WHAT ARE THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR HOLDING OFFICE?
As people campaign for an elected government office, voters look for various things in a candidate. The following are some of the things that voters desire in their candidates.
There are those who demand promises from the candidate. Some want these promises in writing signed by the candidate himself, as in pledging no higher taxes. Others are happy with the spoken promise as in the promise of “change” or “hope” which means something (anything) different than the present situation.
Many people want candidates that will support their particular cause. Those in favor of abortion want candidates that favor abortion. Those against abortion want candidates who oppose abortion. Unions want candidates that will give unions dominance over the worker and the business owners or municipalities, state, and federal governments. Others want a candidate that will limit the power of the union. Veteran organizations want candidates that provide help for veterans and security for the nation. There are those who desire to limit the strength of the armed services.
Some people want candidates that will provide for them financially. Social Security is usually a must since many millions of Americans depend on it as their only means of financial support. Businesses want legislation that will provide contracts to them for goods and services. Governments and charities want grants that will help them meet their financial obligations. Government workers tend to want higher taxes and higher spending.
Some politicians (and whole political parties) seek to develop a group of people, who are dependant on the government so that these people will always vote for them.
What a candidate believes and stands for is often considered by voters.
Experience is often looked for in a candidate; legislative for a representative or a senator and judicial for a judge. Leadership is always a trait looked for in a candidate.
THE ULTIMATE TEST OF A CANDIDATE
What I do not hear is what God calls for or requires in a person or a candidate. God says that a person who rules men must be just and rule in the fear of God (2 Samuel 23:3).
.
BEING JUST
What is just is determined by the character of God. He has put what is right and wrong into law, which is found in the Holy Bible. This includes the Ten Commandments and other scriptures which define what is moral conduct and what is not moral conduct. God has also put His law into people’s minds so that they are born with a conscience. Paul writes that those not having the written law of God but obey it anyway are a law unto themselves (Romans 2:14, 15). When people disobey their conscience for a long enough time what is moral may seem immoral to them and what is immoral may seem moral. God says woe to those who call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).
Some examples of this kind of correct or godly thinking are obvious: profit is good and debt is not good. Those who say otherwise are not just. New life begins at conception. Those who believe otherwise, or do not know, are not just. Homosexuality is an abomination worthy of death for its participants and annihilation of the society in which it is allowed. Those who believe otherwise are not just. We are to love God. Those who do not love God are not just.
TO RULE IN THE FEAR OF GOD
To rule in the fear of God means to acknowledge God in every action, decision, and law a public servant undertakes. It means to put God and country before one’s own selfish interests. It means to respect, to be in awe of, and to be obedient to God.
Ultimately God is the One who is just, and He justifies those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He, above all else, must be honored. You must believe that He is God in flesh, born of a virgin, sinless, and that He died for you on the cross and rose again. If you believe this and desire to be just you can confess to God that you are a sinner and invite Jesus into your heart. Whoever comes to Him will be saved. A sample prayer is, “Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me of my sin and come into my heart.”
What is just is determined by the character of God. He has put what is right and wrong into law, which is found in the Holy Bible. This includes the Ten Commandments and other scriptures which define what is moral conduct and what is not moral conduct. God has also put His law into people’s minds so that they are born with a conscience. Paul writes that those not having the written law of God but obey it anyway are a law unto themselves (Romans 2:14, 15). When people disobey their conscience for a long enough time what is moral may seem immoral to them and what is immoral may seem moral. God says woe to those who call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).
Some examples of this kind of correct or godly thinking are obvious: profit is good and debt is not good. Those who say otherwise are not just. New life begins at conception. Those who believe otherwise, or do not know, are not just. Homosexuality is an abomination worthy of death for its participants and annihilation of the society in which it is allowed. Those who believe otherwise are not just. We are to love God. Those who do not love God are not just.
TO RULE IN THE FEAR OF GOD
To rule in the fear of God means to acknowledge God in every action, decision, and law a public servant undertakes. It means to put God and country before one’s own selfish interests. It means to respect, to be in awe of, and to be obedient to God.
Ultimately God is the One who is just, and He justifies those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He, above all else, must be honored. You must believe that He is God in flesh, born of a virgin, sinless, and that He died for you on the cross and rose again. If you believe this and desire to be just you can confess to God that you are a sinner and invite Jesus into your heart. Whoever comes to Him will be saved. A sample prayer is, “Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me of my sin and come into my heart.”
No comments:
Post a Comment