“Do you think God is using these elections to bring about the Antichrist?” Before you read this and think YIKES ALERT (!) Priscilla is not alone in asking this question. It’s actually a question in the hearts of many Christians, if they had the honesty and the guts to ask it like Priscilla did.  My Conversation with Priscilla concludes and may your heart be encouraged like hers was by someone being willing to give her a truthful answer and not just run around judging the question.

QUESTION: “Do you think God is using these elections to bring about the Antichrist?”

ANSWER: I am long on record that neither President Obama nor the Pope is the antichrist. Hillary is not the great whore of Babylon. And Donald Trump may have language I cannot stand, behavior I would imagine he regrets these days, but he’s one of 3 anti-Clinton candidates…not the antichrist.

The spirit of the antichrist has been in this world since Jesus ascended into heaven and this is what Scripture says about how we’ll know.

1 John 2: 18 “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.”

1 John 4:2 “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

Therefore, I will not worry about the future.  The Holy Spirit residing in every believer will keep us safe and deliver us from evil and through any difficulties so that even if our bodies suffer in this world, they cannot snatch us out of the loving hand of God our Father. As in the days of the flood and the exodus from Egypt, God delivers through it…not rapturing us from it.

If you choose to vote for one or the other candidate for reasons related to issues, your vote will be a vote for change of direction… or more of the same, but I don’t think the man of lawlessness is on the ballot. (I’ve got my own ideas of who is fomenting disorder and anarchy, rebellion against authorities and exaltation of a borderless government, but he’s not on the ballot.)

I’ll close with what Scripture says about him:

2 Thessalonians 2: 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing.

They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Verses 13-17 make a fitting closure and benediction, do they not? 🙂

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The full Q&A plus follow-up commentary with Priscilla can be accessed here

I’m moving on now to the healing we’ll all need after the election, regardless of how it turns out.  I’ll be doing it with my Advent devotional series called Timeless.

But I cannot move on from this conversation without letting you know that as much as we’re all sick of politics, a conversation about the Truth and how a Christian relates to the culture is an important conversation to have.  Thank you, Priscilla, for your bravery in asking these important questions.  May we all be blessed by it.

While everyone has their “eye of Sauron” fixated on the Supreme Court with Roe v. Wade, they have totally lost sight of Rostker v. Goldberg  and how the government can, in fact, tell women what to do with their bodies. Until now, a balanced Court has affirmed that it is lawful to require 18-25 year old men (both citizens and immigrant non-citizens) to register for Selective Service in accordance with the MSSA (Military Selective Service Act), with women still exempt. What will be the fate of decisions like Rostker v. Goldberg? Unlike Roe v. Wade which would go back to the individual States and frankly, leave legalized abortion largely unchanged from its present status, Rostker v. Goldberg is entirely within the federal government’s province and its fate is in the balance.

Don’t you think that the issue at least deserved to be raised during the election season regarding a woman as Commander-in-Chief, especially since she is also a candidate wanting to put women’s equality issues advocates on the Supreme Court?

If we have a woman as Commander-in-Chief… and we already have women in combat (December 3, 2015), the reasoning behind the Rostker decision is changing. The MSSA was reinstated by President Carter after President Nixon used executive order to abolish the draft.

Why did President Carter do it?

Because the Soviet Union had invaded Afghanistan and he didn’t want the US to be caught without enough soldiers should volunteerism prove to be insufficient.

To anyone willing to pooh-pooh the fate of women conscripted for military service, just tell that to Norway which just mandated it (August 25, 2016). And why? Because of equality for women.

The Supreme Court is an important issue since Rostker v. Goldberg, like Roe v. Wade, was a split decision. The progressive members of the court dissented and, like President Carter, wanted to open MSSA to women. Yes, the fate of the Courts is, and ought to be, an important consideration.  While those fixated on a woman’s reproduction are using fear and panic to drive the women’s vote, maybe a little truth ought to tell these delicate little flowers who are afraid of bad words on campus what women’s equality really looks like.  It may be a foxhole.

To those thinking deeply about the fate of America like Priscilla, A Conversation  continues:

PRISCILLA:  “Any Biblical insight would be appreciated. I feel like America will seal its fate on election day….and I still don’t feel confident about who to vote for. It seems like the “western” world: Europe, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia is slowly crumbling.”

