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Our country is facing some very consequential elections on November 5th. One presidential candidate is calling for national legislation which would put into law the right to unrestricted abortion. The other candidate prefers to keep the national government out of the abortion issue and to leave it to the states to decide. 

One candidate is pushing hard to support the full LGBQT+ agenda, including allowing biological males to play in women's sports. The other candidate wants to keep biological males out of women's locker rooms. 

The two presidential candidates and the political parties they represent seem to be diametrically opposed on these and many other important issues- illegal immigration, gun control, environmental regulation, taxes, parental rights in schools, and support of Isreal and Ukraine to name few. These issues also loom large in many state and local elections. Many states have important ballet initiatives that voters will be deciding. For instance, here in New York State we will be voting on proposition one. This purposefully vague amendment to the New York constitution has important freedom of religion ramifications. (check out this website for more information)

So I ask the question posed in the title of this blog-  who will save our country? Is it going to be Kamala Harris? Is it going to be Donald Trump? Or will it be the American voter? As much as we complain about the government, as US citizens, we are part of the government. Voting is not just important, but it is a responsibility. What would we think of our senators if they failed to show up to vote? Especially if that senator claimed to be a Christian. Would failing to do their job and vote be a good Christian witness? Would it be showing love and caring for the people they represent? 

If Christians faithfully voted into office candidates who upheld and legislated biblical values, would it make a difference in our country? Could it affect our culture’s morality? Yes, as Albert Mohler has said many times on the “The Briefing”, "the law is a teacher." Part of the reason that our country is now significantly more pro-abortion than it was when the supreme Court handed down the Roe versus Wade decision in 1973, is that our country has had 50 years in which the unwritten law of the land was saying that abortion is necessary and a good thing.

Our vote does matter. And as we have seen in recent election cycles, elections have important consequences (just think of the changes to our country brought by the Trump administration, and now the Biden administration) Yet, we as Christians have to be very careful that politics do not become an idol.

Politicians can change laws, and they may even influence the morals of our culture, but the government can't legislate a heart change. Do good morals save us from an eternity in hell? Absolutely not! Only repentance and faith in Jesus saves our souls.

The greatest danger that the citizens of the United States face is not the border crisis, terrorism, or the threat of nuclear war. It is the wrath of God against the sin that each of us have committed.

It is not Harris, Trump, or the voters who will save America, only Jesus can. Only Jesus can stand between us and the wrath of God the Father, for he alone was worthy to die in our place, to take our punishment for our sins.

As Christ’s ambassadors in this world, we need to educate ourselves as to the issues and candidates and then vote. But even more, when the topic of politics come up, instead of debating about candidates, direct the conversation to the only one who can save America, Jesus and his Gospel. Let's turn this divisive election season into a season of evangelism. Let’s pray that God opens hearts to our gospel conversations, and that he sends revival to America.