Election Day

Today is election day; for better or for worse, the people of the United States will determine who will 'serve' as the next President. It is a historic day not only in that we will be determining the President but especially because, regardless of the results, we will either have the nation's first African-American President or its first female vice-President.

There has been a lot of turmoil in my extended family regarding this particular election. All of the involved parties are deeply devoted Christians and each are convinced that their decision best reflects their faith. The trouble is among these decisions are such diverse options as abstinence from voting, writing in YHWH (Another one of my relatives who has decided not to vote has considered, if not seriously, writing in Jesus of Nazareth), and as might be expected, supporters of both main party candidates.

The truth of the matter is, there is no best answer. There is a book by Jim Wallis, which I admittedly have not read, titled God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left doesn't Get It. I know that you can't judge a book by the cover, but the title alone reveals to me a great truth. You have likely heard it said that God is neither a Republican nor Democrat. This is a truism. Neither side has all the right answers. Why? Because we are not a Christian nation and our politics do not reflect Christian beliefs. At best, we are Christian who attempt to make our faith known in our political choices, in order to fulfill His will. At worst, we are apathetic in all concerns. Support of either party neglects important aspects of Christianity that the other party addresses more adequately.

Most Americans that identify themselves as Christians are staunchly American and nominally Christians, at best. Most Christians have no idea what it means to live a life modeled on Christ. Most have no idea what it means to love God with everything they've got and to love their neighbors. In fact, most of the church think the best way to love their neighbors is to allow the government to take care of it for them. They consider paying taxes and the nation's ability to help the disadvantage as their Christian contribution to the embodiment Mathew 25:31-46.

While one side is typically concerned with Family values, the other is concerned with saving the earth. While one side is concerned with life & abortion the other is concerned with life & capitol punishment. Yet, all life is sacred to God. How is our love of God expressed in these situations.

People are wrapped up in issues like gay marriage and civil unions. Some say that any such thing is an abomination. Others say that it is a crime to deny these couples family insurance and survival benefits, etc. The bottom line is how are we loving them?

If Jesus hung out with prostitutes and sinners, who would he hang out with if he were born 1975 years later?

Besides gay marriage never destroyed a family. The number one leading cause for divorce in the United States is debt. Families struggle to make ends meet and cover their bills. The related stress breaks up the family. You want to solve the issue of family values, help American get out of debt. The second leading cause for divorce is infidelity, which, incidentally, the bible includes as a sexual sin.

While some Americans think abortion, regardless of reason is wrong, most Americans agree that it, at the minimum, should not be used as a convenience, as a birth control. Regardless on your stance on abortion, most women who get abortions do so because they feel it is their only option. If the church was as loving, open, supportive, and forgiving as it is called to be; those women would feel like they had a choice. Sometimes, however, those women are ostracized by their 'Christian' family members for having premarital sex. The family is worried about its reputation in the church because the church tends to be so judgmental and unforgiving. Why is that? We are a forgiven people for goodness sake!

There are many other issues that are neither right nor wrong, neither right nor left. I have only touched on a few. One problem with our system is that so many Americans will vote today, to select who will represent their views, and then forget about it until the next election. How many are actually expressing their views to their elected officials. How can they represent what you stand for if you do not tell them for what you stand? How often does the minority opinion become public policy simply because that opinion is the one vocalized? Share your opinion, write your elected officials and tell them what you think. But be polite and speak the truth IN LOVE.

I can't tell you how to vote and would dare to try to do so. It is a struggle to attempt to determine how any one person, particularly one driven by political agendas, would represent any other persons faith and moral beliefs. I would encourage your participation in the system. I wold encourage you to have an informed opinion and make a decision. And if you abstain for voting in order to vote of n0-confidence, or as a vote against the system, or in the opinion that your voice is not represented, I understand.

I have already voted today. As for my opinion on not voting, I would prefer you (particularly & in general) vote for Jesus of Nazareth than not at all.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading.