TODAY ON TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
IT IS NOT ONLY OUR CIVIC DUTY TO VOTE,
IT IS OUR BIBLICAL DUTY TO VOTE.
AND VOTING IS REALLY BEING A GOOD STEWARD
OF THIS EXCELLENT RESOURCE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US
WHICH IS TO LIVE IN SUCH A GREAT COUNTRY.
WELCOME TO TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM,
A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES
CELEBRATING OUR 50TH YEAR PROCLAIMING TRUTH
ON TELEVISION, RADIO, AND NOW THE WEB
AND THROUGH EVERY MEANS POSSIBLE.
I’M PASTOR ROB PACIENZA.
EVERY ELECTION IN AMERICA IS IMPORTANT.
GOD HAS GIFTED US WITH A NATION IN WHICH
OUR VOICES CAN BE HEARD THROUGH THE BALLOT BOX.
BUT THIS YEAR, EVERYONE ON ALL POLITICAL SIDES
SEEMS TO HAVE A CLEAR SENSE THAT THE UPCOMING ELECTION
IS AN INFLECTION POINT IN OUR HISTORY.
AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE NOT JUST THE PRIVILEGE,
OR EVEN THE RIGHT BUT A SOLEMN DUTY
TO VOTE WITH A BIBLICALLY-INFORMED CONSCIENCE,
IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND IN LOVE TO OUR NEIGHBOR.
ON TODAY’S PROGRAM, WE’LL EXPLORE HOW THE KINGDOM OF GOD
IS CONNECTED WITH THIS PRESENT WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE,
AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR LIVES AND OUR VOTES.
AND WE BEGIN WITH A LOOK AT THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL OF OUR VOTES
AND OUR EFFORTS TO BE SALT AND LIGHT
AND THAT FOUNDATION IS PRAYER.
HERE’S OUR OWN DR. JERRY NEWCOMBE WITH MORE.
JESUS SAID THAT WE SHOULD RENDER UNTO CAESAR
THE THINGS THAT ARE CAESAR’S
AND UNTO GOD, THE THINGS THAT ARE GOD’S.
WELL, WHEN IT COMES TO RENDERING UNTO CAESAR,
THE THINGS THAT ARE CAESARS, WOULDN'T THAT INCLUDE VOTING?
THAT'S SOMETHING DR. D JAMES KENNEDY ONCE NOTED.
AND YET THERE ARE A LOT OF CHRISTIANS
WHO DON'T PARTICIPATE IN VOTING.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK RIGHT NOW WITH LAUREN COOLEY,
WHO IS THE HEAD OF THE INSTITUTE FOR FAITH AND CULTURE
AT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
ALL ABOUT CHRISTIANS AND THIS UPCOMING ELECTION.
LAUREN, WELCOME.
THANKS, JERRY, GLAD TO BE HERE.
SURE. SO FIRST OF ALL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
THERE ARE REPORTS, CREDIBLE REPORTS,
THAT MANY CHRISTIANS SOMEHOW SIT OUT EACH ELECTION,
AND YET THERE'S SO MUCH AT STAKE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
MAYBE THEY'RE THINKING, WELL, IT'S ALL RIGGED,
OR I JUST WANT TO FOCUS ON SPIRITUAL THINGS,
BUT HOW CAN THEY NEGLECT SUCH AN IMPORTANT DUTY?
WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S OVER
15 MILLION CHRISTIANS THAT AREN'T REGISTERED
TO VOTE IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR
UP TO 65 MILLION CHRISTIANS JUST SIT OUT.
AND SO THAT'S INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE I THINK
THAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE
AND PARTICIPATE IN EVERY SPHERE OF CULTURE.
I THINK THE BIBLE IS CLEAR.
WE'RE CALLED TO BE A PART OF THE CIVIC PROCESS,
TO BE A PART OF SHAPING CULTURE
AND VOTING IS REALLY BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF
THIS EXCELLENT RESOURCE GOD HAS GIVEN US,
WHICH IS TO LIVE IN SUCH A GREAT COUNTRY.
CALVIN COOLIDGE ONCE SAID,
“IF GOOD MEN DON'T HOLD OFFICE, BAD MEN WILL.”