ANSWER:  Yes, it does seem that way. The basic flow recently has been from Christianity’s truth declining to secular relativism to Islam’s insurgence/infiltration. That is why Europe is waking up a little too late from their romantic naiveté. May it not be for us. Ultimately this is a spiritual thing and why my goal has been to frame this entire election in spiritual terms and in Christian truth…

…FOLLOW-UP

Much of the media spin is making people think Trump’s ego is out of this world (when if you read a 2006 article about Tara Conner, former Miss USA, he’s certainly no tyrant, but a man who cherishes 2nd chances for others). For anyone to run for president, they have to have a healthy ego in order to survive…Really rather sad how much we’re being steered…and played, really.

But, like you, I’m reassured to know that even when Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, God preserved them and even fulfilled Scripture through it! Genesis 50:20 “And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Yeah, God is pretty amazing! 🙂

After the election, there will be many hurting people. So many people are burdened for America. They deeply desire a course correction from where America has been headed in the past 20 years and they’ve invested their hearts and hope. It’s not just nostalgia. It’s love for a way of life we call America and the cuts have been deep during this election season.

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The conversation continues…

The Chicago Tribune had a letter to the editor in which a woman proudly proclaimed she was voting for Hillary because she’s the first woman. She had tears in her eyes because of a first. I got tears in my eyes that someone would vote on such flimsy grounds.  What a terrible insult to the intelligence of women.  You see, I’ve been a woman in male-dominated fields my entire adult life and I know how hard it is to move beyond a first…to a second or a third…if the first has been selected for any reasons other than excellence and honesty.

I could have used my opportunity to preach about “girl power” when I was the first woman selected as the featured preacher from the student body in my seminary’s history. I chose differently. I chose better. Yes, I broke a glass ceiling, but that itself wasn’t as important for future generations as HOW I did it. 

Here’s what I have joy in the LORD about:  I was faithful to the TRUTH.  I proved I was the woman in ministry by doing my level best to do ministry with honesty, faithfulness, and excellence. I preached from Revelation 5, definitely not a girl’s text.

Today, we come to the point in A Conversation with Priscilla that explains why many pastors do not want to venture into talking about politics and why many people don’t want to touch this campaign with a sterilized 10 ft. pole. Priscilla wrote:

QUESTION: “I am also skeptical about voting for a woman for President.”

ANSWER: I hear you. There are many reasons we elect a President: (1) to lead us at home; (2) to convey protective allegiance in friendship among our allies, (3) to present strength and resolve in the face of our enemies, and (4) to cast a vision Americans can unify behind to work toward a noble goal.

Perhaps my greatest fear is that some women will vote for Hillary simply because she’s a woman and they’re not concerned with the impact this superficiality will have on those 4 areas.

Regarding (1) It’s hard to lead at home when we know she considers many of us irredeemable and deplorable. Those words cannot be softened to mere disagreement.   They’re fundamental. (2) Our allies have learned what she is like from her role as Secretary of State. She has a record here that’s all her own. (3) But it is our enemies that I believe present the greatest danger. The enemies of America do not respect women. We cannot force them to do so. I dread the idea that we will be targeted for destruction because they believe women should not get an education or show their faces in public…and certainly not lead the last remaining superpower. Easy to topple. I would hate to see a day when our military cannot regard our Commander-in-Chief as authoritative and the Selective Service would require enlistment of women and turn back into a draft to fight wars on many fronts against a Legion of Enemies. Why do I fear this? Past experience. Forcing women into the pastorate has split churches. Forcing women into any male dominated institution alters it or destroys it. Regarding the military echelon, I do not believe this is an experiment to be tried at this time no matter how noble in principle it might seem.  The innocent days of an honorable Thatcher have given rise to an enemy that beheads. And finally (4) I do not know that I can pinpoint a vision for America with Mrs. Clinton since she doesn’t appear to be leading anywhere other than where we’re already going.

