Pondering and Praying, then Picking a President

Candidates Clinton (top) and Trump.

Our presidential election is less than two months away.  While many Americans now reside in the land of #NeverTrump, I do not believe American voters should be residing in that land, or in the land of #NeverHillary.  I have considered being a citizen of “#NoVote,” but history teaches that people who choose not to vote can determine election outcomes as much as voters.  Therefore, I’ve decided to pull up stakes and move to #MaybeTrump.  Although my final decision must wait, let me share a few points I am considering.  [I invite you to use the “Comment” box below to respond.  I am not offended by polite disagreement.]

First, we can be thankful that there are still two months until Election Day, and a lot can happen during this time to influence our voting.  Therefore, I am joining what I hope is a host of American voters who are thinking carefully and discussing how to vote in this difficult, presidential election year.

 The wisdom books of the Bible have much to say about making wise decisions.  Proverbs 15:22 states, Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.   Proverbs 18:13 adds, He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.   Regardless of political party or religious affiliation, voters should apply the principles of these proverbs and use the time remaining to stay informed and become well prepared to exercise our freedom to vote.  Based on these Scriptures, voting early in this election could be your first bad decision.

Dr. C. Fred Smith of Southwestern Baptist Seminary has written a blog article entitled “How to Really Choose the Best Candidate!”.  Here is an edited summary of his “basic principles for becoming an informed and biblically grounded voter:”

1.      Study what the Bible says about character and leadership--Key concepts: virtue, character, vice, wisdom, behavior of Kings, etc.

2.      Read one or two good books on Christian Leadership principles.

3.      Read Article One and Article Two of the U.S. Constitution often enough to get familiar with them.

4.      Evaluate candidates in light of Biblical and Constitutional teaching, knowing that no candidate has ever been perfect. 

5.      Ignore most of the media circus.  Instead look at full transcripts of their speeches for evidences of their leadership style, vision for the country, moral character, virtues, etc.

6.      Ignore extremist websites–especially those that focus on tearing down the candidates.

7.      Look up the candidates’ resumes–What have they accomplished in the past? How does that relate to the office they are seeking?

8.  About a week before the election, decide who will get your vote–and again, do this with the knowledge that the candidate you choose will not be perfect.

     My second consideration before voting-- Americans who profess Christianity have an obligation to do more than vote wisely.  Scripture commands us to pray.  The primary season allowed Americans to chose two candidates for president of the United States—Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.  Many agree that both candidates have moral and ethical deficiencies.  But as such, they reflect much of what is endemic to the majority of Americans who elevated them to victory.  In fact, if we are honest when we look in the mirror, we may see some of our own values and character flaws in one or both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

I believe Christians must choose how they will respond to a weak field of candidates.  We can continue to highlight their character flaws as if God is powerless to transform them by Election Day.  Or, we can pray that God will work mightily in the lives of the candidates through people and circumstances surrounding them between now and Election Day.  Furthermore, we ought to pray that our hearts and minds as American voters will be honest, humble, and discerning.  Have we made this presidential election a prayer priority?

Franklin Graham emphasizes the importance of a praying electorate in Decision Magazine, saying, “When the Scripture says that the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water (Proverbs 21:1), it means that a Sovereign God can turn the heart of a king at any time and in any way.  If there are policies and platforms that don’t conform to biblical ethics, the intercession of Christians can be used in a powerful, transforming way.”  Grahams’ point applies not only to those currently holding high office but also candidates running for office.  He notes further that “… the ultimate reason the Bible instructs us to intercede on behalf of our leaders is so that they might come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.” Graham cites Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 2:3-4:

This (our intercession for those in authority) is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

That is right!  The Bible not only commands us to pray, but that we intercede for the souls of our leaders and candidates for office so that, in the words of Franklin Graham, “…our leadership would personally know God and the salvation found through faith in Jesus Christ alone.”   Graham solemnly adds,  “I can’t help but ask myself if all Christians had fulfilled this admonition and been faithful to pray for our leaders, would our nation—even our world—be different today?  Can our diligent, heartfelt prayers make a difference for the future?  Most certainly.”

Therefore, while we wait for Election Day, why not pray fervently and expectantly?  This question is only partly rhetorical.  I say this because I am facing two obstacles against my effort to pray fervently before I vote.

