Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Can a CHRISTIAN vote for Obama?

This is a word of warning from the word of God. How then Shall we Live Francis Schaeffer asked in the title of a book I own. How then shall we vote is from that same root question.

A Christian CAN (Is physically able to) vote for Obama. He can also visit a brothel and rob a bank. All are possible. Sin can be forgiven.

So am I saying it is a sin to vote for Obama? Not if you are ignorant. So if you don't KNOW, if you have been living in a cave for the last year, if you have no idea of where Obama stands in issues of righteousness like life and homosex, and you vote for him, it might not be sin. The bible clearly says:
Therefore, to Him Who Knows to Do Good and Does Not Do It, to Him is Sin, James 4:17

What about the rest of us? How then shall we live or vote?

I will grant that for a lot of people disgust with a difficult war, spending, torture and economics trump it may appear that a righteous position could be as a christian to vote Obama.

If those were the only issues, change from a flawed President and Party, I might consider Obama too. Certainly Health Care and many other issues aren't far from my heart. Economics are very deceptive. Promises of hope are very enticing.

That's what sin does. Entices.

John McCain is not a perfect candidate at any level. Sarah Palin is better. But they are human. Human leadership is flawed and very flawed as humans. My hope is not in people. But, I must be willing to do all I can according to James. To do any less is sin.

Now, back to the question, Can a Christian vote for Obama and not be in deliberate sin?

A Christian can IF:
  • They are Christian in name only. Name the name of Jesus but with reservation
  • They are able to crush that still small voice that says don't do it
  • They are willing to vote against the biblical mandates "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12), but “The wicked shall turn into hell all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17).
  • They can turn a blind eye to Pro Choice's result
  • They can ignore without grief the abomination of Homosexuality taught in schools, exhibited in the streets and marriage of same sex couples ordained of the courts
Romans 1:25 also warns us that people would exchange the truth of God for a lie. Because of this, God will turn those who choose the lie over to their own desires.


We can't ignore corruption and graft by people in government without a moral compass, it happens in both parties, but one party seems to flaunt it openly. The opposition of secular voices who suppress and oppose the testimony of Jesus in the Public Square. Who does these things? Can you vote for them?

So a person CAN vote Obama if they are unable to hear the voice of God for themselves and have had the voices of the media and campaigns trumping His voice in their spirit.
Timothy 6:5-7:

5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth,
who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry
nothing out.


A christian in name only can vote for Obama. There are plenty of them.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.


My hope and prayer is that people will vote righteousness. If you consider yourself a christian and if you believe that a vote for Obama is a righteousness vote I would recommend that you shut off the TV. Seek God and ask him what you should do. If you can't vote for, or against as I will do, then perhaps not voting at all is what he is calling you to do.

This is not about you, this is about the generations of your children and grand children.

I will now answer what I believe to be the truth; a born again blood bought spirit led christian who hears and obeys the voice of God will NOT be able to vote for Obama without it being sin to him or her. This action is not without consequence.
Hebrews 10:26
For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

1 John 1:6-7:
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with
one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.



Romans 6:

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under
grace? Certainly not!

I don't know what else I could say, but I do believe you can be forgiven if you vote Obama, God's grace will be enough to get us thru even if he is elected. I will honor him as President of the USA if he becomes President. I don't want to stand before God and try to explain at the Bema seat of Jesus my vote if I voted for Obama.

Much hangs in the Balance. This isn't about you. Does your vote take us closer or further from God's best?

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12), but “The wicked shall turn into hell all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17).


Vote your consience, just be sure your
conscience isn't seared. Luther spoke of this:

I found this in Luther’s Works, Volume 35: Word and Sacrament I, edited by E. Theodore Bachmann (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1960).
The treatise in question is Avoiding the Doctrines of Men (1522). In this treatise (pp. 131-153) he cites ten texts, the fourth one of which (pp. 136-140) is 1 Timothy 4:1-7. Going through the text phrase by phrase, in the relevant place (p. 138 ) he says as follows:

“6. They have a seared conscience. that is, their conscience is unnatural. For as said above, where there is neither sin nor matter of conscience, they make things out to be sin and a matter of conscience. This is as unnatural as the scar of a burn is on the body.”

Examine yourself and then go vote your conscience.

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