A viral clip took the internet by storm earlier this week of a pastor in Charlotte, North Carolina admonishing any Christian who believes it is their spiritual obligation to vote. Without naming names, Loran Livingston took exception with the Trump Bible that incorporates the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Livingston went so far as to claim that Christians don’t have a civic responsibility to vote but a civic privilege.
While I appreciate any time a Southern Baptist pastor is willing to call out his own side to this degree, I think Livingston got one thing wrong. Watch:
You know, I don’t consider myself in your intellectual company because we agree, but because we study & understand the same Bible. Trust me I know this personally: there always exists a temptation to allow your rhetoric to run along side the cheers and “amens.” Many of the pastor’s thoughts are highly commendable. Yet like you, I believe voting and being involved in the political process is demanded of the mature believer in Scripture. You have said multiple times ( and this was a key tenant in my dissertation) that God instructed Israel to be involved through their actions and prayers in Jeremiah 29:7. Absolutely wonderful Erick!
I’m not a Baptist but sure had several “Amens“ while listening to this preacher concerning the Trump Bible! I also agree with Eric that as Christians the whole of our lives should be lived through our spiritual lens. Voting is maybe the highest privilege Americans are given and therefore a powerful civic duty. It will be hard this time, but I am forcing myself to look well beyond Donald Trump to the welfare of our country. I fear what another four years of leftist agenda could do to us. Thanks, Eric, for a really good post!