First, my faith is often too small to believe that God could intervene to transform the life of one or both of the presidential candidates. But then, I follow Dr. Smith’s principle #1 above and open my Bible. There, I find encouragement in the historical and prophetic books like Daniel.  In Daniel 4, we read the account of how God transformed prideful, pagan King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon into a humble leader who afterwards spoke these words publically:  Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride (Daniel 4: 37).  What an amazing change of heart!

We can also read in Daniel 9 how this prophet interceded by fasting and prayer in sackcloth and ashes for his nation in exile. Daniel’s prayer is a model for those of us today who strive to understand the power of fasting and prayer.  God eventually turned the hearts of, not one, but several pagan kings who amazingly allowed the release of the Jewish nation from captivity. These pagan kings even assisted in the return of the Jews to Israel.  For example, in Nehemiah 1: 4, we read that when the prophet heard of the deplorable state of the city of Jerusalem during the Jewish exile (445 BC), he sat down and wept and mourned for days… fasting and praying before the God of heaven.  Then, Nehemiah appealed to the heart of the Persian King Artaxerxes I.  Amazingly, Artazerxes granted him permission to rebuild the ruined walls of Jerusalem.  Then this pagan king willingly supplied Nehemiah with the resources and protection to accomplish the mission!  Truly, the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord…and God can direct that path a king takes like the rivers of water (Proverbs 21:1).

Daniel and Nehemiah are only two examples of how God worked in history through great men of prayer and faith.  The author of Hebrews 11 lists many other men and women who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions….  Accounts like these from Scripture ought to encourage us today to fast and pray fervently and expectantly.  

Perhaps like me, you face a second obstacle against praying for our leaders and the candidates for office.  Suppose even if one or both of the candidates were miraculously transformed spiritually before November.  Can we trust that they would have the moral and spiritual maturity necessary for the office of president?  After all, look at their habits and past reputations—liar, adulterer, pro-abortion ‘murderer,’ proud, boastful, rash, brash, etc.  It’s no wonder many Americans are tempted to reside in the land of #NeverTrump, #NeverHillary, or #NoVote.  But then, was there ever a presidential candidate the all voters agreed would make a  good president?

For now, my focus for prayer is upon my personal attitude, my proneness toward sin, and the sin so prevalent in the American electorate.  As a born again believer in the incarnation, sinless life, death, resurrection, and imminent return of Jesus Christ, I am thankful that God did not look at my life and declare, “#NeverJohn.”  Instead, as the old hymn declares, God sought me, and bought me with His redeeming blood.  And God is still working to transform this stiff-necked rebel by the renewing of my mind (Romans 12: 2) through learning from people, experiences, and the Scriptures which are intended for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness…(2 Timothy 3: 15).

Or have we as believers in Christ’s atonement forgotten how terribly unsuited we were for an “office” in God’s kingdom?  Have we come to the point in the recognition of our spiritual poverty that we can see ourselves in the center of the crowd of Jewish Pharisees, each ready to stone us until Jesus defends us, and says to our accusers, He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone (John 8: 7)?  Or instead, do I see myself among the accusers surrounding a Donald Trump or a Hillary Clinton lying on the ground while shouting out accusing words? ADULTERER! “LIAR!” 

Thankfully, many of God's people are humbly praying for our nation, for the person God will allow to assume leadership in January, and for a new resurgence of moral clarity and integrity in America.  Many Christians are concerned about their own personal walk with God so that their eyes are clear to identify candidates with integrity.  Perhaps if the spiritual eyes of God’s people had been more “clear” (Luke 11:  34) in 2012, fewer Christians would have abandoned presidential candidate Mitt Romney, a decent, moral man, who then narrowly lost to Barack Obama.  Romney had campaigned as a social and fiscal conservative, so there is reason to believe that the past four years could have been different under his stronger moral and ethical leadership and prior experience as a governor.

In this year’s election, many moral and fiscal conservatives view Donald Trump as a weaker candidate than Romney because of Trump’s lack of moral and spiritual maturity.  However, I am encouraged that Trump campaigns as both a fiscal and a social conservative (e.g. support for sanctity of life, and for maintaining law and order).  Trump’s choice of Gov. Mike Pence, a man of proven character and leadership, for vice president suggests that he knows the importance of making responsible choices of men and women to serve in government.  Trump also recently demonstrated some humility when he expressed regret that some of his words have been hurtful.  Willingness to admit error is an important trait of a leader.  I am thankful for small indications that God is at work in the life of candidate Trump.  As he receives classified briefings, I pray that Mr. Trump will sense more clearly the weight of the presidency and call upon God for wisdom and strength as other presidents have done.