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Priscilla followed up with commentary to which I replied:

A couple more points associated with your follow-up, yes, pastors are disinclined to preach into the political (particularly against the status quo) even to display the spiritual. Part of that is fear that they will be punished with revoking of their non-profit standing… [it’s called the] Johnson Amendment, which restricts First Amendment freedoms of all nonprofit organizations by prohibiting political speech… Repealing it would certainly be in the direction of a more faithful Church.

I am presently working on a video (amateur but the best I can do) outlining why American women shouldn’t use their vote as a statement of sisterhood, rather they should consider this vote with the same care and concern with which they’d choose a babysitter, a house painter or a surgeon. We’d never choose a surgeon based upon skin color or gender…or choose a house painter that had done many homes, but whose reviews didn’t convey quality workmanship. If women vote for Hillary based upon agreement with her on the issues, that’s different than choosing her simply because she’s female.

Ironically, this type of frank, biblical discussion is what gets lost when people stray from the issues to talk instead about things that are more like gossip than fact. This is why I’ve been so sad about the debates. I don’t think it would be an unfair exploration to know how she was treated as Secretary of State by leaders of Muslim nations and whether their permitted use of creative lying within Islam (there are 4 different words in Islam takiya and tawriya are the 2 I remember) gave them the freedom to lie to us because she’s a woman, women don’t matter, and the cause was important to them. If so, how much more as president? It’s what Iran did to us… 🙁

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The conversation continues…

And the video I mentioned is here:

“I am not sure whether I should cast my vote or keep my hands clean of this whole election? Both Trump and Hillary have some good and bad qualities.” Wow.  If that doesn’t boil down the Christian’s concern in this election to its most basic level.  Thank you, Priscilla, for outlining so clearly the choice ahead for Christians. 

The Bible doesn’t tell us how to vote or even that we must. 

What does the Christian do?

As I began this series, A Conversation with Priscilla, I mentioned that I’ve been answering Bible questions for a long time.  And I’m grateful that there are women like Priscilla who are paying attention and deeply desiring to act as a Christian in this election season. 

Today, the answer to her next question:

QUESTION:  “I am not sure whether I should cast my vote or keep my hands clean of this whole election? Both Trump and Hillary have some good and bad qualities.”

ANSWER:  I can easily understand the dilemma. Many Americans feel the same way. This is where I believe Jesus’ Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) sheds light on this election for Christians. Of course each American only gets one vote, but the principle (that we are given a situation and God holds us accountable for putting it to work for Him as best as we can) still applies. Judging the candidates as not worthy of a selection is the equivalent of the “wicked servant” saying (v. 24) “‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ” That servant met a bad end. The ones with 2 and 5 talents didn’t sit around complaining or wishing for better, they just did the best they could with what they’d been given. So it will be with me. I see good and bad qualities, no record (which makes me uneasy) and a record of public service (that troubles me deeply), but I will do my best to seek truth and vote accordingly.

Perhaps that’s why the thing I find most troubling is what the media is doing on this. When gossip passes for truth and collusion is occurring, we’re in a world of hurt.   It’s no surprise that the media has long abhorred Christians and what we stand for. It’s suspicious to me that suddenly the situation is presented to divide Christians from one another on morality grounds.

Is this just a tactic to further bury Christianity with our own shovel?

I think so. That’s why the issues are important and I’m taking great pains to read widely and evaluate critically. Sex sells, but truth saves.

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The conversation continues….

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For the record, there are other candidates besides Trump or Hillary.  There are actually 22 named candidates on my November election ballot for President.  Aside from the ones we’ve heard exist, there are plenty of other write-in choices.  The media has done a terrible job of educating so that we can vote with our conscience and our reason…and of course for you and me “to keep my hands clean.”

Do I vote for Trump or Hillary?  That’s a question on many Americans’ minds.  Well, don’t look at me.  (LOL)  I’m not going to tell you.  But I will tell you my answer when Priscilla asked it.  In the previous post A Conversation with Priscilla, I mentioned that I have been answering Bible questions for many years and I applauded Priscilla for asking a series of questions many people have on their hearts.  And wanting a biblical perspective.

The previous question was “As a Christian, what do the upcoming elections foreshadow for the USA?”  Today, I’ll share with you my coffee-time answer with my sister in Christ and new friend, Priscilla. 

