Greetings

Greetings saints of the Most High. I’m Rod Thomas coming to you from the DFW on a rather stormy first day of the week. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to fellowship with me and as always beloved, it is my hope, trust, and prayer that this installment of the Messianic Torah Observer finds you, your families, and your fellowships well and blessed.

Upcoming Election

As I am posting these thoughts and reflections, it is Sunday, November 3, 2024. This being the case, we are just two days away from the 2024 Presidential Elections.

What I believe to be at stake in this election is the very soul of these United States of America. What do I mean by the very soul of these United States is at stake in this election? Simply this: The American people laid out before them a choice between entering a season of complete and utter darkness and the potential for entering a season of truth and light. And what do I mean by complete and utter darkness and the potential for truth and light? One political party has made it clear that it is not interested in upholding and promoting any biblically moral standards in their quest for supreme power over the citizens of this nation. While the other political party, although not perfect in its moral standing, seeks to at least make some provision in upholding and promoting biblically moral standards in this nation.

No, Not One…

It would be naïve, if not entirely foolish, for me, or any other Messianic/Netsari, to say that one political party is the paragon of biblical morality in this nation. The fact of the matter is that scripture clearly notes that all of humanity is fatally flawed.

2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Psa 14:2-3; cf. 53.2; KJV)

9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;  10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Rom 3:9-12 KJV)

Despite the reality of these critical, sobering verses of Holy Writ, we must still face an even greater reality that we who claim to be citizens of the Kingdom — Netsarim — Nazarene Yisra’elites — Messianics — must live in this world while at the same time not be of this world (Joh 17.14-16; Rom 12.2). And it is this greater spiritual reality that presents the tumultuous challenge within every true disciple of Yeshua Messiah; knowing that politicians are prone to lie and put their own self-interests ahead of their constituents and at the end of the day, many, if not most, of them do not have a true relationship with the Creator of the Universe. So, how does a dyed in the wool disciple of Yeshua rationalize these troublesome realities in terms of whether he or she should take part in the upcoming electoral process?

Past Convictions

Several election-cycles ago, I had firmly concluded that no true Messianic/Netsari/Nazarene Yisra’elite, knowing the inherent moral problems associated with all politicians, could with any level of righteous conscience take part in an electoral process. To do so would defy Yehovah and His purpose, plans, will. At the heart of my hard and fast conviction on this issue were the words of the Apostle Paul, who wrote to the Roman Assembly of Messianic Believers:

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Rom 13:1-4 KJV)

21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. (Dan 2:21-22 KJV)

For me the irresistible question was, if I were to vote for a particular candidate that Yehovah was NOT intending to put into power, would I be kicking against the pricks (Act 9.5; 26.14)? Would I be taking a stand, ignorantly, against the Almighty on this matter?

Did not the Apostle to the Gentiles, write to his young protege at the time that: 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier (2Ti 2:4 KJV)?

A Misapplication of Scripture

Indeed, all of these, what I once believed to be support passages for my position against voting for political candidates, provide us a glimpse into the sovereignty of our Creator over the affairs of man, as well as that Timothy passage encourages the child of the Most High to limit his/her involvement in the affairs of this life for the benefit and promotion of the coming Kingdom of Yah. But do these passages reveal the whole and end of the story? Do these passages truly cast a dim view of Netsarim/Messianics taking part in this nation’s electoral processes?

One Scripture

We who have been in this Faith for any length of time and who possess at least of basic knowledge of the bible know that scripture must agree with scripture. In other worlds, scripture must not only interpret itself, it must also be in complete harmony with itself. One passage of scripture cannot disagree with another passage of scripture. Right? If such a situation were to exist, then the whole viability of scripture would be in question and our Faith would be in peril. Praise Yah that this situation does not, nor could it, exist.

That being said, if scripture truly leans towards believers not taking part in the electoral processes of this nation, how do we rationalize God’s people throughout scripture, holding positions of power within and over pagan nations throughout history? Consider these examples:

1. Joseph ruling as a Wazir over Egypt (Gen 41).
2. Moses, before he was exiled from Egypt (Exo 2).
3. King David ruled over Israel and the pagan nations of the region in peace (1 Chr 23).
4. King Solomon rules over Yisra’el and the pagan nations in peace (1 Kin 4).
5. Yehovah referred to Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II as His servant (Jer 25.9; 27.6).
6. Daniel served as an administrator of the Babylonian Court (Dan 6).
7. Mordecai served as second-in-command to King Ahasuerus (Est 10.3).
8. Esther served as queen over the Babylonian Empire (Esther).

