Your Down Ballot Duties

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This is the last Sunday before the election, and next Lord’s Day we will all know a lot more about what exactly we have done to ourselves. Consider this exhortation a last set of reminders.exhort

First, the church is necessarily a political force, and nothing in governmental restrictions can be done to undo that. We are a polis, created and designed by God to disrupt the unbelieving polis, and disrupt it we shall. But we also believe that we have a responsibility to be political without being partisan. This does not mean that we content ourselves with vague abstractions, but rather that we insist that unbelieving movements, parties, agendas, factions, or candidates do not have the privilege of co-opting the voice of the church, or manipulating it, or buying it. What we say to the world must be grounded in the Word, and not in ungodly compromises. Jehoshaphat was a good king, but he was a good king who had no business in alliance with Ahab.

Second, because the unbelief and petty idolatries of the world have made a pig’s breakfast of the presidential election, many believers—especially in this congregation—will be tempted to stay home. But you may not stay home. You may not ride this one out, whether or not you have anyone to vote for in the presidential election. You have down ballot duties. You have down ballot responsibilities. In the world, the presidential election is an engine that drives turnout for all the other elections. We will know that we have made great progress when we have reversed that—when we recognize that political reformation begins at the county and district levels. Your down ballot duties are your primary duties in this.

And last, Jesus is Lord. He has been crowned by the Ancient of Days and given universal dominion over all the nations of men, including this one. That is not on the ballot, and never will be. Whatever happens will fundamentally be the result of His scepter, and not of our voting. So whatever else you do, when you go into the voting booth, make sure you pray the Kyrie. Κύριε ἐλέησον, Χριστέ ἐλέησον. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

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bethyada
7 years ago

Leaving me wondering if “eleison” and “Elysium/ Elysian” are related? It seems that Mercy Fields would be an appropriate name for heaven.

I find that “eleos” is mercy in Koine. Though I speak neither Koine or Classical Greek.

Dunsworth
Dunsworth
7 years ago
Reply to  bethyada

Probably not — Elysium comes from elusion, which means blessed. So it’s a different vowel in the root, and the classical Greek concept of blessedness didn’t have much to do with mercy. You EARNED your way into Elysium by keeping on the good side of the gods (which wasn’t always about pure virtue, often more about avoiding angering the wrong ones on the wrong days) and doing the right sacrifices.

I’m far from a classical scholar — about as far as it gets. But the connection doesn’t seem strong based on a coincidence of consonants. :-)

Flipov Sirylo
Flipov Sirylo
7 years ago

If by “down ballot responsibilities” you mean voting for Republicans in down ballot races, I would hasten to remind us all that little Republicans grow up to be big Republicans. And then they betray us.

I’d say that a more urgent “down ballot responsibility”, at this point in the decline of the republic, might be to have no part at all in nourishing or enabling them.

Alex in Wonderland
Alex in Wonderland
7 years ago
Reply to  Flipov Sirylo

Aha! Indeed, we wouldn’t want to be guilty of pragmatically managing God’s judgment–better to abstain all the way down that there ballot. Thanks for the warning :)

John
John
7 years ago
Reply to  Flipov Sirylo

You also have local offices like school boards, city councils, judges, etc.. along with state propositions and the like.

Doug Wright
Doug Wright
7 years ago

Love to see those ‘straight ticketers”(right through G.ADA-‘no new tax’Bush) -wax nonpartisan…, cuz war mongering contra-worshippers comfy whether shinto shrine or a western citadel walll beenie lean’s no matter/that serves the church! But the INSTANT case is much to contraversial. Go head Vote your down ballot, just remember down to yur skull and bones that ANY reaching senator or better have more in the closet than Trump has floor space. They (king makers)like it that way; makes extorsion so much more profitable. Oh, but playing by the rules:there’s honor among theives so they dont bring it up? And if it… Read more »

Andrew Kelly
Andrew Kelly
7 years ago
Reply to  Doug Wright

Hot dang, son. You need to learn you some talkin skills. I can’t make nothin of that comment.

Doug Wright
Doug Wright
7 years ago
Reply to  Andrew Kelly

Troll me

Alex in Wonderland
Alex in Wonderland
7 years ago
Reply to  Doug Wright

I understand you to say that the reasoning in the post is not consistent. As with the other post, who is to say when judgment has come. Who is to say when politics (of all things) on any level has not become a pig’s breakfast. If judgment has come, then exactly where down on that ballot does judgment stop enough that we are not managing judgment to vote. Where on that ballot are we not being manipulated, bought, etc. If we are not wanting to give up progress on a state/local level, why would we not take advantage of making… Read more »

Alex in Wonderland
Alex in Wonderland
7 years ago

Gracious. That comment is Yuge, just Yuge :) It’s Russia’s fault…
Signed, Negative, Dark, Divisive, Dangerous, Deplorable, Disturbing, Full of Scary Rhetoric, Basement Dwelling, Everyday Trumpkin.

RandMan
RandMan
7 years ago

I get to determine clown. So does very half-intelligent voter in this country. Trump is a ridiculous figure, a true clown. From his silly orange spray-tan to his unfathomable comb-over. The child of privilege who grew up in a multi-million-dollar household and had every advantage handed to him on a silver platter. A true child of the Elite. Almost financially ruined by age 34 only to be bailed out by his millionaire daddy. It is no surprise that uneducated white voters are his base. You’d have to be to get conned into thinking he stood for anything other than feeding… Read more »

mkt
mkt
7 years ago
Reply to  RandMan

“So does very half-intelligent voter in this country.” You should’ve stopped there. That was the best sentence in your screed.

