A news story this week from Christianity Today amused me. The headline was provocative.
Super Tuesday Results Show Split Between Evangelicals and Their Spokesmen
I am an amateur evangelical anthropologist. Like Jane Goodall I go into their habitats and study their behaviors. Since I am one of the species it is easy to assimilate into their culture. My first journal, When Bad Christians Happen to Good People, was a result of my time spent with these fascinating creatures. From my observations a couple of immediate questions came to mind as I read the headline in Christianity Today.
- When did we get spokesmen? Unlike dentists on TV commercials I can’t get four out of five evangelicals to agree on anything.
- Have these reporters not previously observed that evangelicals are an unruly lot and that our primary conflict resolution strategy is to split?
(Note to the humor impaired: The comments above were good-natured jesting. Please back away from the send button)
The rest of the story was a bit perplexing and sad. Dr.James Dobson is an influential and respected leader in evangelical circles. I have known about his passion for family for over thirty years. Courtesy of middle son Scott I read The Strong Willed Child about 37 times.
And then Scott turned three.
I appreciate what Dobson has done through his unwavering support of family and marriage. But I was surprised by Dr. Dobson’s statement this week.
“Should Sen. (John) McCain capture the nomination as many assume, I believe this general election will offer the worst choices for President in my lifetime,” Dobson said in a message to his e-mail subscribers the morning of Super Tuesday. “I certainly can’t vote for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama based on their virulently anti-family policy positions. If these are the nominees in November, I simply will not cast a ballot for President for the first time in my life.”
I thought about whether I could sit out an election. The very first thing that popped into my mind was my late father. I thought of him leaving for the Pacific theater as a terrified eighteen year old during World War II. I thought about how much he believed that voting was one sacred result of the sacrifices of men and women for over two hundred years. I must gracefully disagree with Dr.Dobson. I cannot forfeit that privilege no matter how I might feel about the slate of candidates presented to me.
Regular readers of these humble ramblings know that I rarely, rarely use all caps in any of my writing. But I will make an exception for this thought.
I WILL NEVER SIT OUT AN ELECTION IN WHICH I AM PHYSICALLY ABLE TO VOTE!
If there are two choices I assume that one choice has to be better than the other. I will prayerfully decide which choice comes closer to my values and beliefs. And I will vote for that candidate even if he or she represents only a part of what I value. Something, in this case, is far better than nothing. I wish I could pick my candidate, pack up his briefcase with my agenda along with a hearty lunch and then send him to Washington. But that is not reality.
I pray that you will take this responsibility seriously enough to dig past the pundits and the partisan blather. Freedom is like health. You don’t appreciate either one until they are gone.
H.L.Mencen once said, “We must be willing to pay a price for freedom, for no price that is ever asked for it is half the cost of doing without it.”
Think about that.
And think about the lyrics of the song Freedom Never Cries by an artist called Five For Fighting. The lyrics note how we tend to ignore the quiet dignity of freedom and take it for granted.
I never loved the soldier until there was a war
Or thought about tomorrow
’til my baby hit the floor
I Only talk to God when somebody’s about to die
I Never cherished Freedom
Freedom never cries…
Thank God today for the blessing of freedom. I plan to exercise one of my precious freedoms this November when I vote. I also thank God today for another kind of freedom.
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5, NASB)
Cherish both freedoms. And take neither for granted.
Karen Knoettner
One of the glorious freedoms that we have in this country is to vote to elect our leaders. We have to trust that God raises up leaders and God brings them down. Ultimately, God is still in control regardless of who is in leadership.
There may be some issues that John McCain is not strong on, but he has a remarkably strong pro-life voting record, which totally aligns with Dr. Dobson’s values. Why he doesn’t consider this I don’t know.
What almost concerns me even more than the idea of Christians not voting is the idea of Christians voting for either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, both of whom have an extremely strong pro-abortion viewpoint (even to the extent that they want to eliminate pregnancy centers… according to a recent National Right to Life newspaper – pretty scary!!!). It truly is frightening to me that Christians can support and vote for someone who does not display the values of our Heavenly Father. God holds us accountable for our vote and a Christian who votes for either of these two people will have the blood of unborn children on their hands. Also, Barack Obama’s position on marriage is basically that he does not feel it is worth defending (he is totally against the Defense of Marriage Act).
