I believe we have reached a point in America in which purism is not possible if we are to pull America back from the brink. We cannot weigh the constitutionality of our beliefs, or demand adherence to Christian beliefs, purely when considering the person(s) for whom we vote.
The intent of the two axoms regarding not throwing out the baby with the bath water and choosing the lesser of two evils have probably never been more urgent than they will be this November.
The deceit and utter disdain, for both the foundations of our republic and its Christian underpinnings, that this administration has exhibited is mind-numbing. And what makes matters even more unpalatable is the fact that the hypocrisy includes visible, public affirmations of both, while much of the administration's behind-the-scenes activity is aimed at diluting, if not destroying, both our Founders' vision and the impact that Christian doctrine had on that vision.
But God will not be mocked -- Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows ... Gal 6:7
... which isn't to say that Christians should simply serve as spectators, resting on that promise alone -- Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it ... Ps 13-14.
Turn from, Seek and pursue are not passive verbs. Christians are not exorted to simply rest on God's promises, but rather to implement His teachings.
In today's America, turning from evil and doing good seems to require the kind of 'religious test' you are suggesting, A-G. When our leadership espouses a false Christianity, while at the same time embracing a religion that is openly and violently opposed to Christ's teachings, I (as I believe you) think we must see as our first priority in doing good the removal of that leadership. If an alternative leader's concept of God does not coincide with what we see as Christian doctrine, the fact that he is the only viable alternative, and the fact that he is not working to remove the Christian underpinnings of our republic, must provide reason enough for our support. Mitt Romney is an honest and decent man, as are all of the Mormons I have known personally. For that reason, although I cannot campaign for him, I can and will campaign for his success in removing a dangerous, deceitful man who uses a false Christianity for political purposes while elevating and subsidizing a religion that seeks both the death and subjugation of non-believers.
If such a litmus test is unconstitutional, it is only because our Founders never dreamed that the survival of America as a free republic would depend on its implementation.
May God bless and strengthen you and yours in these troubling times ...
~ joanie
Virgil Goode is a dedicated Baptist gentleman from Virginia. His prayers are to our Triune God. As a praying man, he has despite years of criticism stood 100% on the side of life. He has opposed any muslimification of the US through refusal to enforce our immigration laws and through any diversity visa programs that permit immigrants from jihadist countries to enter the US.
As a Trinitarian Christian your concerns would be taken before the Throne of Grace by a Trinitarian President Goode who would be praying to the ONLY true God.
That cannot be said of either Romney or Obama.
I might add, that your test is really one of this individual's actions as opposed to his particular religion. Clearly his 20 years in that church impacts his actions, and it was his choice to go there.
But, if, as he says, he did not agree with these things and had then "chosen" in his presidency to govern constitutionally, and from a standpoint of the clear fundamental moral and republican principles upon which the constitution is based, we would not have the problem with him and seek to vote him out because of his religion.
No, it is precisely because he has chosen to act in concert with what Wright teaches, with what he learned from his associations with William Ayers, Frank Davis, Ralla Ordinga, and so many other radical anti-Americans that he must be removed.
There are so many instances of this rabidly anti-American ideology reflected in his administration that one can scaresly comprehend them all.
The list goes on and on, and is absolutely stunning. I never believed I would witness such overt actions at the Presidential level...but we have.
Xzins, of course there will be an America alive in four years if Obama remains president.
But what manner of America will it be if the list above continues and is compounded with even worse?
My and other's point on this thread is simply that the America that exists will be so far removed from the Constitution, and so drastically and hopelessly in debt, with the Free Market all but destroyed, that the ability for America to recover to her constitutional footing will be terribly inhibitied and drastically reduced.
It may take generations to recover...if we can at all and if we have the will at that point...and then, it may still not happen short of armed restoration as the current path continues. Such a confrontation would be horrific beyond description and should be avoided through the methods we now have at our disposal while it is still possible.
We need to do, IMHO, all in our power to defeat Barak Obama at the ballot box so we can avoid the very chance that any or all of these things might happen, and because he is so decidedly anti-Constitution and anti-American to his core.
I believe that's what we are saying and I pray we up to the task, particularly when the opposition candidate has such a poor record. As ppor as it is, it, IMHO, cannot be compared to what is happening under Obama.
God grant that we, and His Holy Spirit, can be enough indfluence on that man, if elected, that he will fulfill the very good promises he is making now as he campaigns and that he will not drift away from them and not slip back into trying to compromise with the very face of evil itself.
Even with all that...I do not "fear" the man Obama. I do want to do all I can to stop the evil that is behind him and supporting him...and perhaps, just perhaps in so doing, avoid some of the judgements of a merciful God that may else come to this land for the evil occurring here, and who may show us His infinite compassion as a people if we rise up and use the rights He has endowed us with to improve our land, so that II Chron 7:14 can become a reality for us once again.
"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."
I believe a part of turning "from their wicked ways," easily could be construed to mean doing all we can to defeat this wicked administration at the ballot box.
Thank you so much for your encouragements and for your insights, dear joanie-f!
Outstanding, dear sister in Christ!
The utter lack of correspondence between this man's statements and his actions makes your head spin. It gives you a bad case of vertigo....
Obama uses the techniques of a black magician: He falsifies reality every time he opens his mouth.
I just can't stand having to live under the system of UNTRUTH that he spends all of his energies propagating, every time he opens his mouth.
So yes, I DO believe this election is absolutely about "choosing the lesser of two evils," no matter how you slice it.
At the end of the day, I believe the Republic can survive a Romney. But it CANNOT survive an Obama.
JMHO FWIW
Thank you ever so much, dear joanie, for your splendid essay/post!