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Bible Instructions for How to Vote

Does the Bible tell Christians how to vote? Well, yes, but not directly. New Testament Christians did not have the luxury of voting for their rulers, so the Apostle Paul instructed them to pray very specific requests for their governmental leaders. If we know what God wants us to pray for, we can know how God wants us to vote.

In 1 Timothy 2:1-5, the Apostle Paul commands Christians to pray especially for “kings, and for all that are in authority.” For American Christians, this would certainly include the President of the United States and all other elected officials. For what are we to pray? We are to ask God to move in and through these secular and (most likely) godless leaders in such a way that the following blessings occur:

  1. Peace: That Christians might enjoy a “quiet and peaceable life.”  The word “quiet” is the opposite of chaos. Sadly, many Christians since the early church have endured the pain and chaos of government persecution. We are to pray for policies that allow Christians to live without fear of oppression. Also, we should pray for policies that promote general order, reasonable laws, and an ability to be at peace with neighboring countries. Nothing brings more disruption then endless wars. Christians should pray for policies that produce the greatest amount of peace, order, and tranquility.
  2. Freedom: That Christians might be free to live “in all godliness and honesty.” Godliness has the meaning of piety, and refers to the right to live our lives in accordance to our conscience, both morally and religiously. The Greek word translated “honesty” has the idea of honorable dignity. We are therefore to pray for policies that allow for religious liberty, so that we can live as Christians openly and with dignity, as opposed to having to hide and operate in the shadows.
  3. Evangelism: The reason Paul gives for these two requests is because God “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” The Christian doesn’t pray for peace and freedom purely for his own comfort, but rather that the Gospel would spread far and wide without governmental interference. We ought to pray for our leaders to allow for free speech and the right to evangelize without fear of recriminations.

Notice, we are not commanded to pray that our leaders themselves would be godly Bible believers, even though that would be desirable. Paul’s instructions focus on the policies of the ruler more than his person. All throughout the Bible we have examples of secular leaders unwittingly performing God’s will. Cyrus, for example, fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy in allowing the Jews to return to their homeland. God is able to work His will through unworthy human hands.

Since the 1st century church, persecuted believers by the multiplied thousands have prayed as Paul instructed. They have claimed 1 Timothy 2 by faith as they cried to God for mercy and favor from oppressive governments. Did God ever answer these prayers? Of course He did. In fact, the United States of America is literally God’s answer to this prayer. God raised up a nation where Christians can live and worship freely without fear, and, because of these freedoms, the Gospel has reached out into every corner of the world.

So my premise is this: vote in accordance with your prayers! Are you praying for continued peace and freedom of worship? Vote accordingly. Communism is inherently oppressive, especially to Christians, but socialism is only a few shades better. Socialism limits personal liberty and restricts freedom of speech. A Christian who prays for peace and freedom should therefore vote for the candidate who will best protect our constitutionally protected rights and liberties. Must the candidate be a godly Christian? That would be nice, but no. The candidate must simply be the one who will best protect the liberties we cherish and for which so many have prayed. Early believers didn’t have the privilege of electing their own government. You can be sure, if they could have, they would have voted for leaders who would allow them to simply live in peace.

What about the matter of abortion? Well, Paul’s instruction doesn’t cover that issue. But James says this: “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). If one candidate allows unrestricted access to even late-term abortions, and another candidate promises to restrict abortion, the Christian must vote for the candidate who will save the most unborn lives. Is abortion murder? Yes. Is it abhorrent? Yes. And so a Christian’s responsibility is to not only pray for the eradication of abortion, but to vote in a way that will do the most good.

Vote for the one who’s policies protect our Constitution and religious liberties. Vote for the one who will save more babies from being slaughtered in womb. Back up your prayers with a vote for the one who will do the most good. The choice is clear: vote for Donald J. Trump.

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Strange, Strange Woman

Well, she likes to get close, wants to live in your head.
Every night she dreams of fresh meat in her bed.
Yes, she flashes her smile, drinks you up with her eyes,
Wants to catch you all alone by surprise.
She says, "My husband's away, won't you come in with me?
I'm a churchgoing girl in need of sweet company."

She's a strange, strange woman!

"I've searched the whole wide world to find someone like you.
We'll light scented candles, I know just what to do.
We'll spoil ourselves all through the night;
You can slip on home before morning light."
Bewitched by the sound of her flattering mouth
He sheepishly follows her into her house!

She's a strange, strange woman!

Well, she might be thin or she may be fat,
But making you feel big is what she's good at.
Many strong men have known her well.
She cut 'em all down, and she sent 'em to hell!

She's a strange, strange woman!

Based on Proverbs 6:6-27
Copywrite 2023, Matthew D. Barber

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Asbury: Who Can God Revive?

