美國總統大選

在美國的我們正接近我們一生中最重要的選舉，我和許多仍不知道要選哪位總統的基督徒談話，許多人對於要選哪個政黨充滿矛盾。身為一位牧者，我認為有責任提出這個會影響許多 神百姓的議題。

首先，許多基督徒不瞭解怎麼會有基督徒成為自由黨員，其他基督徒則不瞭解怎麼會有基督徒成為保守黨員。瞭解（understand）指的是站著他人立場下（stand under），所以無論我們是哪個政黨，讓我們至少努力來瞭解與我們立場不同的人。

我們應謹記在心，耶穌是被宗教保守人士釘十字架。為此緣故，宗教保守派嚇到許多人，包括許多真誠的基督徒。我是宗教與政治上的保守派，一些極右翼的人士相當困擾我。一些來自右派的苛刻語氣深深令人攪擾，我認為反而造成反效果。

然而，現在左派也像右派一樣，出現更多苛刻言語與不包容，造成更多反基督教與反聖經的言論。聲稱最能包容他人的團體，往往成為最無法容忍與他們意見不一的人，哪怕只有小小的分歧也無法容忍，其中一些人已被視為社會的恐怖份子。我們現在看見整個國家開始反彈，這已經成為如此明顯並令人擔憂的事。在最近的爭議中，便以前所未有的方式強烈呈現出如此的反彈，就是許多美國人起來捍衛美國知名連鎖速食餐廳「福來雞」(Chick-Fil-A)（註：福來雞因反同性戀言論而遭到抵制）。

當主被問及世界末了的預兆時，祂首先說『不要被迷惑』(參考馬太福音24:4)，顯然主在暗示蒙蔽將成為末世的主要因素。為此緣故，我研究蒙蔽、異端與假教導，特別像德國一樣偉大的國家，中間有最聰明的人，竟掉入納粹的迷惑中。歷史上兩個最殘暴的政府，來自極右派的法西斯黨與極左派的共產黨。在左派與右派中都可以找到社會主義份子（納粹稱為『國家社會主義』，這可能需要寫一本書來詳細說明，但社會主義基本上就是以尋求人，還有我們的社會能力與創始力作為問題的解答，取代轉向神並尋求祂的道路。這正是創世記裡巴別塔的本質，也是啟示錄裡巴比倫的根源。

美國是一個越來越分裂的國家，但我們可以預期這樣的事現在正發生在每一個國家。這是聖經中所預言的，麥子和稗子將要被分開，而我們在以賽亞書六十章所看見在光與暗之間的衝突會越來越多，並會持續下去。倘若我們不要被更多的欺騙所蒙蔽，我們必須保守我們的心遠離反動主義或政治。歷史上一些最殘暴的運動，都是出於因拒絕或受傷而產生的反動信念。當分裂對立繼續時，受傷與拒絕也不會停止，這是地獄給終極邪惡打開最大的門。基督教建造在饒恕上，這才是我們前往之處唯一的解藥。顯然，這是精心設計的。

身為基督徒，我們的信念與行動必須單單根據聖經，而不是依據我們被善待或苛待的結果。主警告祂的跟隨者會遭拒絕，甚至因為祂而被憎恨，所以當這樣的事發生時，我們不應感到意外。祂也命令我們愛每一個人，甚至愛我們的仇敵，那我們要怎麼做呢？

我們必須先定意以善報惡，而不是以惡制惡。這不代表我們將妥協我們的信念，而是我們要掌管自己的靈，在聖靈的果子中成長，這些果子在反對和考驗中會長得更快。倘若我們這樣做，我們就能夠對事物持守對的立場，也能和顏悅色。

我知道一些很優秀的人鄙視小布希，持續用惡毒的話語攻擊他，這些人卻無法容忍別人對歐巴馬說任何負面的話，稱他們做了非常惡劣與極端的事。令人震驚的是，如此聰明的人卻無法看見此虛假，但這即是主所描述關於蒙蔽的例子，當我們試圖挑出別人眼中的刺，卻看不到自己眼中的樑木。當我們被蒙蔽時，我們並不知道，或認為自己不會被蒙蔽。要幫助人從中得自由幾乎不可能，唯有聖靈，祂是真理的靈，可以釋放我們脫離蒙蔽。