AND I THINK ABOUT THAT QUOTE AND I THINK,
WELL, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BE THERE.
SO WE AS CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE INVOLVED
IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS, HOWEVER GOD CALLS US.
ABSOLUTELY.
AND ONE THING THAT I THINK THROUGH SO OFTEN IS THAT
WHEN I DIE AND I FACE MY CREATOR, I FACE A HOLY GOD AND
HE ASKS ME TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT I DID FOR HIM AND
FOR HIS GLORY WHILE I WAS ON EARTH.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT SINS I COMMITTED,
THE THINGS THAT I WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO DO, BUT I DID.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE THINGS
THAT I WAS CALLED TO DO AND I DIDN'T DO.
SO I THINK CHRISTIANS NEED TO THINK VERY CAREFULLY
ABOUT HOW THEY CAN BE INVOLVED IN STEWARDING
THIS GREAT GIFT THAT WE HAVE,
BEING AMERICANS LIVING IN THE LAND OF THE FREE WITH
CURRENTLY RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, WITH THE ABILITY TO SHARE
THE GOSPEL WITH SO MANY RICH BLESSINGS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED
BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY THAT WOULD LOVE
TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM US.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA OF SOME SAYING,
WELL, I DON'T LIKE THE PERSONALITIES INVOLVED.
SHOULD THEY INSTEAD FOCUS ON THE POLICIES?
I TRY TO IGNORE THE PERSONALITIES.
I TRY TO PUT ALL THE TALKING HEADS AND
THE INFLAMMATORY THINGS TO THE SIDE AND LOOK AT
HOW WILL THEIR POLICIES IMPACT THE COUNTRY.
I'M FOCUSED ON WHO WILL MAINTAIN RELIGIOUS LIBERTY SO THAT
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SPEAK FREELY AND SHARE THE GOSPEL,
WHO WILL PROTECT HUMAN LIFE,
SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE WHEN IT COMES TO THE UNBORN,
WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY LIVING.
WELL, RIGHT NOW WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TAKE A MOMENT AND LOOK AT
A SPECIAL VIDEO WE PREPARED FOR THIS SEGMENT.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD MORE IMPORTANT
ELECTION SEASON THAN WHAT WE'RE FACING IN 2024.
SO VOTE YOUR FAITH EXISTS TO REGISTER EVANGELICALS TO VOTE
AND ENGAGE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING THIS YEAR IS
THE RADICALIZATION OF ABORTION AT THE STATE LEVEL.
AND SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THE LEFT HAS PUT
THESE BALLOT INITIATIVES IN 11 STATES ON THE ISSUE OF ABORTION
TO DRIVE UP THEIR TURNOUT AND VOTER TURNOUT,
BUT ALSO TO UNRAVEL WHAT THE LEGISLATURES AND
THE GOVERNORS HAVE PASSED IN THOSE STATES TO PROTECT LIFE.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN FLORIDA IS GEORGE SOROS
ACTUALLY FUNDED THE EFFORT TO COME IN AND
TO GET THIS BALLOT INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT,
IT'S AN EXTREME ABORTION AMENDMENT THAT WOULD
LITERALLY ALLOW ABORTION UP UNTIL THE MOMENT OF BIRTH.
IT REMOVES THE PARENTAL RIGHTS AND CONSENT,
AND THEN IT REMOVES ALL OF THE SAFETY MEASURES FOR THE WOMAN,
LIKE ALLOWING LITERALLY
A RECEPTIONIST AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE OR A DENTAL CLINIC
TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM THIS SURGICAL ABORTION.
IF YOU JUST WATCH THE MEDIA, YOU WOULD THINK
THAT AMERICA IS WILDLY AND AGGRESSIVELY PRO-ABORTION.
BUT WHAT WE FOUND THROUGH POLLING
IS A FEW REALLY TELLING NUMBERS.
THE FIRST ONE I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS 73% OF AMERICANS NOW
BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE TWO LIVES INVOLVED IN ANY ABORTION,
THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER AND THE LIFE OF THE BABY.
OVER 92% OF AMERICANS AGGRESSIVELY OPPOSE END OF LIFE
ABORTION OR END OF PREGNANCY ABORTION:
THIS ABORTION UP UNTIL THE MOMENT OF BIRTH.