Asbury Revival 2023 Photo credit: Craig Keener

When God sends revival, He revives imperfect people.

They have sins. They have blind spots. They may have imperfect doctrine. You see, God gives grace to the humble. Your careful conduct does not impress Him. Your precise doctrine does not warrant God’s presence. Yes, doctrine matters! Pure Bible doctrine has enormous benefits, and I wouldn’t sell it for the world, but unfortunately, “knowledge puffeth up” (1 Cor. 8:1).

My Baptist brethren gladly accept the Great Awakening as an authentic example of New Testament revival, and yet, ironically, we differ on some key points. George Whitfield believed in infant baptism. The Wesleys believed it was possible to lose one’s salvation. With these (serious) doctrinal errors, how could a Holy God bless their ministries? Surely the Spirit of Truth would have passed them by! To the contrary, God displayed His reviving power in perhaps the greatest way since Pentecost. God has the right to revive Christian groups with whom I differ. If the Gospel is present and if hearts are humble, God can work.

If the Gospel is present and if hearts are humble, God can work.

Separation is a biblical doctrine. I will not be sucked into ecumenism for the sake of revival. However, I don’t have to join hands with the folks at Asbury in order to thank God for them! I can praise God for pouring out His love in their hearts. I can rejoice at the news of thousands seeking God and lifting up the name of Jesus. Will I be cautious? Of course! Discerning? Yes! But I will not allow my caution to devolve into uncharitable criticism. I look at what God is doing on that campus and my heart cries, “Thank you, Lord! Revive me, too! Revive MY family! Revive MY church! Revive my Baptist brethren! Revive OUR movement! Do not pass us by.” I don’t have to join them to cheer them on. I don’t have to endorse their doctrine to acknowledge the evident blessing of God upon the truths present in that body.

Could doctrinal error capsize the Asbury revival? Certainly it could, but I will pray that many will be saved before that time. I’ll pray that God’s people everywhere will seek Him like never before. What a missed opportunity if we do not!

Those who dismiss the possibility of revival at Asbury must be unfamiliar with the doctrine of “unmerited favor.” God gives grace to the humble.

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

Isaiah 57:15

(Photo credit: Craig Keener)

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Grow in Grace

Grow In Grace

To the child who just got saved – Grow in Grace.
To the teen who won’t behave – Grow in Grace.

Christian man enslaved to sin – Grow in Grace.
Woman bound with fear within – Grow in Grace.

Zealous preacher full of fire – Grow in Grace.
Servant ready to expire – Grow in Grace.

Churches dead with apathy – Grow in Grace
Healthy churches strong and free – Grow in Grace.

In these dark and troubled days
God receives the greatest praise
As we know our Savior more, and Grow in Grace!

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

2 Peter 3:18
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Mastering Our Moods

Mastering Our Moods

PART 1: David’s Method

Psalm 42

Feeling Moody Lately?

Do you ever have one of those days where you’re just in a mood? A mood is a hard thing to pin down. Sometimes you know why you’re in a mood, sometimes you don’t. You just have it. What is a mood? A mood is not purely emotional, although it involves emotion. A mood is also mental—it has to do with your thought patterns. Maybe you’re looking backward, inward or forward. Our minds often think irrationally. A mood is emotional and mental, but also it is physical. We may feel down simply because we didn’t get a good night’s sleep or we’re hungry. Have you ever felt a bit edgy when your stomach was empty, or you were exhausted after a long, hard day? All three components—mental, emotional, and physical—mix together to create what we calla mood or an attitude.

Does God’s Word have anything to say about moods? Yes, it certainly does. In the Bible, the word that indicates a mood or an attitude is the word, “spirit.” Of course, spirit can often refer to spiritual beings, such as the Spirit of God, angelic beings, or an individual’s invisible spirit, but often the context makes clear that the word is referencing the idea of an attitude or mood. This kind of “spirit,” while not necessarily spiritual in nature, is certainly an opportunity for spiritual darkness and deception to take hold of an individual. The Bible is full of references to both good and bad attitudes: a haughty spirit, cheerful spirit, angry spirit, joyful spirit, broken spirit—just to name a few. Thankfully, God gives us instruction about how to master our moods.  You do not have to be a slave to your mood!

David certainly knew the darkness and power of negative moods. The psalms record his experiences, but also his method of gaining divine power over his moods. A good example of this is Psalm 42. I would encourage you to stop and turn to this passage right now and read it. You’ll find that David never actually uses the word “spirit,” and yet the whole psalm is David’s prayer—David’s method—of dealing with inner darkness and despair.

Why do I feel this way?

We see David grappling with his feelings. He is up and down in this psalm. He starts out expressing a longing for God. He feels parched. He thirsts for God. David’s mind went back to the days when he could freely go to the place of worship with his friends. Most likely this was written while David was in exile, running from King Saul (1 Samuel 18-31). He missed the house of God.

