IMHO, If you’ve never read Relevant Magazine, you’re missing out. From beginning to end, I find it informative, encouraging, challenging, and funny. This particular issue did something amazing. It reflected my political beliefs almost exactly. Seriously. I don’t have permission to reprint the whole article here, but I can print parts of it as long as I site my source. RELEVANT Magazine, Sept./Oct. edition 2008, page 6, /First Word-Leading The Charge written by Cameron Strang. Consider it sited. 🙂
“I’m someone who tries to think independently and objectively, rather than simply follow what the pundits tell me to think. Because of that, I’ve realized I cannot fully embrace either political party. Both sides of the aisle have some great ideas and goals. But both also have areas where they simply get it wrong.”
“… historically, real, lasting change has started first at the grassroots level long before it was ever legislated. Cultural mindshifts influence Washington, not the other way around.”
“Many Christians traditionally have voted Republican because of their justifiable conviction to protect the lives of the unborn. Now many younger Christians are voting Democrat because of their justifiable desire to see our nation, the most prosperous in the world, address issues of poverty, global aid, and the environment. The problem is, many Christians vote these convictions, but that’s largely where their personal involvement in the issues stops. Are the government leaders we vote for meant to do our job for us? If God has given you a heart for the poor, or to see a reduction in the number of abortions, or to promote peace…then your personal focus needs to be on that-whether or not the President shares your same values.”
“…what if one day every value Christians stand for, even religious freedom itself, was legislatively removed? Christians in China and many other parts of the world face this reality every day. Would it change us? Dare I say, it might actually spur the Body of Christ here into greater action. Could it be that the loss of religious freedoms would ultimately be the best thing for American Christians because it would cause us to stand on our own two feet rather than relying on the government to legislate our faith and values for us?”
“Christians should be focused on personal action regardless of legislation, not just waiting for the right number of Supreme Court justices to come along. I’m not saying don’t vote. Do. Vote your convictions and let your voice be heard-that’s one of the perks of living in a democracy. But don’t let politics breed division, or make you see people in a different light. If you have a passion for an issue, rather than judging someone who doesn’t share that passion or viewpoint, just go do something about it. Give your life to it. Be the change you want to see.”
“We need to pray for our leaders and our country, but always remember that our leaders and country do not define us. We are the generation that will shape the direction culture, government, and social action will take in the next 50 years. It’s not up to Washington, it’s up to us – and I say it’s time we step up and lead the charge. But that means with our lives, our finances and our actions every day. Not just Nov. 4.”
I have a friend who can’t stand Obama and another who can’t stand McCain. They’re both Christians and both want to talk to everyone they know about the election, bad jokes and all. Thankfully they live in different states and will never butt heads in front of me. I have another friend who doesn’t believe in voting because they believe the outcome of the election is a product of God’s will. I’ve made my point about God working through His people and that there may be a difference in what God allows and what He wants – to no avail. Notice I used the word “friend”. I don’t have to share their convictions to be their friends. I don’t draw lines and divide myself from others because they will vote differently than I do. I don’t care who you vote for. I will love you anyway.
I am not a Democrat or a Republican. I don’t align myself with any particular political party. Will I vote? Absolutely. I believe my vote counts. But my vote doesn’t change who I am on a daily basis. What I do is not based on legislature, it’s based on love. You will not hear me complain about the President – no matter who wins or loses. Their job is hard enough and they need my prayers. I have too many other things happening in life to spend all my time complaining about the current administration . There are people on the streets, in my neighborhood, and in my home that need my attention and devotion. There is no government that can dictate how I choose to leave my mark on the world – Loving God and loving others – extravagantly.
Hear, hear, my friend…. hear, hear!
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This is a great, well thought out post. 🙂
Please visit my blog and pray for Baby Jake.
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Amen amen!!!
Niki – you and I are twins in so many regards – and this is one more area where your heart mirrors mine!
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My thought is that I’m considering not voting, not because whatever happens is God’s ultimate will (though any theological leanings I have are centrist Calvinist), but because I find no pleasure in voting for either and am not sure that I could give either of them the nod and have peace in my conscience and soul.
There are certainly, from a media perspective, two strong candidates to vote for, this year. I’m just not sure if I’d rather choose Superman over Spider-man, or vice-versa. Miss Piggy is running a strong third, as an independent, too. I have some thinking to do on these before November 4.