上述所說的蒙蔽可能在雙方陣營都有，但毫無疑問此時這樣的蒙蔽正在左派戲劇性的增長。幾年前，我認為剛好相反─本來右派受到更大的蒙蔽，但在20年前開始轉到左派，而且越陷越深。為什麼呢？將右派的納粹與左派的共產主義擄掠的靈是相同的靈，所以我不是基於政治派別，而是基於對事實或真理明顯的盲目。

倘若此種蒙蔽本來在右派比較嚴重，後來轉到左派，甚至更加嚴重，不要以為不會回到右派。即便如此，我非常擔憂現在在左派裡深度的蒙蔽，或深度的黑暗。似乎此與抵擋神和抵擋聖經立場的程度成比例增加，這不代表所有左派人士都在深度蒙蔽中，但在美國很難找到在左派卻不受蒙蔽的人。在其他國家，有可能剛好相反。

身為基督徒，我們被吩咐要『敬重那在我們中間勞苦的人』（參考帖撒羅尼迦前書5:12），就是在主裡面治理你們、勸戒你們的。因此，我試圖對自己的觀點敞開與公正，倘若你們會讀我所寫的每週一話，我相信你們應該知道我對重大事情的信念。我也認為身為一位牧者，我有責任談論我們時代的重大議題。不讓我分享我對重大議題的觀點，例如選舉，有違我的憲法權利與聖經責任，所以下面我會更深入來談論到此。

美國總統大選的選擇

我聽到基督徒提出一個問題：我們怎能投給摩門教徒？那是很好的問題。雖然我稱不上是摩門教的專家，但 神在25年前讓我看見，會有一波大復興臨到摩門教和耶和華見證人。 神讓我看見他們就像聖經中的撒瑪利亞人，他們的信仰確實有摻雜，但他們對福音的回應超過其他團體。因著井邊婦人的見證，全城的人出來看耶穌。因著腓利到撒瑪利亞城去傳講福音，全城的人都信主。

即便如此，我們是在選總統，不是在選牧師。信仰確實影響價值，而價值影響我們的行動。因為我從來沒有碰過兩位完全一樣的浸信會教徒，或兩位一樣的天主教徒，新教徒或任何其他團體。我認為這即是聖經告訴我們要以果子來判斷人，而不是單以他們的話語而判斷的原因。

我非常不同意一些天主教的教義，但我感謝他們的領袖在對抗這些時候的一些重大社會議題，還有一個團體也提供一些主要領導階層和資源，以對抗我們這些時候的重大社會議題，其正是摩門教會。我不會加入天主教或摩門教，只因為一些核心議題與他們教義相同，但我非常感謝他們的領導階層對我們這時候重大議題所做的對抗。

我也研讀歐巴馬總統來自的黑人教會解放神學，他接受並視其為領導。解放神學裡面有一些元素更令人擔憂，我相信其中一個果子便是人類最大的邪惡─種族主義，不單是不屬於美國的（un-American），更是抵擋美國的（anti-American）。

一些人相信解放神學運動是基督教與伊斯蘭教之間的橋樑，其會將基督徒引至伊斯蘭教。我個人無法證實這點，但我們的總統宣稱自己是基督徒，但他所施行政策的果子卻對基督教帶來更多的傷害，遠勝過任何先前的執政團隊，同時他做了更多幫助伊斯蘭教的事。任何會思考的人都應當問，為何歐巴馬政府讓穆斯林享有健保法的豁免權，卻用此攻擊天主教會的宗教自由，以及其他反對其基本原則的基督徒？這些行動顯出核心價值，非常令人擔憂。

