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January 17, 2025
Peace Publishers LLC. Resources in fifteen categories for self-instruction, classes, sermons, and conferences. An original 21st Century Commentary on Revelation is being added. Site administrator and publisher in English and Spanish: Homer Dewayne Shappley, evangelist and author of 2,500-plus documents in both languages. Oversight: Cairo, Tennesse Church of Christ.
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The "FOURTH COURSE" of "Solid Food" on the subject of the "CHRISTIAN VOTE." Also applicable to the "RELIGIOUS VOTE" in general.
They ask for our VOTE!
October 2024. With perhaps very few exceptions, candidates for public offices in the United States of America are vigorously seeking the vote of Christians of all stripes, as well as that of other religious people. Some declare themselves IN FAVOR of the “Twelve Personal Rights” listed above in the “Third Course,” while others pronounce themselves AGAINST at least part of them. Most affirm that they are “believers,” though the religiosity of some may be hardly more than a superficial veneer.
Now, for Christians and other religious people more secular and worldly than spiritual, with no qualms about freely and fully mixing and mingling with the materialistic, hedonistic populations of today, acting more or less as these do, the positions of candidates on the “Twelve Human Rights” listed may be of little or no concern whatsoever. They feel no conflict; not faced with any dilemma. Likely belonging to churches or other religions whose leaders have been quick to embrace and openly promote the new social-cultural-ethical-sexual-philosophical movements of present times. Even to the point of allowing the most radical representatives of these movements to occupy their pulpits, teach in their schools and universities, hold high positions in their administrative boards, councils, etc. In bold and blatant repudiation of clearly stated norms and directives set down in the Sacred Scriptures of the New Testament of Jesus Christ. Christianity and homosexuality. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_and_homosexuality
On the other hand, the positions of the candidates on those “Twelve Human Rights” are, indeed, cause for genuine concern to Christians UP HERE in the True Spiritual Kingdom Not of this World, CITIZENS governed first and foremost by that Sacred New Testament of Jesus Christ. They most certainly do create a serious dilemma for us.
To vote or
not to vote?
Should a Christian vote or NOT VOTE? Dear intelligent Christian, the decision is yours! And it is mine, weighing seriously, as I think I should, the pros and
the contras. I have the right to vote, nevertheless, the country where I reside does not obligate me by law to vote. Neither does the King of the Spiritual Kingdom Not of this World of which I am a citizen.
As of January 2023, there were 21 countries whose citizens do not have the option of not voting, with certain exceptions which vary from country to country. Therefore, Christians in those countries not exempted from voting, are obligated by law to vote. Some of the 21 countries are Australia, Mexico, Belgium, Egypt, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, and Singapore. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting
Opinions,
Offenses,
and the “INTELLIGENT VOTE.” The "UNINTELLIGENT VOTE."
Dear Christian, it would be, of course, out of order for me to recommend by name, in this study, any candidate for any electable position whatsoever. However, it is my studied opinion that Christians -not just any Christian but Christians who are loyal citizens of the Spiritual Kingdom Not of this World, truly faithful to its directives- SHOULD VOTE. For it seems to me that, given their ample, accurate knowledge of both the material-secular world and also of the true spiritual world as revealed in the Sacred Writings of the New Testament of Jesus Christ, they would be among the most likely to cast an “INTELLIGENT VOTE.”
My fervent desire is that none of the observations and points I am so bold as to make in these studies will not become a cause of offense or stumbling block to any Christian or voter of a different category.
That being said, if you and I as Christians true to the New Testament of Jesus Christ opt to vote, both of us, as legitimate citizens of the Spiritual Kingdom Not of this World, UP HERE on HIGH, confront more or less the same problematical issues. All I wish to accomplish is to share with you my own analysis of them, in case you, perhaps due to multiple tasks and obligations, may not have identified and examined them carefully.
Regarding “To vote or not to vote?” I answered: “Dear intelligent Christian, the decision is yours.” Purposely selecting the adjective “INTELLIGENT.” Because every citizen of this Spiritual, Celestial Kingdom is called upon by its all-wise Founder to be INTELLIGENT in all aspects of his or her life and its unfolding on both the spiritual and the material-physical-secular planes. Including, logically, any participation in electoral processes.