THE CHRISTIAN VOTE HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT
THAN IT IS THIS YEAR IN 2024.
BACK TO OUR CONVERSATION WITH LAUREN COOLEY
OF THE INSTITUTE FOR FAITH AND CULTURE. SO LAUREN,
WHAT VOLUNTEER ROLES COULD SOME ACTIVE CHRISTIANS PLAY?
FOR EXAMPLE, POLL WATCHERS.
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED.
YOU COULD BE A POLL WATCHER,
WHICH IS QUITE AN INTERESTING PROCESS.
A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE POLL WATCH, THEY SAY,
I SAT THERE AND NOTHING HAPPENED AND IT WAS VERY BORING,
BUT MY RESPONSE IS ALWAYS
BECAUSE YOU WERE THERE, NO FRAUD HAPPENED
BECAUSE YOU WERE THERE NO BAD ACTIVITY HAPPENED.
DOES THE INSTITUTE THAT YOU RUN HELP OTHER CHURCHES?
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE REPLICATED IN OTHER CHURCHES?
TELL US ABOUT THAT.
ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO BE A SPONSOR AND CO-PARTNER
WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED VOTE YOUR FAITH.
IT'S A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE CHRISTIANS
TO THINK BIBLICALLY ABOUT THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
AND SO MOTIVATING CHRISTIANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE
WHO DON'T TYPICALLY PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS,
TO THINK ABOUT IT SERIOUSLY,
TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF THE THINGS THAT GOD'S GIVEN THEM,
AND TO ENGAGE IN CULTURE
SPECIFICALLY IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE.
SO VOTE YOUR FAITH IS VERY SIMPLE.
YOU CAN GO TO VOTEFAITH.ORG.
YOU CAN JOIN THE CAMPAIGN, SIGN UP TO DO SOMETHING LIKE A
VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN WILL EMPOWER YOU TO BE ABLE TO
SPEAK TRUTH INTO THIS ELECTION CYCLE AND
STAND UP FOR THE WORD OF GOD,
WHICH IS WHAT CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO DO IN EVERY SPHERE.
LAUREN, TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES
THAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT THIS TIME AROUND?
THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD VOTE.
THE REALITY IS THE BIBLE SPEAKS TO ALL OF LIFE.
THE BIBLE SPEAKS ABOUT DEBT.
THE BIBLE SPEAKS ABOUT BUDGETING.
THE BIBLE SPEAKS ABOUT BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF YOUR RESOURCES.
AND SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE INFLATION ISSUES OR WE'RE
LOOKING AT IMMIGRATION ISSUES, GOD'S WORD IS CLEAR ON THAT TOO.
THERE ARE MANY RESOURCES THAT CAN POINT YOU TO WHERE THE BIBLE
SPEAKS TO ALL THESE DIFFERENT AREAS AND ASPECTS OF LIFE,
BUT WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT.
LET'S NOT FALL INTO THE RUT OF BEING THE SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES.
LET'S BE BIBLE BELIEVING CHRISTIANS THAT KNOWS
THAT THE BIBLE SPEAKS TO ALL OF LIFE.
SO WAIT, WHAT'S THE BIBLICAL POSITION ON IMMIGRATION?
TO SAY THAT OPEN BORDERS IS A COMPASSIONATE THING
THAT IS SUPPORTED BY THE BIBLE IS
A TOTAL MISINTERPRETATION OF GOD'S WORD.
REALISTICALLY, IF WE WANT TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE NOT AMERICAN CITIZENS,
THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS MAKE SURE THAT
AMERICA IS STRONG SO THAT WE CAN CARE FOR OTHERS.
BUT WHEN OUR OWN COUNTRY IS CRUMBLING,
WHEN WE DON'T HAVE BORDERS
THAT SECURE OUR NATION'S SOVEREIGNTY, IT CAUSES CHAOS,
WHICH THEN AS AMERICANS,
WE MUST FIX BEFORE WE CAN HELP OTHERS.
ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC OR PESSIMISTIC
ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION?
