Election Post: How to choose the right people to vote
In the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia where there is rampant mistrust due to election fraud a voter's index finger is smeared with blue ink. You may be asking, why? Because of what is known as "flying voters." That means they vote in one precinct and "fly" to another one using a fake identity to vote again.
Today because of the blue ink electoral fraud is no longer through flying voters, but you would be gullible if you think fraud and cheating no longer happens.
I am in Kuala Lumpur where I took the picture of this man's finger with the smeared ink from last week's elections. I am writing this to help those of us who are trooping to the polls next week in the Philippines for our elections.
On the one hand there are those who have given up on the electoral process and have resigned and say "what's the use in voting nothing ever changes." On the other hand there are those who have too high an expectation that the elections will bring about substantial changes if not Utopia.
Here's an important story in the Bible to help you have the right perspective. The nation of Israel did not have a human ruler but had God as their King. What they also had was a prophet and judge in the person of Samuel.
Samuel is old and his sons whom he appointed were not quite as good a leader as he was. Discouraged the people wanted a human king instead of just having a prophet/judge like him. But at the heart of it was they did not trust God and rejected Him as King.
This also shows that the end of the day its the voters who are ultimately responsible for the kind of leaders they get.
"They said to him, 'You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have. But when they said, 'Give us a king to lead us,' this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.” 1Samuel 8:5-6
Samuel did not like the people's clamor. Maybe he did not like the idea that they were wanting a man for a king when God was their King. It was also possible that he felt rejected that they did not want him to lead them anymore.
"And the LORD told him: 'Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.'" 1Samuel 8:7
God told Samuel to listen to the people and that they are really rejecting Him and not Samuel.
"Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” 1Samuel 8:9
God tells Him to listen to them but warn them ("solemnly") that whoever they get as king will claim "his rights." That's just the way it is. Earthly kings claim rights once they are in power. At the end of the day all men are self-centered sinners (Romans 3:23).
Don't be naive. As you elect officials keep this in mind, regardless of who you vote they will claim "certain rights." Their rationale is simple, all this hard work deserves certain rights and privileges.
The only difference is the type and amount of "rights" they feel they deserve. When you think about it this is true in Moscow, Washington, London, Tokyo and Manila.
"He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots." 1Samuel 8:11
God then lists a sampling of the rights (err...potential abuses) that kings or rulers make once they are in position. They will literally take your children and use them to propel themselves to gain more power.
"He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants." 1Samuel 8:13-14
They will tell themselves, "With all this pressure as a leader I deserve the best produce of the land, best cuisine, best people to serve me, best clothes (yes..perfumes), cars and let's not forget real estate.
"He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants." 1Samuel 8:15
To keep themselves in power they will need to feed their own circle of supporters. And guess where they will get all that they need - from you.
"Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves." 1Samuel 8:16-17
In the long run without adequate checks and balances of power they will go from bad to worse. In the end man tends to enslave his fellow man for his selfish and distorted gains.
If this story sounds dim, it's because it is the reality of human nature. That's why we preach the Gospel. Changed hearts are the only lasting change. The more disciples there are the more chances of getting righteous leaders into office there will be. KEEP MAKING DISCIPLES!
In the meantime back to the elections. Given this reality who should I vote?
First of all thank God that you live in a democracy. No doubt it is an imperfect form/system of government but given the alternatives it is probably the best there is. Absolute power absolutely corrupts and a democratic form of government where there is freedom of speech and choice plus the rule of law allows for checks and balances and protection from abuses at some level.
As you vote, consider that whoever you put into office will be prone to this reality of power and demanding certain rights. In many cases he or she don't have any choice. To get into office they will have to please as many people as possible. And you know that's impossible. Once in office they will have to please many more to stay there.
To please people they will need to do them certain favors. Compromise is inevitable. It's just a question of magnitude.
So who should you vote? The one who has track a record and history of delivering albeit imperfectly the following:
One who is known to uphold justice. This is the primary role of a leader in civil government. One who will not tolerate nepotism and favoring family and friends even when they are guilty of wrongdoing. One who will ensure fair play.
Vote leaders who come closest to the character qualities that the Bible champions.
Check the track record of one who has delivered the greatest benefit from the resources of the government to the greatest number of people. Even if they are not Christians. Ideally vote one whom you know is a disciple of Christ.
Finally, pray. Nation's need God's intervention. We can only do what is humanly possible and that is to vote wisely. Thankfully, what is impossible to us is possible with God. May God lead and guide you as you vote.
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