身為美國人，我對於我們總統回應為何沒有在衣領上配戴美國國旗別針感到困擾，他說他不想選邊站。倘若我們的總統沒有下定決心站在我們這一邊，我們就有大麻煩了。我很感恩現在看見總統配戴美國國旗別針，但在如此多爭議後，那已經沒有什麼意義。當我觀看歐巴馬政府的行動與政策，確實看起來像是有計畫的削弱美國力量，破壞我們的核心價值。看起來歐巴馬政府似乎更關切國際利益，勝過美國利益。我們確實需要關切他人的利益，我們理當要盡可能成為列國的祝福，但我們期待我們的總統能優先關注美國的利益。

我相當欣賞並認同摩門教其中一個教義，就是它相信美國憲法是受 神啟發而來的文件，必須保存下去。我花好幾年的時間研讀查驗此，結果是我絕對相信憲法是來自 神的啟示。雖然我並不試圖將憲法放在聖經的層級上，但它是受聖經啟示，建國父老渴望建造一個政府，盡可能的反映出聖經對政府與管家職責的教導。在建國父老稍晚的寫作上，大大證實了此。

我們的憲法從來沒有像過去三年如此削弱，歐巴馬政府幾乎在一天之內便發佈總統行政命令，許多內容似乎刻意規避憲法責任，藉此削弱其影響力，並正面攻擊我們的一些基本自由，實在令人困擾。

想一想：過往總統所頒發的總統行政命令約有160件，平均每位總統頒發5件，歐巴馬總統已經頒佈超過900件以上的總統命令。幾乎歐巴馬所有的總統命令似乎都在有意阻遏國會，行使相關法律的憲法權柄與責任，並阻遏那些能行使者的委派。總統行政命令本是用來完成行政部門的命令，而不是為國家立法或指派人到相關職務，使得國會無法有機會同意或拒絕，這是對憲法的基本違背與攻擊。

我曾是民主黨員，直到卡特政府時期，我當時投票給卡特，因為他宣稱是福音派基督徒。我當時不過是太天真；然而，我無法不看到在他們的家中充斥著抵擋上帝與抵擋聖經的道德勢力，並在民主黨內部有越來越多如此的影響。顯而易見的，當此發生時，會有更多的基督徒脫離民主黨。在共和黨則有越來越多敬畏 神，忠於聖經道德的言論。去年六月，當我們在我們家鄉夏洛特市所看見民主黨的表決大會上，此分別已經越來越明顯。

民主黨的表決大會清楚明瞭顯示，他們甚至不想在台上提到 神，或表明耶路撒冷是以色列的首都。這促使有勇氣的基督教領袖，甚至黑人基督徒領袖，像是傑克遜主教（Bishop E.W. Jackson），要求所有黑人基督徒離開民主黨。越來越多基督徒不分膚色呼籲離開民主黨，雖然我確定會有許多人留在民主黨作光作鹽，但民主黨儼然成為對基督教越來越充滿敵意的政黨。

過去，我曾為林肯政黨憂傷，此政黨是美國解放奴隸的地上家園，理當成為民權運動的領袖，而不是阻礙者。那也違反聖經道德觀與憲法權利；然而，共和黨移除此悲劇歷史，吸引新一波的少數族裔領袖。現在共和黨仍持續有效力爭美國真正的公平與平等，這是讓我持續在共和黨的主要因素，儘管我對目前的共和黨領導階層有許多失望。

倘若這次選舉沒有改變，新政府沒有提出我們政府偏離憲法的事實，亦沒有改變我們產業中屬靈與道德言論的自由，我預期兩黨都會有大量的出走潮，我也預期會有另一個政黨興起，並吸收民主黨與共和黨中間一些最棒的人。

這世界並沒有完美的政府與領袖階層；即便如此，在民主中，人民是最高統治者，我們若不投票，我們便是一個不負責任的統治者。不投票便是投票給另一方。

估計在上一次選舉中，有超過1500萬的福音派基督徒拒絕投票，自從那次選舉後，我們國家便加速滑向道德與金融毀滅的深淵，我們或許認為投票不會改變什麼，但你可以確定的是，我們的投票，或我們的不投票，都會記錄在天上。

