Praying God’s plan shines through this election fiasco

One of the oldest running arguments in among Christians deals with the topic of predestination. Those on both sides of the aisle have passionate feelings about the subject. The first great split after the Reformation was over this subject and it continues to be a huge splinter causing division, confusion and pain within the Body of Christ.

The only reason I bring this up is in relation to the election tomorrow. There are many Christians who believe that whoever wins the Presidential and Congressional elections was “preordained” by God to do so. These Christians believe that everything which happens does so strictly as part of God’s predetermined plan. Thus, there is nothing man can do to alter the outcome.

I have always had major problems with the “predestination” theology and I still do. Starting with Lucifer and continuing through Adam and Eve, God has given His created beings the freedom to choose whether to obey and serve Him or not. God did not make Adam a mindless robot who automatically carried out every order given to him. To the contrary, God allowed Adam the freedom to obey or disobey. However tragic the outcome of Adam’s disobedience; at least God did not renege on his decision to allow Adam freedom of choice.

Throughout the Old Testament, there are many examples of men and women exercising their freedom of will by both obeying and disobeying God’s will. The point is, they made the decision and it was not forced upon them.

The idea of free elections being the way to select governing leaders is foreign in the Bible. There is no way to equate the proper Christian response to this entire political mess we are in to anything in Biblical history. The only election in the Bible was to replace Judas. Kings did not run for their office nor did Caesars, Pharaohs or other despots. These people either “elected themselves” or ascended to power via heredity.

The concept of people campaigning for political office and being elected by the vote of the people is such a recent phenomena there is no way to determine how a Christian should feel about the subject. It has been drummed into us since we first attended school that voting is a “God given right and responsibility” and as good citizens we need to exercise it. Congregations are urged to vote from the pulpit and huge blocks of Christians many times determine the outcome of elections due to their numbers.

Herein is the problem. Four years ago the evangelical Christians of this country more or less cast enough votes to re-elect George W. Bush as President. Without the overwhelming turnout on election day by millions of Evangelicals, there is no way Bush would have won the election. At the time, there was great rejoicing among Christians for they had proven they could greatly affect the outcome of an election. Logic dictates that the prevailing belief was that Mr. Bush was a good Christian and deserved the vote of other Christians.

In the times since the 2004 election President Bush has fallen to the point of being toxic to the majority of Americans and “anathema” to most of the Christians who helped elect him. The question then becomes one of whether Christians really should be so actively involved in politics that their votes determine the outcome of an election.

Given the choice between Sen. Kerry vs. Sen. Obama, the vast majority of Evangelicals would choose Kerry. As liberal as he is, Sen. Obama makes him look like a conservative. Yet, four years ago Evangelicals painted Sen. Kerry as the “antichrist”. Isn’t it interesting to note that if he had won the election four years ago, it would be some Republican messiah sweeping up the devotion of voters in this country and not a Democrat.

Neither the Democratic nor the Republican party has a corner on the “God” market. Politicians of both parties are many times corrupt and so ego driven that they will do literally anything to get elected. Lying, stealing committing fraud and offering bribes are only the tip of the political iceberg. Those entrusted with determining “dirty tricks” in order to smear the opponent as a fluke or evil person are among the highest paid officials in both parties.

The “will of the people” will supposedly be expressed in the voting booths across this land tomorrow. Somehow we have been led to believe that our “free” elections are as pure as the wind driven snow. Most of us know better. Elections are bought and paid for by candidates and parties with deep pockets and who craft efficient fund raising organizations which can bring in hundreds of millions of dollars for their candidates.

Most of us know that registration irregularities have rendered this election coming up a fraud before it is even held. Most of us know that crimes have been committed and reputations tarnished forever by disgusting tactics employed by both candidate’s camps in the name of “get out to vote” drives and negative advertising.

The point is, this election was “rigged” years ago at retaliation for supposed injustices committed generations ago. Whether this country can endure the sharp policy changes that will soon be imposed on it is yet to be determined. I suppose from a “predestined” point of view, it really doesn’t matter for whatever will be will be and is destined to be. From a personal point of view, I hope this right, even if it goes against my long held theology.

Why right wing fundamentalist freaks like me are despised and hated with such passion

If a person dared spend any amount of time browsing the internet regarding any subject important to Evangelical Christians, it would be quickly apparent that the prophecies of Jesus have come to pass. The amount of pure hatred and venom directed at anyone who dares to believe much of anything aligned with the conservative side of Christianity is astounding. There is not simple disagreement with theology involved here, there is outright hatred.