EVERY TIME THAT THE CHURCH HAS BEEN CALLED
TO STEP UP AND STEP OUT IN FAITH,
THEY HAVE RESPONDED THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
AND SO WHETHER IT'S THIS
PARTICULAR ELECTION OR SOMETIME SOON,
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS DONE WITH AMERICA YET.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO EXACTLY
WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THE BIBLE SAYS
EVEN IF EVERYONE ELSE IS SILENT,
THE ROCKS WILL CRY OUT.
AND SO WE WILL ALWAYS KNOW THAT GOD IS ON HIS THRONE
REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME OF AN ELECTION.
ALRIGHT. WELL LAUREN COOLEY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.
WITH A PIVOTAL ELECTION UPON US,
IT IS VITAL THAT GOD’S PEOPLE PRAY FOR AMERICA.
WE’LL SEND YOU THE 40 DAYS TO THE ELECTION PRAYER GUIDE
TO HELP YOU AND OTHERS LIFT YOUR HEARTS IN FOCUSED,
TARGETED PRAYER IN THE RUN-UP TO THE ELECTION.
CONTACT US TODAY AND ASK FOR YOUR FREE PRAYER GUIDE
OR SIGN UP ONLINE.
JUST VISIT CRM.TV/ELECTIONPRAYER TO DOWNLOAD
YOUR 40 DAYS TO THE ELECTION PRAYER GUIDE.
WHEN YOU JOIN THE PRAYER CAMPAIGN,
WE’LL ALSO SEND YOU A DAILY EMAIL PROVIDING
BOTH A PRAYER TOPIC AND AN INSPIRATIONAL READING
ABOUT THE POWER AND EFFICACY OF PRAYER.
SIGN UP TODAY. TOGETHER, LET’S PRAY!
MUCH OF THE CHRISTIAN CULTURAL AND POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
OF THE PAST CENTURY OR LACK THEREOF HAS BEEN WARPED
BY A MISUNDERSTANDING REGARDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
AS THE SECULAR WORLD PRESSED FORWARD,
MANY CHRISTIANS ADOPTED THE MISTAKEN IDEA THAT
GOD’S KINGDOM WAS ONLY OPERATIVE IN THE HEARTS OF BELIEVERS.
BUT THAT’S JUST CONTRARY TO WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES.
THE BIBLE TEACHES CLEARLY THAT GOD INTENDS FOR HIS PEOPLE
TO EXTEND HIS RULE AND REIGN THROUGH THIS EARTH.
THAT IDEA IS SHOCKING SOMETIMES EVEN TO CHRISTIANS.
THAT’S WHY I RECENTLY SHARED THIS MESSAGE WITH
OUR CONGREGATION HERE AT CORAL RIDGE,
“RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION.”
AS WE ARE TURNING TO PROVERBS 14:34,
WE’LL BE LOOKING AT TWO PASSAGES,
ONE IN PROVERBS AND ONE PASSAGE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT;
PROVERBS 14:34 AND THEN LOOKING AHEAD TO MATTHEW 5:13-14
IN A MESSAGE ENTITLED, RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION.
PROVERBS 14:34 VERY SIMPLY:
THE GRASS WITHERS AND THE FLOWER FADES,
BUT THE WORD OF OUR LORD, IT STANDS FOREVER.
AMEN. YOU MAY BE SEATED.
WHAT MAKES A NATION GREAT?
WELL, THIS VERSE THAT WE JUST READ IN PROVERBS, SAID
THAT THE GREATNESS OF A NATION IS DEFINED IN HER CHARACTER
AND WHAT THE FOUNDERS SAID HER SOUL.
IN PROVERBS 14:34, THERE IS A VERY CLEAR PROMISE AND
THE PROMISE IS TO A NATION, AND THE PROMISE IS THIS,
IF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS DEMONSTRATED AND ADMINISTERED THEN
THAT NATION WILL BE EXALTED,
MEANING THAT NATION WILL BE LIFTED UP.
BIBLICAL LANGUAGE USES TERMS LIKE
BLESSING AND FLOURISHING AND SHALOM
BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT PROMISE
IS A CURSE THAT NATIONS THAT PURSUE SIN
AND SHAPE THE PUBLIC SQUARE AND PUBLIC POLICY ACCORDING TO SIN,
THOSE NATIONS WILL BE BROUGHT DOWN.
