A good word from Rick Warren…
It causes me slight discomfort to post this, given my dislike for the Purpose Driven series, but Rick Warren has a good article in SBC Baptist Press News. Unlike Mark Noll, an evangelical college professor admitting to not voting and encouraging that practice among Christians, Rick Warren reminds Christians of their responsibility to vote in local, state and national elections. He writes:
During the last presidential election in the United States, there were millions of Christians who didn’t vote or weren’t even registered to vote! To me, that is inexcusable when you consider what the Bible says about our responsibility as citizens and when you consider the many, many men and women who’ve given their lives to provide and protect our freedom to vote.
The U.S. election of 2000 was a clear reminder that every vote counts, and that every voter has a duty to be involved. As church leaders, we know our congregations are not allowed to endorse specific candidates, and it’s important for us to recognize that there can be multiple opinions among Bible-believing Christians when it comes to debatable issues such as the economy, social programs, Social Security and the war in Iraq.
But for those of us who accept the Bible as God’s Word and know that God has a unique, sovereign purpose for every life, I believe there are five issues that are non-negotiable. To me, they’re not even debatable because God’s Word is clear on these issues. In order to live a purpose-driven life — to affirm what God has clearly stated about His purpose for every person He creates — we must take a stand by finding out what the candidates believe about these five issues, and then vote accordingly.
Here are five questions to ask when considering who to vote for in this election:
1. What does each candidate believe about abortion and protecting the lives of unborn children?
2. What does each candidate believe about using unborn babies for stem cell harvesting?
3. What does each candidate believe about homosexual “marriage”?
4. What does each candidate believe about human cloning?
5. What does each candidate believe about euthanasia — the killing of the elderly and the invalids?
Please, please do not forfeit your responsibility on these crucial issues! This election really counts more than most.
Be sure to vote, and also be sure to encourage every Christian you know to vote on Tuesday. If you are able to vote early, do so. Then ask all your Christian friends on Tuesday, “Have you voted yet?” and pray for godly leaders to be elected.
I agree that we should ask those five questions — but we should also ask what a candidate will do for the poor and the alien, the elderly and the sick. I wonder why Mr. Warren doesn’t include those questions.
Theresa:
It’s that jerk guy from Rob and Devona’s blog. I am just wondering what Mark Noll’s ideas are, specifically, that bring him to his conclusion. I’m only curious because he’s a really great historian, and I’m an historian in training who appreciates his work.
I read Noll’s commentary, and I’m going stand up for him and say that “none of the above” IS ITSELF A VOTE. Abstension is within the realm of good citizenship, and even within the realm of good Christian prudence in the City of Man
Twylah,
I agree! Those points are as important, of course. I doubt he meant to cover every point a Christian should consider.
I like Pastor Micheel’s article better, “Is God a Democrat or Republican”. His advice is for us to align ourselves to God and then vote. He makes excellent example of the Joshua account.
View article on Be Strong in the Grace or here: http://www.stpetermodesto.org/slate/oct2004.pdf
Theresa
Andy,
Thanks for stopping by! I’ll assume you wanted to make me smile (and you did).
I can’t say I disagree with you that abstention may be the right thing to do on occasion. I do think we have a duty to vote. Although he would never recommend a candidate, our pastor urged us to vote and reminded us in our monthly newsletter of Romans 13:1 - “The authorities that exist have been established by God,” and Proverbs 21:1 - “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse where he pleases.”
Theresa
In presidential elections, I don’t think abstention is an option, even if you don’t like the candidates. I don’t particularly care for everything that Bush has done or said, but I think he’s a much better candidate than Kerry. I have to choose the lesser of two evils, in other words.
In an election that many are predicting to be so very close, it is important that you vote for whomever you think will do the better job, even if you think they both suck.
In presidential elections, I don’t think abstention is an option, even if you don’t like the candidates. I don’t particularly care for everything that Bush has done or said, but I think he’s a much better candidate than Kerry. I have to choose the lesser of two evils, in other words.
In an election that many are predicting to be so very close, it is important that you vote for whomever you think will do the better job, even if you think they both suck.