Becoming Virtuous

As November has been getting steadily nearer and nearer, many Evangelical Christians have been considering and deliberating over what to do when they reach the ballot box. Now, there are those who seriously do not know what to do with their vote. The thought of having Obama or McCain as president is not a lovely thought. There are also those who say the only choice is to vote for McCain, and attest that any vote otherwise will be a vote practically for Obama. They provide the evidence of how Bill Clinton came into the presidency by much needed votes going to a third party instead of the Republican candidate. These people plead, let’s not make that mistake again!

Before I continue, I’d like to make an important point. We did not, even indirectly, put Clinton into office. (Quite honestly, it seems rather conceited to claim that we were the ones responsible for the tragedy.) In Romans 13:1 Paul tells us “for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” God is completely sovereign over everything that happens. The outcome of past elections and this one were completely controlled by God.

Back to the choice before us. I believe most Evangelical Christians would agree that voting for Obama is not even conceivably an option. He is pro-abortion, for universal healthcare, and has actually said that he wants to make government bigger. If he actually did everything he promises, we’d see an increase in our taxes by at least 65%.

But then the only other “true” choice is McCain. However, John McCain is very liberal in his thoughts and ways. He is pro-abortion, and for open immigration and amnesty for the illegal immigrants within our borders. He realizes that we need something done about gas prices, but do you know what his idea of reform is? A small tax cut on gas sales between Memorial Day and Labor Day! He has changed his tune now that his vice president has come along with opposing views. But, honestly, who’s views do you think is going to determine what he does in office? The president’s or the vice president’s? Now he has added to his lack of qualifications, a woman vice presidential candidate. Christians are perplexed at the thought of voting for someone who goes against Biblical teaching. To just focus on Mrs. Palin for a second, she is obviously violating the Bible’s command for women to stay at home and train their children as it says in Titus 2 and other passages. She is instead leaving her children for “more important things.” (Just what the lie in the garden was. Don’t obey God. You can be as a god and be in charge of your own life.) Mrs. Palin may be a nice lady, with a good conservative view on some issues, but holding a public office and running our country is not her place.

But what else is there to do? Well, I suppose you could vote for a third party. “::gasp::!!! No, that wouldn’t work!” say many people. Americans have been presented with a false dichotomy. That is, we are being told there are only two options, when there are more.

Running for the Constitution Party is a man by the name of Chuck Baldwin. He is a strong Christian, is pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-second amendment, is for less government, and for abolishing some of the many taxes that oppress our citizens. (To learn more about him, visit his website, http://www.baldwin08.com/ or The Constitution Party’s website.) He is the only one on the ballot who is Biblically qualified, and he would make a great leader. But, he has received very little publicity. Would voting for Baldwin be a vote for Obama? It would take a vote away from McCain.

People might say that, yeah McCain isn’t the best, but at least he’s better than Obama! Doesn’t it seem strange that Christians who wouldn’t vote for McCain if circumstances were different, feel that they now have to vote for him to avoid someone who is more evil? I’ve been asked, “Would you rather vote for someone who won’t get elected because you agree with him in most aspects, or are you going to take that vote and make a difference by voting for someone who might get elected and is better than the other choice?” So the real issue is, whether or not a vote for Baldwin is a wasted vote

However, I would argue that voting on principle or conscience is not a wasted vote. We are told by the world that we need to vote strategically. But what about voting Biblically? God tells us that His word is sufficient for every situation. You see, when you vote for a candidate, you are supporting that person. You are saying that this person is Biblically qualified to represent you in office. Do you truly believe that McCain and Palin, a liberal man and a woman who is going against God’s order, are representatives of your beliefs and convictions?

So how is not voting for McCain not wasting your vote? It depends on what you view as a wasted vote. If you believe that voting un-strategically is a wasted vote, then a vote for conscience most certainly is wasted in this instance. I agree that there is a way you can waste your vote in this election, but it’s not in the way that most people believe.

If you were to go to the ballot box, and cast your vote for someone you don’t trust, someone you do not believe in, who doesn’t hold the same Biblical convictions as you, and who is going against the commands of God to get more votes by having a woman VP candidate, then I would consider that a wasted vote. You are in essence lying about your allegiance. You’re supporting a candidate you don’t believe in. All this to just hopefully keep Obama out of office.

Now this gets into the sovereignty of God and also touches on just how much you trust Him. In Proverbs 3:5-7 it says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.” Perhaps I’m just young and naive, but it seems that God told us, and expected us to obey Him and trust Him with the results!

But if God is sovereign, and is going to do whatever He wants anyways, why does how I vote matter? It’s true, God can do whatever He wants, with, without and despite you. However, are you going to trust Him, and possibly be a part of a Biblically qualified candidate becoming the leader of our country?

Without a doubt, this election will go down in history. The outcome will result in either our first black president, our first lady vice president, or the first time a third party won the presidency. But what choice are you going to make at the ballot box? Are you going to vote for someone you think should actually be president? Or are you going to follow “worldly wisdom,” and vote for the “safe” answer? I urge, hope and pray that you do not choose the latter. Remember, voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil.