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Why Vote in 2020
Tom Crandall • Oct 29, 2020
Why Vote in 2020
I love history. Everything we want to learn for our future is found in our past. Love, fear, courage, cowardice, sacrifice, selfishness, hate, kindness, poverty and prosperity—the fingerprints of God and man can be witnessed throughout the halls of our past.
We see empires rise and fall in our rearview mirror and discover priceless truth and lessons for today.
As we decide who will serve the will of the people on November 3rd, America will make history again. We the people, exercise a right purchased for us by the blood of previous generations.
Should Christians Vote?
Exercising your right to vote is making your voice known—a gift granted to us that we didn’t earn, and a right most of the world still doesn’t possess.
Not voting is voting.
Do you understand what is at stake in this election? We are in a battle of truth vs. lies, and what you choose will empower good or evil.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who stood against the Nazi regime ultimately giving his own life said:
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
There are reasons why people don’t use their voice.
We hear popular terms such as “separation of church and state” and think that means christians can’t talk about politics. This phrase is mentioned in a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote to a church.
The actual bill of rights amendment is about religious freedom and freedom of speech, not about keeping political conversations out of the church.
We will never change culture by shrinking back. Instead we are called to raise our voice against the injustices of today so that our children can live in righteousness tomorrow.
Today’s polarizing politics make a lot of christians nervous as culture and media casts shade in every possible direction. They are making it a challenge for anyone who is uninformed to be involved, but if you care about the direction of our nation don’t let opinions cause you to shrink back.
The biggest problem today in politics isn’t what people say, it’s what other people say someone said. “Did you hear what CNN said about Trump?” “Did you hear what Fox News said Biden wants to do?” We have resorted to the ways of Jr. High School gossip to find truth. I actually remember the day where the only fake news you could find was in magazines at the check out stand in the grocery store! Where have we gone as a nation? The media has polluted the atmosphere with hearsay, making it difficult to find the truth.
Show me the video of what Trump said—I want to hear it straight from him. Show me the policy that Biden claims he will implement—then I can make an educated decision for myself.
I don’t just have a right to vote, I have a duty.
Understanding the Greatness of America
America was founded by imperfect men and women who trusted in a good God for their future. They were standing against tyrannical leadership that sought to rule people’s lives and limit freedom.
July 4th, 1776 Our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence and penned these timeless words:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
America didn’t give us the right to be free, God did. However, our nation recognized the God-given right to humanity, and became a government that seeks to protect those rights for every person, no matter their gender, race, or background.
America is one of the few nations in history where you actually get to choose who rules over our land and sets policy that we all abide by.
How to vote
Blindly voting Republican or Democrat because it’s how you are raised is not only dangerous but irresponsible with your vote. I couldn't care less what party a candidate claims— but it’s vital to look at what they are promising and what the track record of each candidate has been.
Vote policy and character over personality and charisma
You are not voting for your next Pastor in Chief to influence your personal life. The personality of the candidate is not the most important issue, it’s the policies they will implement that matter the most.
Both men are deeply flawed and their faults have been on display for all of us. Everyone stumbles at Trump's inappropriate tweets, and ungodly past, but the evidence to believe he is a racist just isn’t there.
I have watched him for 15-20 years, and he has been loved by people of every color—owned football teams, gone to fights with Don King, hosted every race on The Apprentice, and has had long friendships with Herschel Walker and others—then he came down the elevator and announced he is running for President—presto, he’s a racist!
Christians that believe this lie grieve me. You can’t find a video on the internet that points to this disturbing accusation. It is evil. Click here
to watch Trump renounce racism, hatred and bigotry.
The Democrats have tried to condemn Trump time and time again with baseless finger pointing that ended up going nowhere.
Events have come up from his past, but if any of us where judged according to our worst day we would all be doomed?
As for Joe Biden and the Democrats, look at their values and what they stand for. That's enough about Joe for now.
Vote biblical values and conviction over party and emotionalism.
In Joshua 5:13–14, Joshua was near the town of Jericho, when he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded to know, “Are you friend or foe?”
“Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.”
Joshua yielded to the Lord. This was the secret to his heavenly authority and assignment.
You don’t want to find yourself fighting against God, but with God.
Trying to vote left or right can be confusing for some, but if you start from Heaven's perspective and let go of popular opinion from either side, it’s actually incredibly easy to choose to discover how to make your voice known.
The topic at hand:
Pro-Life Vs Pro-Choice
In heaven’s eyes, abortion is murder. People say, “But what about the woman’s body? It’s her choice!” Yes, it’s true that her body is her choice but what about the baby’s body? Why doesn’t the baby matter? Why does someone get to choose for the baby’s body? Culture has believed the demonic lie that a baby is not a real human in the womb, releasing unprecedented evil upon the most vulnerable in our society, the unborn. You can choose what you do with your body, but choosing for someone else is wrong—in this case, that someone else happens to be a baby, a real person. (That being said, If you have had an abortion there is complete forgiveness in Christ, and no need to live in condemnation.) Here is a study from Princeton University (click
here) that proves life at conception.
This one issue is the most important thing I am voting on, and one of the main reasons why I am casting my vote for Donald Trump. He is the most pro-life president since abortion began.
He has stood against the deceptive blood bath machine of Planned Parenthood, and lifted his voice consistently for the unborn, by defunding the abortion industry. Click here
for more info.
At the Republican National Convention he said:
“Democrat leaders talk about moral decency, but they have no problem with stopping a baby’s beating heart in the ninth month of pregnancy. ... All children, born and unborn, have a God-given right to life.”
President Trump has made history appointing three pro-life supreme court justices over the last 4 years, with Amy Coney Barret as a final confirmation just a few days ago.
The Bidden-Harris ticket is the most pro-abortion path in american history. They will stir up the slaughter of the unborn, and partial birth abortion—where a full grown baby is murdered minutes before exiting the womb.
Joe Biden has vowed the following in order to fuel the demonic agenda of the abortion industry:
- make Roe v. Wade “the law of the land”
- restore federal funding for planned parenthood
- cancel the Mexico City Policy - which would give billions of dollars to the abortion industry. Trump reinstated this policy to stop federal funding of abortion.
Don’t believe me? These points are Biden & Harris’ promises on their website here.
There have been more than 47 million reported abortions in America from 1970 to 2017 according to CDC data.
To make it clear: A vote for Joe Biden is a vote for the murder of the unborn. To believe differently is to follow the lies of culture.
If every christian in America would show up at the polls with biblical conviction, we could move towards ending this bloody genocide! It’s time to stand up and make our voice known for the unborn!
Do your research and vote your values to shift the culture of our nation.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” -Edmund Burke
Here are more resources to inform you to make a powerful choice on November 3rd!
- Bill Johnson, Biden Vs Trump. Why I’ll vote for… Click here.
- Thomas D. Klingstein Trump 2020, a Man vs a Movement. Click here.
- Franklin Graham on Trump and protecting life. Click here
- Capitalism vs Socialism. Click here.
- President Trump’s plan to combat Human Trafficking. Click here.
- Protect the 2nd Amendment—Does gun control stop violence? Click here to find out.
- If you feel like you can't support either candidate, click here.
