Ever since the deadline for submission of certificates of candidacy for the presidency, I have seen so much on my newsfeed that is either out and out propaganda, black propaganda and misleading links and posts regarding the candidates. I have seen much discourtesy and highly emotional posts regarding some candidates.
I suppose I already expect this from Filipinos. But I certainly do not expect this from Bible Baptist pastors and members.
Yes, we have a right to our personal opinions on political matters.
Yes, we have a right to express our grievances.
Yes, we have a right to express our political preferences.
What WE HAVE NO RIGHT to do, under Romans 13, is to:
-speak evil of people especially of those who are presenting themselves to run for public office.
-disagree in a disagreeable manner that degrades our profession of faith in the Lord Jesus.
-spread rumors, misinformation and gossip about candidates.
We are still in this world, but WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD.
What does this mean? Please read Romans 13.
-This means that even in exercising our political rights and freedoms, we are not to give in to the flesh.
This means that even in choosing which candidate to support, we have to seek not our own will but Christ’s.
This means that we do not preoccupy ourselves with selling and promoting any particular candidate, but to seek God’s will first.
In this political exercise, we are still going to give account of ourselves to God. Every idle word that we speak, we will account for.
We are still to preach Christ and Christ crucified. We cannot be conformed to this world and adopt as our own the standards and manner of living of this world.
We are to sit quietly and think soberly and seek God’s will on the choice of public officials because our individual choice will affect the fate of all Filipinos.
We have to judge on the basis of Scripture on what good leadership skills are instead of our own preferences.
We have to be salt and light in this world every single day and in every single situation and circumstance we find ourselves in.
We cannot join the crowd or the throng. We are on the Lord’s side, not any political party’s side or any candidate’s side.
We can scrutinize candidates, we can react to things they say and do, but we have to still speak the truth in love. We have to weigh matters with our minds knowing that we are servants of God.
Let us behave ourselves wisely. Huwag sirain ang testimony or ministry para lamang sa isang kandidato o isang partido.
Let us walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, seeking with all diligence and discerning what the will of God is.
Remember, with what judgment we judge others, the same judgment will be meted to us. We cannot hold others up to ridicule and not expect ourselves to be equally held up to the same ridicule.
The Bible will not show us which candidate to vote for but it does show us how we are to arrive at decisions: prayerfully and with much meditation on the Word of God.
Mga kapatid, ang pagpili ng kandidato ay para ding pagpili ng mapapang-asawa. Kailangan nito ng masusing pagsusuri, kailangang hindi magpadala sa bihis, asta, o buladas, pagpapakitang-gilas o pag-mamaka-awa, pagpapa-kuwela o pakikisama.
Kailangang isuko sa Panginoon pati itong pagpili ng kandidato dahil sa Diyos lamang ang nakaka-alam sa tunay na puso ng tao, kung ito ba ay may takot sa Diyos at takot sa batas, at kung ito ba ay magpapasakop sa Diyos at sa batas.
Pumili ng maayos, at magpahayag ng damdamin at isipin sa maayos na paraan. Issue lang, hindi personalan. The way we arrive at a decision is as important as the decision itself. All must be approved unto God.
And a word of warning especially to pastors and teachers of the Word of God who are tasked with caring for and shepherding the flock of God: we are in a position of influence. What we say, what we post and what we do — these are all judged by believers and unbelievers alike. What is more, it will be judged by God in the light of our enormous responsibility to follow Christ and our responsibility to provide a role model for younger christians to follow. Tandaan po natin, that as pastors and teachers, we can only urge people to follow Christ in the same manner as we follow Christ.
Kung kaya, kapag ang ating kilos sa pagpili ng kandidato ay hindi ayon sa ating pananampalataya, hindi ayon sa Salita ng Diyos, hindi ayon sa ating pagsunod kay Kristo, at hindi ayon sa kalooban ng Diyos, tayo’y magbibigay sulit sa Diyos, hindi lamang para sa ating kilos kundi para sa maling huwaran na ating ibinigay sa ibang nakikinig at sumusunod sa atin.
Mag-ingat tayo na hindi tayo marumihan sa political exercise na ito. Mag-ingat tayo na hindi tayo makaladkad ng karamihan, bagkus,lumakad ng nagbibigay puri sa ating Panginoon.
Pagpalain nawa tayo ng Diyos sa mga bagay na ito. Nawa’y malugod ang Diyos sa atin. Nawa’y maipakita natin sa lahat na tayo’y mga tunay na anak ng Diyos at tagasunod at lingkod ni Hesu Kristo.
Blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of this crooked and perverse nation among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
Brethren, let us not lose our savor as salt or our brightness as lights in this world.