WHAT IS THE STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS?
IF IT IS TRUE THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION,
WHAT IS THAT STANDARD?
WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF TALK RECENTLY THAT
THE STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OR THE SOUL OF A NATION
IS DEFINED BY HUMANITY OR DEFINED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
NO, THESE ARE GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS,
INALIENABLE RIGHTS THAT ARE ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN
THE STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD'S LAW.
YOU SEE, THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT GOD IS RIGHTEOUS AND
THAT HIS RIGHTEOUS STANDARDS ARE REVEALED
IN HIS WORD OF TRUTH,
MEANING THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS ACCORDING TO GOD ISN'T FLUID,
MEANING RIGHTEOUSNESS IN A NATION,
WHETHER IT'S THE NATION OF ISRAEL
OR THE NATION RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA,
THAT THE STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT RELATIVE,
THAT IT CAN'T WAVER, THAT IT CAN'T BE REDEFINED,
THAT THE STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS 2000 YEARS AGO
IS THE STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TODAY IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
THE AMERICAN FOUNDERS UNDERSTOOD THIS.
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS UNDERSTOOD THAT VIRTUES
AND LAWS AND PRINCIPLES AND RIGHTS,
IF THEY ARE NOT GROUNDED IN GODS STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
THAT THEY ARE DOOMED TO FAIL.
AND SO THEIR THEOLOGY TRANSLATED INTO THEIR POLICY,
THEIR PUBLIC THEOLOGY TRANSLATED INTO THEIR POLITICAL THEOLOGY
AND IT SHAPED A PUBLIC SQUARE 250 YEARS AGO
THAT STOOD FOR GOD'S STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
AND WE SAW UNBELIEVABLE FLOURISHING AND BLESSING.
A NATION THAT WAS TRULY EXALTED.
THAT'S WHY PRESIDENT JOHN ADAMS SAID,
“OUR CONSTITUTION WAS MADE ONLY
FOR A MORAL AND RELIGIOUS PEOPLE.
IT IS WHOLLY INADEQUATE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ANY OTHER.”
FOUNDING FATHER GEORGE MASON SAYS,
“THE SCOURGE OF SLAVERY WILL BRING
THE JUDGMENT OF HEAVEN ON A COUNTRY.”
18TH CENTURY MINISTER THOMAS BALDWIN THAT SAYS,
“A VIRTUOUS PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS BE FREE AND HAPPY.”
AND DANIEL CLARK SANDERS SAYS THAT,
“PUBLIC PROSPERITY PERVADES EVERY PART OF AN EMPIRE,
WHEN ITS MEMBERS ARE KNOWING, VIRTUOUS AND PIOUS.”
THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AND
OUR FOUNDING MINISTERS IN THIS NATION THAT UNDERSTOOD THAT IF
THIS NATION WAS TO BE BLESSED AND THIS NATION WAS TO FLOURISH,
THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS MUST BE DEMONSTRATED IN THE PUBLIC
SQUARE SHAPING PUBLIC POLICY FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT OUR PROBLEM IS TODAY?
WE'RE NO LONGER A NATION DEFINED
BY THE RIGHTEOUS STANDARDS OF GOD'S WORD.
NO, WE ARE A NATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY THAT MURDERS BABIES,
MILLIONS OF THEM IN THE NAME OF CHOICE AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.
WE'RE A NATION THAT REJECTS THAT
OUR RIGHTS ARE INALIENABLE AND GOD-GIVEN.
WE'RE A NATION THAT MOCKS STATES THAT ARE ATTEMPTING TO PUT
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE HORROR OF EXPOSING OUR CHILDREN
TO THE LAW OF GOD?
WE'RE A NATION THAT TELLS OUR CHILDREN
THAT THEY ARE A COSMIC EVOLUTIONARY ACCIDENT.
WE ARE A NATION THAT SAYS THAT GENDER IS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT.
WE ARE A NATION THAT HAS MORE DAYS, WEEKS, AND MONTHS
ON ITS CALENDAR CELEBRATING HOMOSEXUALITY AND TRANSGENDERISM
THAN WE CELEBRATE THE VERY BIRTH
AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.