Of course, no human being can be intelligent in any aspect of life without full knowledge and understanding of that aspect, to whatever realm of cognizance it may belong. The apostle Paul highlights this solid, rational, common-sense reality when he writes to the Christians in Colossus: “…that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding… to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding… the treasures of wisdom and knowledge… in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.” Colossians 1:9; 2:1-4. Most assuredly, Pure Christianity is, fundamentally, a “knowledge-understanding-wisdom based religion.”
So then, if you plan to exercise your Right to Vote, may I humbly advise that you strive diligently to acquire all the knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and intelligence necessary for mature and responsible participation in the electoral
process. The full knowledge and understanding of unquestionable truths and facts on all relevant matters of all the planks in the platforms of candidates for electable positions. The secular-material-earthly as well as the spiritual. The spiritual taking priority over the material-secular, for you are a True Christian, a Loyal Citizen of the Spiritual Kingdom Not of this World.
Giving no weight, then, to “hearsay, false knowledge, flatulent arguments, deceits, passion-driven denunciations, malicious gossip, ego-inflamed character assassination, and the like. For only undisputed truths and facts are really important to you. Correct knowledge, sound reasoning, common sense, and rational conclusions are your guiding principals, as they most certainly are those of the Spiritual Kingdom UPON HIGH where you strongly maintain your incorruptible heavenly citizenship.
Proceeding thus, you VOTE INTELLIGENTLY. With a clear head and conscience. With the HEAD, that is, with the intellect, and may the heart follow, but not dominate. For those of us UP HERE in the Spiritual Kingdom Not of this World, to allow our decisions and actions to be determined principally by mere sentiments, likes and dislikes, passions, emotion-based agendas, possible personal material benefits, etc., would be altogether incompatible with the purposes, norms, dynamics, and vision of our Magnificent Spiritual Kingdom UP HERE.
The "UNINTELLIGENT VOTE” of the emotion-motivated masses may prevail, but you will know in your heart that you cast an “INTELLIGENT VOTE,” the vote of an informed, objective, mature, responsible participant in an earthly electoral process.
Voting in the “Age of Sentiments, Passions, Metaphysical-Ethical Subjectivism, and Existentialism”
These observations are made because evidence abounds on every hand that would qualify these present times to be identified as an “Age of Sentiments, Passions, Metaphysical-Ethical Subjectivism, and
Existentialism” where “Emotions, Feelings, Personal Perceptions, and Social-Sexual Relationships” trump “Realities, Reason, Facts, undeniable Truths, Logic, and Common Sense.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Aquarius. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentimentalism_(literature). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subjectivism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woke.
The evidence is quite palpable in almost any venue today, including those of Christianity, other religions, politics, and media of all kinds. In these times of the 21st century when the light and power of Truth and Facts, Reason and Common Sense, are so often diminished and obscured by the swirling, thick, multicolored mists of emotionally, ego-charged, agenda-driven, digitized feelings, passions, addictions, and obsessions. When their deification leads to physical, moral, and social degradation; to violence, chaos, and tyranny; to the bold and dangerous legitimation and legalization of actions and conducts contrary to nature itself, to a natural, innate sense of the correct and logical, and to the healthy, sensible directives and norms of the Sacred Writings given to the Spiritual Kingdom Not of this World.
The motto of the present “Age” may be summed up as follows: “My likes, dislikes, desires, sentiments, passions, personal lifestyle, agenda, and life view above everything and everybody else!”
The INTELLIGENT VOTE is the ENLIGHTENED VOTE, the KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM VOTE, the KNOWLEDGE of the PLATFORM VOTE, the SOBER, SERIOUS VOTE, the THOUGHTFUL, REASONED, HONEST VOTE. the PEACE VOTE, the COMMON SENSE VOTE. For these adjectives elevate the intellect, objectiveness, reason, and common sense to a stable and dominant level above the often erratic, chameleon currents of fluid, subjective, digitized emotions.
“Passion governs, but it never governs well.” So said Benjamin Franklin in 1775.
“Our Age of Feelings is leading to Violence and Tyranny,” writes Selwyn Duke. 09 10 2020. https://www.selwynduke.com/
Text and Graphics by Homer Dewayne Shappley
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CATEGORIES. This document is in the following.
Fifth Course. Dilemmas and options the religious voter confronts. For which candidate, party, or platform should the religious person vote? Candidate A backs Twelve Human Rights several of which contravene divine norms. Candidate B opposes them but some of his agendas and character flaws are of serious concern. A vote for Platform B does not signify total, unconditional support for everything that its author represents, espouses, and does or does not do.