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POST INDEX:
Can you imagine receiving a gift on Christmas—adoring the box and beautiful bow, yet never opening the gift? It’s possible to be in church for a lifetime and not receive the treasures of what’s been paid for. In the past few months I have found myself in a deep dive in understanding the simple message of the gospel. The Spirit of God has been highlighting different aspects of the cross, the blood of Jesus and the new nature that we have received as a result of it. I want to share 3 truths with you that have started to revolutionize my life in recent times: 1. Righteousness is a gift from God that can’t be earned—it must be received by faith. Righteousness means right standing with God—a position that no man can earn. The law reveals God’s holy nature, and man’s sinfulness. The law is good, and gives us the definition of sin, but can’t give life to anyone. Instead, it leaves us in a place of needing forgiveness and grace. It’s like a doctor that is able to diagnose a disease but unable to offer a cure. Jesus is the cure for the disease of sin and sickness that we all need. Many Christians try to earn their right standing before God with their good deeds and noble offerings, not realizing that Jesus has already paved the way for them. Their efforts are in vain and soon enough they burn out and wonder why they are not sensing God’s approval on their life. Self righteousness just leads to more self and focusing on sin management as the barometer for the righteousness you carry—a religious treadmill that never stops. We don’t live for righteousness, we live from it! In case you don’t have a relationship with God yet, you can click HERE to read my blog on “How to start a relationship with God”. If you are a child of God, you are righteous not because of what you do, but because of what Jesus has done for you on the cross. Meditate on these verses: 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Romans 5:17 “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1 “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:20 “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,” Peace is the result of trusting that God has made you righteous before you feel it, see it, or do anything to prove it. Focusing on our shortcomings and failures will never set us free, but only perpetuate more bondage. Looking to Jesus (John 3:14-16) is how we get free and receive the gift of righteousness. Activation: Ask yourself: Is there anything you need to surrender to Jesus? Take a few minutes to let the blood of Jesus wash you from the inside out. Spend some time meditating on the fact that you are already fully righteous before God, because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. If you are righteous in nature, how do you believe God sees you? Good or bad? Declaration: “Jesus, you are Lord of my life. Thank you that your blood was enough to make me fully right with you.” “I am standing pure and righteous before the throne of God right now, not because of what I did but because of what Jesus has done!” “I receive your peace you paid for in every area of my life.” 2. Faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus has brought us into full union with Christ. Romans 6:4–5: “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been UNITED together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,” United means to identify with, to be like, to be one with. We are in union, oneness with Christ! Our old sinful nature is nailed to the cross, buried in the grave and we are resurrected with Jesus—alive in Him! Just as a man and a woman getting married die to the single life and become one with their spouse, so we die to our old, sinful life and become one in spirit with Jesus. Ephesians 2:6 (NLT): “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11 “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Activation: Become aware of your union with Christ and take time to thank Him for being closer than the skin on your bones. See all temptation and sin as something outside of you. It is not who you are. Meditate on the reality that God lives in you on your best and worst day—He promised He would never leave you. Declaration: "I am hidden with Christ in God." "I have the mind of Christ." "I am one with Christ." “I am no longer separated from God. Every feeling of loneliness is a mere illusion, because I know that I am one with Christ in my spirit man!” 3. Our identity in Christ becomes a reality as we renew our minds. Oftentimes life happens and we don’t feel saved, at peace, or free. But God and His Word never change—we can come to Him just as we are at any time, in any situation, and He will receive us and transform us. It is so important to not interpret God’s word through the lens of our experience, but instead interpret our experiences through the lens of God’s Word. Your perception might be wrong, but His word never changes or fails. Romans 12:2 (NIV84): “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Ephesians 4:22–24 (NIV): “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Galatians 5:24 (Passion Translation) “Keep in mind that we who belong to Jesus, the Anointed One, have already experienced crucifixion. For everything connected with our self-life was put to death on the cross and crucified with Messiah.” HERE is a blog called “Receiving Righteousness” that I believe will help you in the process of growing in your identity. The renewal of the mind happens as our faith aligns with Him by doing the following: Feasting on His Word Reviewing testimonies of what God has done Praise and worship Prayer Meditation Declaration Activation: Give God thanks for what He has accomplished on the cross for you. How is the Holy Spirit leading you to renew your mind with what Jesus has accomplished for you? Take time to receive the love of God, His grace, and His perception of you. Declaration: “My mind is continuously being renewed by the Word of God, and as a result my life is continuously growing to look more like Christ!” "I am a new creation." "I am covered by mercy, and empowered by grace to live bold in Christ!"