Your pedophiliac conjecture regarding Trump is ironic since Bill Clinton took at least 26 trips on the Lolita Express (there are flight logs).

RandMan
RandMan
7 years ago
Reply to  mkt

Yes, in my typing haste I dropped the ‘e’ in every. I’m so dumb dumb.

Bill Clinton isn’t running for president.

Alex in Wonderland
Alex in Wonderland
7 years ago
Reply to  RandMan

I was fairly determined to not chat with those that are on the opposite side of Niagara Falls either politically, philosophically, or theologically. I’m more trying to share my thoughts to those that would generally agree with me in many, many other ways but are conflicted due to the religious #NeverTrumpers. My politically conservative atheist friends are busy at those blogs and politically conservative gay family members are at those blogs–that’s where their influence is best used. I’m not sure what your label is or your point being here on the eve of election–but maybe you just want to distract… Read more »

RandMan
RandMan
7 years ago

I appreciate the detailed response but I don’t think there is anything beyond the clown concerns. They cover the whole range. Trump is an unwell man. A radically uniformed narcissist who cannot see beyond his own ego. A dangerous person to be given the responsibility of being commander in chief. I appreciate Camille Paglia when it comes to art criticism. I saw her speak at Harvard and spend the first 20 minutes of the talk detailing to Harvard students why the university was so awful. A real gadfly and a fun read. I always enjoy her writing for the same… Read more »

Alex in Wonderland
Alex in Wonderland
7 years ago
Reply to  RandMan

I enjoyed your comment to the degree that the very same things are said about Clown and Witch but in reverse…her unwell, narcissist, dangerous, him not the greatest demon, also privileged, could do other things, people wishing him dead, truly cares about bringing power back to the states and the people rather than overprepared politicians…embarrassing that she thinks the Supreme Court should consider the needs of the world in their decisions rather than the Constitution–as opposed to Trump getting it–etc. Rather a man of potentially wishy washy convictions to be persuaded than one with evil convictions. So we’re just on… Read more »

John
John
7 years ago

I actually agree with your premise. He isn’t consistent. He hasn’t presented a non-arbitrary line in the sand in order to differentiate what constitutes “judgement” and what constitutes Christian progress.

For example, I live in an area absolutely dominated by leftists. Every single person in a “nonpartisan” office is leftist.

Doug Wright
Doug Wright
7 years ago

Nicely written

"A" dad
"A" dad
7 years ago

“Jehoshaphat was a good king, but he was a good king who had no business in alliance with Ahab.” David was a pretty good king, and he had business being in “alliance” with Achish son of Maok king of Gath, “2 So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maok king of Gath.” So Doug, was David’s alliance with Achish an “ungodly compromise”? We know Israel being subject to Nebuchadnezzar was ordered by God. We also know that Sennecherib was God’s servant, even though Sec’ did not know it! Any comment… Read more »

John
John
7 years ago
Reply to  "A" dad

I wonder whether Doug thinks our temporary alliance with Stalin against Hitler was justified.

"A" dad
"A" dad
7 years ago
Reply to  John

Yeah, similar concept. I thought of that as well.

John
John
7 years ago

Did you approve of the temporary alliance with Stalin against Hitler’s Nazi Germany? It’s a very real possibility that without that alliance Hitler would have been successful in his domination of Europe, including the UK.

wisdumb
wisdumb
7 years ago
Reply to  John

That alliance may have been the worse political mistake of the 20th century. Germany and USSR could have been enemies without our treaty and eliminated each other. Stalin was not trustworthy and only attacked Japan after Germany surrendered.
The alliance may be the cause of continual warfare for the last 70 years.

John
John
7 years ago
Reply to  wisdumb

It’s very doubtful that they would have “destroyed each other.” Russia survived on the back of our lend-lease program and Germany was on the doorstep of invading the UK.

wisdumb
wisdumb
7 years ago
Reply to  John

My thoughts entirely… It was our alliances (L/L) that kept USSR alive. Pull that and let them duke it out with Germany. Then, if you still want a war, you can fight the exhausted winner.

John
John
7 years ago
Reply to  wisdumb

A big part of our victory can be attributed to Germany having to fight on two fronts. Letting them finish their war against the USSR would have made our victory doubtful at best.
And that even ignores the fact that we would have had to allow the annihilation of the Jews for even longer.

Jonathan
Jonathan
7 years ago
Reply to  John

In what world does anyone “finish” a war against the USSR? Simply look at a map.

John
John
7 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

The vast majority of the population is in the extreme west of the country. There’s no need to cross the whole thing to “win.”

Jonathan
Jonathan
7 years ago
Reply to  John

Wars are won by fighting armies, not populations. Russia embarrassed Napoleon in the war of 1812 by not even trying to stop him from getting into Moscow, but by extending his lines, forcing him to chase, and proving that their soldiers weren’t going to give up no matter what he did. The German army was never going to survive a Russian winter and be able to overcome and submit the Russian army no matter what the Americans did.

wisdumb
wisdumb
7 years ago
Reply to  John

We fought on 2 fronts also…
Annihilation of the Jews wasn’t a widespread issue of the time.
We are pretty smart looking back at all this!

John
John
7 years ago
Reply to  wisdumb

We didn’t fight two fronts… We finished up Germany and then took to Japan. Japan, all the while, were dominating the Pacific and China. Germany didn’t have that choice because they didn’t have a massive ocean in between them and the enemy.

wisdumb
wisdumb
7 years ago
Reply to  John

VE was May of 1945, and we declared war on Japan Dec ’41. That equals two fronts for 3.5 years.

The USA wouldn’t have lost to Germany or Japan, due to those oceans and our size. We needed motivation which we eventually found.