Bob Thiel has up a ridiculous posting today encouraging LCGers to pray and fast that God places the right person in office. Thiel feels both men are evil and that God apparently is going to place in office the lesser evil one.
Armstrongism has always had a love/hate relationship with voting. HWA was against it and the diehard followers still are to this day. They are appalled that some other COG groups do allow voting, or at least leave the matter up to the individual. There has been discussions on Facebook recently about UCG members who said they vote. Some condemned them for doing it saying the Bible told them not to.
The Church also allowed voting when it came to local concerns that would have an effect on the local community. This allowed WCG members to run for office in Big Sandy and eventually helped allow the sale of alcohol in the area. On a side note: It's funny how you can't mention the name Church of God without alcohol getting into the mix.
Bob Thiel writes:
Tomorrow is the US presidential election. If Christians are not supposed to vote, what should we do about leaders?
Pray for them!
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior (1 Tim 2:1-3).Notice that we are to pray for worldly leaders and those that have authority over us so that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life.
Both candidates have promoted various forms of evil, and as I wrote before Voting for the Lesser of Two Evils is Still not Good (for specific details by candidate, please see the article Romney and Obama on ‘Social Issues’).Of course there are those reprobates and wanton sinners in the Church of God who do vote, always have and always will. Thiel has this to say to them:
Many people, however, apparently are not satisfied with the biblical admonitions to trust God to chose political leaders. This is not new (1 Samuel 8:6-7).
And while I can certainly understand that people often feel that they should do more, people often forget that God inspired Jeremiah to write:
O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps (Jeremiah 10:23).
Some of those that vote seem to forget what God said:Bob also wants you to know that whoever gets voted in will lead to the decline of this nation and is soon coming occupation by Germany:
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts…”(Isaiah 55:8-9).It may be of interest to point out that Jesus suggested that people would take matters in their own hands thinking that they are doing God a service (John 16:2). And while this referred to killing, the principle is still that one should not violate what God instructs and justify it by thinking that God wants one to.
‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.’ (Daniel 4:17).
No matter who wins, I believe they will lead a nation in decline and will almost certainly increase the rate of ultimate decline of the Anglo-American powers. The USA needs true repentance and neither candidate has really called for that. God can decide who, when, and why we should get particular leaders.
Since we are getting closer to the time of the end, I believe that tomorrow’s winner (even if it is not clear tomorrow) will help fulfill the following:
12 As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.” (Isaiah 3:12)
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed (Isaiah 9:16).
Thiel wants to make if very clear on what he is doing. As the Official face of the Living Church of God, he has to set the right example for the wayward LCGer who might have dared to vote. I know quit a few in LCG who do vote and will ignore Thiel's advice. As they should!