Saddleback Church Senior Pastor Andy Wood urges Southern Californians to vote for candidates whose lives and policies are “more closely aligned with God's Word” in the 2024 presidential election on November 5th. He called on members of 15 locations in a megachurch.
“You have to ask this question: Which candidates and issues are more closely aligned with God's Word?” He asked whether the people would elect Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris , in deciding whether to select Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump.
“I'm concerned about how many people don't know what they're voting for. They don't understand the proposal. They don't understand it. Did you know, “Dear American, you can read their plans, you can read their beliefs?'' ” asked Wood.
“They're putting everything out on the internet, so starting today you can go home and download it and read it. And what they believe, what they've done in history, You can learn about their past,” he continued.
“When we hire people, we say the best indicator of future performance is past behavior. So if you want to know what someone will do in the future, look at what they've done in the past. What they're going to do to us, they've got to tell us their beliefs, and I think which candidate is more divine You must follow the word and vote according to your conscience. ” Wood added.
He also cited a recent study by the Christian Cultural Center and Arizona Christian University that found at least 104 million people of faith will not vote in this election, including 32 million self-proclaimed Christians who attend church regularly. He also mentioned the research.
“Now, in my humble opinion, this is problematic. If you are a follower of Jesus, you have a responsibility in the culture. “We believe that it should be integrated into what we do. It's our vote,” he said.
Wood emphasized that Christians should glorify God in everything they do, including voting.
“The glory of God is our greatest motivator. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says that whether we eat, drink, vote, or whatever, we do everything for the glory of God. ” he said.
Wood pointed out that the church has become too much like the rest of the world due to various influences such as the media.
“In the church, in general, in our country, this is what it’s all about. The world trumps the church when it comes to shaping our worldview. And if we're honest with ourselves, in many things, algorithms have more influence on our worldview than God or the Bible. . [F]Or many of us are getting so many messages from the media channels we watch that we're confused,'' the megachurch pastor said, calling confusion a “challenge that followers of Jesus face.'' is.
Wood also noted that at least 14 states have enacted trans “health care” protection laws. The UCLA Williams Institute reports that, as of August 2024, 17 states and Washington, D.C., are providing permanent physical therapy, including prescribing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, selective castration for boys, and mastectomies for girls. It points out that a shield law has been enacted that recognizes damage. .
“Some of these states have laws that govern when a child is unable to obtain parental consent. […] If the gender changes, the state can remove the child. Therefore, the state could rule a parent who tells a 14-year-old son that he cannot change his gender as an abuser. It’s not abuse,” Wood said.
“That is to supervise children who are not in a position to make their own decisions. That is the job of parents. The state does not have that authority. And again, my friends, I say this out of love. It’s evil.’ It’s evil. ”
Additionally, 12 states allow abortions for up to nine months, the California pastor added.
“This is evil. It is evil before the living God. And for the followers of Jesus, there is confusion because we don't want to call it evil. But what the Word of God says: Please remember. Isaiah 5:20: God is justice and God is love. God is holy, God is merciful, but God does not break His standards to bless people,” Wood said.
“What I want for you is that when you mail in your ballot or go and vote here in the United States, your conscience is clear before God. That's my wish for you guys. And at the end of the day, something might happen,” Wood explained.
The pastor of Saddleback Church insisted that even if no godly candidate won the election, the church would survive regardless of the outcome.
“The person you want to win may not win. The person you voted for may not be the next president. What you propose may not come to fruition. And the question is, who is the president?” 'Can the church continue to thrive despite this?' That's a resounding yes,'' Wood declared.
“In the first century of the early church, Christians were burned at the stake, and the church grew exponentially. Jesus said, 'I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 'I can't do it,' he said.
“So what if the person you want to win, the person I want to win, doesn’t win? Friends, God causes kings to rise and fall, kingdoms to rise and fall; God is the Most High. Who is in power? He is the one who sits on the throne,” Wood added.
“Yes, we are at a critical moment. Yes, your vote matters. Go and make a change. […]But in the end, no matter what happens, have faith and confidence that God can do what He says He will do. ”
Watch: Critical Filters for Decision Moments | Andy Wood | Saddleback Church
Photo provided by: ©YouTube/saddleback church
