Four years ago, I published the introductory part of the article below which I am expatiating upon here simply because of what is at stake. It has become more relevant now as we have chosen to play the religion card, considering our characteristic ‘zeal without knowledge” posture in our society today.
As we move towards these coming elections, I know many Christians are wondering whose side God is on. It is therefore, important to understand and clarify exactly how God works and use these principles to help us determine how to vote and participate in these upcoming elections and our roles thereafter.
John H. Stoll, Ph.D. the Executive Director, ASK, Inc., says “As we approach the end of the millenium, everyone is wondering what will happen in the next century. There has been much speculation in the media, as well as among Christians. What does the future portend, and whose side is God really on? During the Civil war, President Lincoln was once asked if God was on his side. His reply was, “It is not is God on my side, but am I on God’s side?” This important concept should be of more relevance than speculating on future events in the next century. One should consider as to the way of becoming on God’s side, what does it mean in light of current events, and how does my being on God’s side affect me? These are the important questions.”
Gerry Hartigan also discusses these principles in detail. He says; “Much talk is given over to the subject of “God’s blessing” and “God’s people”. It makes you wonder sometimes, whose side is God on? During the Iraq war, was God on the Coalition forces side or the Iraqis? Christians believe of course that He is on the side of the West because the West is Christian. History is rife with examples of each side being convinced that God is with them and not their adversary. So let me ask the question-
What does God say?
If we look at the book of Joshua, chapter five, we see a very interesting story. Joshua is confronted with a man holding a sword and Joshua asks the man, “Whose side are you on, ours or the enemy’s?“. The man answers, “Neither, but as the Captain of the Lord’s host am I here”. That man was in fact, an angel and he tells Joshua that God is not on his side. The question is, who is on God’s side? We have to realize that God does not take sides. He is looking for people to be on His side.
God does not take sides. He is looking for people to be on His Side.
Another point to note – In Matthew 6:33-36 Jesus says some famous words. He urges His disciples seek God and His righteousness. What is God’s righteousness? Well, when we take a look at the Greek we see that God’s righteousness is God’s way of doing things. What that means is we are to seek to do things and see things the way God sees and does them. In other words we are to be on His side and follow His way of acting and living.
If people spent more time doing that and less time claiming God as a cheering section we might have a more peaceful world. Remember, we are too weak and imperfect for God to take our side, He does not want to associate Himself with our sinful nature. But for those that are on God’s side and seek His righteousness, they will have a much more enjoyable and peaceful life. So stop worrying about whose side God is on, He’s not on anybody’s side, and start taking action to be on His side.
We really can only come to one conclusion in this election and pray that the elections should go to people who choose to be on God’s side and who uphold godly principles. These are the only people who would receive God’s grace and favour needed for this crucial hour. Again, we do not speak of Christians in office but men with a righteous, godly, kingdom agenda.
Another area that requires a fresh look and not usually spoken about in the church today is how God defines people in the world and it is really very simple: Jews, Gentiles & the Church. Thebereancall.org gives a comprehensive teaching on this and the following are noteworthy.
“Before the cross of Christ, mankind was divided into two groups: Jews and Gentiles. The Old and New Testaments both make very clear what caused this distinction. It was the covenants God had made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and with their descendants through Moses. These covenants were for Israel alone and separated her from all other nations on the face of the earth, making God’s “chosen people” absolutely unique. Israel was segregated from other peoples by the Mosaic law and by her special relationship with the One who calls Himself “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (Lev:20:24,26, etc.).
The important distinction between Jews and Gentiles is maintained consistently throughout the Bible: “…so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth” (Ex 33:16); “…for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people that ye should be mine” (Lev:20:26); “And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his…own people forever” (1 Chr:17:21-22); “…ye [Gentiles] were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God…” (Eph:2:12).
After the Cross a new entity came into existence—the church that Jesus Christ promised He would build (Mt 16:18). As a result, there are now three divisions of mankind: Jews, Gentiles and the church. Paul tells us that we are to “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God ” (1 Cor:10:32). It is absolutely essential to understand that these three groups exist side by side in today’s world, to distinguish between them, and to recognize that God deals with each differently.”
We place Muslims, Hindus, idol worshipers, Herbalists & fraternities such as the Ogboni etc in categories but that is not what the bible teaches. You are Jew, Gentile or part of the Church. This brings me to the question of the definition of the Church. It is clear that the only pathway to the Church is through salvation in Christ Jesus. The bible makes it clear that you have to give your life to Christ and this goes beyond just being born into a Christian family or home, or simply going to church. That commitment as indicated in the verses below, is vital.
