FROM THE PASTOR:
When you read this article we will have elected a new president. At least, I assume it will be a clear election and not thrown into the Supreme Court or House of Representatives for decision. I have spoken publicly only briefly to some of the issues. Some of you wanted me to be more direct, some of you thought that I should be an advocate of certain issues and so you may feel disappointed in me.
Some of you may think I am reticent because I am afraid the church will lose its’ ability to be an IRS approved non-profit. Actually I don’t think about that much at all.
This election has posed an interesting dilemma for our congregation, which is mixed racially, economically, and politically. I imagine many of you have felt a certain care and tenderness to others about your views and not wanted to offend. I know some of you have not felt that way, but have been champions of your candidate or issue.
Let me congratulate you, generally, for how well you have treated each other. Thank you that you have controlled your passions. Our unity is very important and the Scriptures teach us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3, ESV)
Now, I don’t know what you did after you heard the election results, but I hope the complement still stands. It is very important to me that I maintain my ability to pastor all of our people to the extent that I can maintain a clear conscience about speaking to what is right and just, and being inclusive in love.
It is one of the greatest achievements of American politics, in the context of American history, that an African American could have been nominated by one of our two main parties, and have a chance to be president. Every American should be proud of that. Senator Obama has achieved much in rising from a broken home, going to Harvard and Harvard Law School, and not just attending but doing so with honors. He has achieved much in showing his commitment to the poor by serving in community organizing. He has been a “public servant” as a State Senator and a U.S. Senator. These are no little achievements.
The record of Senator McCain is undeniably inspiring, with his service in the Navy, his endurance of a brutal captivity during the Viet Nam war, and his long service in the Senate. If these men were not running for president I think any of us could be proud of both of them, and share the honor that both men bring to our nation. But they were running for president, so we have reacted to them for more than their personal achievements.
Each of them has made a case for their philosophy of leadership and government. We have every right and every responsibility to judge their views, their commitments, and their characters as we made the choice of whom to elect by our vote. We know this by their respective histories, by their statements, and by what they have written.
I think the choice should be made not because of a person’s race, though it would be foolish to deny the pride that African Americans must feel in Obama and the overwhelming desire to seem him succeed. Race, in this context, cannot help but be a factor for a people, so historically denied many things, yearning to see someone like themselves in the highest office in the land. It is a factor that could only be overcome by a complete conviction that this is a bad man, who will hurt African Americans and the country as a whole. Many white Americans yearn to see an African American take this office because of what they think it will say about who we are and what we have now become.
I think some have tried to make Senator Obama into a bad man by association and by innuendo. I shudder to think of how some of the people I know could disqualify me from serving anywhere. I know some pretty bad people. I even call some of them friends. Of course, that is my job, and that was how Jesus dealt with sinners; he welcomed them and ate with them.
A person’s history of judgment is a fair test of them, but some of the things I have heard (about Senator Obama) in this campaign, and the willingness of some Christians to believe them and repeat them have been simply wicked.
I want you to know that I am opposed to the politics of the liberal wing and platform of the Democratic Party. Roe vrs. Wade should be overturned. We need judges who will do that. I am opposed to the legalization of same sex marriage. Christians not only have a right but a duty to think about how their vote, and their political involvement will affect those crucial issues.
I want you to know that I am opposed to the ideologically based recklessness of the Republican Party when it comes to fiscal responsibility. Running up the national debt to pay for a war without calling on the American people to sacrifice for it is cowardice. Allowing ideology to excuse bad governance, through abandonment of proper regulation of financial markets and health and safety is inexcusable. Catch phrases of, “the market being allowed to correct itself” is no excuse to allow injustice to fall on the heads of the poor.
Demonization of an individual is not intellectually honest, let alone appealing, and is no proper basis for making a choice. Simplification of an issue to a presidential vote for solution is short sighted, and when combined with demonization may deprive the losing party of the power of influence to change policy direction. In short, if you hate Obama because of his stand on abortion, and think voting against him will overturn Roe vrs. Wade you probably haven’t counted the votes in the Senate, nor might you have much hope in the ability of the Gospel and Truth to change hearts, minds, culture, and politics.
Confidence in a pro-life candidate to make significant change can, and has, caused us to be lazy and forget the nature of local politics and circumstances to make a difference in the saving of children’s lives. We must have a politics of hope, confidence, wisdom, assertive and principled compromise, and respect.
I do, however, support anyone who chooses to cast their vote, out of conscience, on the basis of even one moral issue; especially abortion.
As a military veteran I have certain concerns with Presidential leadership. I am a man of peace, and want my leaders to speak even with our enemies. I want a strong military that is strong enough to be seldom used. I don’t want our President to run away from genocide (such as Rwanda), and I don’t want our President to dismantle the military through feminization and social engineering. I want competence, wisdom, and courage.
As a Christian my pledge is to pray for whoever is in power, to show them proper respect, to call on my family and children to respect and obey them. My hope is to pay my taxes, to love my fellow citizens and care for their welfare. My determination is to obey God even if it means I must disobey men, and to stand against wickedness and evil, and to proclaim truth and justice with a humble but bold spirit. May the Lord deliver America from evil, make us a godly nation, and a people pleasing to God! |
