.  I've always fancied myself and Independent. I have voted for Republicans and I have voted for Democrats. Actually, since I turned 18 in 1986 my vote was for every elected President until Obama. I did not vote for Obama. That means I voted for Bush Sr. (R), Clinton (D) twice and Bush Jr (R) twice. I had a fairly strong voting record until Obama came along, but then again after voting for Bush Jr the second time and the following election which featured Obama I was radically saved by God. I saw things differently and knew that Obama was not the one for the job. I defaulted to McCain in that election, since he was, what I saw it, the only viable alternative. I was playing the game and was trapped in the 2 party mentality, but was rapidly being changed by God and thus developing a different view of the world. I no longer saw red and blue, I saw God and thus started seeing that even my vote should be done in accordance with God's Word and to honor Him. If I was no longer living my life, but Christ was living in me, then shouldn't I be voting to typify that?

So, here I stand (actually I am sitting). I can do no other, but try to seek God, use His Word, seek godly council, pray and ask for a clear understanding of whom I shall cast my single vote. I do know that I will not vote for Obama, since he believes in the slaughter of babies and actually promotes the idea of doing so and wants to use my tax money to do so. Then there is the fact that he tramples the Constitution under foot, doing as he pleases, by any means possible, executive orders, czars, blatant disregard to the Constitution.

Then there's the newly appointed GOP nominee, Mitt Romney. Third generation Mormon. Tightly ingrained in his false religion. Very moralistic, an upstanding and successful business man, believes in one man and one woman as marriage, doesn't believe in homosexual marriage, mostly pro-life (except for rape and incest, which is still murdering innocent babies), just a "good" man in the eyes of the world. But he is a Mormon. Electing him, with the support of evangelical Christians sends a very dangerous message to the world that Mormons have a viable religion that is Christian, just being a different denomination. I know the differences. I know how heretical the LDS message is. Sadly, most others do not and hence do not see this as anything to even be debating. The mindset is:
"Romney upholds the same values as I do, Obama doesn't. Therefore I will vote for Romney because he is not Obama."
That would be all well and good if there weren't more choices than the two.

If the only choices were Obama and Romney I probably wouldn't even cast a vote. As many have said; "The lesser of two evils is still evil". So, my faith would trump my Constitutional right to vote and I would vote for neither. But we have more choices than Obama or Romney. That is what's great about this country and the system that God has put into place here. We can vote for other candidates, with clear conscience before God, knowing that He directs the placing of kings and rulers (Daniel 2:20-23, John 19:10-11), He is sovereign and He is still in control, whether it's with Obama, Romney or another President in place. God is still God and that President is still under His reign.

Are we to separate our faith from our vote? That is the million dollar question. Do we leave God at the curtain when we draw it shut and cast our vote? Do we take into account that we should do everything to His glory (1 Cor. 10:31, Col. 3:17&23)? Or do we look at circumstance and what ifs? Do we think that casting our vote for a 3rd party candidate is a vote for Obama? Or is that a vote that honors God? Do we try to rally others FOR Romney, hence joining league with an anti-Christ that could ultimately send millions to Hell because of the thought that Mormonism is a true religion?


The most common argument I have heard is:
"If Daniel the Prophet could serve the pagan Nebuchadnezzar, and Joseph could serve Pharoah, you could vote for Romney."
I say to that, "Really? And just how did Daniel condone or help put into place Nebuchadnezzar and Jospeh condone or help pu into place Pharaoh?"
Daniel and Jospeh just did as God commanded and respected those that God did put into place (Romans 13:1-5, Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:13-17).

I want to do what will honor God in my vote. I do not really enjoy the thought of Obama sinking this country further. I do not like the thought that I may lose comfort if Obama is re-elected. I do not like it that he has potential to run unhindered over this country and set in motion destruction to us as a nation. But I must and will not let my comfort, nor my situation, nor public opinion, nor "don't throw your vote away" take precedence over honoring God through my vote. I must stand blameless before Him in my vote, without the blood of millions on my hands for casting a vote for either of the two main parties anti-Christ figures, who come in the spirit of anti-Christ to deceive and set in motion what could possibly be the emergence of The Anti-Christ (1 John 2:18,22-23, 1 John 4:2-3, Jude :4)

I know where my vote is swaying, it is, at this point, for Virgil Goode. As far as my research has shown Goode is a believer in God, he fears the Lord and he upholds biblical convictions, even further than Romney's false morality. So, my vote is FOR a person (Goode) and not AGAINST another (Obama). That is my convictions, this is the understanding that God has given me to this point. It would make it a lot easier if all of the evangelicals were to turn out in force, voting for Goode. Kind of like when everyone turned out to support Chick-Fil-A when the Dan Cathy came out in favor of Biblical marriage that sent liberals in a whirlwind. I know that it could be done. Plus shucking the two party system might, just might, bring a modern day revolution upon us.

