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USANews版 - How Should Christians Vote On November 6th?
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话题: christians话题: obama话题: justice话题: vote
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l****z
发帖数: 29846
1
Christians frightened for America’s future face a conundrum this electoral
season. Biblical precepts must steer our politics; loving God with all our
hearts, souls and minds obviously includes discernment at the polls. “When
you enter the voting booth,” says R.C. Sproul, “don’t leave your
Christianity in the parking lot.”
How should Christians vote their beliefs?
Only God knows either candidate’s heart, but Mitt Romney professes
Mormonism. Culturally, Mormons make for great neighbors and business
partners. Many behave better than most Christians, but faith is more than
mere morals. When Latter-day Saints talk of Christ they conceive of a
created being.
Barack Obama has articulated an Oprah-like ecumenical Christianity with “
many paths to the same place.” Liberation Theology, which his former church
preaches, superimposes spiritual vocabulary to Marxist thinking. Properly
understood, Marxism reflects a complete rejection of Christianity.
So do Democrats apparently.
Delegates hissed at the Democratic convention over a fleeting reference to
“God-given potential.” Their party platform wants Washington to redefine
the parameters of marriage and seeks free abortions furnished by taxpayers.
How troubled would liberals be if Romney suggested firearms should be free?
Unlike abortion, the Constitution actually specifies the right to bear arms.
Cherished values are at stake. “The 2012 election is a worldview exercise
of unprecedented contrasts” Al Mohler explains; also noting, “The most
basic issues of life, sexuality, family, marriage and moral responsibility
are up for grabs.”
Many Christians fear President Obama’s radical agenda could accelerate if
re-elected. To date, Obama’s repudiation of America’s Judeo-Christian
foundations has been mostly symbolic. For instance, in 2009, the president
celebrated Ramadan, but not the National Day of Prayer. Last year he
publicly championed “gay” marriage.
Other actions carried more tangible ramifications, from narrowing
permissible exemptions under the so-called “conscience clauses,” to
scuttling Bill Clinton’s Defense of Marriage Act and ending Don’t Ask, Don
’t Tell. Obamacare’s takeover of medicine appears particularly foreboding
even beyond forcing Catholics to finance contraception.
Where do his ambitions end?
It puzzles how informed Christians can support Obama, yet be clear, Jesus
was no Republican. The GOP largely takes evangelicals for granted. The
Religious Right was instrumental to Reagan’s sweeping victories, but the
Gipper delivered little on the moral issues most pressing to Believers.
Evangelicals have ever since been relegated to fighting rearguard battles in
an increasingly bellicose culture war.
Liberal Christians would likely retort with visions of “social justice”
lifting the “least of these.” While well intentioned, welfare addresses
needs Christians are tasked with performing privately, publicly financed
through some euphemism called society. Does any Christian honestly consider
surging food stamp usage under Obama as reflective of a loving federal
apparatus?
Christianity invokes personal charity performed voluntarily in service to
God. Public charity is an oxymoron and often counterproductive. Without
freedom to act, or to not act, believe, or not believe, the moral basis is
rendered insolvent. There is nothing righteous about confiscating property
from one to bestow on another. The poor aren’t political props.
Social justice is just gussied up socialism on a subdued scale. Conflating
Christianity with socialism because both, in theory, prescribe justice for
the poor is like saying capitalism and communism are similar since each
pertains to economics. Socialist states, in practice, almost inevitably
persecute Christians. Big government can brook no dissent.
Capitalism has no exclusive biblical imprimatur, but free markets are
compatible with Scripture except as corrupted by sinful men. Finding
scriptural support for secular socialism is a stretch. Justice does not
entail a godless Leviathan commandeering business even if some Christians
like the outcomes.
The Church embodies an instrument of love, promoting the Gospel. Political
persuasion is irrelevant to saving perishing souls. The political realm is
not the primary vehicle for advancing Christ’s kingdom. Washington could
get every social and economic policy right and would likely accomplish
little arresting America’s cultural decay. Government cannot change men’s
hearts.
Government is divinely ordained to apply justice. Government represents an
instrument of force tasked with punishing wrongdoers and rewarding what is
good. In Paul’s time, laws were as Caesar decreed. In our constitutional
republic, Caesar swears subservience to the law.
Our Forefathers implemented justice through preserving inalienable rights to
life, liberty and property; to which they rightly incorporated propriety
over conscience and the pursuit of happiness. The most important safeguards
for liberty are freedom of religion and freedom of speech.
Last year, after the Justice Department sued a Lutheran school, the high
court rebuked, “We cannot accept the remarkable view that the Religion
Clauses have nothing to say about a religious organization’s freedom to
select its own ministers.” That Team Obama tried is telling.
In 2008, Obama attracted more white Christians than other recent Democrats.
Despite unbiblical stances, Obama still appeals to blacks. Frederick
Douglass Republican K. Carl Smith clarifies, “As Christians, we should
never place race before religion; color before character; political party
before biblical principles; or any president before the Prince of Peace.”
Conservative Christians dread another Obama administration, but grapple over
voting for a centrist whose faith lies outside orthodox Christianity. Must
Believers pick between principles and pragmatism? In an election of “lesser
evils,” ought Christians to take the tact of not aligning with darkness in
any fashion?
Conversely, is staying home or voting third party, say Virgil Goode (a
professing Baptist), tantamount to supporting Obama? It’s said the perfect
is the enemy of the good. Paraphrasing an ageless adage, perhaps all it
takes for evil to triumph is for good men not to vote.
Relax.
Russell D. Moore, dean of theology at Southern Seminary, suggests too many
Christians treat the president as a “religious mascot.” A vote for Romney
doesn’t endorse Mormonism. Moreover, should Washington never hear from
those pronouncing a godly vision the people will surely perish.
The Cornwall Alliance’s Cal Beisner observes, “The Lord Jesus Christ
Himself not being on any political ballot, we never have the option of
voting for a perfect candidate.” There is none righteous, no, not one (
Romans 3:10). Christians can surely elect Romney because, as Beisner
continues, on a continuum “less of an evil” means “more of a good.”
Christians, vote your principles as conscience leads.
l*****o
发帖数: 9235
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红脖子选民根本没有足够的词汇来看懂这篇文章。。。
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相关话题的讨论汇总
话题: christians话题: obama话题: justice话题: vote