I am also praying that God will use one of Trump's advisers just as He used Barnabas as recorded in Acts 11: 22-26 to encourage Saul, a former persecutor of Christians.  In spite of much fear and resistance by the first century church to the acceptance of Saul, Barnabas recommended him to the church based on his genuine profession of faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his sins.  Saul was eventually accepted by the church and became Paul the Apostle, one of the great early church evangelists and church planters.

Come November 8, some of us will remain in the land of #NoVote, being unable to vote in good conscience for either candidate. But, when neither candidate is deemed morally and spiritually qualified, does that justify abstaining?  Anyone may choose not to vote, but we should remember that the outcome of elections is decided by both voters and non-voters. In 2012, many, including Christians, were among residents of #NoVote because they refused support Mitt Romney. The resultant reelection of Barack Obama suggests that choosing not to vote doesn’t prevent us from leaving our fingerprints on the outcome.  Also, residents of #NoVote must consider how much they are dismissing the importance of substantial differences in the platforms of Trump and Clinton.  Careful reading and listening to the candidates reveals stark differences in their vision for America with respect to the following:

1.   Respect for “rule of law” vs. extending “compassion” arbitrarily
2.   Sanctity of human life
3.   Respect for U.S. Constitution (e.g. 1^st and 2^nd Amendments; “separation of powers”)
4.   Responsibility of government to protect from foreign invasion
5.   Solution to urban and rural poverty
6.   Support for marriage and family
7.   Education—school choice, improving teacher effectiveness
8.   Protection of religious freedom
9.   Rights and dignity of women
10. Fiscal responsibility of government
11. Importance of character and integrity for those in “public service”

To the shame of the Christian community in America, our nation has become more like ancient Greece and Rome. But unlike the Greeks and Romans, thanks to God’s grace working through the Founding Fathers, we have the freedom to vote.  Unfortunately, more and more we are faced with a choice between candidates with character qualities not unlike a Roman Caesar or a Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar.  Yet God still works through pagan authorities; and, He continues to command Christians to pray for those in authority and to be salt and light in the public arena.  By “Spirit-led, Scripture-fed prayer,” we can develop more closely the mind of Christ and we can see more clearly what God is doing in our lives and in our nation as we participate as “salt and light” (Matthew 5: 13-16) while we anticipate Christ’s return. 

I do not know yet how I will vote in November, but I’m glad there is still more time to get acquainted with the candidates and their respective platforms.  Meanwhile, we ought to pray for them and for ourselves as voters that God will spiritually revive us, and revive America as God desires.  The prayer of Daniel, in Daniel 9, is a great place to begin praying in a "Scripture-fed, Spirit-led" fashion as you enter a time of quiet prayer, and perhaps even fasting for your relationship to God, and for revival in America and the World.  For more on prayer and fasting, see "How Do You P-R-A-Y This Thanksgiving?"

[I welcome your comments. Please click on “Comment” below if you care to respond.]

How Do You P-R-A-Y This Thanksgiving?

Christian workers are among the persecuted
in the war-torn Middle East.

Another Thanksgiving season is here.  But this one seems different.  World and national news of this past year has reported that thousands of people have been abused, martyred, or driven from their homes.  It seems that God has begun to act on a global scale in an unusual way.  But this is not the first time.  Recall that God touched the tongues of those building the tower of Babel, diversified their language, and caused them to disperse across the globe (Genesis 11).  

The “forced migration” from Babel is only one of many instances in which God has caused or allowed mass migrations.  Recall the exodus of at over one million Jews from Egypt as recorded in the biblical Book of Exodus.  Centuries later, God judged the decadent nation of Israel by allowing a 70-year exile of many of the Jews in the territories of Syria, Babylon (modern Iraq) and in Persia (modern Iran).  Now, the same God is working, in 2015, to move thousands of people from one continent, or even from one hemisphere, to another.


Today, when thousands of our brothers and sisters in Christ, young and old, are being martyred, imprisoned, or driven from their homes because of their faith in Christ, what is God asking His people, who profess faith in Christ, to do?  I believe He calls us to become involved, beginning with prayer.  After all, the death by stoning of the first martyr named Stephen in the first century was only the first in a long continuous line of Christians being persecuted and martyred because they refused to renounce faith in Christ.