Where do you stand? Why do you stand there? Is it in opposition against someone or is it in affirmation for someone? What has lead you to that decision? I assume that if you are reading this that you are a professing Christian, so how does your decision attest to God? These are not just rhetorical questions, I really want to know. I really need insight, other than my own, to Christ centered decisions in the area of voting. This will be me second election out of 7 that I have been a follower of Christ. My first as a Christian was on habit and worldly advice, but this time I need it to be out of Christ centered advice. Please leave a comment here and share where you stand and why. It will help me to understand better and may help impact others as they seek who they should vote for.

Altar-ed Call

I've set through a lot of altar calls in my life. Some of these altar calls were bad, in the baddest sense, others were worse, but none worse than the one I set through last night. It was actually three altar calls strung together over about an hour and a half.

Being raised in a typical “American church” I grew up with altar calls after every service. It was just how the service progressed: Singing, prayer, preaching, altar call with soft music, proclamations of salvation, leave. Of course, I use the “preaching” and the “prayer” in loose terms as they were both usually man-centered. But hey, it's all I knew as a child and I was a fine product of the “modern gospel” for 30 years, believing I was saved because of an altar call. I was “held over hell on a corn stalk” being told how terrible hell was, literally having the hell scared out of me and driving me right to the altar to say the prayer. It was just “how it was” and that's all I knew.

Thirty years later, when I actually had an encounter with God He began to show me things. I had returned to the church of my youth and had heard the same messages, seen the same methods, witnessed the same results. People flocked to the altars to “get saved” or “rededicate” their lives to Christ. The altar call trip when I was 8 was my only one, but I would say 50% of the other altar calls I set through I was praying that prayer all over again. As a mater of fact my prayer before going to bed each night usually had some form of, “God, if I'm not really saved, please forgive me and don't send me to hell”.

The extended altar call last night really struck bad to me. I had just enjoyed a great concert from a Christian band that I really like. I made my way to the merch table to pick up a t-shirt and have the band sign my CD cover before I left. The guest “evangelist” began to speak and they shut down everything, no sales, everyone stop and pay attention. I was told that, “We can't sell anything now, this is why we put this on tonight, right here”, with a head nod to the stage area. The “evangelist” started out making fun of how a few girls had laughed at other events that he had been a part of. I would say that if any of those girls had been there they would not have been very flattered by the words he was saying. He was after laughs and he received laughs. I guess this was his ice breaker routine to grab attention of everyone. It worked, because my attention was fixed on him, wondering why he would be squandering this opportunity to share Christ with the crowd before him. He did speak a little about the bible, told how God's sheep hear His voice and then the altar call commenced.

“Do you want to hear God's voice?”

“Do you want to go to heaven when you die?”

That's about it in several different forms. By this time a brief shower had started falling, so he was rushing to get to the altar call and rushing, somewhat to get to “the prayer”. He asked everyone to bow their heads, raise their hand if they wanted to be able to hear God's voice an commenced the text book “sinner's prayer”. He then did the next thing in the “Altar Calls 101” play book and asked those that said the prayer to stand up, “nobody's looking” after all. Then after a few had made it to their feet began to tell them, “OK, now don't be ashamed, come on forward.” Typical psychological manipulation. I would guess that about 35 kids went forward and were passed off to the events counselors at the side of the stage.

The rain had stopped, so the second altar call commenced. This time it was geared at those that “have heard God's voice, but now listen to the voice of the world instead”. He was giving the altar call for people to rededicate their lives. This was filled with a story about scaring girls when he was younger and was played into “don't be scared to live for God”. Not much of a reaction to this part of his extended altar call. He ended it with “prayer” and handed the mic to the promoter.

I was ready to buy my t-shirt and hit the road for the hour drive back home. But, alas, the promoter must not have thought that the second altar call was good enough. He began with the same “don't be scared” ploy. This was followed by “we have to do....”, “why aren't you.....” and “If you don't.....”. This man was filling these people's heads with works and trying to lay guilt trips on everyone. At one point he said, “If you are not out evangelizing then you are sending people to hell”. My head was about to explode because I had yet to hear anything, in the three altar calls, about God's holiness, God's requirements, man's sinfulness and rebellion, Christ's perfect atonement, the blood of Christ that takes away all of our sins, the grace of God in even allowing us to have a breath because of our rebellion. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. No Gospel. No call to repentance. Nothing of the true Gospel whatsoever. Only a emotional call and guilt trip to garner decisions. I prayed during all of this that God would save despite the false message. He saved me despite the false teachings I was sitting under, so I know He does it.

