Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:2 NIV)
I’m not a huge fan of Halloween. Last year, I wrote a whole post on “Hollow-ween” (https://mountainmovers.me/hollow-ween/) and the potential spiritual implications of celebrating a day with ties to the occult and themes of darkness. Over the years, I’ve read testimonies from former Satanists, witches, and warlocks who have come to Christ and now warn believers about the danger of trivializing or playing with spiritual darkness. The final line of my prayer for discernment was to ask God to “Keep us from intentionally or inadvertently partnering with forces of darkness….”
Today is Halloween/Hollow-ween, but discernment is still in order—not just for families deciding how to celebrate the “holiday,” but also for voters discerning between candidates.
Josh Howerton* writes:
“If godly people refuse to vote for the LESSER of 2 evils, godless people will vote to ensure you, your children, and your grandchildren get the GREATER of 2 evils.
NEWSFLASH: You will be voting for a “lesser of two evils” until Jesus returns.
Wise Christians can differentiate between a FALLEN candidate and an EVIL candidate.
FALLEN CANDIDATE: Has personal sin in his/her life.
EVIL CANDIDATE: Leads entire communities, states, and nations to sin.”
I do believe that wise Christians can discern the difference between a “fallen” person and an “evil” person because the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord within us will give us that knowledge. There is a great difference between an imperfect person and one whose worldview, practices, habits, and voting records promote things abhorrent to the Lord.
I have voted for the “lesser of two evils” since I started voting several decades ago—with the one exception of voting for my dad, who was on the ballot for our tiny township as the clerk. I wish a “perfect” candidate were on the ballot, but Jesus doesn’t run for office, so we’re stuck with flawed humans. Let’s vote for the best, closest-to-godly candidates we have available so that we don’t end up with the greater of two (or more) evils who then lead us into sin.
All-Powerful God,
We come to You today praying for discernment for individuals and families as they encounter this day. While some view the day as innocent fun, others know it as a time associated with evil and the occult. We pray in the name of Jesus that Your discernment would be upon people—especially the Body of Christ—so that we know how to minister to those in darkness while remaining firmly rooted in the Light. Keep us from intentionally or inadvertently partnering with forces of darkness.
We also pray for discernment for voters—especially Christians—as voting continues. We pray that we would recognize that all candidates are flawed humans in need of God’s mercy and grace, but that there is a difference between fallen and evil. In the name of Jesus, we pray against each and every candidate who is evil—whose mindset, intentions, and worldview are in opposition to Your Kingdom principles. We pray that, even when we feel like we are voting for the “lesser of two evils,” we would also remember that we are voting for less evil.
Give us wisdom, knowledge, and discernment, we ask in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:31 NIV)