Sandy
I was dismayed when I read Dr. Dobson’s comments regarding the election and pondered the idea of not voting in this presidential election and realized that I could not, in good conscience, not vote. My parents set the example for me – they faithfully voted in every election whether local, state or national. Voting is a privilege and one that should be taken very seriously. A few weeks back a guest minister spoke at our church and made a very good point about the election. He said “it doesn’t matter who we elect as President because he cannot do anything more than what Congress allows him to do.” I never thought of it in that way but I believe he made a very valid observation. Our founding fathers knew what they were doing when they said “One Nation Under God” and set up the checks and balances that exist even to this day. As important as the presidential election is, I believe it is just as important or more so who we elect as our respresentatives and senators in congress, national and state. We need to pray for guidance and direction from the Lord seeking His will in this and all things. I agree with the statement that the slate of candidates leaves something to be desired, but I also know that GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL. This is my first visit to your website and I thank you for the opportunity to express my opinion. God Bless You!
Skipper
Dr. Dobson is a wonderful Christian and defender of children and the family but he has the right to not vote just as we have the right to do the responsible thing and at least influence as much as God allows us the outcome of the coming election. Only a fool who cares nothng about his or her children and grandchildren would deliberately refuse to help choose the polical/social/spiritual leaders who would have the greatest impact on those progeny. Sometimes our best efforts prove to be a disappointmentor a bust. Somehow God overules and makes something positive happen on their behalf anyway. He is soverign and His ways are past finding out. Was it not God who presonally chose Nebuchadnezzer to enslave the nation Israel in captivity for 70 years? Didn’t God choose Saul, a worldly, fleshly believer to be Isreal’s first king? Didn’t Jesus choose Judas to be one of His trusted disciples(“one of you is a devil”)? Didn’t God allow our nation to choose an evil person such as Clinton to be president for 8 long years? This same God allowed our people to choose a conservative congress during those same years to help prevent that president from carrying out his plans to pervert our nation any further with his moral debauchery and to pass more laws to proliferate the radical agenda of the gay and prolife lobbies. My point in all this is to say that even though I don’t know the final outcome of the choice I make in exercising my right to vote for my leaders, ultimately I am accountable to God for my decisions and example to others. So is Dr. Dobson. So are you. Sela!
Terri
I believe in my heart that we should pray for God to lay his hands on any one who is elected. I am an American Christian. Men and women fight everyday to give me the freedom to vote where I like the candidates or not, but God calls me to pray for my leaders no matter how bad or good I might they might be. God will place over us the leaders that we deserve. Maybe not the leaders we may want. He is in control no matter who is elected. In the Bible we are called to submit to authority. I place my life and my childs future into His hands no matter who is elected.
John D.
I agree that we do not have the best slate of canidates running for our all (national, state, local) offices. However to sit back and not vote is crazy. You have to way the pros and cons of each canidate. Who comes closer to what you believe, both biblically and politically. Choose that person. We are never going to have the perfect canidate for any office because as human beings we are not perfect. So don’t rollover and play dead. Pray that God will guide the vote on election day and thank Him for the freedom to vote. Some people do not have it.
Violet Bayless
We hold these truths to be self evident…
As we go about the job of selecting whom we will or will not vote for lets us be reminded of one thing we can all agree on. The bible is the one and only truth upon which we must base our conduct and our lives. It is the infalliable word of God and in it lies all wisdom and knowledge. Let us agree to choose our candidate based on it’s pearls of wisdom. Let us not judge our brother because God states that we will be judged by the same judgement we mete out.
We are a peculiur people a called out people. If the house of God is not in unity how can we have expectations of the world?
Let each man search within his own heart and spirit and be guided by the only one that matters. God
P4F
Thank you for clearing my mind of all the clutter of the media. I was feeling like many others that the only solution was to not vote but in my heart felt that was not a good alternative. This reminded me that if I vote in a manner of prayer that God will lead me and lay on my heart the best of the candidates and His purposes will be fulfilled. We need to be more open to stepping out into faith and the arms of Jesus. After all isn’t this the way Jesus lived? He stayed open and faithful to the purpose of God.
