We Do Our Part, But God Determines The Results

"God gives us responsibility without giving us sovereignty over the results." - Tim St. John

This morning I voted, and I hope you did too!  Voting always brings out the issues of man's responsibility and God's sovereignty!

Who is really in control?  Does my vote or yours really make any difference?  

Over the years, I have come to appreciate the historic confessions that help us make sense of what Scripture teaches!  Both the Westminster Confession of Faith and the London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) say this about God's providence:

"God, the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for which they were created, according unto His infallible knowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy."

That's a mouthful for sure!  It is clear in a statement like this that our God is in control!  But notice what the confession continues to say about God's providence:

"Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything that befalls any by chance, or without His providence; yet by the same providence He ordered them to fall out (come to pass) according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.  God, in His ordinary providence, makes use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them at His pleasure."

Right after the confession states that God is in control, we are told that God orders things to come to pass through 'secondary causes'.  This means that God is a God of means!  He is not simply sovereign over the result, but He is also sovereign over the means that bring about this end result.  For example, God is sovereign over your salvation and mine.  But He is also sovereign over the means that bring about our salvation.  This is why none of us can say God will save someone and we do not have to pray or witness.  God's means for bringing about salvation is through His people praying, proclaiming, and being salt and light.  Notice also that the confession leaves room for God to accomplish His purposes through any means He chooses!  I love that it says 'God is free to work without, above, and against at His pleasure'.

So, back to the subject at hand!  

Should we vote?  Yes.  Because God is sovereign not only over the outcomes, but the means.  In this case, we have the privilege of living in a democracy where our voice and vote count.

As we vote, we should do so with Biblical values in mind.  Vote to advance as much righteousness as possible!

What about after we vote? Listen to Bryce Waller:

"The most difficult part about politics is what happens after the elections. In Rom. 13:1, God calls us to be subject to these governing authorities - to obey the laws they pass, to show them honor and respect, to give them our hard-earned money by paying taxes. Voting is one thing, but submitting my life to a politician, showing respect to that guy, paying taxes to those people - even the people I didn't choose?  That's not so easy. We should be comforted in knowing this isn't a new problem. It's an issue God's people have always faced. The Jewish exiles from the Promised Land wrestled with how to live under Babylonian rule (Jer. 29). The Maccabees led a revolt in the second century B.C. against their pagan overlords. The Pharisees questioned Jesus about whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. God's people have always wondered how to relate to civil authorities, particularly civil authorities who did not share their religious convictions."

He continues in his article to share that we can and must respect and submit to our governing authorities for 3 reasons:

1. Because of how they got there

2. Because of what they do

3. Because of who you are

Much of his article is a breakdown of Romans 13. It is a lengthy but well-written article.  I would encourage you to read all of the article - God’s Left Hand.

Waller ends his article this way:

"Christ has set you free to live for God.  He's restored your conscience by giving you a new heart and spiritually raising you from the dead. That's why you can be subject to any earthly ruler; you can pay taxes even if you know the government isn't going to spend them wisely; you can show honor even to those who may personally be dishonorable, because you answer to a higher authority, you belong to both an earthly and a heavenly government, and you look for the day when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and He will be all in all.  Until that day, let's honor God by honoring the earthly rulers He has given us for our good."

So, be responsible and do your part!  At the end of the day, trust God and submit to Him and the authorities that He allows to be in position for our good and His glory!

As R.C. Sproul once said, "It doesn't matter so much who sits in the White House.  What really matters is the One who sits over the White House."