Higher Ground Ministries International

The Spiritual Significance of Election 2000

I watched with great interest the marathon election coverage that was offered by the national media of the seemingly endless Election 2000.

Nearly two years ago, James Robison, a man I greatly admire, said that he believed The Lord had shown him that the Texas Governor would be the next president of the United States. Then, earlier this year, another nationally known minister announced to his congregation that Vice President Al Gore was God's choice to lead the nation. The Bishop was so strong in this belief that he publicly anointed Gore as the heir to America's throne. Today, the Electoral College voted to officially award George W. Bush the Presidency of the United States.

One of the reasons that I was so taken with this election was because of my tendency to look for a spirtual implication in all that happens around us. In everything that goes on...in a nation, a home, or a life...God is trying to communicate something. For instance, The Lord made it clear to me that a nation's leadership is a reflection of her true heart. For the last eight years, we as Americans, have looked into the depths of our own depravity as God showed us what we had become through the scandals of the Clinton administration. Many church goers were shocked when they learned what was going on behind the closed doors of the Oval Office, but they had no reason to be. "As the church goes...so goes the nation". Our most famous ministers were falling into sexual sin and massive cover-ups long before it happened in the White House. But what is God saying through the election chaos that we have just come through? And what does the pending Bush administration suggest about the condition of the American heart? Before I go any further, I want to make it clear that this is not a political column. I know that what I am about to say may cause some to wonder if I have a hidden agenda to sway readers toward my political beliefs, but let me assure you that is not the case. This election was not about the personal virtue of its contenders. It was about the stands they took on the issues that are closest to God's heart. While we in America have trivialized and politicized issues like abortion, welfare reform, and character, they are not mere political issues to The Father. Whether he realized it or not, Gov. Bush took Biblical stands on all three of these issues. He said that he would sign a ban on partial birth abortion, thus sparing the lives of millions of God's precious gifts. Gov. Bush also suggested that the government should allow the church (which he referred to as "faith-based organizations")to take a more active leadership role in feeding the hungry and caring for the hurting. This trane of thought is reflective of the teachings of Christ himself, that WE (the church, NOT the government)are His hands to hurting people. And finally, Gov. Bush raised the issue of high moral standards and personal integrity, which we all know is VERY high on God's priority list. Please understand, I am not saying that Bush was the better man or better Christian (Both Bush and Gore claim to be born-again and I will not judge them otherwise). I am simply saying that the Texas Governor alligned himself with the cause of righteousness, and when he stepped under the umbrella of (Biblical) truth, he was victorious. I don't believe that God ever chooses sides in any election, He doesn't want to take sides...He wants to take over. Gov. Bush just happened to find His way to God's side of the issues. The extended period of electoral uncertainty was a picture of where this nation is spiritually. There is a haze of spiritual confusion hanging over this land. Those who would compromise the Gospel have sown the tainted seed of "new tolerance"(acceptance of homosexuals, cults, drug addicts, even child molestors...our children are now taught through the media to openly accept basically everyone EXCEPT Christians), and "open mindedness" (the belief that faith is whatever you choose to believe, and that there is no absolute truth...no right or wrong). The church has preached violently against these seeds of destruction, but unfortunately, they were literally preaching to the choir. As the nation grows darker, a good number of misdirected church groups have been content to continue to play church and sing about a victory in Jesus that they have yet to truly experience. They have a "GO ye therefore..." Gospel, yet they have "COME TO" churches. Because of their ineffectiveness at reaching the lost, The Lord allowed a series of events to unfold which are the demonstration of His judgement on this nation. In the book of Romans, Chapter One, The Lord speaks of this judgement, "For the wrath of God IS (right now) revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness...". He goes on to say, "...they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him AS GOD or give Him thanks (didn't worship Him from their hearts with their lives)but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the INCORRUPTIBLE God for an image in the form of corruptable man (bowing down to men and their accomplishments...animal rights...political parties...denominations...everything EXCEPT God). "THEREFORE, God gave them over to the lusts of THEIR OWN hearts (not an outside demonic influence, but strongholds WITHIN THEM that had started as temptation that was yielded to and then went unrepented)to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God (The Gospel) for a lie (the new tolerance), and they worshiped the created thing rather than the Creator...For this reason, God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire for one another, men with men commiting indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty (breakdown in the family and home, AIDS, addiction, etc...)of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness (sin), wickedness, greed (seeking prosperity above holiness), evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful, and although THEY KNOW THE ORDINANCE OF GOD (these are church folks He's talking about), that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also GIVE HEARTY APPROVAL TO THOSE WHO PRACTICE THEM". (Such as making Jerry Springer, the WWF, etc. the highest rated shows in TV). America is a land under judgement. The mainstream church has so compromised His truth that we are not shining like a beacon in the darkness. Instead, many of us seem content to simply curse the darkness. God is saying that it is time to let the light that He has placed within us shine. The election ended up being settled in the court system. For a period of time, the Florida Supreme Court seemed to be handing the election to the Vice President. Every time a case came before them, they ruled in Gore's favor. In the spirit, this State Supreme Court represents the principalities and powers that serve as strongholds in the heavenlies. They seem to be successful for a period of time in allowing the current darkness to grow and expand, but just as the U.S. Supreme Court twice reversed the Florida Supreme Courts judgements, Almighty God , who REIGNS TRULY SUPREME, will twice overrule the princes of the power of the air. The first reversal was at Calvary when The Holy Lord repealed the death sentence which had been passed upon mankind. God wrote His reversal in the blood of Jesus and provided us a way out of the darkness of death, hell, and the grave. There is coming a time when The Almighty will once again cut through the darkness and undo all that man has allowed satan to do. In the end, God's will is going to be done. There are many who believe that we are running out of time. They say that Jesus must rapture His church soon or we will be overwhelmed by the darkness. I believe that to be a pessimistic view. The church is not on her last legs, but in her infancy. She is still learning to walk on the spiritual footing which she has been given. It is through the trial and tribulations that we are now undergoing, and will soon enter into, that our faith is perfected and we discover how strong He really is within us. The 2000 Election was a word of hope to the church. God is saying, "Hold on, help is on the way. The princes of this world will not have their way with you. You will overcome by the blood of the Lamb AND THE WORD OF THE TESTIMONY THAT I AM ABOUT TO BRING FORTH OUT OF YOUR SUFFERING." I believe that the rise of George W. Bush to the presidency has many serious implications for the church and the nation as a whole. Some are good, others are not. God brought him to the forefront so that we can see what America has become in His eyes. The Lord has begun to give me some insight into the matter and with His continued direction...I will address the spiritual implications of the Bush Presidency in my next posting. Bro. Jason