People are convinced that God is angry, disappointed, punishing and judgmental. Let me assure you, the Bible proves, that is not the nature of God. Contrary to the world’s opinion God is actually holy, righteous, just and also loving, merciful, gracious, kind, forgiving and empowering. How can you know what God, the Father really looks like? By looking at Jesus! Jesus dealt with our inability to know the nature of God. He Himself said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” God looks like Jesus, because while Jesus was fully man, He was also fully God. Christ was not afraid of sinners, He was their friend. He never gave anyone an excuse as to why they cannot be healed, instead He healed everyone who was sick. Wherever He went, he brought freedom and deliverance to those who were bound. The life of Jesus points us to this truth: A good Father, like God will do anything for his kids, even if it means laying down his own life for their good. He gave up His only Son to give humanity true freedom. Many have not encountered a father like this, which is exactly why Jesus came; to reveal a heavenly Father who is better than anything we could imagine. He was a physical example of the love that God has for us. I want to encourage you today: No matter how hopeless you feel right now, this amazing Father loves you, and is right there with you to set you free! Meditate on Jesus and you’ll find the Father: Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” -John 14:12 Jesus covered sinners. Jesus healed the sick. Jesus accepted the rejected. Jesus set the oppressed free. Jesus forgave sin. Jesus removed shame. Jesus listened to people. Jesus gave hope to the hopeless. Jesus protected the vulnerable. Jesus comforted the broken-hearted. Jesus brought laughter and joy. Jesus brought peace to turmoil. Jesus revealed truth in the midst of lies. Jesus did miracles to provide for others. Jesus demonstrated the reality of another world. Jesus laid down His life so others could live. Jesus empowers us to live like Him. Everything Jesus modeled was a good Father. Activation: Get comfortable and take 3 minutes to imagine what the Father is like. Think about how He revealed Himself through Jesus. Are there any lies that you have believed about the nature of Father God? Write them down and leave them at the foot of the cross. Declaration: “I know that the Father loves me, because Jesus demonstrated it by dying on the cross!” “The Father’s embrace is the safest place in the world for me! I will not be afraid of punishment when I come to God, because I know Jesus has paid for all my mistakes."
Over the past months I have been pondering on the subject of freedom. In today’s fast world we are inundated with options but do our choices produce real freedom? The world thinks freedom is the ability to do, say and think whatever you want, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Living in lawlessness will make your soul sick, it will leave you asking “Isn’t there more to live for?” We all know of people who seemingly have it all. They are searching for freedom in money, friends, sex and success but when their head hits the pillow at night, they are left empty on the inside. True freedom is found in knowing God. We are designed to live in friendship with a Father who loves us. Never do I feel so free as when I experience the presence of God. Can you relate? That’s because we are made for Him. Jesus did not just give you a “get out of hell free” card, He paid in blood for you to live a life of freedom here on earth! “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!” -Galatians 5:1 If you received Jesus’ gift of salvation you can experience this freedom today, because Jesus paid for it. You have free access to the Source of everlasting freedom, love, joy and peace-found in Christ alone. Activation: Say this with me: Father, here I am! I know that I am precious to you. Thank you for loving me today.” Now, just sit still for a moment. Do you feel Him loving you? Take a few minutes to identify areas of your life where you are not experiencing this freedom yet, areas where you feel bound. Then take time to lay them down before the throne and listen to what God is saying to you about how He wants to change your life. Declaration: “I was designed for freedom in Christ, not for bondage!” “I don’t have to earn freedom, Jesus already paid for it on the cross! I simply get to receive it as a gift by entering His presence.”
Have you ever felt like something was missing from your life? Like something was wrong and you just couldn’t figure it out? You’ve been faithful in church attendance, and trying to be a good person yet you can’t shake this gnawing feeling that something is missing—or worse, wrong.
We were designed for righteousness—to be just—in right standing with God, and when we aren’t something feels off.
This “off” feeling isn’t meant to condemn us, but lead us to righteousness.
I have been there—and I have good news for you!
Living encouraged has more to do with how we steward our internal world than external circumstances. The Kingdom of God is a limitless fountain we can access to give endless encouragement at all times. God is our source of encouragement.
Failure has been a part of my life since I can remember. From childhood attitudes to leadership blunders; I’ve had my fair share. The truth is we all fail; it’s what we do with it that determines whether we flourish or get stuck.
