Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Why this Christian is voting for a Mormon


It’s the biggest dilemma I've faced in a long time, maybe the biggest one ever.  I'm supposed to choose the "leader of the free world" from a short list of two people.  One promised hope and change - a social healthcare system, government provision, higher taxation, and redistribution of wealth.  The other promises a return to a government that won't unilaterally decide which American businesses should succeed, and an America that won't apologize for the fact we area  strong nation built on hard work, determination, and most of all - protected by the blood of generations of my brothers in arms.

I am no Republican.  Nor am I a Democrat.  I'm an American.  I'm a Christian.  I am an officer.  I have a family that will grow and prosper according to God's plan, regardless of who sits in our nation's highest office.  I will continue to serve my country and protect the constitution against its enemies.  I will continue to respect and pray for my commander in chief, whether I agree with him or not.  As long as my orders are not illegal, immoral, or in opposition to God's word, I will carry them out while I hold my current commission.  I also agree with the direction the current Republican candidate wants to take our nation.  But he's a Mormon.  I don't know everything about the LDS church, but I know enough to say their teachings are not in accordance with God's Word.  For a comparison of Christian and Mormon doctrine, see this link.  On the other hand, I could vote for the incumbent.  But I don't know exactly what his beliefs are.  Is he Christian?  Muslim?  I can't tell, but based on his actions and words, I get the feeling he thinks no belief has to be mutually exclusive.  My God is exclusive.  What!? The God of the Bible who loved us so much that "while we were sinners, Christ died for us" - exclusive?  Yes - exclusive of all untruth.  Exclusive of all evil.  Exclusive of all unrighteousness.  All the things I am or have been - untruthful, evil, and unrighteous - the same things we all are.  I accept that.  I also accept that my exclusive God who demands justice be done, has provided the means for both justice and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."
          - Romans 3:23-26

I don't trust the Mormon.  I don't trust the other one either.   They are career politicians whom I believe will say whatever they think it takes to get elected.  So let me boil it down to the issues that have decided my vote, along with a brief explanation of why.

1.       Abortion:  We, as a nation, have chosen to water down this issue to a point where being pro-life is considered the radical right.  Life begins at conception.  I value life.  Being "pro-choice" exists under the guise of protecting a person's right to choose whether or not to carry a child to term.  First, "pro-choice" is a misnomer.  We should call it what it really is, regardless of how unpalatable it sounds - "pro-abortion".  The "choice" being made is the choice to end a life for the sake of our own health, welfare, or in most cases - convenience.  In the best of circumstances, we are taking the life of someone incapable of defending themselves in order to preserve our own life.  In the worst of cases, we are doing it for our own comfort or convenience.  Either way, it shows a love for ourselves that is greater than our love and respect for the life of another - even our own child.  Anyone who uses terms like "reproductive freedom" when referring to the right to have an abortion, clearly does not respect life.  And, yes, I'm going to bring up the slippery slope argument...if we can take the life of an unborn child who cannot speak for themselves, what's to say we can't take the life of a mentally or physically disabled person who can't speak for themselves?  Wouldn't it make it easier on our society and healthcare system - not to mention more convenient for those burdened with the care of those who cannot care for themselves?  Like it or not, that's the pro-choice mentality.  Read Brave New World - it’s a classic.  I will not willfully choose a leader who lives under the veil of our culture's misguided perception of what it means to be "pro-choice".

2.       Government involvement in business:  Although not a stark moral issue like abortion, this also has to do with our freedom.  Capitalism depends on competition.  Competition means there is a reward for working hard and doing well in our business endeavors.  When the government takes away this purely competitive element by redistributing the earnings of those businesses who have triumphed in competition to those who have not, it has just created an incentive to be mediocre.  Those who are already mediocre know they have a safety net.  Those who are excellent may find it more rewarding to become mediocre.  Because of ambiguous terms like "too big to fail", struggling businesses [or industries] have been given the go ahead to continue in the mediocrity and complacency that took them to the point of failure in the first place.  So what happens?  The most appealing location on the topography of business performance becomes mediocrity.  All move in this direction.  Our national competitive landscape begins to fall under the control of the few in government who make the decisions of which businesses receive government assistance.  In essence, business survival is taken out of the hands of the consumer and put under the control of the state.  Hmmm...sounds familiar...something I read about in history, maybe?

Two issues?  That's it?  Narrow?  Maybe.  Look deeper.  These two issues embody freedom and life.   No matter where I live or who rules this nation,  I have freedom because Christ has given it to me.  I have life because of God's grace and love...but if I have the power to choose to live in a nation which is guided by policies which take our nation as a whole closer to freedom and respect of life, that's where my vote will be.

So, I'm not voting for the Mormon or the Christian or the - fill in the blank.  I'm voting on ideals which are manifested in the policies, past actions, and future plans of the candidates.  I'm voting on the hope that my kids will grow up in a country where freedom and respect for life are part of our national identity...and if they are not, I will continue to instill these values in my family.

Dilemma solved?  Not really.  But it’s the best I can do with the evidence at hand.  Do your duty - vote.

Ultimately, I can rest in this…

"...the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.
          -  Daniel 4:25