The answer is “Yes you can!” I couldn’t pass on that pun, sorry.
In a previous post I said that Christians should be issues voters (abortion, marriage, poverty, etc) versus party voters. This raised a good deal of questions about whether or not a conservative, Jesus loving, pro-life, traditional marriage believing person could reasonably vote for Barack Obama, a guy who supports a woman’s right to choose and is very friendly to the LGBT community.
My answer is “sure” - for a couple of reasons, and again, it comes back to being an issues voter over a party voter. Neither party perfectly aligns with an orthodox Christian worldview on every issue. For example, the Democrats tend to fare better in most minds on issues of peace, poverty, and social justice while Republicans get better scores on things like life and marriage issues.
A Christian could reasonably argue that while Barack Obama is out to lunch on some things he does great with others - other issues that matter a great deal to our God. For instance, some Christians argue convincingly that Obama touts a humbler approach to foreign policy, an approach that could save many lives by avoiding conflict. Some also posit that an Obama presidency would mobilize a government of greater compassion and care for the poor, hungry, and hurting in our nation and around the world.
And while many good, conservative Christians (rightly) focus on issues of abortion and gay marriage one can definitely aruge that gay marriage is an inevitable reality and that state-sponsored abortion will never be undone by elected officials. The hope of turning those tides through government is done and it’s time to tackle them through other means. Therefore, one might as well take those issues off the table in selecting a candidate and turn to other issues that our elected officials actually have a shot at effecting change in. When you do that the field is wide open.
In the end, for the Christian the issue is less of “who” you vote for and a.) that you vote and b.) that you seek to do so according to honest, Biblical values.
Personally, I still think that in this particular election doing so should lead people in one direction. But it won’t always. And we should never, ever assume that someone is not our Christian brother or sister or that they do not take our God and his Word seriously simply because of who they vote for. Your thoughts?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:29 am
My thoughts are: THANK YOU.
i used to work at [Big Christian Publishing House], and one of the things that drove me craziest about that place was the overwhelmingly common assumption that i must be a republican and couldn’t possibly have any democrat tendencies or a love for any democrat candidate because OBVIOUSLY the republican vote was the Christian vote. Not so much to my mind. Anyway. All that to say, thank you for your fair address to both parties and your challenge to vote issues rather than party. Good thoughts. Good points. Good posts.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Have you read “The Myth of A Christian Nation” by Gregory Boyd? Good book!
August 30th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Tammy, one of my favorite Christian thinkers (Pastor Douglas Wilson) read Boyd’s book and commented (positively and negatively) here:
http://www.dougwils.com/?Action=Search&searchstring=boyd
September 1st, 2008 at 8:10 am
“The hope of turning those tides through government is done and it’s time to tackle them through other means. Therefore, one might as well take those issues off the table in selecting a candidate and turn to other issues that our elected officials actually have a shot at effecting change in.”
Very good point. Maybe we should think and pray some more before throwing up our hands in frustration and voting for the “Christian” lesser of two evils.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
My question is this: “Can a Christian vote for McCain?”
As Christians we are asked to be like Christ in all we say and do. So, I think, if you’re a voting Christian you must ask yourself “Which candidate sounds most like Jesus?” Is this person about death/abortion/war/killing or about life/peace/diplomacy? Is this person about taking or about giving? Is this person for giving to the rich or giving to the poor? Is this person about looking out for number one? or looking out for every one - even the least of our brothers? Is this person about complacency in the face of poverty and sickness or about healing and feeding those in need? Is this person stuck in the present? or about securing a good future for our children? Is this person in it for himself? or in it for others? Both candidates are Christians. Which one walks the walk and does not just talk the talk? (They are also both politicians, so good luck with that one!) (See: Matthew 25:13-29)
Living in Katy most of us are incredibly blessed, and let’s face it, if either candidate is elected our quality of life here will not be drastically affected. YOU can, however, make a difference to a large percentage of American society by voting for those issues that will affect change in their quality of life if that’s important to you. (How does that song go? “You have been blessed to be a blessing”?)
Whomever is chosen (”by the people and for the people”) I feel sorry for him, ’cause he has got his work cut out for him!