If I were a confrontational person I would have been in a serious discussion with the promoter and staff last night. If there ever was a time I wanted to confront someone it was last night. It was probably for the best that I did, at that time, not say anything. But, I will probably say something if I ever happen to be at another event that this guy puts on. I know that this false gospel is sending millions to hell. I also think that most of these people mean well, but also that the “road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Unless someone repents and is born again they will not see the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus made it clear that you must follow Him, lay everything aside, even the love for your family is to seem like hate in comparison for your love for Him. The easy believism that permeates most “churches” and “Christian” events must be addressed and must be stopped. Then again, this may just be part of the judgment of God, giving man over to their own self centered desires and works mentality, trusting in themselves for salvation and not on Christ.

We must stand on the Word of God alone. We must not water down the Message of Christ. We must not tickle the ears of others and tell them what they want to hear in order to get them to commit to a decision. We must not play people's emotions and instead preach the full council of God and allow the Holy Spirit to work in convicting them, God made it simple enough to trust in Him. Sell it all and follow Him. Do not give regard for the things of this life, but instead have the mind of a pilgrim, just passing through, making disciples, pointing to Christ in all that we do, exalting His Name, preaching the Gospel in season and out of season. Proclaiming The good News to this lost and dying world. Are you ready? Then Go!  

Weighty Matters

Last year, here on my blog,  I chronicled my journey on my way to losing 60+ pounds. Over a 10 month (+/-) time frame I had many people telling me how good I looked, asking me how I was losing the weight and just over all being a cheerleader for me. I appreciated those comments, but when my new “look” had become old news the support dwindled.

It was October or so of last year, while on a business trip, that I decided that I was going to “splurge” for the trip. That set off a chain reaction that had me gaining back a lot of the weight I lost. How much? I have no idea, because I refuse to weigh myself. I’m disgusted that I allowed the weight to come back and I’m disgusted that I lost the will to jump back on the wagon and keep the weight dropping. I succumbed to food again and had dove full force into the old eating habits that I once had.

What was different during the time that I had begun to gain the weight back was that others never mentioned my weight gain, as they had my weight loss. I’m sure it was because they thought I would be embarrassed by the comments or didn’t want to hurt my feelings, so I don’t fault anyone, but I do wonder why I only had a couple of people ever mention my weight gaining.

I do think that it may have made some difference in my perceptions. If I had known that others were noticing, then I may have stepped back and reevaluated what I was doing. During the time I have gained the weight back I was not being held accountable by anyone. I depended on myself to “saddle up” and muster up the will power to stop eating the food that held me captive, but always put it off. “What’s another Swiss Roll going to do?” or “What is one more trip to the Pizza Inn buffet going to add?” Which I determined wouldn’t be a lot. And that is probably true, a single Swiss Roll or a single dinner at Pizza Inn would not have made much of an impact, but it was deeper than that. It was sin.

Reflecting on the roller coaster of weight loss (this time), I have seen how it does parallel sin. I see that I need support, both while I am doing “good” and winning the battle. But, more importantly I need the support when the battle is beating me. I need to be held accountable for the sins in my life. I need people to point out that I treat my wife lousy some times, that I raise my voice to often at the kids, that lust runs rampant, food becomes an idol and laziness just breeds more laziness and excuses. I believe this is part of bearing our brothers sins/ burdens (Galatians 6:1-2, Romans 15:1, Proverbs 27:17, James 5:13-20, Ephesians 4:25)

We are weak creatures. We often times act from the flesh rather than from the spirit. We forget that these bodies are dying and that we are just passing through this world, en route to our true home. We tend to think “now” is time to feed this flesh of our selfish desires, to sin and sin big. We push God to the side and say, “Let me take it from here, I’ve got it under control now”. This is why we need each other. We need to lovingly come beside our brothers and sisters in Christ, our wives and husbands, or children and parents and help carry them, help them see points of sin that they may not even realize is there or may be saying as I did about eating, “I’ll do better tomorrow”. Sad thing is that tomorrow usually does not come and sin is not dealt with and things get worse. The weight piles on and the sin kills.

I just ask that we each look at our motives. Look inward and ask yourself why we do not lovingly tell someone that you have noticed sin in their life. It is actually one of the most loving things you can do for a Christian. I am not saying to become a fruit checker and try to be someone’s Holy Spirit, but allow God to use you and work through you for the sanctification of others and also for yourself. Confess to one another, become accountable to one another, be open for rebuke and be open to give rebuke. I do not hold anyone other than myself at fault for my sins or my weight gain, but I do know that if someone would have lovingly told me that they noticed the pounds coming back, or the snack cakes in my lunch or the PB&J’s that I ate on a regular basis, I probably would have heeded their words and snapped out of my self deception. The same goes for my sin. If someone confronts me and says, “ I have noticed ……., let’s pray together about this and allow me to help carry this load with you” it would make me step back and actually see things I have allowed to blind me.

Just a little food for thought….. Pun intended.