Rene,
We all hear 2 Chronicles 7:14. It is probably one of the most misquoted, misunderstood, and misused scriptures especially in light of elections. Do you know what the context of that verse is? Have you read to the end of the chapter where God tells Solomon that if they don't repent and TURN from their wicked ways that destruction will in fact come? Let me share with you something that has recently been highlighted to me from the Holy Spirit. Many Christians today look at verse 14 and pretty much assume that if we pray God will just fix it. But what is it that we are wanting to be fixed? When most are praying they are praying for America to return to its values and times of peace and prosperity they aren't really concerned with Godliness, just blessing. They don't REALLY want to repent and turn from the idolatry that comes from the love of self and country (which we try to disguise as patriotism). I have recently been highly convicted by the Holy Spirit, that we can't love God and country, yet that is the "American way". But I see in scripture that God doesn't share allegiance, meant for Himself, with anyone. Especially not a country that is reprobate and has turned against Him, and those that aren't against Him outright, seem to mostly be in search of His blessing without any regard of relationship. God isn't going to honor those prayers. Check out James 4:1-4
James 4
1From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Even when God's people are praying, many are not praying for the right thing and God isn't going to honor what we pray for the sake of consuming things for our own lusts. IF your church is praying that God's will be done regardless of who is elected, and for this nation to be returned to a heart for God, for true repentance at a national level, even if that requires its fall and regardless of financial implications...then I believe your prayers will be heard and your fasting will have purpose. Otherwise James 4 says that it is no different then the enemies of God.
NOW for the purpose of the conversation about elections and how I confirm what I believe the Holy Spirit is saying and why Christians shouldn't vote...Let me preface this by saying, I had decided long before now that I couldn't vote for Romney because he doesn't serve the same God that I do, and his religion is of the enemy. I also cannot vote for Obama, who claims to be a christian, yet has little to no fruit that shows to bare righteousness...his actions speak for themselves.
Today going over this scripture again because of the weariness that I have about the "church" taking it out of context in such a way that leads many astray... I began to pay attention to who and what was actually being talked to and about here. Solomon has just prayed to sanctify the temple to the Lord and God himself is responding to Solomon, the current king of Israel. God tells Solomon when you see drought, pestilence, locust devouring the land and such, you can know that the heart of the nation is in rebellion against Him, at that point (which we can all agree we have seen in America this very year), then the people must pray, seek Him, and turn from the wickedness and idolatry. THEN God will HEAR from heaven, forgive the sin and heal the land. At the point of true repentance and turning verse 15 says He will listen to the prayer coming up from the temple...or in our case the churches.
However, then comes verse 17. This is God talking very specifically to the king, the leader of the nation. He tells Solomon if he, Solomon, will continue to serve and walk in God's statutes and judgments, then God will preserve his line and the blessing on the nation. However verse 19 brings the rest of the story so to speak. In 19 and 20 Solomon is warned, if he(the king/leader) doesn't do these things, if he turns to falls gods and worship them, then the entire nation will be destroyed ALONG WITH THE PLACE OF WORSHIP built and sanctified by God. So much so that all the other nations will look and ask "how could God destroy the nation of Israel or for us, this "christian" nation?" And God's answer will be because they turned from Him, the God that their fathers served.
Now understanding that the judgement of Israel was to fall not only for the people's unrepentance, but also in the case that their "leader" or king was worshiping other gods, how can you as a child of God vote to place a man that falls under that SPECIFIC guideline, in the place of highest leadership of this country? We don't have a vote. Not one that honors God. Not based on values...at least not biblical ones.
For me, it is clear that God was king of Israel, until the people asked for a human...and all we have seen, even through "good" kings in the old testament, is that no man was meant to be our highest leader. If we are children of God, and joint heirs with Christ Jesus, then our citizenship is in the kingdom of heaven. Our allegiance can be to only one. There is no God and country. God is my Father, Jesus Christ is my King. My vote is trust in Him to establish earthly leaders and he doesn't need my vote at a ballot box to decided that. I know for sure I won't put a vote there to establish a leader that will only bring destruction, because he worships a false god.
2 Chronicles 7:12 And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;
18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.
19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.
21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house?
22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.
May the peace that passes all understanding rule within your hearts and guide your minds,
Melicia