The Story
In 1948, a Romanian pastor named Richard Wurmbrand was taken off the street by the communist secret police. He spent 14 years in prison, much of it in solitary confinement, beaten and starved because he would not stop preaching Christ. When he was finally released, he warned the free world that the loss of liberty rarely arrives all at once. It comes slowly, through promises of fairness and security, until the government owns what the people once owned, including their faith.
He came to America to tell us: don’t take your freedom for granted.
Scripture
“When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.” (Proverbs 29:2, NIV)
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NIV)
How I Understand This Scripture
Solomon had watched kingdoms rise and fall. As I read it, he is saying the character of those who rule shapes the life of everyone under them. Good leadership brings joy. Corrupt leadership brings grief to ordinary families.
Paul wrote to Timothy under Roman rule, where Christians had no vote at all. Still, he told the church to pray first, for every leader, so believers could live peaceful, godly lives. I understand that to mean prayer is not a last resort. It is the starting point.
My Reflection
We have something Paul never had: a voice. Today, Texans get to use it.
Our country is broke. We are buried in debt, and you cannot borrow and spend your way out of a hole. The answer is not more government. It is less corruption, honest stewardship of the people’s money, and a return to the competitive free market that built this nation.
That includes healthcare. Socialized medicine for all puts the government between you and your doctor. Competition drives quality up and prices down. Control by the state does the opposite.
We need to bring manufacturing home. A nation that cannot make its own goods cannot stand on its own feet. Good American jobs build strong families and strong communities.
And we need secure borders and enforcement of the law. Illegal immigration puts pressure on wages, jobs, and housing for working families who are already struggling. God is a God of order, and a nation without borders is not a nation.
The Democratic Party’s platform pushes in the opposite direction on nearly every one of these: more government spending, more government control of healthcare, and looser enforcement at the border. They are not hiding it. They campaign on it. Take them at their word, and vote accordingly.
Socialism and communism always promise to take care of you. History shows what they actually do. They concentrate power, shrink personal responsibility, and eventually see the church as a rival. I spent a long time studying this for my book, The Cross Under the Hammer, which traces Christianity under communist rule across 12 nations. The pattern is the same everywhere. Persecution does not arrive as a sudden takeover. It comes as a gentle creep, one surrendered freedom at a time.
My next book, The Cross Under the Crescent, tells the story of Christianity under Islamic rule, and it is coming soon. Both books carry the same warning: freedom of faith can be lost, and the church must stay awake.
Freedom is not self-sustaining. It is kept by people who show up. Staying home is a choice too, and it hands the decision to someone else.
So go vote today. Bring a friend. Check your polling place at VoteTexas.gov. Then, whatever the results, keep praying for those who lead us, because Scripture never gave us an exception for leaders we didn’t pick.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the freedom to worship You and to have a voice in how we are governed. Expose the false promises of socialism and communism, and root out corruption in our land. Bring jobs home, secure our borders, and stir Your people to vote today. Give our leaders wisdom and integrity. Protect Texas, its families, and its churches. Whatever the outcome, remind us that You are still on the throne. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Please Share This Today
This is the most important day to share a post like this. Before the polls close, send it to everyone you can: your family, your church, your friends, your group chats. One share could be the reminder that gets someone to the polls.
Visit www.christaff.net to join our community, read more, and learn about The Cross Under the Hammer and the upcoming The Cross Under the Crescent.
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