I have a book in my office which is called Is God a Republican or Democrat? I have never read the book, but you can barrow it if you want. Abraham Lincoln said something like: The question is not “Is God on our side?” but “Are we on God’s side?” That is an interesting quote. Last week I read a Scripture that goes along on with this quote:
Joshua 5:13-15:
13 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” 14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” 15 The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
The issue is not a party, political issue, but an issue of being on God’s side and having faith and confidence in God. In Joshua chapter 6 the Israelites defeated Jericho and they did this because God was with them. As we vote, and we should vote as it is an awesome right, we should remember that we serve God and we can trust in Him regardless. God is in charge regardless of local, state and national elections. If you read Daniel chapter 5 you’ll see that God worked through might Babylon and later Persia to bring the Hebrew people back to their land. God accomplishes His will through His people and even through people who wouldn’t consider themselves His people.
On another note: This Sunday one of the verses is Titus 3:14:
14 Our people must also learn to engage in good [a]deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.
notice in the translation above (NASB) we see the word engage. That is the possible name for our Saturday night service, We as Christians must engage each other, engage in our relationship with God and engage the world. I love that word and I love this verse. You’ll hear more this Saturday and Sunday. (By the way, engage is a good Star Trek term)
blessings,
Pastor Steve
Steve Rhodes blog 
When I went to vote yesterday, there were many other people there who must live in my neighborhood. However, I knew none of them! And, nearly every time I go to vote, I see no one that I know. Obviously, I am NOT engaged with people with my neighborhood! The question is how do I go about getting engaged with people in my neighborhood?
Hi Janet, thanks for your thoughts. knowing your neighborhood just a little, I think it is tricky, since you have space between your neighbors. But, I think in general we need to be available. Maybe at other times taking cookies to neighbors around Christmas time and doing little things like that (bring some to your pastor to, I’ve heard he likes no bakes, chocolate chip and almost any other cookie). I think that it would be good to brain storm ideas to be Incarnational and engage the world. I’ve heard about Christians having parties to get to know their neighbors. Thanks and God bless, Steve
I heard about the book too and thought it is a question we need to ask ourselves, are we on God’s side? I also liked what Billy Graham said about voting according to Biblical values and praying that our nation will remain “ONE NATION UNDER GOD”. I know my heart has been really heavy, a state of mourning I think, over some of the issues some states have passed and the direction the nation seems to be going, but what else can we expect when a nation turns it’s back on God and embraces other gods. It makes you wonder how long will God bless a nation that acts as we have, passing laws that enable sin instead of those that would encourage and anable people to do what is right in God’s eyes. Is “implosion” coming? Don’t know, but do know I want to be on God’s side!