雖然我堅決相信我們投票的責任，並確信這次選舉會對我們未來有重大的改變，不管誰進到白宮、國會，或州政府和地方政府，我們現在所碰到的危機超過人類所能解決。我們國家若不轉向 神，以真誠的心來尋求祂的恩典，使我們轉離惡行，無論誰當選，我們的前方將是又黑暗又艱鉅的未來，儘管羅姆尼當選會減慢速度。倘若我們轉向，尋求行祂的道路，我們的未來甚至會比我們的歷史更加明亮，這甚至可能會發生在歐巴馬再度當選的情況中。倘若我們轉向主，不代表會變得比較容易，但一定會更加明亮。

(摘自喬納 word for the week, Week 44, 2012)



The Presidential Elections - The Path of Life, Part 37
Week 44, 2012 
Rick Joyner 

As we in America approach one of the most important elections in our lifetime, I talk to many Christians who are still conflicted about their choice for President. Many are conflicted about their choice for a political party. As a pastor, I consider it a responsibility to address this issue that will impact so many of the Lord’s people.

First, many Christians do not understand how any Christian could be a political liberal. Others do not understand how a Christian could be a political conservative. To understand means to “stand under” someone else’s position. So regardless of which of these we are, let’s at least make an effort to understand those who have a different position.

We should keep in mind that it was the religious conservatives who had Jesus crucified. For this reason, religious conservatives are scary to a lot of people, including many sincere Christians. I am a religious and political conservative, and there are some on the far right who are disturbing to me. The harshness and tone from some on the right is deeply troubling, and I think counterproductive to the cause.

However, the harsh tone and intolerance now seems to be found even more on the left as it ever did on the right, and has a much more anti-Christian and anti-biblical tone to it. The groups who demand the most tolerance for their agendas have become the most intolerant of anyone who disagrees even a little with them, and some are now being considered social terrorists. This has become so obvious and alarming that we are now starting to see a general pushback in the whole country. This was so powerfully demonstrated by the remarkable and unprecedented way so many Americans rose up to defending Chick-fil-A in the recent controversy.

The first thing the Lord said when asked about the signs at the end of this age was, “do not be deceived” (see Matthew 24:4 NKJV), obviously implying that deception would be a major factor at the end. For this reason, I have studied deception, cults, and false teachings, and especially how such a great nation as Germany, with some of the most brilliant people, could fall to the Nazi delusion. The two most diabolical governments in history came from the extreme right, the fascists, and the extreme left, the communists. Both were socialists (the Nazis were called “National Socialism”), and socialism can be found on the right and the left. This would require a book to elaborate on, but socialism is basically the result of seeing man, and our social abilities and initiatives, to be the answer to our problems in place of turning to God and seeking His ways. This was the root of the Tower of Babel in Genesis, which is the root of the prophetic Babylon in the Book of Revelation.

America is an increasingly divided nation, but we can expect this in just about every nation now. This is prophesied in Scripture. The wheat and the tares are being separated; the clash between light and darkness is increasing as we see in Isaiah 60, and it will continue. If we are not going to be caught up in the increasing deception, we must guard our hearts from reactionary doctrines or politics. Some of the most diabolical movements in history were born out of reactionary beliefs caused by rejection or other wounding. As the polarization continues, so will wounding and rejection. This is the biggest gate of hell for ultimate evil. Christianity, which is founded on forgiveness, is the only remedy for where we are headed. Obviously, this was by design.

As Christians, we must base our beliefs and actions on Scripture alone, not by how we are treated or mistreated. The Lord Himself warned that His followers would be rejected and even hated because of Him, so it should not surprise us when it happens. He also commanded us to love everyone, and to even love our enemies. So how do we do that?

We must begin by resolving that we will return good for evil, not just return evil for evil. This does not mean that we will compromise our convictions, but we must control our spirit and grow in the fruit of the Spirit, which grows much faster with opposition and testing. If we do this, we will be able to take the right position on matters and keep the right tone as well.   

I know some brilliant people who despised George W. Bush and viciously attacked him continually. These same people are appalled at anything negative said about their man, Obama, calling those who do harsh and extreme. It’s shocking how such otherwise smart people cannot see this hypocrisy, but this is an example of the basic deception the Lord described as having a log in our eye while we’re trying to get a speck out of the eye of others. It is basic though. When we are deceived, we do not know it or we would not be deceived, and to help someone get free who has this basic discrepancy in reasoning is almost impossible. Only the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, can deliver us from our deception.