David was lonely. Loneliness is a mood: a sense of being forgotten, a sense of abandonment. In verse 5, he asks himself this question: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul.” We often ask ourselves that, too. “Why am I feeling this way? Where did this mood come from? Why can’t I shake it? Will these storm clouds ever part? Is there something wrong with me?”

The word, “disquieted” means the sound of war—loud, chaotic noise that upsets and disturbs our inner calm. Our minds and souls are often filled with the clamor of crazy thoughts, feelings, and imaginations—noise that only we can hear.  What can be done? How can we silence this noise and restore peace and quiet in our hearts?

Hope in God.

David gives the answer: “Hope thou in God. For I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” Hope, in the Bible, doesn’t mean to cross your fingers and wish for the best. Hope means a joyful, confident expectation. It’s choosing to believe that something good is coming because Someone good is in control. It’s turning your gaze to an object outside of you and bigger than you, and declaring to yourself and anyone present that God is in control, God is good, and God will bring you through! Everything changes, but God never will. You can choose to anchor your mind on the unchanging rock of God’s Word.

This is the first step in mastering your moods. Hope in God. When you’re in a dark place emotionally, mentally or physically, it feels hopeless. But when you choose to turn to God, you have hope. The clouds will begin to part as you declare your faith in Him. This leads to the second step:

Praise God on Purpose.

David continues: “I shall yet praise Him.” Do you ever do things that you don’t feel like doing? Maybe you get up early because you don’t want to be late to work, or you do the laundry because somebody has to do it. You don’t feel like it, yet you do it anyway. David understood that he would probably not feel like praising God. He had determined that He would do it anyway. It was the only way out of a dark place. You can’t wait for the feeling. Sometimes we feel like praising theLord, but in the dark times we must praise Him on purpose.

Praise turns the Light on!

Praise turns the light on. Have you ever walked into a dark room or dark basement and felt around for the string hanging from a light bulb? You can’t even see your hand but you know the string is there. You move forward cautiously waving your outstretched arms hoping to brush against the dangling cord. There! You found it! With a simple pull the light bulb clicks on and the darkness is gone. Praise is the act of faith that makes God’s truth and God’s presence real in our hearts. He is truth and light. Praise allows His light to shine in our hearts. Praise is a focus on our God.

This leads us to the third step in mastering our moods:

Take Comfort in God’s Presence.

David continues: “For I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” God’s countenance is simply His face. It’s the idea of God’s nearness, and it implies God’s attitude of favor toward His children. We don’t get to see God’s face literally, but when we hope in God and praise God His face comes into focus. We remember what His Word declares, and the Holy Spirit makes His presence real to us. This is not necessarily an “experience.” It’s not something rooted in our feelings. It’s also more than a head-knowledge. The help of God’s countenance is received by faith. God ministers His comforting presence in a real way that is beyond human understanding—the “peace which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

Many Christians feel as though God is distant and disapproving. They ask for His presence, when all along they could have rested in His presence. God is not far away! He indwells His children and has promised never to depart.

Many Christians feel as though God is distant and disapproving. They ask for His presence, when all along they could have rested in His presence.

“Yes,” you say, “God may be with me but I don’t think He likes me very much.” This idea of an austere, disapproving God does much to darken the heart and send us into the most destructive paths. Many believers understand theologically that God loves them, but practically they don’t feel it.

Perhaps they try to win His favor through fervent service, or confession of sin, or by cultivating a heart of surrender, but always God’s presence is something to be desired—something outside of them—something to be sought after—something to be earned. I find it interesting that David did not ask for God’s presence. Instead, He declared it as a comforting reality. He knew God was with him, that God’s face was toward him, and he took comfort in God’s favor.

We haven’t mentioned the word yet, but we’ve been talking about it. The word is GRACE. Grace is God’s unmerited (undeserved, unearned) favor toward us. It was this favor that sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to die for our sins and be raised again for our salvation. Have you trusted in Jesus and accepted Him as your Savior? If not, do so now. It’s the only way to make peace with God and receive the promise of eternal life!

It is God’s continued favor that sent His Holy Spirit to indwell each one who trusts in His Son. If you’ve asked Christ to save you and been born again by faith in Christ, you’ve been washed of your sin by His blood. God now looks upon you with the same favor that He has toward His Son, Jesus. His favorable presence is not only with you, but it is in you. You need not ask or beg or plead. You don’t have to strike a deal with God or woo Him to your side. He simply wants us to hope in Him, praise Him, and rest in Him. He isn’t going anywhere, and He hasn’t changed His mind about you. As Christians, nothing we’ve done or that has been done to us “shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). Hope in God, and praise Him for the help of His countenance and you’ll see your mood begin to change.