Refresco for October 30 – November 5

Good morning, dear Church family!

Today the Refresco is going to be quite different. Instead of looking at the passages for this coming Sunday, we are going to look at Psalm 11:3 in preparation for the upcoming presidential election.

Ice Breaker: Did you ever run for student office in high school or another organization? What office did you run for? Did you win that election? 

“… if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3) 

I’ve been at Sierra Vista Community Church as its pastor since 1997, and every presidential election cycle I do a sermon or series on the election, with the exception of doing the same this year. In fact, our current series in 1 John, has given us a lot to consider about how to act and live during this time. But, nonetheless, I still want to exhort you with a few things for you to consider about the upcoming election.

The question always comes up, “Pastor Ruben, why do you feel the need to even say anything about the upcoming election? Don’t you believe in the separation of church and state?” My answer: because elections matter and it does affect BOTH the church and state!  Also because of what Psalm 11:3 says, … if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?  Elections have consequences and DO matter. I care about our nation and the state of the Church.  I care about what we’re going to leave our children, our grandchildren and their children.  You’ve likely heard the famous quote by Edmund Burke, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.”  So, we, God’s people, need to rise up! We need to be informed, especially about this presidential election.

You already know that the election on November 5 is for our President, the highest elected office in our country. You have Kamala Harris, the incumbent Vice-President going up against Donald Trump, the former President. And apart from some totally unforeseen situation, one of those two people is going to be the next President at the end of this election. With Donald Trump comes J.D. Vance as the VP candidate. And with Kamala Harris is Tim Walz.  And so, that’s mainly who we’ve got to choose from, folks.  It’s basically a two-party choice.  Your write-in candidate really doesn’t matter. And so, as Christians, we need to look at this question today as it relates to this election:  “What am I, as a Christ-follower, to do?”  David asked a similarly relatable question in Psalm 11:3, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

The reference in Psalm 11:3 is to a destruction of those things in a community when truth is no longer respected, when justice is no longer practiced, when deception and violence have taken the place of honesty and honor, when error rules, when a character for integrity and virtue no longer affords any security.  Sadly to say, our foundations have taken major hits, but they still are in place to some degree.  They haven’t totally crumbled. And so, we need to make sure that we protect them so they don’t totally crumble and disintegrate!

So, what can you do?

1: VOTE.  As in every election, you have flawed candidates. All are imperfect. There’s only one perfect person who ever walked on this planet, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He was love personified.  He was holy, and evil men still nailed Him to a cross. So, we’re always having to choose in any election between two flawed imperfect people.  And you may not like either one of them, but one of them is going to be our next president.  So, what are we to do?  Well, you go out and exercise your vote!

Failing to vote is giving your consent through silence and inaction. That’s exactly what it is if you don’t vote!

2: You vote prayerfully. Well, apart from some totally unforeseen situation, one of those two is going to be the next President.  So, you pray, and you ask God, “God, what do You want me to do?”  Remember as Christ followers, we’re to pray about everything.  Jesus reminded us in Luke 18:1 “… that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”  You do not quit or give up or give in. You pray.

3: You vote biblicallyIf you want to find the will of God it’s found in the Word of God. We go to His Word and see what’s important to God. You ask as you read, “God, how do You want me to vote?  Speak to me through Your word.”  And God does speak primarily through His Word.  So, what is important to God?  What is He for in this election? Which leads us to …

4: You vote for what God is for. What is God for? Here’s four things that God is for. Of course, there are so many more issues at play in this election, but I do hope that these will give you some direction.

  • uncheckedGod is for LIFE. From the womb to the tomb and in between. The Lord gives both death and life …” (1 Samuel 2:6) [NLT]
  • uncheckedGod is for FREEDOM. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) [ESV]
  • uncheckedGod is for TRUTH and JUSTICE. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne …” (Psalm 89:14)
  • uncheckedGod is for the TRADITIONAL FAMILY: “And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” (Genesis 1:28)

The concept of family was introduced in the very beginning, as we see in God’s plan for creation was for men and women to marry and have children. A man and a woman would form a “one-flesh” union we call marriage and they, with their children, become a family, the essential building block of human society. The traditional family is God’s ideal.

So what are we to do? As Christ-followers we are to protect these foundations. So, join Gayla and I as we pray for the upcoming election and get out and vote.

6 … do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) [ESV]

Lastly, here are SIX WAYS you can pray:

  1. Pray for candidates to seek God’s guidance.
  2. Pray that candidates (and all of us!) would have listening ears and soft hearts.
  3. Pray for candidates to address poverty and justice issues.
  4. Pray for strength and encouragement for our leaders and election candidates.
  5. Pray that our leaders would commit to working together (and that we would, also).
  6. Pray that we would see each other through Jesus’ eyes.

God bless you.