Yah has shown in His Word that He is not above placing His people in positions of power, even placing His people in positions of power over pagan nations such as Egypt and Babylon. And if Yah has shown that He will place His people in positions of power over pagan nations, who are we to operate in isolation against the elected officials of this nation?

The Duty of Yeshua’s Disciples

The other issue that is related to the question of believers taking part in this nation’s electoral process has to do with turning a blind eye, heart, and mind to sin. As the righteous disciples of Yeshua HaMashiyach, we are called to be sin aware (Mat 5.3). If we as righteous disciples of Yeshua are sin aware — we are spiritually and physically aware of the devastating power of sin to humanity and we have it within our power — to some degree — seek to mitigate the profligation or prevalence of sin in our midst — does it not stand to reason that we would do so?

There is no secret in this nation that one of the political parties seeking to install their presidential candidate into office, openly and firmly promotes a sin-ladened agenda for the American people. That liberal party supports and promotes:

• Antisemitism
• Anti-Faith
• The LGBTQ Agenda
• Unrestrained murder of the unborn. This is nothing less than the national worship of Moloch.
• Anti-Second Amendment
• Pro-Islamic Agenda.
• Anti-First Amendment (silence one’s opposition at all costs).
• Pro-Illegal Immigration and the Culling of the American Population.
• Promotion of racism.
• Promotion of the Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Agenda which is right out of the Marxists’ playbook.
• Etc.

Now, this doesn’t mean that the conservative political party seeking to install their candidate into the Office of the President of the United States is holy and righteous. As we mentioned previously, all are filthy, and no one doeth good. But we who are disciples of Yeshua are supposed to be filled with Yah’s precious indwelling Spirit, which leads us to be sin aware. That being the case, the sin aware disciple of Yeshua Messiah must be led by Yah’s indwelling Spirit and conduct themselves in an exceeding righteousness that promotes the Kingdom of Elohim. These individuals must seek to promote goodness, peace, justice, mercy, grace, truth, and love for their Elohim and their fellow man/woman. Thus, it stands to reason that taking part in the electoral processes of this nation for promoting and installing into power the political party that best embodies these Godly principles becomes the de facto, moral responsibility of the Netsarim/Nazarene Yisra’elite. The one who calls themselves a Child of the Most High who knowingly stands on the side of and promotes the Kingdom of Darkness agenda, for whatever reason, cannot be a true Netsari/Messianic/Nazarene Yisra’elite. It’s that simple. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing and are not true members of the Body of Messiah. In fact, it is absolutely doubtful that these deluded individuals even possess Yah’s Set-Apart Spirit.

Yeshua taught:

17“So every good tree yields good fruit, but a rotten tree yields wicked fruit. 18“A good tree is unable to yield wicked fruit, and a rotten tree to yield good fruit. 19“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20“So then, by their fruits you shall know them— The Scriptures, 3rd edition. (Northriding: Institute for Scripture Research, 2009), Mt 7:17–20.

The Apostle Shaul counseled:

11But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone called ‘a brother,’ if he is one who whores, or greedy of gain, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. The Scriptures, 3rd edition. (Northriding: Institute for Scripture Research, 2009), 1 Co 5:11.

Time is Short

The other thing that we must be cognizant of as it relates Netsarim/Nazarene Yisra’elites/Messianics taking part in the electoral processes of this nation is that we, as Yeshua’s emissaries/ambassadors/disciples, are to be about the business of the Kingdom. There is no secret that time is short, and it becomes more and more evident each day that we are likely living in the Last Days. If we are indeed coming upon the Last Days, our work of promoting the coming Malchut Elohim — the Kingdom of Elohim — is even more critical. We must have every reasonable opportunity to work while it is still day, knowing the night cometh when no man/woman can work (Joh 9.4). If we as God’s elect decide to support, promote, and through our votes, install the presidential candidate that stands on the side of the Kingdom of Darkness, we may be cutting off our noses to spite our faces. It behooves us to act in accordance with the leading of Yah’s Ruach HaKodesh and vote for the candidate that will best foster an environment that is conducive to our doing the essential work of the Gospel.

Let us Do the Right Thing

And so, I simply encourage each of us to seek Yah’s will for our lives as it relates to the matter of His people taking part in the electoral process of this nation. Indeed, some of us may be led not vote for either candidate. And of course, many of us will be led to vote for the presidential, senatorial, and congressional candidates that best align with the principles of the Malchut Elohim and the work of the Gospel.

May Yah’s Spirit lead us to do the right thing in this matter and lead us unto all good works, and may Yah have mercy upon this nation.