Take for instance the much ridiculed concept of a bodily return of Jesus Christ to this earth. It makes no difference to the millions upon millions of people who rabidly fight against conservative Christians whether we are talking about the “Rapture” idea or simply the “Return of Christ”. Either and both of these ideas are equally repulsive and ridiculous to everyone in this world who is not “fanatical right wing fundamentalist weirdo freak”.

The most disgusting aspect of this problem is that many of those who are most vocal in their disdain for people such as myself is that they claim to be Christians themselves. Their idea of Christianity is to give everyone on earth a big bear hug, condone their lifestyle (whatever it may be), NEVER use the Bible as the standard for determining truth and use Christianity as a cloak for their religion which has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.

Those who vehemently oppose us “extremists” say that our obsession with the Bible and refusal to relegate it to the same level as man’s literary works is the basis of all the world’s problems. These people blame George W. Bush for everything wrong in the world and they blame him because of his “pandering” to the right wing Evangelical Christian community. In their minds, if it were not for those “damn Christians”, John Kerry would have won the 2004 election.

The problem with us “freaks” is that we don’t want to devote our lives to cleaning up this planet so it will remain the centerpiece of man’s “how great I art” attitude for eternity. Ideas of Christ returning in any way, shape or form indicate a belief that this world does not belong to man and will someday be taken away from his jurisdiction and given over to some religious clown who will make everyone throw away their worldly habits, toys and sins.

Those who live their lives in opposition to what the Bible says are the very people who spend their days sharpening their spears and stockpiling flame throwers to hurl at those who represent their enemies. The enemy of anyone living contrary to God’s Word are those who believe God’s Word to be true. Thus, the group which must be silenced and otherwise destroyed is the fundamentalist wing of Christianity. This is the very thing which the Book of Revelation tells us will be happening in the very last days of this world.

Those who refuse to bow to the demands of world and religious leaders will be killed. Those who defy the dictates given to “SHUT UP” will be hunted down and publically executed as an example to others of what happens to those who refuse to obey. Those who stand their ground and do not compromise the Gospel message will be silenced one way or another.

Only a handful of Christians will be willing to pay the ultimate price for their faith. The vast majority will buckle under the pressure of relentless persecution. With threats of financial and physical doom hanging over their heads, multitudes of Christians will lay down their Bibles and choose physical life over martyrdom for the truth.

In light of this, why do the heathen even worry about us crazy right wing freaks? Most of us will roll over when the day comes and curl up in a little ball and suck our spiritual thumbs rather than stand our ground. Most fundamentalist Christians will sacrifice their faith on the altar of worldly recognition, wealth and glory.

Some of us will never compromise, even if it costs us our life. Some of us will never stop speaking the truth even if it means our fingers getting cut off and our tongues cut out. Some of us would gladly lay down our lives in defense of the Gospel. Some of us will never, under any circumstances turn our back on our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, as the United States hurdles towards its appointed date with destiny next week, I am still here along with thousands of others trying to awaken the sleeping giant of the Evangelical community to get their head out of the sand and go vote November 4^th to stop the Obama express. If Christians continue to be fooled into thinking this man is sent by God as some type of savior; there is no choice but to believe the prophecy in 2 Thessalonians 2 of “God sending strong delusion that the church believes a lie” has come to pass.

I am not going to say that Mr. Obama is the “anti-Christ” or anything of the sort. What I will say is that if he is elected along with his supermajority of liberal friends in Congress, the beginning of the end to free speech starts. The voices of all opposed to the worldly and devilish doctrines passed into law will be muted and then silenced. That is not my opinion; it is the prophecy of God’s Word.

In one sense I don’t really care who is elected President for I don’t plan on being here long enough for it to matter. I have a one way ticket punched to spend my eternity with Jesus Christ and God. My life is not devoted to “fixing” all the ailments of this world. My future is not wrapped up in personal legacies and glowing eulogies from godless people. I am devoted to my Lord and my life is His to use as He sees fit. He is my master and to Him I am committed.

Whenever He chooses to return to this earth as Messiah and reign 1,000 years from Jerusalem; I plan on being there with Him. Whenever God establishes the new heaven and earth and comes to dwell with His people forever; I plan on being there. Man can do whatever he wants to dismiss, disgrace and otherwise discard God and what He says in His Word; but that will not change what is true and what will happen when God chooses to bring it to pass. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.