Posted on 10/30/2014 1:04:56 PM PDT by Kaslin
In polite society, you’re not supposed to talk about politics, sex, or religion. Sorry, but this column will discuss all three, directly or indirectly.
In America, we get the kind of government we deserve. Is this the best we can do?
There certainly is a big divide in how we approach politics, even among well-meaning Christians.
I was asked to speak at our church recently, and the title was given to me: “To vote or not to vote?” Are you serious? How can we not vote? We’re in such a mess because we haven’t been voting our values. I believe voting is imperative for the follower of Jesus.
Jesus said that we are to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s (Mark 12:17). Surely, included in rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s would include voting.
It’s our duty to cast a ballot. It’s also our privilege. I know a man personally who risked his life with six other Cubans to flee the communist island. They rowed for 48 long hours in a rickety row boat with a hole in it. One of them had to bail out the water all the time. After a while, their fingers were bleeding, but they finally made it to the Bahamas.
My Cuban friend is glad to be an American and is a patriot. He wouldn’t think of not voting.
Historically, Christians in America applied their faith to virtually every sphere of life, including politics. While the founding fathers were not all Christians, the vast majority of them were, and virtually all of them had a biblical worldview. As historian Donald S. Lutz said of the founding fathers (even the unorthodox amongst them), “they knew the Bible down to their fingertips.”
So, for example, they divided power, since they knew man is sinful. James Madison, one of the key architects of the Constitution, noted: "All men having power ought not to be trusted." This is a biblical perspective. Sometimes people complain that the Constitution limits the amount of power any one single branch may have. That was by design---lest we have tyranny from one man or from an oligarchy.
When we vote biblical values, we obey what the Lord would have us do. Jesus is not on the ballot, so ultimately we are voting for a sinner. But the question is, Where do those sinners stand on key issues?
Too often, Christians seem to be waiting for the perfect candidates and can’t bring themselves to vote for someone with many (but not all) right views. We need to vote for the available candidates with the best views, rather than waiting for the perfect candidate who’s not coming.
There are some Christians who are so upset with the current crop of politicians that they may sit this election out. But their non-vote is a vote---a vote for someone with whom they probably would disagree vehemently.
There are many lesser known candidates and amendments that will likely be on the ballot. It behooves us to learn a Christian perspective on these, before we go and vote.
Where do the candidates stand on abortion? On traditional marriage? On religious freedom? On fiscal responsibility? On educational issues? All of these are addressed by the Bible.
Speaking of fiscal responsibility, Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” Yet today, as one person has said: “Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren.” I agree with that sentiment.
Who said it? Senator Barack Obama in 2006. Too bad as president, he has racked up a bill that seems beyond the reach of even our grandchildren to pay off.
In this country, which had such a godly foundation, we currently have the opportunity to vote our biblical values. But if we continue to lose our freedoms and fall prey to tyrannical government, ultimately, we will only have ourselves to blame.
My long-time pastor, the late D. James Kennedy, Ph.D. said this about Christians and politics in general: “I remember 20 years ago, a Christian said to me, ‘You don’t really believe that Christians should get active in politics do you?’ And I said, with tongue in cheek, ‘Why, of course not, we ought to leave it to the atheists, otherwise, we wouldn’t have anything to complain about. And we’d really rather complain than do something, wouldn’t we?’”
Look at the mess we’re in because many Christians have neglected this duty. Five Houston pastors were having their communications subpoenaed by the mayor because they had spoken out against the bill allowing a man to use the ladies’ room! Their emails and text messages had been demanded, to see what they have said anything against this bill.
Commenting on that case initiated by the lesbian mayor of our nation’s 4th largest city, in his Mike Huckabee News (10/19/14), he comments: “Why has this happened? It’s mainly because good church going Christians don’t vote and don’t care.”
It is a privilege to vote. It is our Christian duty to vote. So vote your biblical values. If enough evangelicals and conservative Catholics showed up and voted biblical values, we could carry this election---and virtually every election. Our nation’s founders pledged their lives, their fortunes, and the sacred honor to give us our freedom. The least we could do is vote---and vote our values.
Believe it or not, we were officially NEUTRAL up until then, (even if somewhat heavily biased toward the UK) and doing big business with the European Axis powers.
