Just curious...is anyone else wrestling with this question?
How does a Christian vote for one man whose actions and policies do not line up with the moral standards laid out in God's Word, or another man, whose religious beliefs do not recognize Jesus as God anymore than other men, including himself, that he believes will ultimately one day hold that same position?
Comment below. I'm interested in your response.
How does a Christian vote for one man whose actions and policies do not line up with the moral standards laid out in God's Word, or another man, whose religious beliefs do not recognize Jesus as God anymore than other men, including himself, that he believes will ultimately one day hold that same position?
Comment below. I'm interested in your response.
eeeek...that is a tough question. I have to say...and please don't beat me or kick me out...but I think many of one man's policies line up at least in intention with the words of Christ; caring for one another, giving our possessions to the poor, fidelity to to the selves that God created us to be and so on. However, I know that not everyone agrees with me. No one will truly agree I am sure...and many christians think that God is on his or her chosen persons side. I think we just do our best to bring the kingdom here to earth...as long as that includes brining love, justice, mercy, kindess and humility in the best ways that we know how... that might include voting for a person that not everyone agrees with...we just do our best.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts, Courtney. And you caught me:) I only included the first part of the question to bring up the second...that's my real struggle. Of the two, I know who I want to vote for; as just one example of many, I cannot agree that the legalization of abortion in any way lines up with the words of Christ, intention or otherwise. I just have a hard time getting excited about the man whose policies I support because it matters to me what the leader of our country believes about God.
DeleteFirst of all, the first ammendment states that the government shall make no laws prohibiting or respecting any religious establishment. It is not and should not be the federal government's responsibility to enforce your religious beliefs, nor to do anything outside of the boundaries outlined in the Constitution. Therefore, who you vote for should not be based on how well their personal and religious beliefs line up with your own, but whether their actions in office will be in the best interest of the country.
ReplyDeleteSecond, God does not call us to enforce our religious beliefs through legislation, he calls us to simply this: LOVE EACHOTHER. That means DIRECTLY. Personally. Not through a representative. Not through politics. And most certainly not through expressions of hatred towards people who disagree with you, on Facebook or otherwise.
So you can look at one candidate and say his policies align with words of Christ, but the only way to enforce this type of legislation would be to require the population to give of their resources, willingly or unwillingly. I don't recall Christ ever saying it was okay to take from someone better off in order to give to the poor. Fundraising and charity are quite different from taxation.
So how do you decide who to vote for? Decide what you think the federal government should and should not be able to do, and go toward the candidate the best reflects that. History has shown us that professed religious convictions usually have little bearing on a politician's actions. Personally, I don't think either candidate has policies that won't do further damage in one way or another. They're just arguing about who is going to spend more money. Fortunately, there is another choice. He most likely will not win, but I at least can vote with a clear conscience.