On Oct 28th the Rocky Mountain Conference of SDA posted an article on their Facebook page entitled Voting is a Gift. The Author, Nathaniel Gamble—who is the religious liberty director for the R.M.C.—decided to tell us what’s right and wrong with voting.
This topic—like many others in our church— can be very divisive because it is more opinion than directed by the Bible or SOP. Balance is called for.
I want to state, however you choose to vote is your business and nobody else’s. Nowhere in Scripture, to my knowledge do we find God commanding His people to take part in voting for worldly officials—unless you count the vote for Barabbas over Jesus in the judgment hall. Instead, what we find is a respect for those who were voted outside our control because political places are not the place for Christians.
The SOP indicates that we shouldn’t place our vote for parties or people who we don’t know or share the same biblical views. In other instances Adventists were encouraged to vote on issues like prohibition and rights of people. These two areas are far from the same thing, which is why one side is endorsed while the other is discouraged.
But whatever you choose, may it be in silence.
Whatever the opinions you may entertain in regard to casting your vote in political questions, you are not to proclaim it by pen or voice. Our people need to be silent upon questions which have no relation to the third angel’s message. If ever a people needed to draw nigh to God, it is Seventh-day Adventists. 2SM 336.1}
Isn’t it funny though that we have a religious director calling us to vote for people we don’t know nor have the same values as us? I mean, I guess it’s not a stretch to have a leader in the NAD tell us to do something that’s not part of our faith right?
The Lord would have His people bury political questions. On these themes silence is eloquence. Christ calls upon His followers to come into unity on the pure gospel principles which are plainly revealed in the word of God. We cannot with safety vote for political parties; for we do not know whom we are voting for. We cannot with safety take part in any political scheme. – {CCh 316.2}
Now, the main reason I write this is not to question anyone’s voting but the intent of this article by the RMC. Are they benifitting from this? Or are they leading their people in a direction that is not biblical but more culturally based? I believe—if we’ve noticed the direction and votes that have been cast by the RMC—they are leading their conference against the world church and doing it openly.
In this article the author tries to stay neutral while being pro vote. He makes statements like “Some Adventists are blue while some are red”. I agree with that, but question if should be a priority to Adventists. We may agree with some issues in some parties but how can we identify or say we are on their side when ultimately neither side is for God?
The author also states that freedom of conscience has been a long standing principle of the SDA Church, and that it is a gift from God.
Realizing this means that “Jesus died for your neighbor’s freedom of conscience, who’s politics you may or may not like.” So one can view this as: Jesus died so you can vote for politicians. One could also say “Jesus died so you have a choice for everything.” Our understanding is that when Jesus died a gift was given, but that gift was salvation and not the gift of voting.
He goes on to say if we choose to vote we should choose to vote for “someone who is supremely loved by Jesus.” Notice the emphasis on the word supremely. It’s implies some are loved more by Jesus than others, possibly those others are the politicians. His whole view in the article is to vote and to only vote for the supreme loved (whatever that means). I thought Jesus died for everyone in the world but apparently the Bible doesn’t say that (John 3:16).
He does state that to view one side as God’s side and the other as demonic is wrong. He states the best way to vote is to ask God to be with you during the voting process. But he reminds you that really you will eventually be voting for the lesser of two evils. Which in a biblical view makes no sense.
It’s like saying should I choose Hitler as my next state senator or Jeffery Dahmer. Many would choose Jeffery as his crimes were small compared to Hitler, but you still have a crazy psychopath as your state’s leader.
What I find interesting about the article is the end where he reminds us about our conscience. Remember he said in the article that freedom of conscience is a gift of God. Yet he ends the article by stating.
“The worst electoral mistake you can make is, not voting at all”.
I thought freedom of conscience is a gift of God—one where we all can choose whatever we want to do. If this is the case, then if anyone decides not to choose the lesser of the evils, why is that wrong? It’s a choice they made, just like others who chose to vote. It’s clear that this gentleman is one sided yet trying to show that he is neutral. Also if you disagree with him you’re wrong, even if you have that choice.
Now I am aware (like many of you) the problems that our nation is dealing with at the moment and it may seem as though a red flag may save our country. But please show me any politician who has cared only about the people and tried to make your life better as a citizen and as a Christian—give you more freedom of practice. There is a reason why we are counseled not to vote for people or parties but to vote for a law or something that will effect people at the local level.
Now I have to assume that this gentleman meant well and sometimes things just come out wrong. But when it comes to voting, why do we always think we have to defend voting and make it a righteous act? Voting is available for every citizen of this country. Does that mean it is a religious act? I don’t think so. If you choose to exercise your right to vote as a citizen, how is that a reason to make it a religious act or part of Gods calling?
The problem we have today is that many in the Christian community want to make every worldly pleasure Christian, that way they can feel it is ok.
The Adventist church—at least here in the U.S.—is losing its distinctive calling from God because of its intermingling with worldiness. And those in upper levels of the church in the NAD are encouraging this in order to separate the church. They are not unifying the church, they are dividing it from within.
The Lord would have His people bury political questions. On these themes silence is eloquence. Christ calls upon His followers to come into unity on the pure gospel principles which are plainly revealed in the word of God. We cannot with safety vote for political parties; for we do not know whom we are voting for. We cannot with safety take part in any political scheme. – {CCh 316.2}
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Rey Chavez lives in Albuquerque, NM. He is a volunteer representative for Amazing Facts/It is Written Ministries and a Bible speaker/Bible Teacher.