Here in the United States we are constantly talking or writing about politics and politicians. The case always revolves around for whom the voters should vote and why. Man spends enormous amounts of time, effort and money determining who will be the nation’s leaders–who will destroy the nation, who will save the nation from the bad guys–those in the other party. The irony is that none of the talking, writing, finger-pointing, hand-wringing, cursing, crying, laughing, money-spending that goes on in any way affects the outcome of elections, whether local, state or national. MAN IS NOT IN CHARGE OF POLITICAL OUTCOMES–GOD IS. The same holds true within His church. It is for this reason that His people do not vote.

The Almighty makes clear Who is in charge in the Book of Daniel. Here we find that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the most powerful nation on earth at that time, has had a dream (Ch. 2). Daniel is called upon to both identify and interpret the dream. According to Daniel, God had not only sent the dream to the king, He would, through Daniel, interpret it. In his interpretation Daniel points out that a succession of empires would rule the civilized portions of the earth. Daniel informed the king that he was ruling the first of the four empires, but that he had not achieved that status on by his own means: “You are king of kings. FOR THE GOD OF HEAVEN HAS GIVEN YOU A KINGDOM, POWER, STRENGTH AND GLORY.” Daniel then noted that three other kingdoms would succeed his, all in their own time, until a final King would destroy the fourth kingdom and establish His own kingdom. In that the Author of the Dream (God) knew what was going to happen, who would do what, when and where until the end of time, He had to be the One who would establish those kingdoms. The king was impressed, so much so that he bestowed much glory on God’s prophet Daniel.

However, we soon find that King Nebuchadnezzar has a combination pride and memory problem. He soon forgot what Daniel had told him and began to credit himself for attaining the incredible power and majesty he enjoyed. One day as he was walking in his palace he remarked that he had risen to the top of the world’s nations by his own efforts. While the words were still in his mouth a voice came from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: ‘the kingdom has departed from you'” (4:30,31). In other words, He who giveth can taketh away.

In short order the king fell from the ranks of men. For seven years he roamed the fields on his hands and knees eating grass like an animal until the day arrived when his reason returned to him, along with his kingdom, power and majesty–courtesy of the God of heaven who gave it to him initially. Having regained his senses, the king realized Who had made him a king and had given to him all of his military and financial might. He noted in verse 36 that everything had been RESTORED to him by the One Who had GIVEN IT TO HIM. This total control over who rules what, why, how, when, etc. is still determined by the Lord of the universe. In that He knew the character and power of the four nations of the king’s dream, and what would happen to them, and when, we can only conclude that He is the one who established them, controlled them, etc. Fact: GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL OF THE KINGDOMS OF MEN. HE STILL DETERMINES WHO’S IN CHARGE IN EVERY NATION. This is brought out in 4:17: “This decision (to determine the rulership of the world’s kingdoms) is brought about (instituted) by the WATCHERS (angels), and its (the decision’s) fulfilment by the word of the HOLY ONES. In order that the living may know that THE MOST HIGH RULES IN THE KINGDOMS OF MEN, GIVES THOSE KINGDOMS TO WHOMSOEVER HE WANTS, AND SETS OVER THEM THE WORST OF MEN.” Note that not only does God establish those kingdoms, HE PLACES WHOM HE WANTS AT THEIR HEAD. Note also that He sets over those nations THE WORST OF MEN. To understand why, read this website and watch my YouTube site at proveallthingsofgod.

Nowhere in scripture are we told that God’s people vote on either church or political matters. The Biblical God places in positions of power whom He wills to make happen what He wants to happen. His choice depends entirely on the character of the people in those nations, religious organizations, etc. In God’s church He places whom He wants in leadership positions. It is up to the people to hear and follow them. Few do so. For this reason He said that where two or three true saints come together, He is there in their midst. God does not need man’s input to do what He does. No one voted in the prophets and the apostles. Neither does man decide if he will be a preacher, politician, etc. God makes those choices and sees that they are carried out.

However, this seems not to hold true in the Institutional Church where the denominational leaders train those who have “heard God’s call to ministry” to march to a specific (denominational) drumbeat. Then the parishioners sift through the applicants and vote in as their leaders those who scratch their ears and salve their egos. Parishioners vote in as their leader one who will tell him what they want to hear–that all is well, that they are saved, born again, rapture-ready, etc. Man chooses cheer leaders; God chooses Truth tellers, which explains why the latter are never chosen. L.J.