[Aside: I just think it’s kinda funny that Barack is more African-American than most “African-Americans” (father from Kenya and mother from Kansas) and less “black” than most African-Americans (white mom & black dad). Anyways, I pray that people vote the issues, and not just to make history.]
Great blog, Matt!
October 6th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Matt when you said, “Obama touts a humbler approach to foreign policy, an approach that could save many lives by avoiding conflict” … I wonder.
If he is anything like Carter or Clinton, then he will have to prove he is strong by going to war with someone new. He will be seen as a weak leader until flexes his military muscles. At least McCain will be seen as strong from the beginning.
Christ have mercy.
October 26th, 2008 at 12:04 am
thanks for the encouragement. :o)
October 28th, 2008 at 6:57 am
I’ve never been undecided this close to the election. I’m having trouble with the nominating the Supreme Court Justices part.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I ask al christians to ascertain the people they would assiciate with. As a parent having raised children, I will tell you unequivocally that who you “hang with” is who you are. God dam America from the pulpit - would you ‘hang with’ that pastor. I man who tells you he would leave a baby to die in a linen closet after a borched abortion - hang with.
Read the Bishop’s response to Joe Biden in Wilmington Delaware. The alternative has negative implications, too. Life is #1 issue, and an equal is how we honor our Savior.
October 28th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I can only speak for myself. I am who I am, not anyone else. Anyone who I may “hang” with, is not me. I encourage my children to be themselves (as individuals) no matter whom they “hang” with. Jesus encourages us to hang with those that are not necessarily like us. It is easy to surround ourselves with those who are like us, but it is much harder to befriend those who are not. But without doing so we never learn and grow.
A person cannot be held responsible for another’s words or deeds. I have great love and gratitude and respect for all of our pastors at CrossPoint, but I am not responsible for what they say or do, nor is anyone else.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
The conclusion you’ve reached is one you have to be at peace with. My issue is with how you reached that conclusion. I absolutely detest this type of thought; ‘The hope of turning those tides through government is done and it’s time to tackle them through other means.’ You’re telling me, that because the likelihood of a candidate influencing Roe v. Wade(for example) is small, that I shouldn’t care whether he would even try?? How do I stand before God one day and explain supporting a man who does not protect the unborn? How do I rationalize voting for a man who voted against a law that would guarantee any child who survived an abortion, medical care???
You can argue from now until Christ returns that Barack has a better economic plan. He may have it. My financial dependancy is on the Lord, not the economy of the United States. You may argue that he has a better exit strategy. My protection comes from God, and He alone can give wisdom to the man leading this country. What I will not argue, is whether my bank account statement will dictate my vote, OVER the issue of life. I cannot stand before God as He searches my heart, and give a pure answer for standing on the other side of the issue of life. We are called to cast our cares upon Him. The economy, education, the war, etc…should not weigh so heavily on our hearts that we neglect protecting those who cannot defend themselves.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
As followers of Christ, we need to take all issues before Him and see life through the cross. Yes, we want to pick the candidate who is most CHRIST-LIKE’ but how do we do that? What did Jesus say was the best way to discern people and their intentions?
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.”
18 “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” Matt 7 (NIV)
As for Jesus bringing PEACE to the earth, here are His words.
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law- 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” Matt 10
As for ‘washing our hands clean’ of issues on abortion and homosexuality and focusing on the ECONOMY and where ‘our’ money is going, here is what Jesus says,
25″ Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not LIFE more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” Matt 6
My Opinions: I would be weary of those who do not have the past deeds to back up their sayings or claims. Barak Obama is one who chose to stay in the church where the pastor preached hateful things and he is denying a documented friendship with a known terrorist. Is no one bothered by his deceptions? How can he lie (denying is lying!) when there is evidence showing these things? His so-called economic plan would hurt everyone by taking money from hard working people (which could be us or our bosses who write our checks-if they lose money we lose jobs) and giving it to people who might never have paid taxes before (which means that they are already on government assistance or are not working so how would they contribute to the economy?). I also would be weary of someone who has only had about 160 so days in the Senate and hasn’t really done anything significant. Do not set aside his views on abortion (anti-life). What makes you think Obama’s policies preserve life (diplomacy, economy, etc) if he is someone who shuns the life of the smallest of us, a defenseless child who happens to survive a traumatic abortion, just for the sake of the mother’s peace of mind. He seems hypocritical and unstable. He seems like the type who will say and do anything to make himself likeable to get what he wants. That is what I most worry about. I can not trust a man with the life of our country if he can not stand up for the smallest of us. Idealists, like Obama, write books (All Obama supporters should read his books before voting for him-it shows his character) and make great speeches on college campuses. They should not be running for president. I have worries about McCain as well but the one I am most unsure of is Obama.