THAT IS THE STATE OF OUR NATION AND THE SOUL OF AMERICA.
DOES ALL THIS KIND OF DEPRESS YOU?
IT SHOULD.
WHAT DOES THE PROVERB SAY? SIN IS A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE.
GOD, AS WE SIT HERE THIS MORNING,
HAS HIS SON SEATED ON THE THRONE,
REIGNING AND RULING,
BUT JESUS CHRIST WHO'S BEEN CROWNED,
REIGNS AND RULES THROUGH YOU, THE PEOPLE OF GOD,
MEANING YOU, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE 21ST CENTURY,
IN THE MIDST OF A NATION FACING REPROACH AND SIN AND DISGRACE,
ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED TO BE
AGENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN AN UNGODLY NATION.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 5 THAT WE READ IS
THE CALLING OF JESUS TO HIS FOLLOWERS,
YOU THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST.
HE SAYS, YOU'RE TO BE SALT AND LIGHT AND A CITY ON A HILL.
AND WHEN WE GET TO THE GREAT COMMISSION IN MATTHEW 28,
WHAT DOES JESUS SAY?
COME UP TO HEAVEN WITH ME.
NO, HE SAYS, GO INTO THAT WORLD, THAT DARK, DANGEROUS,
IDOLATROUS UNGODLY WORLD, THE GRECO-ROMAN PAGAN EMPIRE,
AND GO DISCIPLE THE NATIONS.
WE NEED TO VOTE FOR POLICIES AND LEADERS THAT WILL BEST FIGHT
FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE.
LISTEN TO ME VERY CAREFULLY.
THIS FALL IS NOT A DECISION BETWEEN RIGHT VERSUS LEFT.
THIS FALL IS A DECISION BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG.
AND I HAVE HEARD OTHER PASTORS SAY THAT TO VOTE
IS NOT YOUR BIBLICAL DUTY, IT'S JUST YOUR CIVIC DUTY.
THEREFORE, IF YOU DON'T VOTE, IT'S OKAY.
THAT IS NONSENSE AND IT IS UNBIBLICAL.
IT IS NOT ONLY OUR CIVIC DUTY TO VOTE,
IT IS OUR BIBLICAL DUTY TO VOTE.
IT IS THE WAY WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR WELL,
AND WE EXERCISE OUR DUAL CITIZENSHIP OF BEING
BOTH PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.
AND WE GO TO THE BALLOT BOX FIGHTING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
WITH IMPERFECT CANDIDATES,
BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS
YET AGAIN WILL PREVAIL IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE.
SO, PEOPLE OF GOD IN THE 21ST CENTURY,
MAY WE HUMBLE OURSELVES,
MAY WE PRAY, MAY WE REPENT
AND MAY WE SEEK THE FACE OF GOD AND NOT LOSE HOPE.
WHY?
BECAUSE THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS
AND THE DARKNESS DOES NOT OVERCOME IT.
HI, I’M JENNIFER KENNEDY CASSIDY.
AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM DR. PACIENZA,
VOTING IS NOT ONLY A CIVIC DUTY IT’S A BIBLICAL DUTY AS WELL.
MY FATHER, DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY
OFTEN REMINDED HIS CONGREGATION OF THE SAME THING.
WE HAVE A CRUCIAL NATIONAL ELECTION COMING UP
ONE THAT COULD DETERMINE THE ENTIRE FUTURE OF OUR NATION.
THAT’S WHY IT’S SO VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT CHRISTIANS
GO TO THE POLLS AND VOTE AND DO IT
WITH A BIBLICALLY-INFORMED CONSCIENCE.
YOU JUST SAW A SHORT PORTION OF DR. PACIENZA’S
KEY MESSAGE ON THAT ISSUE.
WE WANT YOU TO SEE THE REST OF IT
ON A SPECIAL DVD WE’VE JUST PRODUCED,
ENTITLED RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION.
THE DVD ALSO INCLUDES COMPELLING CLARIFYING MESSAGES FROM
DR. AL MOHLER OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
AND MY FATHER, DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY.
