With all of the banter on John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as his VP running mate it is interesting that many have simply chosen to ignore everything and focus solely on the issue of Pro-Life. Yes, abortion is a very, very important issue but as seen in an article that is below by Voddie Baucham we have unfortunately begun to equate family values with a single issue that being abortion. So to question the “family values” of the VP candidate, by the way we are to ask these questions of all of the candidates, is something we should do and those questions and corresponding answers, whether by word or deed, need to be weighed by the Word of God. These questions include but are not limited to such things as: The candidates view of life, the place of men and women in the family, the duties of parents to their children, the candidates view of marriage and others things. The point is we should look at all candidates critically. Many have done this with Mr. Obama but since the conclusion for many is that he is not a viable candidate from a biblical perspective they have chosen to find one single issue by which to choose a candidate, being pro-life.
John Piper wrote a good article on this issue of voting based on one issue entitled: One-Issue Politics, One-Issue Marriage, and the Humane Society. In this article Piper makes a very good point that we should not vote for a particular candidate based on one issue but one issue may exclude a candidate. So it is great that Mrs. Palin supports life and that she did not abort her downs syndrome baby and that her pregnant daughter will have her baby but is this enough to vote for someone if her feminist agenda, I guess in areas other than that of life, are unbiblical? For me it is an issue as it seems to be an issue with God’s word.
This all said, it is going to be a very interesting next few months. I truly pray that we would vote not from the perspective of who we want to stop but from who we would truly desire to be president. That we would vote from a biblical perspective. As believers we should be voting for the candidate God would be most pleased with. Yes, there will be no perfect candidate and I am not proposing that but that should not negate our use of scripture to seek the candidate that meets God’ standards not ours. While I really do not want to see Obama as our next president I am more concerned about standing before God and having to answer to why I voted a certain way contrary to the precepts He has set before me in His word
By the way, do not be swayed by the faulty argument that to not vote or to vote for third party is a vote for such and such a candidate, in this case Obama. I actually saw one person claim to not vote was cowardly. Again that is not the issue as a vote is an affirmation for the one that is voted for. For far too long Christians have been used by politicians and we like lemmings simply go along fearful of the result if we do not get such and such a candidate in office but the truth is we are to trust God whether the candidate is terrible or not. At the end of the day I have to have a clear conscience before God for who I affirmed by my vote and as of now that is not very clear for me.
I also want to thank Jasmine Baucham for a quote she had on her blog, Joyful at Home.
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." -- John Quincy Adams
I would also suggest reading her post titled: Ten reasons why I don’t want to be VP when I grow up.
Below are some articles that should give food fro thought on the issues before us in the upcoming election.
1) Why Men Keep their Mouths Shut? (Scott Brown)
2) Did McCain Make a Pro-Family VP Pick (Voddie Baucham)
3) The Evangelical Two Step (Voddie Baucham)
4) Presidential Candidate Chuck Baldwin on the Pro-Abortion Record of John McCain (Doug Phillips)
5) John McCain Picks Mother of Five and Member of 'Feminists for Life' as VP Candidate (Doug Phillips)
6) Article by Bill Einwechter that Mr. Phillips mentions: Should Christians Support a Woman for the Office of Civil Magistrate?
(9/3/08) As an update I guess I should make it clear that my voting, or not voting, for John McCain is not solely based on his choice of VP running mate. I had concerns about McCain before and while the Saddleback event may have given a glimmer of hope I still have serious concerns. So, again while his choice of VP may have contributed to my final decision it will not be the sole reason for my vote in November.
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4 comments:
Amen Brother. The scriptures tell us to “study to shew ourselves approved to God" (2 Tim 2:15). We must examine whoever the candidate(s) may be and ask ourselves one question..."Is the Lord Jesus Christ being glorified in me?” “And me in Him?” (2 Thess 1:12). With what has been given to us (to those made alive in Christ), His Word & Spirit -we will give account someday (Heb 4:13)...Sometimes it seems we overlook things and make quick decisions over things without prayerfully seeking the Lord first (diligently) though prayer (Matt 6:33, Heb 11:6, 1 Thess 5:17).
