Multitudes in the Valley of Decision at Election Time

Ramon Arias | September 15, 2014

Every election is about selecting individuals to public service who are able to properly handle the myriad of issues they will face, such as: the relationship of money to power, tax policies, health and Welfare, civil rights, morality, crime and punishment, protection of the environment, the economy, foreign policy, security, war, and many more issues that plague the social landscape. Social and moral views do matter and people’s worldview dictates how they will vote or abstain from voting.  

The election cycle is a social challenge especially when we see the outcome. There are millions who could care less who gets elected or even that there are any elections.  This group of people naively thinks they are apolitical not realizing there is no such thing as neutrality. There is another group who fights furiously for their political views to be the ones to carry the day. Then there is the uneducated group who vote without understanding what they are doing even though they think they do.  One thing is undeniable—elections have consequences.

Millions of voters disagree on how government should function and for what purpose.  They may even find candidates that agree with their worldview, but in the end never seem to accomplish their desired goals for society. 

Political decisions carry a price tag for every aspect of our life. The price tag is the policymaking decisions the elected officials will implement. Does it matter how our elected officials vote? Look around you, do you like what America has become? What political party would you like to have total control of the nation and her future? Before you answer that question consider what George Washington warned against in his Farewell Address of 1796 and the dangers political parties present for the civil government and society as a whole:

“The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissention, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an Individual: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty. Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.” — George Washington, September 19, 1796

Washington witnessed the birth of two political parties in conflict that were founded by two friends and key figures of the Revolution.  In 1787, Hamilton and likeminded leaders wanted a strong central government and gave birth to the first United States Political party called the Federalists; it was their vision for the new nation. On the other hand, in 1796, Jefferson and likeminded anti-Federalists leaders made up another group calling themselves the Democratic-Republican Party which had an opposing vision for the new nation. The irony is that the two political parties were born under the leadership of Hamilton and Jefferson. As Founding Fathers, along with the rest of the leaders of the American Revolution, they knew political parties were a bad idea due to the historical battle of ulterior motives.

Hamilton’s Federalist Party was in power from 1789 to 1801. Under the Democratic-Republican Party, Andrew Jackson was elected president and changed the party’s name to the Democratic Party. A combination of Federalists and anti-Jackson members formed the National Republic, or Whig Party. Years later, the Whig Party collapsed and the Republican Party was formed. Since then, as you know, we have two dominant political parties, Democrats and Republicans; however, they are not the only parties in existence. Now, we see the perils of a decadent powerful nation everywhere.  

With the above in mind, Washington’s warnings make perfect sense. We continue to see the consequences increasing when people are unwilling to take responsibility for their well-being.  Those in government take advantage of this and elevate individuals to a divinity status; this is no different than ancient paganism.

Most people now worship and treat the state as divine.  They are willing to comply with anything that the government imposes as long as they provide for the masses what they think they want.  Again, let the words of Washington resonate: “…The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an Individual: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.”

Washington’s words resonate with me, especially after hearing what Nancy Pelosi said in a recent interview on September 12, 2014 with Bill Maher when he asked her: “if the Republicans win the Senate in the coming elections, what would change?” Pelosi answered: “It would be very important for the Democrats to retain control of the Senate. Civilization as we know it today will be in jeopardy if Republicans win the Senate.”

I was not surprised in the least by her statement. She does speak on behalf of millions of Democrats. Her kind believes we couldn’t live without their “gifted minds.” People from her district continue to vote her into office—a gift from the liberal-extremists of California. Some think she was joking with that extreme statement. Well, let me remind you that when Pelosi was Speaker of the House back in 2010, she infamously told Congress: “we have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it”; this is in reference to Obamacare  (ACA). Now that Pelosi’s statement is a well-known disaster, there is more where that came from for the American people. She really believes the Democrats must retain the control of the U.S. Senate or civilization will be lost!

All political parties are dominated by a diversity of the humanistic, philosophical worldview, and religion. Humanism views man as the measure of all things with no room for the God of the Bible. Our national political condition at present should drive people to open their eyes and minds to see the reality of how the Founding Fathers’ vision and culture of a godly nation is collapsing all around us. The obvious facts should cause people to search out, support and encourage those with godly principles to get into the arena of politics and engage in the good fight of biblical faith.

Every election is a referendum on the people of this nation—who are they going to follow in obedience, men or the God of the Bible?  We can no longer continue to deny that the great influence of evil is all over this land and the world. 

America, like Israel of old, will do well in heeding the prophet Joel’s reminder to make a decision to follow God’s will: Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision!
 For the day of the Lord is near
 in the valley of decision” (Joel 3:14). 

Our decision then is to seek out individuals who are approved by our God to lead under His Spirit and to serve at all levels of public service. By now we should have learned a painful and costly lesson not to look for a man or woman who is going to slow the rise of the ocean, heal the planet, end the wars and restore our country’s image in the world.

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual – or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” – Samuel Adams, in the Boston Gazette on April 2, 1781

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