I would recommend that if you are approaching any ‘worldly’ matters as a Christian that you seek God’s word and guidance for what you write.
October 30th, 2008 at 11:36 am
” The economy, education, the war, etc…should not weigh so heavily on our hearts that we neglect protecting those who cannot defend themselves.”
I have prayed about this a lot. I agree wholeheartedly with Joel on the importance of life. But because I do, I include war as a life and death issue, which it is. I believe that a child’s life on the other side of the world is just as valuable as an unborn child’s life in this country. When we intentionally choose to go to war, we do so knowing that many innocent lives will be lost as a result. They are defenseless against US bombs just as much a fetus is defenseless against abortion. Whether or not we support the war, our money goes toward this end, God have mercy. We have no choice in it or how it is fought, so I empathize with frustration re: powerlessness to affect change.
While abortion takes the forefront, I would like to also remind those who believe life begins at conception (as I do), that “embryo reduction” and the discarding of viable “extra” embryos by couples trying to bear children results in the same end as abortion. And it is also not illegal. Though it does not get the same attention. Why is that? God’s commandment is Thou shallt not kill. Period.
All that said, I am always cognizant of Jesus’ words: “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” We are all sinners and He will be our judge.
As far as the candidates go, there is so much mud-slinging and misrepresentation out there that one has to sift long and hard to get to the truth. Though I will sooner take what comes directly out of each person’s mouth over anything XYZ group purports or the media,or phone calls and commercials - it will remain to be seen what each candidate would actually DO about it in the end. (Did Bush overturn Roe Vs. Wade in the last eight years even though “life” was the big issue when he ran??) Let’s be honest and realistic. Though McCain has flip-flopped on the issue to gain Republican support [see: www.mediamatters.org/items/200611220001] let’s focus on the here and now: both candidates stated in the debates that they are personally NOT for abortion. I believe them. Both say that they want to work towards decreasing the number of abortions. We would all love to see that happen, but if either candidate gets elected there is very little chance that there would ever be enough votes to overturn Roe v. Wade no matter how vehemently they wanted it. We can hope and pray that there will be more support and education for those who feel like abortion is their only option. With the amount of energy and resources Barack has paid to grassroots efforts in the past and plans to do for the middle class in the future, I tend to think that he may be the one to affect more change in that area. When I think about Jesus, I think that’s exactly what He would do. Help the least of us, not the big shots. Jesus was out on the streets and in the villages, not hiding with the pharisees pointing fingers at society.
RE:
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.”
18 “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” Matt 7 (NIV)
Hmmm, I referenced this passage eight years ago, wary of Bush. (Now I’m just weary!) What good fruit has Bush bore as president? I’d love to know.
[Answering my own question: before he became president, he DID make wind energy happen in Texas, a good thing IMO. I was quite surprised to learn it, too!]
RE:
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law- 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” Matt 10
This is one of the most misunderstood quotes people use to defend war. FAITH in Jesus as our Savior is the sword that will divide families into believers and unbelievers and therefore against one another causing division and lack of peace. Do you really believe Jesus wants us to go killing our family members? He is the “Prince of Peace”!
Remember, he also said this:
Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
—Matthew 26:52, King James Version
RE:
I would recommend that if you are approaching any ‘worldly’ matters as a Christian that you seek God’s word and guidance for what you write.
Peace be with you.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:52 am
Nice stuff guys. Joel - I was not saying that “I” believe abortion can no longer be dealt with through the government. However some staunch pro-lifers do. And they would never say that we should stop voting for pro-life candidates but that our efforts would be best spent focusing on other things, like equipping parents to raise children who protect their purity, educating families about the horrors and lasting effects of abortion. But there will come a day very soon when neither candidate will be pro-life.