As the Lord used the early church to "set the pace" (Acts 5:11 & 13)...We too as Bible believing Christian’s should be setting the pace, rather than following the winds of "this" world (Rom 12:1-2). We ought to be exposing the darkness and not fellowshipping with it (Eph 5:11). As I often ponder..."I wonder what would happen if every professing Christian took a stand for Righteousness, just for one day"...Our cities, counties and nation probably would feel a major impact....and things perhaps would change. It seems many who profess to follow Christ, seem to be more interested in the “war in Iraq” or the “border” situation, rather than to take heed to the commandments of the Living God. Jesus said "If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15), I guess, if anything, we must ask ourselves and search ourselves (2 Cor 13:5) to see if we are keeping the commands that the Lord so graciously has given us to live by, just as He gave Israel in Deuteronomy 6, which they so easily forgot. Have we forgotten? Or will the Lord use elections like the one set before us to remind us of the history of Saul and Israel (1 Sam 8:10-22).
I am thankful that my citizenship is in heaven (Philp 3:20) and that "this" world is not my home. Paul exhorted the Philippians to "join in following his example" (Philp 3:17) and he warned them also saying " For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is their shame- who set their mind on earthly things" (Philp 3:18-19)…and then commands them in Philp 4:1"to stand fast in the Lord". What will be the schedule of these candidates? Are they or will they be seeking the only true God of the Bible, Jesus Christ?
I love this book (Philippians)...Here is a man in a jail cell (not like the ones we have here in the USA, where rapist & murderers and child molesters get “Grade A” treatment, free dental & medical care, three square meals a day not mentioning the clean sheets)...Here he is in a jail cell in Rome, with his liberties stripped and in chains, but rejoicing in the Lord and free as a bird spiritually, exhorting this immature church to grow up as Christians (Philp 1:9-10)...probably challenging them as he did the Corinthians in their first letter, ch. 11 verse 1 "imitate me, as I follow Christ"...We have so much to learn from people like Paul, whom laid down their lives (literally) for the Gospel. God help me and us, to do the same.
Keep preaching brother!
Love in Christ,
Jamie Titchenal
Thanks for the comments. I would simply pray that we lay everything at the foot of the cross and judge everything by the only sure means we have, His Word? I realize that there will never be perfect people but that does not negate holding people to a biblical standard.
Also, what I think gets lost is that we are to hold leaders, whether, civil or ecclesiastical, to higher standards and that simply goes with the territory.
Again thanks for the scripture and yes I am always amazed that God ordained that Paul would write so much of what he did from prison or under duress and still reveal a heart of Joy in Him. The concern about the possibility that Obama might be president is a valid one but not one that outweighs our call to uphold, as Christians, biblical standards for our leaders.
Have you read Bill Einwechter's article? Have you laid it against the whole of scripture? How about his article on stoning your children? This mans personal preferences mixed within his interpretation should be scary to any follower of Christ.
Sallie:
I did read his article and I will for the sake of being fair read it again but initially did not see where he went astray. Now I do realize that others have differing interpretations of the passages given as it may relate to this issue. As far as his article on the “stoning of children” I have not read it as I was simply in this case putting a link to an article referenced in Doug Philips article. So to be fair I could not comment until I would read it to make sure that I understood its whole context. But in any thing we have to make sure that we do not hold one persons possible, and I say possible because again I haven’t read the article you refer to, misunderstanding as necessarily invalidating other understandings of different passages. I have yet to meet anyone with perfect theology but have met many that seem much more correct in one area than another but simply because I do not agree with them in one area does not negate possible correctness in another. Of course if one is incorrect on the essentials I may not bother with other areas since they usually influence those other areas.
At the end of the day, regardless of ones agreement or disagreement with any particular persons understanding of scripture, the question that needs to answered biblically is whether it is the place of women to rule in the position of a civil magistrate and thus rule over men. This is not about personal freedoms and does not speak about abilities but about biblical mandates as God has revealed in His inerrant and infallible Word. The other question to answer in the case at hand is to ask what is the biblical role of women as mothers and wives and then ask if being the VP of a world power biblically hinders that role .
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