The above described deception can be in either camp, but it is no doubt growing far more dramatically on the left at this time. Just a few years ago, I would have said the opposite—that it was far more pronounced on the right, but it began shifting to the left about twenty years ago and has deepened its grip. Why? The spirit that took the Nazis on the right and the communists on the left was the same spirit, so I am not just basing this on political persuasion, but on the obvious blindness to real factors, or truth, that is being created.

If this kind of deception was greater on the right, but then shifted to the left and got even stronger, let us not think that it cannot swing back to the right if we become arrogant. Even so, I am increasingly concerned by the deep deception, or deep darkness, which is now growing on the left. It does seem to be proportionate to the degree of those who have embraced anti-God and anti-biblical positions. This does not mean that there cannot be those on the left who are not subject to this kind of deep deception, but they are getting harder to find in America. In other countries, it could be the opposite.

As Christians, we are commanded to “know those who labor among us” (see I Thessalonians 5:12). Therefore, I try to be open and candid about my own views as I believe you deserve to know my convictions about important matters if you are going to read my Word for the Week. I also think that as a pastor I have a responsibility to address the important issues of our times. It is a basic violation of my Constitutional rights and biblical responsibilities for anyone, including the government, to keep me from sharing my views on a crucial issue like the elections. So here I will go a bit deeper on the following. 
The Presidential Choice

One of the questions I hear from Christians is the following: How can we vote for a Mormon? That is a good question. Though I am not an expert on Mormonism, I was shown 25 years ago that a great revival would be coming to the Mormons and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. I was shown that they were like the Samaritans in Scripture, who did have a mixture in their beliefs, but who were the most responsive to the gospel of any other group. Because of the testimony of the woman at the well, the entire city came out to see Jesus. Because of the preaching of Philip in Samaria, the entire city came to the Lord.

Even so, we are voting for a President, not a pastor. Beliefs do affect values, and values affect our actions. Because I have never met two Baptists who were exactly alike, or two Catholics, Presbyterians, or any other group, I think this is one reason we are told to judge people by their fruit, not just their words.

I have some deep disagreements with some Catholic doctrines, but I appreciate their leadership in the fight for some of the crucial social issues of these times. The other group that is providing some of the main leadership and resources in the battle for some of the crucial social issues of our times is the Mormon Church. I would not join the Catholic Church or the Mormon Church because of some of the core issues I have with their doctrines, but I am very appreciative for their leadership in the fight for the important issues of our times.

I have also studied the Liberation Theology of the church where President Obama came out of, which he embraces and is considered a leader. There are aspects of it that are far more alarming, and its fruit is feeding what I believe is one of the greatest human evils, racism—not just un-American, but anti-American.

Some believe that the purpose of the Liberation Theology movement was to be a bridge between Christianity and Islam, which would lead Christians to Islam. I could not personally confirm that, but our President claims to be a Christian, yet the fruit of his practice and his policy has done more to hurt Christianity than any previous administration, and he’s done more to help Islam. Any thinking person should ask why would the Obama Administration give Muslims an exemption from the healthcare law, but use it to fundamentally attack the religious liberty of the Catholic Church, as well as other Christians who object to some of its basic tenets? These actions reveal core values, and they are deeply alarming.

As an American, I was also very troubled when our President once responded to the question of why he did not wear an American pin on his lapel—he said he didn’t want to appear to take sides. If our President is not solidly resolved to be on our side, then we are in deep trouble. I am thankful to see the President now wearing an American flag lapel pin, but it does not mean as much when he wears it after such controversy. When I look at the actions and policies of the Obama Administration, it does seem to be a systematic weakening of American strength and the unraveling of our core values. It does seem that the Obama Administration is much more concerned about international interests than our American interests. We do need to be concerned about the interests of others, and we should want to be a blessing to all nations as much as we can, but we expect our President to keep American interests first.

