A Prayer of Confession for Voting

Background:

In 1 Samuel 8:4-20, we have the account of the people of Israel demanding that Samuel give them a king to “judge us and go out before us and fight our battles”. Yahweh consoles Samuel by saying, “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.” He then tells Samuel to tell the people what life will be like with an elected king over them.

• he will take your sons to be soldiers to fight his wars

• he will take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers

• he will take the best portion of your labour

• he will take tax you to support his organization

• he will take your belongings and use them for his work

• and you will become his servants

"Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day. Nevertheless, the people refused to listen.” 1 Samuel 8:4-20

Discussion:

Have we learned from their experience? As we read through the record of their history, we see that everything that God had warned them about came true. Granted, God still carried out his intended plans, but it makes me wonder how things would have turned out had they done things his way, with Him as their king.

Why would our election process be any different today? As one of those "called to assemble to govern"(the meaning of ekklesia) as part of His kingdom, have we been duped into voting to place another as “king” over us? Do we not already have a king over us, namely Yeshua?

I, for one, am happy with the One who is my Lord and leader, and He does not need to be voted back into office—ever.

I am no longer convinced that participating in secular elections is right and that not voting is only part of the solution. After every election, the successful candidate mails out a notice that he/she is now our representative in legislative affairs. This notice is an offer to contract. If we do not respond to that notice/contract within ten days, that offer becomes binding. We must return the notice to them with a polite “No thank you” and keep a copy for our records. Unless we do so, we will have consented to their “kingship” over us—in place of our Lord and Saviour. Participating in the process binds us to the consequences of that process—as God warned Samuel.

Those 'elected' to office in Canada swear an oath of office but nowhere therein do they promise to work for the people who voted them in. This may be because they were voted in by legal "persons," not people. If you're not sure what that means read, "Of Covenants and Favour."

As well, by voting, you participate in the process of government thereby permitting them to assume that you agree to be under the government's authority. In reality, they ought to be under the authority of the people in keeping with their roles as public servants. More on this in "Deceived By Legal Jargon."

Who will be your king?

The following prayer is offered to begin to undo all we have done out of our ignorance of the process in the past.

Prayer

“Jesus (Yeshua), you are holy, just, and righteous in all your ways. No one is better suited nor do I want any other to lead and rule over me.

“I have sinned in my efforts to set over me those who would judge me, go before me, and to fight my battles in place of you. I was wrong, and I take full responsibility both personally and generationally for this sin. Please forgive me.

“Thank you, Jesus, I receive your payment against this sin and now place myself under your authority and ask, again, that you be my Lord and King and as such be my judge, to go before me, and to fight my battles.

“As my Lord and King, please cancel the vows and remove every effect and influence that my sin of voting has had in my life and those near me. Please do so at every level in which I have voted, including, but not limited to, municipal, provincial/state, and federal elections. Strengthen and make me aware so that I will never again be drawn to participate in an election or, through my silence, to consent to allow those elected to represent me. I thank you, Jesus (Yeshua), for removing these things.

“Teach me to love you above all and those around me to the same degree as I love myself to become a responsible citizen in your kingdom. Grant me the wisdom I need to effectively be an ambassador for your kingdom. I thank you Jesus (Yeshua), as you teach me and increase my wisdom.

“Hail to my King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Amen.”

Please seriously consider rescinding your signature/name from all voter lists—federal, provincial/state, and municipal.

"If voting made any difference, they wouldn't let us do it." Mark Twain

©2013, Dr Steven Bydeley, a man.

All publishing rights reserved. Permission is herewith granted to reprint this article for personal use and to link or refer to it; however, no commercial re-publishing of the material in this article is permitted without prior written consent.

Steven is the author of Fathered by God and, with his wife Dianne, co-author of Dream Dreams and Dreams the Heal and Counsel. He has been a guest on the Miracle Channel, Trinity Television, and Crossroads Communication, and has taught internationally on various topics.

Without Prejudice. © 2024, Steven., house of bij de Leij., of man.