I am Pro-life, NOW What?

Full confession!

I voted for the serial adulterer/Planned Parenthood supporter. His behavior smacked a smarmy manner.   I was warned by friends not to vote for him. In fact, one of my friends exclaimed, "Look at his hair! Ugh!" I shrugged my shoulders as I was not voting for a hair-do.    Does not our country need change?   That night yielded a victory for him. "Oh, Lord, what have we done?" What a strange response! I did not really like him or have full confidence in him, but the news of his victory elicited feelings of dread. I did not celebrate.

I repented. No, I will not vote for a candidate who does not pursue God's heart. I will not vote for a candidate who loves the things God hates and hates the things God loves. I am voting for someone who sets the moral tone of our nation. He is not a religious leader of the country but he does set the moral tone.

The other night I was reminded by a scene from an old movie called "Some Like It Hot".   For those who have never seen the film, the plot is about two musicians who witnessed a massacre by the mob. Having been discovered, they escape by running away and posing as females in a traveling ladies' band. Tony Curtis, "Joe" becomes "Josephine". Jack Lemmon, who is Jerry, becomes "Daphne". In the course of the film, Osgood Fielding III sets his eyes on "Daphne" and eventually proposes marriage. Desperate to avoid this situation, "Daphne" attempts to let Fielding down gently by stating objections to matrimony to Fielding.

Last scene:
"Daphne" "Osgood, I'm gonna level with you. We can't get married at all."
Osgood, "Why not?"
"Daphne", "Well, in the first place, I am not a natural blonde."
Osgood, "Doesn't matter."
"Daphne", "I smoke. I smoke all the time!"
Osgood, "I don't care."
"Daphne"...."Well, I have a terrible past. For three years now, I've been living with a saxophone player."
Osgood, "I forgive you."
"Daphne",   "I can never have children."
Osgood, "We can adopt some."
"Daphne", "But you don't understand, Osgood! ("Daphne", frustrated, pulls off the wig), Ohhhhh.....I' am a man!"
Osgood, "Nobody's perfect!"

This same phenomenon arises in talking to people who say they are Christian but are supporting Trump.

"I am going to level with you. He is not a good Republican candidate for president."
"He believes in killing babies"
Trump supporter, "Doesn't matter."

"He talks about women as if they were pieces of meat and he has bragged about his adulterous ways with no signs of remorse or repentance."

"I don't care."
"He threatens libel lawsuits to those who disagree with him."
"I forgive him."
"But you don't understand! He behaves like a Democrat!!"
"Well, nobody's perfect."

Like I said, I have repented of my vote for an unrepentent adulterer who supports abortion. A lot has happened since 1991. I have learned that my vote should not be based on apathy, "eeny-meeny-miney-mo" decisions in the voting booth or even entertainment value. I do not care if my candidate plays saxophone on late-night television or whether he wears boxers or briefs.

What is most important is that God cares. Yes, He is on the throne and in control. He will use all situations, any believer, unbeliever or even lukewarm people for His purpose. He knows the hearts, thoughts and motivations of every human being. Ultimately, every person is going to face judgment. They will either hear "Well done, my good and faithful servant" or "....‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’".

I do not hate Trump or any of the candidates. I do not hate Bill Clinton or his wife. I do not hate but am saddened by their support for abortion, marital infidelity, and many other practices that the Lord abhors. It is my fervent desire that they will be able to face the Lord as believers, who want to seek righteousness and serve Him. The Lord cares about issues of the sanctity of life, marriage fidelity, sexual integrity, and yes, even speech that glorifies Him. God loves Donald and Melania Trump, Bill and Hillary Clinton so much that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for their sins. I am not condemning or pointing fingers as Jesus Christ went to the cross willingly for me as well; and I too, am a sinner.

This Sunday, we Christians will observe and celebrate Jesus' victory over death on the cross. "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." Colossians 2:15

Jesus said, "It is finished." John 19:30

Christians, let us remember and be encouraged that it IS finished. We are not to justify sins, whether those sins are ours or someone else's. To do so is, in effect, like a dog who returns to his own vomit or a sow, having washed, returning to wallow in the mire.

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11

I want to take that charge very seriously. I want to pursue righteousness (and certainly godliness, faith, love and patience too), all the time, and in all situations. I even want to pursue righteousness in the voting booth. My hope is in Jesus Christ, not a candidate, but I do want to honor Him in choosing a person who is not just a hearer of the Word but a doer of the Word.

In the words of Osgood Fielding III, (and supporters of any presidential candidate), "Nobody's perfect".

No, but Jesus IS! Let us follow HIM for He has risen!!!