QUESTION:  “I don’t know who to vote for….Trump or Hillary? I feel like no matter who I vote for in this upcoming election that our country is doomed. It seems like our days as “The Land of the Free” are coming to a swift end soon.”

ANSWER:  You’re right: It’s hard to feel good about voting for either of the candidates, but it’s easy to see the track record they’ve both had as public servants on the issues. The real issues, not the tabloid ones.

Hillary Clinton has been a public servant since Arkansas (1976), earning her family’s living from the taxpayers for 40 years, has had the blessing of being responsible for legislation, and accountable to the public who elected her and her husband.

Donald Trump has no public record. He’s been a business man looking out for a different set of priorities…that of his private companies, as it should be. He has earned his money privately, as the fruit of his labor, and he is accountable to his employees and boards. He has abided by the laws the entire time.

To judge Donald Trump by the public servant standard gives us no data points. Hillary Clinton has a record to defend. The converse is also true. Donald Trump’s only record is his business, whereas Hillary has no record as a privately employed citizen for decades and therefore her record for job creation, business taxes, etc. does not apply.

As a general rule, I believe “The Land of the Free” idea prospers best in a limited government environment where individual freedom like God gives us can be exercised according to one’s conscience. Christians are free to be Christians first.

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To be continued …

The information I gleaned was found at these links you might find helpful.

• A biography of Hillary Rodham Clinton from the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.  http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2744
• It is nothing short of arduous to find a biography of Donald Trump from before his presidential run, but here is one.  He’s at number 6.   http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/biz-monday/article2673915.html

It’s a genuine pity that so many recent biographies of both candidates are so steeped in smear that they serve to become useless for information regarding either Trump or Hillary.  Google and Bing results produce little but a bazillion versions of character assassination on both sides.  As a general rule, Christians should stick to the facts which are as close to the truth as possible.

Some of you are probably sick of 2016 political posts with good reason, they are Legion. I do them is because of Priscilla and those like her…who seek answers to questions burdening their hearts.

They cannot go to their pastors or to publications–even ones with Christianity in their name–with questions about the 2016 elections and yet, they want answers from a Christian perspective.  And I think they deserve to be heard as serious Christian Americans.

So today, I invite you, as a dear reader, to enter in to the conversation I had with Priscilla.  I applaud her for seeking answers … and I always try to treat my questioners as though I were having coffee with a friend. 

In a series of posts, I’ll share her questions which were asked publicly but about which I also requested her permission to repost them here.  And now, Priscilla’s question:

QUESTION: As a Christian, what do the upcoming elections foreshadow for the USA? I don’t know who to vote for….Trump or Hillary? I feel like no matter who I vote for in this upcoming election that our country is doomed. It seems like our days as “The Land of the Free” are coming to a swift end soon.

I am not sure whether I should cast my vote or keep my hands clean of this whole election? Both Trump and Hillary have some good and bad qualities. I am also skeptical about voting for a woman for President. Any Biblical insight would be appreciated. I feel like America will seal its fate on Election Day … and I still don’t feel confident about who to vote for. It seems like the “western” world: Europe, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia is slowly crumbling.

Do you think God is using these elections to bring about the Anti-Christ?

ANSWER: Thank you, Priscilla, for your excellent questions and for trusting me to answer them. There are so many competing voices in Christianity right now and sad to say, far more finger-pointing among Christians than is God honoring.

Kindly allow me to take your points one at a time.

“As a Christian, what do the upcoming elections foreshadow for the USA?”

Great question! The upcoming elections are part of the flow of time to Jesus’ return. Scripture is abundantly clear that in the last days, there will be great tribulation. In Matthew 24, Jesus outlines the end times and all the world sufferings (birth pains) we can expect before His return. We’re seeing it worldwide.

Here’s the key though: Jesus doesn’t want us to focus on the sufferings, but on being found faithful in spite of them at the day of His return.

So, the elections foreshadow a real choice Americans have about the direction this country will go.   Boil down the issues to the Gospel level and we can see that arguing about who is the greater sinner, Hillary or Trump, misses the point that we’re all sinners in need of a Savior. That should be our Christian focus even while we exercise our patriotic duty as Americans.

The conversation continues tomorrow…