AND WE’D LIKE TO SEND IT TO YOU AS OUR THANKS
FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION.
AND IF YOU’RE ABLE TO GIVE A GIFT OF $50 OR MORE,
WE’LL SEND YOU THE DVD PLUS ONE OF THE
MOST APPEALING RESOURCES WE’VE EVER OFFERED.
IT’S THE HARDCOVER BOOK, MIRACLES IN AMERICAN HISTORY,
BY SUSIE FEDERER,
FEATURING A FORWARD FROM HISTORIAN WILLIAM FEDERER.
THIS SPECIAL, FULL-COLOR GIFT EDITION FEATURES
THE TWO VOLUMES OF SUSIE FEDERER’S MIRACLES SERIES,
CONTAINING 50 STORIES OF GOD’S HAND
WORKING IN AMERICAN HISTORY TO SAVE AND PROSPER OUR NATION.
DISCOVER HOW A STORM SAVED AMERICA FROM AN INVASION
THAT WOULD’VE DESTROYED HER;
HOW GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS MIRACULOUSLY
SPARED FROM DEATH IN BATTLE,
AND HOW GOD ANSWERED PRAYERS
TO RESCUE THE APOLLO 13 ASTRONAUTS.
YOU’LL FIND THIS AND DOZENS MORE TRUE STORIES OF GOD
COMING DIRECTLY TO AMERICA’S AID, IN THIS BEAUTIFUL,
288-PAGE GIFT EDITION OF MIRACLES IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
WHEN WE OFFERED THESE TWO VOLUMES INDIVIDUALLY,
THEY WERE AMONG THE MOST POPULAR
RESOURCES WE’VE EVER MADE AVAILABLE.
THERE’S JUST NOTHING ELSE LIKE THIS AVAILABLE THAT SO CLEARLY
SHOWS THE GOD OF THE BIBLE BEING ACTIVE IN OUR OWN NATION.
IT WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO GREATER FAITH,
AND TO SEEK HIS FACE AGAIN FOR OUR DELIVERANCE!
THAT’S THE BRAND-NEW DVD PROGRAM,
RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION,
AS THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION.
AND THE DVD PLUS THE FULL-COLOR, GIFT EDITION
OF SUSIE FEDERER’S BOOK MIRACLES IN AMERICAN HISTORY,
COMBINING VOLUMES ONE AND TWO OF THAT BELOVED SERIES,
AS THANKS FOR YOUR GIFT OF $50 OR MORE.
CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES IS NOW IN OUR 50TH YEAR
OF BROADCASTING THE GOSPEL
AND APPLYING GOD’S WORD TO EVERY SPHERE OF LIFE,
TAKING ON SUBJECTS THAT MANY MINISTRIES AVOID.
WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS AND YOUR FINANCIAL GENEROSITY TO CONTINUE
THAT MISSION AS AMERICA REACHES A CROSSROADS THIS NOVEMBER.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
WHILE IT’S TRUE THAT ELECTION SEASONS TEND
TO MAGNIFY OUR NATION’S DIVISIONS,
THE DEEP DIVIDE HAS BEEN APPARENT
TO MOST OF US FOR MANY YEARS NOW.
THE DISAGREEMENTS ARE NOT SIMPLY OVER POLICY ISSUES
THEY ARE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES IN WORLDVIEWS.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING,
THERE WILL BE DISAGREEMENTS IN ANY CULTURE,
BUT A CULTURE HAS CERTAIN THINGS THAT HOLDS IT TOGETHER.
THOSE THINGS INCLUDE A SHARED HISTORY, LANGUAGE,
TRADITIONS, VALUES, AND UNDERLYING ALL OF IT,
A SHARED RELIGIOUS OUTLOOK.
THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE CASE WHEN AMERICA WAS FOUNDED.
OF COURSE, NOT EVERY INDIVIDUAL PERSON
WAS A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN,
BUT THERE WAS A SHARED MORAL FRAMEWORK
THAT CAME FROM CHRISTIANITY.
THIS WAS NOT AT ALL CONTROVERSIAL
IN FACT, IT WAS CONSIDERED OBVIOUS AND NECESSARY.
