I agree with ALL of Jason's comments also. Raleigh and I might disagree with some of the applications of what Jason wrote (I'm guessing based on the previous emails), but it is nice to know that there is some common ground in our thinking. I don't disagree with anything that Jason wrote.
While I am a registered republican (back when I was in highschool, it was "pressured" by the school to choose a party and register), I certainly concur that I don't agree with the far right or the far left. When election time comes, I always vote based on Christian values and pray a whole lot. To me, if you follow Christ, the whole "running of the government thing" will fall in line.
Interesting subject and views. Thanks for starting this.
-Brent
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Among the seemingly innumerable problems with modern government, one of the greatest is that the leadership has boiled down to an almost purely bipartisan state. Everyone feels pressured, like you did, that you have to agree with and support either the Republicans or the Democrats. However, almost everybody can admit that both parties have their faults, their incorrect dogmas. For Christians, this reduces voting to a "lesser-of-two-evils" choice; and they shrug it off because "that's just how the world is", and it would be sinful NOT to vote...right?
Wrong. The Lord calls us as believers to make decisions that do not promote evil in any way, and what Christians need to understand is that the "lesser of two evils" is still evil. I cannot reconcile a vote for a candidate who openly promotes actions or ideals contrary to the teachings of Christ with my faith in Him, so unless I can vote for someone who I do not feel is "evil" in any way, I cannot call myself a Christian and vote.
Interesting thought! But, don't you think that sometimes we need to take babysteps in the right direction? Does it always have to be "all or nothing"? Can't we vote for the "lesser of two evils" (as you put it) in an attempt to show the country that we do care about morals and Christian views? Even if a candidate has faults (we are all human afterall), can't we vote for the one with the "better" Christian view (even if it is lacking)? If we do, perhaps the next election we'll get a candidate with even stronger Christian views as the country starts to see what is desired by its people. If Christian's simply obstain from voting until the "perfect" candicate comes along, who will be left to vote for those things that we hold dear?
Therein lies the paradox of the practicing Christian. There is almost never a candidate with objectively superior Christian values. Your comment displays a fundamental fallacy embraced by modern Christians, and that is the idea that moral character is the only facet of Christlikeness to be judged by. Modern Christians often base their votes solely on the morality (stance on matters such as abortion and gay marriage) of a candidate, with little regard to his other policies because they put so much weight on morality.
I don't mean to belittle the importance of morality in the least. What I do mean to accomplish is to cause the Christians of today to understand that God's call for our lives and our nation (inasmuch as we are part of it) is not only moral, but social and economic as well - with equal portion. A Republican candidate may oppose abortion (which I oppose) and gay marriage (which I still oppose, though not as much as I have in the past)...but they are likely to have other political viewpoints that do not promote social justice and economic equality in accordance with God's plan for humanity. A Democratic candidate will more often have more Christlike views on social matters, though less Christlike views on morality; both Republicans and Democrats are functionally indistinguishable as far as their economic stance because of the fact that once they are in office, they are largely powerless to effect significant change. So as a Christian, do I vote Republican, thereby claiming "Morality is of greater importance than social justice"? Do I vote Democrat, insinuating "Social justice outweighs morality"? Do I vote Libertarian, Green, Socialist, Constitution party, hoping to make some kind of alternate statement but ending up with no effect whatsoever? I can do none of the above.
This brings me to your last point. I stated in my first comment that I could not vote for a candidate who embodies any facet of "evil" - moral, social, economic, environmental, or else. You then ask who will vote? It doesn't matter. The "things we hold dear" are split among parties in such a way that no vote we cast, save for a "perfect" candidate, will advance the Christian cause in this nation, because as I explained above, a vote for one Christian value is a vote against some other equally critical Christian value. There is no way to reconcile this country with God's will for it without a total alteration of the current system of government; and voting, being active participation in this government, will never do anything to change it.
I support gay marriage and I do not agree with everything Matt said.
I do not think republicans are more moral than democrats.
I think they're both pretty immoral.
Honestly, I think this mode of thinking is very unhealthy. To say that no choice is "good enough" and therefore shy away from making a choice seems very cowardess to me. I agree that no candidate will ever be the complete "perfect" candicate (just like no Christian can be perfect). But, I believe we must do our best to find the "best" and strive to "raise the bar" and uphold our values (all values) to the extent that we believe they should be (hopefully, not making that call on our own, but leaning on God for guidance). Simply stating that our government is "corrupt" and "immoral" is not enough - what shall we do to change things? Perhaps you should strive to be the candicate that actually holds up all Christian values and strive to make a difference in this country. No?
It seems our opinions are going to remain irreconcilably different for now on this subject, so this may be my last comment on this particular entry. I will, however, answer one question you asked - the most important a Christian can ask about this matter - by generalizing and reiterating a point I made previously: we can do nothing to change the government - to reduce its corruption and immorality - while playing by its rules. The government, obviously, does not feel any need to change, so it never will as long as we hold ourselves subject to it.
Matt, I don't think you're wanting to say that policies regarding the poor, care for the environment, etc. aren't moral issues. So you might want to clarify that. The Bible certainly presents those as moral issues.
You're absolutely right about that. I think I phrased things the way I did because most Republican Christians tend NOT to think about such things as moral matters. And also, I don't know a better word to lump issues like abortion and gay rights under.
Matt, that makes sense. I'm with you. Thanks for the clarification.
no problem, thanks for pointing out that I need to clarify that.
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