What is God asking of me?  I find His answer in the commands recorded in the New Testament during the first century on behalf of those who suffered persecution:

Remember those in prison,
as if you were there yourself.
Remember also those being mistreated,
as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
                                         --  Hebrews 13: 3

Ouch!  This command is very clear!  Downright penetrating!  It declares that we are to IDENTIFY with the imprisonment and mistreatment of our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.  But why do I so often forget to remember?  And, how can I be more faithful and fervent in prayer for those under persecution?  Think along with me as I try to answer these two questions.

Why do I so often forget to pray earnestly for the many innocent children and adults who are suffering persecution for their faith?  For one reason, I have a good “forgetter.”  I can forget anything--from taking out the garbage to just being sensitive toward Abby in times she needs me.  Truth is, I tend to think of myself and my goals before others. 

There is another reason that I forget to pray for those under persecution:  I am blessed and surrounded with conveniences, but these can become distractions.  It is often hard for me to maintain focus in “prayer communication” in the midst of other forms of communication so much a part of my day--telephone, e-mail, text messages, and social media.  Nothing wrong with any of these as long as I don’t let them fragment my time line and interrupt concentration on a given task, especially prayer, reading, and reflection.

Please don’t get the idea that I’m already a saint of all saints.  I’m still working on how to be more faithful and fervent in prayer.  Here are some essentials that I’ve begun to incorporate into my prayer ministry on behalf of the persecuted as well as those in positions of power to make a difference:
1.   I try to be informed through daily TV and online news/commentary and websites of Christian ministries serving on behalf of the persecuted (see websites below)
2.   I am encouraged by weekly prayer with fellow believers, a time to share both new requests and answers to prayer.
3.   I am blessed with a brother in Christ who regularly keeps me accountable in spiritual disciplines including prayer.
4.   I try to maintain an up-to-date prayer list that includes particular needs of those under persecution.  For example, many have been praying for Pastor Saeed Abedini, imprisoned for his faith in Iran since 2012.
5.  Abby and I financially support responsible Christian ministries because we believe that where [our] treasure is, there will [our] heart be also (Matthew 6: 21).

Notice that my list includes WHAT I try to DO to maintain a disciplined prayer ministry for the persecuted Christians.  However, it doesn’t directly address the more basic issue of WHO I am in my DOING of prayer.  Does God really hear my prayers?  This concern brings us to my second question:  How can I be more faithful and fervent in prayer for those under persecution?   My short answer is this-- I must develop an intimacy with God in order to share His heart and compassion toward those for whom I should pray.  But how can I do this in the midst of my world so full of good things, and the inevitable distractions?   I’ll begin my answer with a story.

Sr. Pastor Dan Wingate participates in community prayer vigil.

Abby and I are blessed to be a part of a community in which local churches are committed to praying for those suffering persecution.  The pastors of approximately a dozen churches in Wooster, including our church, West Hill Baptist Church, have worked together, in 2015, to plan and lead two community prayer vigils.  The first prayer vigil was held on August 2.  The second one was held on November 22 and was attended by approximately 300 in spite of the near-freezing temperatures and wind.
As we left our warm car and walked with together to the shelter of a nearby pavilion, I felt unprepared for joining in corporate prayer--especially to pray for brothers and sisters under such great duress while mourning the death of family members or friends at the hands of ISIS; others having been displaced from their homes; and, still others fearing for their lives in the Middle East and Africa where Islamic extremist threats are most common.

Since Sunday’s prayer vigil, I’ve been reflecting on what God would have me do to be a more effective prayer warrior on behalf of the suffering.  This effort is “a work in progress” and I will share it briefly so that perhaps readers can add helpful insights from your wrestling with the same challenges.  Although I know there are no “easy formulas,” I am using the acronym P-R-A-Y in my effort to be more disciplined and fervent in prayer:

First, I must decide by an act of my will to give P--Priority to prayer.  I must submit my will to the commands of Scripture (e.g. Ephesians 6: 18 and context), the example of Jesus, and the power of His Spirit.  I begin by setting aside a good PLACE and TIME as Jesus did by habit according to Mark 1: 35.

Second, my time with God must be centered on R—Reading and meditating on His Word.  I must remember that the Scriptures are “God-breathed” and intended for me (2 Timothy 3: 16-17) and as I read and meditate (Joshua 1: 8) on them, my mind and spirit are engaged so that I can “speak back” to my Heavenly Father in prayer in line with His will.  The man and woman of faith must have this communion with God regularly, and desire to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).

