Christians and Voting
Around election day, I grow quite irritated with all of the negative campaigning. It’s my wish that the candidates and their political parties would just tell us what they stand for and not spend so much time talking about how much their opponent stinks. I mean, have you seen any of the advertising in the Indianapolis prosecutor’s race? It’s absolutely ridiculous.
Well, yesterday I found myself listening to the Focus on the Family broadcast. I will never really be sure why. But, I’m glad I did because it solidified my dis-taste for the organization. Dobson brought on some right-wing, conservative nut to basically tell the listening audience to only vote for conservative Republicans. And, of course, the whole platform centered around two issues: gay marriage and abortion.
The speaker said that if we can get the liberals that are pro-gay marriage and pro-abortion out of their seats the United States will be able to reclaim their status as the shining city on a hill. He also said that if we can end abortion and “choose life” then all children will have a seat at the table in the great American family.
When I go to the polls, gay marriage and abortion aren’t really tops on my list. While I don’t necessarily agree with either, they don’t carry a lot of weight on how I vote. You see, I’d rather know that our children will be fed, receive a great education, and get the proper assistance when needed and appropriate. I’d rather know that we are working to create more jobs that will help families pay their bills. I’d rather know that we are working towards peace with our enemies…rather than strong arming anyone that stands in opposition to the American form of democracy.
You see, when I read the Bible, it talks about how Jesus will call those who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick and imprisoned, and so on. I think many of us forget to do those things because we’re so focused on the two big issues. We spend so much time campaigning and lobbying against certain things that we totally forget what we’re called to stand for.