In this presidential election year, many Americans are wondering how to vote – or even if they should vote.
Into this quandary enters a new book by David Klinghoffer of the Discovery Institute with the audacious title "How Would God Vote: Why the Bible Commands You to Be a Conservative."
My reaction? Color me skeptical.
After reviewing what the Bible says about some of the major issues of the day, Klinghoffer concludes:
- abortion is OK before the 40th day of pregnancy;
- paying reparations to African-Americans for the slavery experienced by some of their ancestors should not be ruled out;
- there is no natural, God-given right to bear arms for the purpose of self-defense;
- God would support President Bush’s attempts at "comprehensive immigration reform," including a form of amnesty for illegal aliens;
If that is a "conservative" agenda, I’m glad I am not a "conservative" but rather an independent-minded American faithful to the U.S. Constitution and guided by his own understanding of God’s Word.
…Arms and self-defense: The Bible couldn’t be much clearer on this issue. The Israelites were expected to have their own personal weapons. Every man would be summoned to arms when the nation confronted an enemy. They didn’t send in the Marines. The people defended themselves. In 1 Samuel 25:13, we read: "And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff." Every man had a sword and every man picked it up when it was required.
Judges 5:8 reminds us of what happens to a foolish nation that chooses to disarm: "They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?" The answer to the rhetorical question is clear: No. The people had rebelled against God and put away their weapons of self-defense.
"Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight," David writes in Psalms 144:1. Clearly, this is not a pacifist God we serve. It’s God who teaches our hands to war and our fingers to fight. Over and over again throughout the Old Testament, His people are commanded to fight with the best weapons available to them at that time. And what were those weapons? Swords. They didn’t have firearms, but they had sidearms. In fact, in the New Testament, Jesus commanded His disciples to buy them and strap them on. Luke 22:36: "Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." Some skeptics will cite Matthew 26:52-54 – how Jesus responded when Peter used his sword to cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest: "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" Read those verses in context and they support my position. Jesus told Peter he would be committing suicide to choose a fight in this situation – as well as undermining God’s plan to allow Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection. Jesus told Peter to put his sword in its place – at his side. He didn’t say throw it away. After all, He had just ordered the disciples to arm themselves. The reason for the arms was obviously to protect the lives of the disciples, not the life of the Son of God. What Jesus was saying was: "Peter, this is not the right time for a fight."
WND published the best book on this subject, "Shooting Back: The Right and Duty of Self-Defense" as well as a DVD documentary on the topic of the same name. I highly recommend both if you want more clarification.
