Explicitly Christian Voter Clubs

Post date: Dec 07, 2016 6:49:0 PM

Jul 4, 2011 by Paul McClintock

Many Christians groan at every news report covering the latest in ungodly government action. And after most elections there is a similar, but deeper, disappointment and frustration. But as Edmund Burke reportedly said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” God has not given us a timid spirit, and He empowers us by His Spirit to do what is right regardless of the circumstances (2 Timothy 1:7). And we see from Daniel’s faithful life during the dark days of unrighteous rule under Kings Nebuchadnezzar and Darius, as God’s people are faithful to Him, God does the impossible.

Here’s what you can do:

First, commit yourself to doing what you can to transform our society and government into one that honors and obeys God. Recognize that you are not responsible for what others do or do not do, but that God holds you accountable for what you do, regardless of what anyone else does. Does it pain you to see your legislator voting in some unrighteous way? Write, email or call him or her and say so. Forget your expectation that they will ignore you; their response is between them and God; your job is merely to be faithful to speak up as God leads.

Second, ask God what He’d have you do. Does He want you to run for public office? For city council? County commissioner? State legislator? Congress? Or would he have you serve on a city, county or state board or commission? How about just attending your city council meetings at least once per quarter and praying regularly for those in office? The key is to pray for God’s direction for what He wants you to do, and to be willing to do whatever He puts on your heart.

Third, get help. “Two are better than one…. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up” (Eccl. 4:9-10). Find another Christian with the same concerns about the moral and spiritual depravity in our society and government. Consider Nehemiah’s response to hearing of the horrid state of affairs in Jerusalem: he fasted and prayed for days, confessing personal and national sins (Nehemiah 1). Partner with one or more like-minded believers to meet regularly to pray and to determine things God would have you do individually or together. Write down the plans that God puts on your hearts, and timetables for doing them, and prod each other to be faithful to do them by checking up with each other deliberately by phone, email, texting, or in person.

This third item can grow into a Christian Voter Club with some group time spent going through the Studies in Christian Statesmanship (SCS) curriculum. Watch the videos or listen to the audios of lectures, and read the text books. Learn biblical thinking about government in the SCS Studies in Principle, Party, Leadership and Public Service. Take the tests on the course material to meet the scholastic qualifications which the Christian Liberty Party (CLP) uniquely requires for its party leaders and candidates for public office.

To help charter a Christian Voter Club, become a member of the CLP. This will not keep you from voting for godly candidates in other parties, but it will preclude your being an official member of another party. The CLP was formed to provide a mechanism for godly men and women to work together to turn our government to operate in accord with God’s word. Once a member of the CLP, learn what it takes to become qualified to be a party leader or candidate, and work toward becoming qualified.

Voter Clubs can also

• • provide volunteer campaign support for godly candidates;

  • host candidate forums;

  • compile Christian-concerns questionnaire results from candidates and publicize the results to area churches;

  • lobby various levels of government on particular issues that are being or ought to be considered;

  • pray for those in government, and not just on the National Day of Prayer;

  • pray for God to raise up godly candidates;

  • host ceremonies to honor godly public servants;

  • identify like-minded Christians in the community and get them to vote;

  • register voters in area churches.

Gideon was a reluctant leader. He really didn’t want the job. But He was willing to do as God led and said, and God used Gideon against overwhelming odds. In fact, God deliberately made the odds even worse from the human perspective, paring down the army of 32,000 to a mere 300 (Judges 7:3,8) to stand against the enemy numbering 120,000 in the initial engagement, and another 15,000 conquered when exhausted and hungry (Judges 8:10-12).

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).