Thanks so much for a well written answer to the question of many!
John
Thank you for the article and the reminder of the cost of our freedom.
I would like to suggest that we really are not just faced with a choice of A or B. (Be that McCain/Clinton or something else.) I realize that it will be impractical, but if enough people would not be resigned to “I don’t like either of the choices, therefore I will simply not vote.” then we might be able to effect real change. I am very disheartened that 33% is considered good voter turnout. How much could be done if that other 66% would actually come out and express their opinion? We are not faced with just the donkey and elephant for choice.
I realize that it is not practical to expect that a true independent (write-in) candidate could be elected. But if I stay home for not liking either choice, I have made my choice to allow others to decide how I am governed. I do not believe that is what we are called to by God.
“If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.”
Geddy Lee
Thanks for your work Dave!!
Steve Doyle
Thank you so much for your article. I read it through Crosswalk.com. I am afraid that Dr. Dobson has gotten so mixed up into partisan politics that it has obscured his view. I too am a big Dobson fan and as a former children’s pastor have lived off his work and contributions to the spiritual development of children. Yet I too find his comments distrubing and have seen his increased connections and ties to politics troublesome. I am afraid that in our effort to give God what is God’s, we too easily fall into fighting over what belongs to Caesar. The “best” choices may not be available this fall, but there are still choices to make and I doubt that Dr. Dobson would advise a parent to teach thier child that democracy and its priviledges can be thrown out when we don’t get our way.
Bridgette
Thank you for a very timely piece. I’m an Independent (which is almost as evil as being a democrat in some evangelical microcosms.)
I really wonder about the advice some of these “leaders” are giving. I realize it is more of the “conservative” leaders than the “evangelical” leaders that are advocating the next position; however, I’ve even heard folks say that if it comes down to Mrs. Clinton or Mr. McCain that they would go for Mrs. Clinton in hopes that she will enable the republicans to win next time with a “real” conservative.
Last night my family watched James Cagney’s Yankee Doodle Dandy. That was much more uplifting than anything I’ve heard in the last year….
I wonder if the “leaders” or really spending time in prayer? It really does sound like flesh is speaking…
One small nit — Five for Fighting is a solo act with a rather ambiguous name http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_for_fighting
Russ
Dave,
Thank you for writing this post. I am a Christian and a conservative, and have also observed the reaction of this (my) group to “split” when they don’t get their way. No wonder it is becoming easier for non-believers to attack Christians.
I will admit. These primaries have been discouraging to me. But as you mentioned, voting is a freedom to us, that came at a heavy price of sacrifice by others. And while it is defended to this day by brave men and women, it is ultimately guaranteed by God.
So what should we do as Christians. First, if you want to retreat in fear or frustration, then fine. However, retreat into the arms of God. Psalm 59:5 says, “O my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God, are my fortress,”. Pray and ask God for His guidance. Once you receive His strength then “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9). I’m sorry, but not showing up to vote or using it to simply “prove a point” does not sound like a Christian strengthen by God. In 2 Timothy (4:7), Paul says “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” not “I fought until I didn’t get my way, then I decided it wasn’t worth it.”
So basically after I went to God, prayed and became revitalized, it was clear what I must do. First, stop letting the media scare me into thinking we do not matter. Second, prepare to vote, keeping in mind, there are other races other than President (Senate, House, State legislatures, etc) and to seek out good candidates to support that will represent what I believe it right. Third, is to pray for whatever candidate wins. Pray that God would work on their heart and that they would seek His counsel. And fourth, continue to voice our opinions to our elected representatives.
As believers, we might have to support a candidate that may not represent our ideal choice, but keep in mind, how we vote today will affect our children’s future. So we must not give up that precious right and we must lovingly correct our Christian brothers and sisters who are letting their emotions get the best of them.
Great post. Thanks for encourage us to not give up our vote.
Lindsay
It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you.
I am shocked that someone would actually advocate people not voting. That seems to be the reaction that a 7 year old might have… If you can’t get what you want, just throw a temper tantrum and refuse to cooperate with anything.
Smart move…whether they like it or not someone WILL get elected. It’s just a matter of how much you do or do not agree with their stance.
I better stop, before this little rant takes a turn for the less than polite…