Romans 10:8-13 (NKJV)
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This means anyone who is not saved is either a Jew or a gentile, and this could very well mean that what we have thought could have been a Muslim versus Christian election could just be between two Gentiles. However, the bible warns that we are to “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles , nor to the church of God ” (1 Cor:10:32) The truth here is, God uses any of the groups for His purpose and to bless humanity. Many stories in the bible corroborate this. An example is His promise to Abraham in Galatians 3:8 (NKJV) 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.
In the same way, several gentile kings were used to bless Israel (The Jews) and the best example I can cite is in Isaiah 45:1-5 (NKJV) 1 “Thus says the Lord to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut: 2 “I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron. 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel. 4 For Jacob My servant’s sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. 5 I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me,
Now I know there must be questions such as ‘if God doesn’t take sides, how do we pray especially as Christians supporting different candidates of different faiths’. I believe the best example is an allegory from the game of football or as it is popularly known, soccer.
Imagine two nations – Nigeria and Ghana with Christians of both nations praying for each side to be victorious. Whose prayer should God answer? God does not take sides (even though I know he knows the end from the beginning) so technically he cannot chose between his children! Can you even as human parents choose? The answer and agreement can be reached on another paradigm. A place we can all agree on!
In every game, the object is for the best team or group to win and this must come by keeping the rules. For this reason, I believe God doesn’t take sides but we can pray to him to ensure that each side abides by the rules of the game and no side be allow to cheat or influence the game one way or another. The interesting thing is that in a game like soccer, these rules are critical to the outcome of the game.
From the livestrong.com website, we discover that there are particular rules that have been developed which parallel in many ways, rules that need to be kept and opportunities to manipulate or cheat at this game that must be stopped
“At first, the game of soccer as played in England operated by a free-for-all mentality and rules that changed from one place to the next. The year 1863 is considered the birth date of the Football Association, the first body to set down specific rules that unified the game. Today FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, oversees the game on a worldwide level. Professional soccer mostly follows the same rules set down for international competitions.
Field Measurements
The game is played within an area that measures between 100 and 130 yards long and between 50 and 100 yards wide. The goal is 24 feet wide and 8 feet high. The penalty area extends 18 yards from the goal and is 44 yards wide. A center line divides the field into two halves.
Number of Players
Each soccer team is allowed 11 players on the field at one time. One of those players is the goalkeeper, the only player allowed to use his hands. Players move the ball by dribbling or passing the ball using any part of their body except their hands and arms. Teams are allowed to replace players with substitutes, but in professional and international soccer a player is not allowed to return once he is removed from the game.
Scoring and Offside
The object of soccer is to score more goals than your opponent. A goal occurs when the ball goes inside the goal posts and under the connecting crossbar. The ball must also pass all the way across a line that stretches from one goal post to the other. Scoring is influenced by the offside rule. A player must have two opponents, one of whom is usually the goalkeeper, between him and the goal when the ball is passed.
Types of Fouls
Players can be called for fouls in soccer. Physical fouls, such as tripping or pushing, result in a direct kick. In a direct kick a player can shoot directly on goal if he is close enough. Non-physical fouls, such as offsides or obstructing an opponent, result in an indirect kick, in which the ball must touch a teammate before it can be struck at goal.
Goalkeepers and Hands
Goalkeepers are only allowed to use their hands within the penalty box that surrounds the goal. Once a goalkeeper has possession of the ball, he must release it with a pass or kick within six seconds. In addition, he cannot receive a pass from a teammate with his hands. In that instance he essentially becomes another field player.”
In summary we can believe God and pray for an election played out according to its rules and regulation, overseen by a governing board which is above board, in legitimate boundaries of the law, each side presenting the right and legitimate players whose success is measured and evaluated by the measurements of clear success goals.
An election where fouls and every attempt to influence the game negatively is frustrated by umpires and linesmen of integrity, and those who the measurement of success would clear to all. In other words we can believe God to frustrate the plans and machinations against the welfare of this nation and its citizens.
Scripture warns, 2 Timothy 2:5 (NKJV) And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. Scripture also teaches us that Matthew 16:19 (NLT) And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
What are we going to forbid in this election and our nation and what are we going to permit in this election and in our nation from here on, knowing God is only going to bless those things heaven allows? God does not take sides but we have to! You must vote according to conscience!
This I believe is the will of God.
God bless.
Francis E. Madojemu