Third, when we read and meditate on God’s Word in which He reveals Himself personally to us, A—Adoration and confession should be our response.  I need to get better at discovering the character and heart of God in Scripture.  He reveals Himself most obviously in the many names He uses—e.g. Jehovah, Elohim, Creator, Savior, Redeemer, Good Shepherd….and dozens more.  How rich our communion can be as we reflect on the “Great I Am” Whose breath arouses our spirit and speaks into our mind and soul.  And, my response is adoration, but also confession of sin as I recognize the blessedness of being poor in my spirit (Matthew 5: 3) in the face of God’s holiness.

Finally, as my prioritized time/place in prayer allows for my reading/meditation in the Word and my response of adoration/confession, my mind and spirit will Y—Yield in submission to God. Now, my supplication and intercession on behalf of others can be expressed in the prayer of faith (Hebrews 11: 6; Romans 8: 26-27 and context).  Jesus taught us what it means to “yield.” He said, …if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9: 23).

The “Yielding” part when we P-R-A-Y may be the hardest, perhaps because it depends so much on the prior three parts—priority, reading/meditation, and adoration of God.  But as much as I must depend on God’s Spirit for all parts of P-R-A-Y, I am encouraged to realize how very much my Helper wants to produce in me the fruit of yielding—of “denying self.”  Paul teaches that the fruit of the Spirit includes patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…(Galatians 5: 22-23).  Perhaps we can say that yielding or denying self, especially self-control, is both a fruit of the Spirit and the kind of obedience that provides more fruit (John 15: 5), including love, joy, and peace.

I feel like a first grader in the “classroom of yielding” or of denying self.  My flesh cries, “how morbid; how boring! Why not do this instead?  It’s much more fun and fulfilling.” Therefore, as a result of the teaching of our pastor, Dan Wingate, I am now considering how fasting, the commitment to denying myself for a time those things I most enjoy in order to P-R-A-Y with greater mental and spiritual focus for needs like the persecuted church of God.  This fasting is not of the kind Jesus chose as recorded in Luke 4, although there is a time and place for that, too.  See for examples, Nehemiah 1 and Daniel 9. 

If the Bible records instances in which individuals enter periods of extended praying and fasting as noted above, there are also instances where short prayers, sometimes called “arrow prayers” (e.g. Nehemiah 2: 1-5) are offered to God.  Likewise, I believe fasting can be practiced for days with very limited water and food.  But, fasting, like the practice of “arrow prayers”, can be incorporated into a disciplined lifestyle of private denial of things we normally partake of including certain food, beverages, entertainment, or activities.  In such fasting, we would determine under the direction of God’s Spirit to surrender something for a time as a “sacrifice.” The nature of biblical fasting is not to enter into an extreme ascetic denial without a God-honoring goal.  Rather, such fasting can be part of reinforcing the “denial of self” so that we can each more effectively complete Jesus’ command: denying himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9: 23).  

To the extent that I follow “P-R-A” to Y—Yield, I have experienced a sweet communion with God.  Some of you will have to share your experience with fasting because, as I said, I have not consciously applied fasting with the purposes I have outlined above.  I am aiming to try this in the days ahead, being careful not to violate Jesus’ other teaching in Matthew 6: 17-18 of not making a public show of it.

Yes, another Thanksgiving season is here.  But, this one seems different.  The world has changed much in the past year, and much for the worse it seems.  On this Thanksgiving, God may be calling His blood-bought children to dig deeper than "thankfulness" as a driving force for fervent prayer.  I believe God is calling us to P-R-A-Y as I have described with a focus including thanksgiving for what God has done; but then, moving beyond thanksgiving to adoration of God for Who He is.  Prayers of adoration to Almighty God invite His Spirit to lead us willingly to Yield in submission, to deny self, and take up our cross, willing to follow as an obedient disciple of Christ.  Many of our brothers and sisters are already facing life-threatening spiritual warfare, and it seems to be headed our way.  I hope my thoughts on prayer will make us better-prepared disciples.
 
Links to Responsible Ministries on Behalf of the Persecuted:
Samaritan’s Purse:  www.samaritanspurse.org/
Voice of the Martyrs:  http://www.persecution.com/