Pat Buchanan, the 'Cold-Cocker' of my Careless Youth, goes so far to say that we should have remained neutral in WWI, (and maybe WWII) instead of fighting to preserve the British Empire ... and giving Eastern Europe to the Commies!
I probably rambled a bit, but I did say it was a necessary choice. I think it needed to be made even if Pearl Harbor had not happened. Whether we should have then followed Patton’s advice and continue on to Moscow is another choice.
BTTT
We conservatives, who believe in social and fiscal conservative principles are what percentage of the population? 10%? 15%? 20%? I guess some are afraid to face the fact that politics is the art of the possible. We are never going to get a president who believes everything we believe. There are some, but apparently not many, in the House and Senate, who believe all the things we believe. Why? Because they cannot get a majority of the vote. Not enough people agree with us. Without the majority of the vote, there will be no one to speak for our values.
So what do we do? Vote for the lesser of two evils? Don’t vote for someone who at least holds some of our views? Just sit it out and let the guy win with whom we disagree almost 100%? The last choice may feel good about showing the GOP we mean business, but what has been accomplished? We can feel good about upholding our principles, but the net effect is for the really bad side to further consolidate its power —— with exec orders that cannot be challenged, more judicial appointments in appellate level and in the Supreme Court, totally controlling the FCC and shutting down our point of view on the internet, 60% eating at the taxpayer trough instead of 50%, and 20 million new RAT voters. They will have a permanent majority.
I respect you if you hold to your principles and do not vote. That is a noble position. But be prepared to accept the consequences. Don’t pretend that you do not know those consequences. That is intellectually dishonest and you have lost my respect.
As bad as Romney might have been, he would not have had Holder as AG. Or the influence of Valerie Jarret. Or Benghazi. Or unbelievable exec orders that clearly violate the Constitution. Or any number of other disasters.
No. Is someone using yours?
Sorry to hear that. You’ve changed.
Save your condescension for someone else. If you want more babies ripped out of the womb, sit it out. The Democrats are the abortion party.
That wasn’t condescension, it was sorrow.
Wallow in your sorrow and allow the abortion party to win. Then feel good that you stayed home. Of course, letting the RATS win means more dead babies. I guess abortion didn’t really bother you enough to try to make a difference and stop the abortion supporters from retaining control of Congress.
I never said I wouldn’t vote.
Can’t and Won’t vote for:
- Open borders
- Abortion
- Homosexuality
Use that rage you’re displaying on the RINO’s who put us in this fix.
“It can be difficult to vote your Biblical principles when no one on the ballot shows any sign of following them.”
In many elections; there are CLEAR, stark differences. A few more “imperfect” Republicans could have stopped Obamacare for example.
“We are never going to get a president who believes everything we believe.”
Reagan passed abortion for certain circumstances in California. Abortion rates exploded.
Reagan passed the no-carry laws in California.
Reagan passed Amnesty.
I hope another “Reagan” will come around that I can vote for. Although wheoever that is, they will surely be demonized on FR.
I am displaying rage? That is nonsense. I’m sorry, but any further contact with you is a waste of the most precious thing we have -— time.
You’ve got plenty of time. What you don’t have is a Republican of good character to vote for.
If one is less evil, and not voting results in the more evil, then not voting is itself evil.
The time to strive for a better candidate is in the primaries.
There is no such thing as lesser evil. It’s all been a scam:
Nixon
Created EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
Imposed wage and price controls
Ended the gold standard
Reagan ***
Bush
Americans with Disabilities Act
Resigned his life membership in the NRA
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
“No New Taxes”
Dole
Dole and running mate Jack Kemp said they had not read the party platform
and would not be bound by it.
Bush
No Child Left Behind (with Boehner and Teddy Kennedy)
Created the Department of Homeland Security
Patriot Act
Executive order - Disabilities New Freedom Initiative
McCain
“I have to tell you, [Obama] is a decent person, a person that you
do not have to be scared [of] as president of the United States.”
“I think the Democratic Party is a fine party, and I have
no problems with it, in their views and their philosophy.”
Romney
“There are other ways to raise kids that’s fine: single moms, grandparents
raising kids, gay couples raising kids. That’s the American way, to have people
have their freedom of choice.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.