If you are a professing Christian, your primary voting guide should be the Bible.  If you are driven by media, politics, feelings, personalities, social issues or other perspectives, then those should be secondary factors in your voting decisions.  This will be hard-hitting for many, and that is the purpose.  Elections have significant implications for the future of America, particularly if we ignore our duty.  In every election, the effects of yourvote will be felt for generations.  Don't avoid the discussion of sensitive or painful topics, all in the name of preserving your feelings.

Is your vote seen through the lens of Scripture, or political pundits and those who would twist the definition of what Christian values may be?  You might be surprised to know that there are four recent books so bold to answer the question, "How Jesus would Vote?" 

(1) "How Would Jesus Vote?  A Christian Perspective on the Issues" by D. James Kennedy & Jerry Newcombe (2008)
(2) "How Would Jesus Vote?" by William H. Carney (2006)
(3) "How Would Jesus Vote? An In-Depth Look at the Bible's Views Concerning Today's Hot Political Issues" by The KingdomHasCome, LLC (2004)
(4) "How Would Jesus Vote?  What to Look for in Your National Leaders" by Ram Gidoomal & David Porter (2001)

Each of these books articulate that it is a Christian duty and privilege to vote.  They start from the premise that politics are tricky and manipulating, so Christians should think carefully and act wisely to make decisions informed by Christian values and principles.

In general, these books shed light and give direction on our responsibilities in voting as followers of Christ.  First, we need to be consistently praying for the Holy Spirit to guide our thinking; consistently praying for wisdom in our voting decisions.  We also need to intercede for those running in positions for or  against the values we hold closely as believers.

Here are some  topics (not in any particular order) which Christians may want to consider when voting:   Welfare (helping the needy with hand up, not necessarily a hand out), caring for widows and orphans, taxes and the economy, freedom of religion (separation of Church and State), racism, education, marriage, family, homosexuality, parental rights, prayer in public schools, peace for Israel, war, national defense, and more.  Many of these topics could be very important to you, and should be for Bible-believing Christians in America.  Christians haven't always agreed on how to deal with these issues; however, we need to consider one issue that impacts all of the others:  sanctity of life.

That's right!  Sanctity of life, from a prophetic viewpoint, will affect how our leaders will deal with all other issues.  Yes, our views on the sanctity of life impacts all of the other issues, and thus we must consider the impact of voting for a candidate who promotes abortion on any level.  Please read on.
 

Sanctity of Life Issues:  Abortion, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Euthanasia, Human Cloning, The Poor.

The Bible is straightforward on the sanctity of life:  We are His creation; we are not to kill or murder.  Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."  Exodus 20:13 (from the Ten Commandments) "You shall not murder," and 1 John 3:15  "Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him," are two powerful examples.  Jesus Himself, in Matthew 5:21, emphasizes the seriousness of this by equating unjustified anger with murder.  We also see that unjustified anger leading to accidental harm of an unborn child is taken seriously.  In Exodus 21:22-23 God very clearly gives the death penalty for accidentally harming an unborn child in such cases.

God made us who we are, and he tells us so.  He said to the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5), "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.  Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose.  I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations."  In Psalms 139:13-14, David said, "For you formed my inmost being.  You knit me together in my mother's womb.  I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."  Another example is in Job 10:8-12, and in the New Testament where we are told of the miracle of Jesus' conception and birth.  The Scriptures set a clear precedent for the sanctity of life.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for the unborn is yeled, and is the same word used for young children.  The Hebrew language did not have (or need) a separate word for pre-born babies.  All children were children regardless of whether they lived inside or outside the womb.  In the New Testament, the same word is used to describe the unborn John the Baptist and the already-born baby Jesus.  From Scriptures we see that God views the unborn human child as a living person, and the willful taking of that life as murder.  The real question is not whether a woman has the right to choose, but should be, when are we human enough to have the right to life promised by our very own Constitution?  Proverbs 31:8 says, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute."

Pro-choice (pro-abortion) advocates don't like the use of the word murder, and thus they have redefined the definition of a fetus.  Even so, that doesn't change God's Word.  We read this direct statement from God in Genesis 9:5-6, "And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting.  I will demand an accounting from every animal.  And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man.  Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man."  Those performing (or supporting the performing of) abortions remain lost in their sin; victims of abortion find no peace, and people honestly trying to save the lives of the unborn are continually slandered when zealots take justice out of God's hands into their own.  Abortion has prophetic implications for our nation as well.  A number of scholars agree that abortion and apostasy in these end-times are directly connected.  Our nation will be subject to judgment for refusing to stop abortion.

As many of you are keenly aware, the abortion issue is the platform by which other life issues are debated, such as embryonic stem cell research and the killing of our elderly and terminally ill.  While these issues are important for Christians to understand in light of Scripture, it is abortion that sets the stage for their promotion.  Killing and murder are not acceptable, no matter what the circumstance.  Terms like "pro-choice," or "dying with dignity" are only deceptive catch-phrases, and should be appropriately labeled pro-killing.

Christians must not ignore the stance of presidential candidates on these issues!  Don't be fooled.  The two political parties which receive the majority of votes are (1) the Democrat Party (staunchly pro-abortion [anti-life] and favor stronger pro-abortion laws), and (2) the Republican Party which mostly favors pro-life (anti-abortion) laws.  That doesn't mean we have to vote for a candidate from either party.  Candidates have shown they don't always agree with their party's platform.  At times there are little differences between the two parties, thus the politicians could be called Republicrats.  On the other hand, the Constitution party is staunchly pro-life and would be the best choice for Christians.  The Constitution party represents Christian values in government and society.  Our president, prior to his November 2009 election, stated he was committed to the signing of the "Freedom of Choice Act."  He said, "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA)" at a July 17, 2007 Planned Parenthood fund raising event.  He did not address the topic in his first 100 days in office, and it appears he doesn't plan to in the near future.  Many suggest he will before his term is up, as he's boldy stated his support for FOCA, and would sign the bill into law if given the chance.

The Freedom of Choice Act would protect, consistent with Roe v. Wade, a woman's freedom to choose abortion, allow abortions through all nine months of pregnancy, effectively legalize the practice of partial-birth abortion, and take away State rights to regulate abortion.  In short, the Freedom of Choice Act would make abortion available regardless of age or circumstance on a Federal level.

On this issue alone, for a Christian to vote for any Democrat (unless that person is pro-life) would be a vote against the God we serve and worship, let alone a violation of the very Christian principles that guide us.

If you are a professing Christian and disagree with the Biblical viewpoints above, then where do you stand?  For man or for God?  God wants us to humble ourselves before Him, not man, and focus upon the things He says are pure and holy.

If you are offended by these comments, then get on your knees and take it up with the Lord.  When considering these issues, you will find that Democrats are in direct opposition to the Bible and our values.  If you are a professing Christian, it is not possible to vote for liberal or socialist Democrats, Republicans or similar politicians without denying the very faith you are blessed with.

I welcome your comments via email .

Blessings,
Tim Osterholm
SoundChristian.com