Mormonism does have one doctrine that as an American Christian I greatly appreciate and agree with—it is the belief that the U.S. Constitution is a divinely inspired document and must be preserved. I spent several years studying to check this out. The result was that I was utterly convinced of its Divine inspiration. Though I am not in any way trying to put it on the level of Scripture, it was inspired by Scripture and a desire of the Founders to build a government that would, as much as possible, reflect biblical teachings on government and stewardship. The later writings of the Founders abundantly confirm this.

Our Constitution has never been more weakened than in the last three years. The Obama Administration has been issuing Executive Orders at the rate of almost one a day, many of which seem to intentionally be a circumvention of the Constitution, and thereby a weakening of it, as well as a frontal attack on some of our basic liberties. It is deeply troubling.

Consider this: Executive Orders by all previous Presidents combined numbers about 160. That’s an average of about five for each President. President Obama has issued over 900. Almost all of Obama’s seem to be an intentional circumvention of Congress’ Constitutional authority and responsibility to make the laws of the land and to approve the appointments of those who are to carry them out. Executive Orders were intended to be used to carry out the mandate of the Executive Branch, not to make laws for the nation or appoint people to positions in a way that Congress would not have the chance to approve or reject, which is a basic violation and attack on the Constitution.

I was a registered Democrat until the Carter Administration. I voted for Carter mostly because he claimed to be an evangelical Christian. I was naïve at best. However, I could not help but see that all of the anti-God and anti-biblical morality forces were finding their home and were increasingly influential in the Democratic Party. It was also apparent that as this happened Christians were increasingly marginalized in the Democratic Party. The God-fearing and those committed to biblical morality were increasingly welcomed into the Republican Party. This divide has become greater now, as we watched the grievous vote at the Democratic Convention in my hometown of Charlotte this past June.

The vote from the floor was loud and clear that the Democratic Party did not want even the mention of God in their platform or the statement that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. This has resulted in courageous Christian leaders, even black Christian leaders like Bishop E.W. Jackson, to call for all black Christians to leave the Democratic Party. There is an increasing cry for all Christians of all colors to leave the Democratic Party. Though I’m sure many will stay to try to be salt and light there, it is obvious that the Democratic Party has become increasingly hostile to Christianity.

In the past, I have been grieved by the way the party of Lincoln, the party that was the natural home of the freed slaves in America and should have been the leader of the Civil Rights Movement, instead became an obstruction to the Civil Rights Movement. That too was contrary to biblical morality as well as our Constitution and Bill of Rights. However, the Republican Party has moved away from that tragic history and has attracted a new breed of minority leadership. Now it is the Republican Party that is continuing an effective fight for true justice and equality in America. This is the main factor that has kept me in the Republican Party, in spite of the many disappointments of the present institutional Republican leadership.

If there is not a change in this election, and the new Administration does not move decisively to address the departure from the Constitutional moorings of our government, and to renew the devotion to freedom for the spiritual and moral discourse that is our inheritance, I expect a mass exodus from both parties to follow. I also expect the rise of another party that will take some of the best from both the Democratic and Republican parties.

In this world, we will not have a perfect government or perfect leadership. Even so, in a democracy the people are the sovereign, and if we do not vote we are an irresponsible sovereign. To not vote is a vote for the other side.

It has been estimated that over fifteen million evangelicals refused to vote in the last election. Our country’s slide into the abyss of moral and financial destruction has accelerated since that election, and we may not think our vote could make a difference, but you can be sure that our vote, or failure to do so, is recorded in heaven.

Though I am resolute in the conviction of our responsibility to vote, and have the conviction that this election will make a major difference in our future, regardless of who gets into the Oval Office, Congress, or the state and local governments, the crises we are now in are beyond human remedy. Without our nation turning back to God and seeking His grace with the sincerity that would cause us to turn from our wicked ways, we have a very dark and difficult future ahead of us, regardless of who gets elected, though it may slow the pace if Romney is elected. If we return to the Lord and seek to walk in His ways, our future can be even brighter than our history. This can happen even if Obama is reelected. If we will return to the Lord, it does not mean that it will be easy, but it will be brighter.