JOHN ADAMS, WHO WAS A SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,
THE CONSTITUTION, AND WAS OUR SECOND PRESIDENT,
FAMOUSLY WROTE,
GEORGE WASHINGTON SAID IN HIS FAREWELL ADDRESS,
A SHARED MORAL FRAMEWORK IS NOT ONLY
NECESSARY TO A CULTURE,
ITS PART OF WHAT DEFINES A CULTURE.
AND IT’S ALSO THE REASON THAT OURS IS CURRENTLY FALLING APART.
ON THE ONE HAND ARE THOSE AMERICANS WHO STILL BELIEVE
THAT GOD’S LAWS SUPERSEDE OUR OWN,
THAT HE CREATED US IN HIS IMAGE,
AND THAT HIS DECLARATIONS OF RIGHT AND WRONG
AND GOOD AND EVIL,
ARE BINDING UPON ALL OF US.
THAT BELIEF PRODUCED OUR FOUNDING,
AND PROVIDES THE BASIS FOR FREEDOM.
ON THE OTHER HAND ARE AMERICANS WHO BELIEVE THAT GOD
IF THERE’S A GOD AT ALL
SHOULD ONLY BE PERSONAL AND PRIVATE,
AND SHOULD NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH OUR LAWS,
OUR SCHOOLS, OUR GOVERNMENT, OR OUR JOBS.
THIS VIEW SAYS THAT WE EVOLVED THROUGH A NATURAL PROCESS,
AND SO EVERYTHING IS UP FOR GRABS
AND WE CAN REMAKE HUMANKIND HOWEVER WE LIKE.
THOSE ARE NOT JUST TWO DIFFERENT IDEAS
THEY FORM TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CULTURES.
THAT MEANS AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM.
THESE DIVISIONS ARE NOT SUPERFICIAL
THEY ARE DEEP AND THEY ARE SUBSTANTIAL,
AND IT DOES NO GOOD TO PAPER OVER THEM
WITH FLOWERY SENTIMENTS.
IF AMERICA IS TO BE UNITED AGAIN,
IT WILL REQUIRE A CHANGE IN WORLDVIEWS
AND THAT REQUIRES A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING.
WE CHRISTIANS HAVE A KEY ROLE IN THAT.
WE MUST BE SALT AND LIGHT THROUGH EVERYTHING WE DO.
THAT INCLUDES OUR VOTES, AND OUR SERVICE, AND OUR ACTION.
AND IT INCLUDES SHARING THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST
THAT CHANGES PEOPLE’S HEARTS.
AND AT THE MOST FOUNDATIONAL LEVEL, IT MEANS WE MUST PRAY.
PRAY FOR A MOVE OF GOD’S SPIRIT OVER THIS LAND.
THE PEOPLE TO TURN TO GOD’S LAW AND TO HIS DESIGN.
AND FOR MILLIONS TO FIND THE GRACE AND FORGIVENESS
IN JESUS CHRIST THAT TRANSFORMS US,
AND ALLOWS US TO EXTEND
THAT TRANSFORMATION INTO EVERYTHING WE DO.
IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN.
BUT IT BEGINS WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD;
YOU AND ME HUMBLING OURSELVES, PRAYING,
AND SEEKING THE FACE OF GOD.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
PLEASE COME VISIT US AT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
FOR WORSHIP THE NEXT TIME YOU’RE IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
OR YOU CAN JOIN US VIA LIVESTREAM AT
AND I ALSO WANT TO INVITE YOU TO CHECK OUT
OUR BRAND-NEW STREAMING SITE,
WHERE YOU CAN STREAM AND DOWNLOAD
OUR TELEVISION PROGRAMS, PODCASTS, DOCUMENTARIES,
AND ALL THE OTHER BIBLICAL CONTENT WE PRODUCE.
CLICK “WATCH” AT OUR WEBSITE, CRM.TV
OR GO DIRECTLY TO
AND NOW, HERE’S A LOOK AT THE NEXT TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
IN 2020 OVER 25 MILLION EVANGELICALS,
THESE ARE ACTIVE CHURCH ATTENDEES
WHO WERE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE,
WERE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE.
THAT ACTUALLY INCREASED IN 22 TO 32 MILLION EVANGELICALS.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK
THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES