Voting from a Christian Perspective

In the spirit of adding more information to consider before going to the polls, I have been researching some additional information that I think is essential before considering which candidate you align most closely with. If you're like me, you may have heard recently (and probably agree with) the fact that Jesus would be neither a Republican nor a Democrat, which is probably very true. However, I think that believers have reasons to consider biblical and ethical issues in this election. While we are in many ways free to choose philosophically different views, there are a few issues that we must consider as believers before we cast our vote. This post has several links that were the result of extensive research that I did on Biblical issues and the election. I think they are some of the best I found, so please take the time to read them, and watch the video.

Wayne Grudem, one of the most widely known and respected theologians and Biblical scholars and teachers of our time, compiled for the election in 2004 concerning issues that the Bible does speak into. (Interesting fact: He was also one of the main overseers of the translation of the ESV Bible.) Here's the link -- I think it's important to read with an open mind: http://www.epm.org/artman2/publish/politics/Biblical_and_Ethical_Issues_That_Have_Bearing_on_This_Election.shtml

Although we should be careful not to be "one-issue" voters, there is one issue that in particular weighs on my heart more than the others, that I think Christians should be extremely careful to consider. Although many Christians disagree with abortion practices, it may not determine who they will vote for, as it is an issue that doesn't tend to take precedence in a candidate's platform. Besides, with pressing issues like the state of our nation's economy, health care system, and foreign policy, it is easier to not look into what have become minor issues on the political stage. Since abortion was made legal in 1973, there have been over 40 million abortions in the U.S. alone. That's 40 million children who died, with zero rights and zero chances... kind of a startling statistic. Scripture is clear that, among other things, God actually hates when innocent blood is shed, and uses the same word for an unborn child as for a born child in Scripture, considering the two to be equal in definition. (There are more arguments for why abortion is unbiblical and unethical. If you want to know more, please look into it or ask me.) I attached a .pdf fact sheet of a side-by-side comparison of the candidates' views on abortion. PLEASE read this, even if you've already decided who you are voting for. We must, must, must consider these things.

Christians are often considered to simply vote conservatively, or to only pick one issue to vote for, instead of considering the entirety of a candidate's platform. John Piper wrote a particularly good article addressing this issue:http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1995/1524_OneIssue_Politics_OneIssue_Marriage_and_the_Humane_Society/ The main thrust of his article is that a candidate is not necessarily qualified to run for office simply because he is pro-life, but, at the same time, as Christians we need to seriously consider, looking at Scripture, whether a candidate is qualified if he is willing to support abortion. The article is definitely worth reading and chewing on!

Lastly, I think it is important to look at the following video (below) where Barack Obama is speaking to Planned Parenthood, one of the largest and widely-supported organizations who have impacted greatly a woman's right to choose. They claim the following facts:

- In 2006, Planned Parenthood provided 289,750 surgical and medical abortions.

- They receive government funding, as well as financial profit from abortions every year.

- They oppose laws that require an ultrasound before an abortion, getting parental consent or notification for girls under 18 to have an abortion, or having any kind of waiting period (1 to a couple of days), as well as opposing abstinence-based sex ed. programs in schools.

- They vehemently oppose the federal abortion ban, signed into existence in 2003, which, "criminalizes abortions in the second trimester of pregnancy."

- They oppose Crisis Pregnancy Centers, which seek to educate pregnant women on all of their choices before making a decision, such as having the baby, adoption, as well as information about abortion procedures. They offer free ultrasounds and counseling for women. On their web site, Planned Parenthood claims that Crisis Pregnancy Centers are associated with "anti-choice extremists," and says that these centers are set up, "to intimidate and confuse young women seeking abortions."

(To learn more about Planned Parenthood, you can look at their web site: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/.)

Senator Obama is the most supportive member of Congress for abortion in any stage of pregnancy. He is an avid supporter of Planned Parenthood, and has said some questionable things about partial birth abortion, the latest-term and most brutal form of abortion. Here is the video of Obama speaking to Planned Parenthood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUl99id2SvM

I felt like I should post this information because it has not been covered in the debates so far, and it is difficult to get the facts depending on who you talk to. I decided to research it for myself, and was deeply grieved by what I found. Please, do not vote without really considering this and praying about it. I'm not saying God "endorses" either candidate, but I do think His Word speaks enough into some of the issues, that it cannot be ignored by those who claim it's truth. Thanks for reading this and taking time to pray about and deeply consider who you will vote for on November 4th!