Pragmatism Is Not Compatible With Biblical Principle
(A Case For Responsible Christian Voting)
"But select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as officials." [Exo 18:21 NIV].
A vote for the lesser of two evils is still a vote for evil. -- If you are willing to compromise your principle for the sake of winning, don't be surprised when the candidate you voted for compromises his.
Our elected officials and bureaucrats are dealing away our rights and freedoms like they are in some kind of a global crap game. In 1994, conservative politicians promised they were going to turn things around with the "Republican Revolution" but the game goes on as before. The players change and the leadership takes on new faces. Where have the Republicans even begun to roll back unbridled bureaucracies? overweening government? socialism and the rise of globalism? They have not. Instead they have multiplied treaties and sent new mandates to the States restricting our Bill of Rights, expanded the role of civil government in education and given us ID cards.
Many of our most sacred of candidates will speak the conservative line while voting for legislation that expands the size of civil government, increases spending, robs our children's inheritance and their ability to produce and brings us into the New World Order.
It is becoming painfully obvious why the GOP leadership, many elected officials and their wanna-be groupies have worked so hard to eliminate any and every principle and standard within the Republican platform. They claim to want to reach out, be inclusive--be kinder and gentler, or compassionate. But the underlying motivation is to eliminate the benchmark--remove the standards by which their actions can be evaluated. What we have are Republicans who are trying to convince us they must support bad laws to secure their election and save us from the bad people who would vote for the same bad bills. My friend, it may be time for a third party.
Many GOP pundits will argue that a third party will be ineffective thus Christians have a responsibility to remain with the established order. I have even heard commentators argue that the Republican Party was never a third party. I don't remember their full arguments, but somehow, due to dates, times and famous people, they claim the GOP entered the political arena as a majority player.
Nonetheless, for the sake of those who may be skeptical about this quantum-leap abstract of history let us ponder our current state of affairs and consider that history may just be on the threshold of repeating itself. What history has most to teach us is not dates and times but principles. Whether you want to argue that the Republican Party began as an obscure third party or as a majority party is irrelevant. The key issue to remember is the Whig Party fell from grace when they lost their conviction, opening the door for the GOP.
The leaders of the GOP want us to believe the Republican Party will be the savior of our nation. Maybe so, or maybe they will sink into obscurity as the Whig Party they replaced. Maybe it will take a third party--or four, or five. Nonetheless, how many or few parties is not the issue. If we want to return our nation to its Biblically based, constitutional foundation, if we want laws that are just and if we want to reduce civil government intrusion into our lives, we must become a people who are willing to stand for principle--Godly principle.
We can not take our marching orders from those who have made a career of rubbing shoulders with the elite and powerful. They believe they have a better view of political realities but they are motivated to keep their seat at the table. They will capitulate to the power brokers, the media and the pollsters and they will not lead. Isaiah tells us in chapter three that when the men will not lead, the immature will make the laws, youths will oppress and women will lead. That is America today. The sixties generation has not grown up and they are writing laws that govern every nuance of our lives. They exalt man and worship the created while rejecting our Creator. The youths, by law, are in control of families and schools. Truth and justice take a back seat to feelings and courtesy, or tolerance and unity.
The Bible tells us where there is no vision the people have no law (Pro 29:18). And, "My people are destroyed for lack of vision." [Hos 4:6 KJV]. David asks the question, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" [Psa 11:3 NIV]. Jesus Christ gave the answer in Matthew 11:12--The kingdom of God is forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it, or take it by force. Christ gave the example of John the Baptist. He was not a reed swayed by the winds of cultural change. John was resolute and his message was the same whether he was baptizing hundreds in the river, or rebuking a king for adultery.
Isaiah warns us that if we do not stand firm in our faith, we will not stand at all (Isa 7:9). Paul tells us, in Ephesians chapter six, after we have done everything to stand, we must stand and stand firm. Therefore, principle--attending to the laws of God--must our absolute goal. Our convictions dictate that we cannot win using the same strategies as the moderates, liberals and neo-conservatives. We do not win by building big tents and coalitions. In fact, we are not commanded to win; Christ taught us to be faithful.
Now this begs the question: Are you throwing away your vote by voting for a third party candidate? Remember the story of Joshua in the book of Joshua chapter five. As the Israelites were preparing to take the city of Jericho, Joshua saw a man with a drawn sword and he asked if he was for them or for their enemies. And the commander of the Lord's army told him that he was for neither and it was Joshua's responsibility to submit to God's authority. In the book of Daniel we are told that God alone raises kings and deposes them (Dan 2:21). We don't need politicians who can win, we need statesmen who will teach.
Speaking against unGodly alliances, God tells us in 2Chronicles 16:9 (NIV) "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." This was God's rebuke to King Asa for doing a foolish thing by trusting in his alliance with the king of Aram. God does not need coalitions and Republicans to accomplish His plan. He only needs a remnant whose hearts are fully committed to Him--and He will have it!
Whenever we get into these conversations about principles versus winning, someone always brings up the argument that Jesus told us to be shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves. (Mat 10:16). In this subclause, Christ was not speaking to winning elections, nor was He in anyway suggesting that we compromise His Word to accomplish our goals or agenda; or for that matter, what we think are His goals and agenda. If you read the verse in full and the following verses on through verse twenty-two, you will understand that Christ was warning the disciples to discern well who their friends and true brothers in the Lord were and are. For many would infiltrate the church to hand the believers over to the authorities. (See also Dan 11:33-35; Jam 2:5-7). He wraps up this lesson with this caveat: "All men will hate you because of Me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." [Mat 10:22 NIV]. Clearly, Christ was warning against pragmatism and compromise.
Our great nation was not founded upon compromise and rationalism. It was founded upon the firm belief that we are accountable to God for the principles that we stand for and the people we elevate to high office. And this foundation was paid for in blood. Our nation, however, is no longer willing to pay for freedom with blood--most certainly not with social exile, or mans' disapproval. We have seduced ourselves with the belief that we can pay for liberty with credit.
We will all stand before God; and the Bible warns us to fear God, not man. It is God who raises kings and deposes them, regardless of our form of civil government and regardless of our vote. I cannot run phalanx for God, nor can I help Him out-strategize the devil. My responsibility, according to the Scriptures, is to elect men of good character to high office. If it is His will to send judgment upon us He will do just that. How do we know that the lack of electable candidates with any integrity may be a test upon the people of God to see where they will stand? God Almighty reigns and it is our duty to give glory to Him.
My vote injects a bit of my character into the political arena. However possible, I want to inject Godly principles, not pragmatism nor compromise. I want to be able to stand before God and defend my vote. He will not reprimand me for lack of pragmatism--He won't tell me that if I would have just compromised a little more, He could have accomplished His will. On the other hand, He will reprimand me for lack of faith and failing to stand. We must hold up a standard and trust God with the results.
Remember the warning of our first president, George Washington, "If to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterward defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair. The rest is in the hands of God." Remember, too, Jesus Christ told us the kingdom of heaven is forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it. My friend, what are you laying hold of? What are you promoting by your life and actions?-- the kingdom of death, or the kingdom of Life?
God save our nation.
[first published in 1997 ©Dean Isaacson]