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Okay, now, if I’m the friend who doesn’t vote because I believe it’s ultimately God’s will, I have not communicated well. I definitely do NOT hold to a calvinist teaching on this, and that would be like saying: I’ll get my paycheck if it’s God’s will and then not going to work. It would then NOT be God’s will to give me a paycheck! I love what you quoted of this article. I find it impossible to vote, because, and especially because I’m a minister, I can’t be ascribing God’s favor on any one particular candidate. If I vote McCain, doesn’t that mean I prayed about it and God wanted me to vote McCain? What does that say about you voting for Obama (which is not what I’m saying your doing). I think there’s a lot tied up in the whole voting process. For instance: I don’t care if Obama is Christian or not. That’s not my issue here. I’m against his health care issues and his homeschooling stance. But let’s say (just for argument’s sake) I’m for his military agenda (which I have done NO research on, so I don’t know). How do I vote then? Or if I, as a Christian, am against the abortion issue, but also against McCain’s lack of care for the economic crisis (again, I know nothing about either candidates stance on these, I’m making up examples)? How do I, in good conscience vote? I have to trust that no matter who is in power in what ever country I happen to be living in, my citizenship is still in another Country and I just declare diplomatic immunity. Chinese people don’t vote in Russia. Russians don’t vote in Switzerland, Swiss don’t vote in Japan, Japanese don’t vote in America, and I, with my citizenship in Heaven, don’t vote in America! That’s my stance. Not: Let’s all sit back and pray God will grow our crop without planting any seeds at all! I’m sorry if that is the impression I’ve given you. I just don’t believe in fighting or pushing God’s agenda through political means. Especially when it’s really our agendas being dressed up and called God’s agendas.
If you’re refering to another friend, just ignore this post!
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I was actually talking about Jonathan. That’s what he told me…that whoever ends up in office, it’s God’s will and where does that leave him if he voted for the other guy? Voting against God’s will? God’s will, will determine who wins the election. It was a very disturbing conversation to me at the time, and I’ve thought a lot about what he said including the scriptures he referenced. Notice it hasn’t effected our friendship. I adore him and assume he adores me. Different political views and all.
“If I vote McCain, doesn’t that mean I prayed about it and God wanted me to vote McCain? What does that say about you voting for Obama?” Doesn’t that go along with what Jonathan said? What if I pray about it and God doesn’t tell me who to vote for at all? Does that mean He doesn’t want me to vote or could it mean he doesn’t care who I vote for? Or is it something else entirely? When I don’t have a clear answer, I have to rely on the wisdom God gave me and make my own choice.
I don’t understand what you’re saying about diplomatic immunity. Our citizenship may be in heaven, but we also currently live in America, we pay taxes in America, we are to follow the laws that America upholds, and we get things back for being Americans (certain freedoms, tax refunds, government assistance in the form of tax breaks, vouchers, etc.) If we didn’t have American citizenship, we wouldn’t have those same freedoms, get tax cuts or refunds, or have some of the freedoms that we have – including homeschooling. That seems like enjoying the benefits of being a citizen while being separate from the responsibilities and privileges of being a citizen. I think we have to weigh everything and make sure that we follow God before government, but that’s not the same thing as following God OR government.
I agree that we can’t tell people that our agenda is God’s agenda unless God specifically tells us to tell people that.
I disagree that we shouldn’t push our own agendas through political means. I believe my voice counts and so does my vote. With our votes, we support what we believe is right to the best of our abilities. Majority wins, and I’m quite often not in the majority, and that can stink. But sometimes I am. Because of the political process, slavery is no longer legal in the U.S., women can vote, we can’t be tried for the same crime twice, we can protest without the fear of death, and many other good things. Because of the political process, women can legally kill their babies while they are being born, the freedom of speech and the right to assemble allows the KKK to exist, murderers get off on technicalities, and other bad things. Trying to legislate morality has both harmed and saved this country. What a line we walk.
I too am a minister, but I don’t think by voting for either candidate I am saying “I’m voting for Mr. ? because it is God’s will for him to be in office.” I’m voting for Mr. ? because I believe he’ll do the best job managing the country and all that involves. I can promise you that the day after elections there will be Christians who are convinced that God’s will was not done…no matter who gets elected. I think things happen out of God’s will all the time. I don’t believe He wants women to be raped, or children to die of starvation, or men to be made to look like incompetent idiots by feminist women. This easily leads into a discussion about God’s will vs. what God allows temporarily, which isn’t quite what we’re discussing here. I don’t believe politics is an arena Christians should stay away from. I believe we should make our voice be heard. It’s getting harder and harder to do that since neither candidate tows my personal agenda line – as you’ve already pointed out. I have to choose from what is available. One of them is going to be the next President…do I want to have a say in who it might be? If my answer is no, I still have to accept that the outcome of the vote is still not void of my choice.
I feel the implication that I shouldn’t vote or have anything to do with the political process because I’m a Christian, a minister, and my citizenship is in heaven and not in America. I believe I have a dual-citizenship. While I am here on this earth, it is my right and my responsibility to leave it a better place than when I arrived. I am not let off the hook and have no responsibility on earth because I’m a citizen of heaven. With that being said, I want to re-post one of the quotes from the article that I thought spoke my mind quite well.
“Christians should be focused on personal action regardless of legislation, not just waiting for the right number of Supreme Court justices to come along. I’m not saying don’t vote. Do. Vote your convictions and let your voice be heard-that’s one of the perks of living in a democracy. But don’t let politics breed division, or make you see people in a different light. If you have a passion for an issue, rather than judging someone who doesn’t share that passion or viewpoint, just go do something about it. Give your life to it. Be the change you want to see.”
I will choose to love no matter who wins the election, and I know you will too. I will fight for the rights of others, not just my own. I will participate in government to do my best to protect my freedoms like not immunizing my children, homeschooling, being able to worship as I please, and having a say in how my tax dollars are spent. I will fight for the poor and the oppressed, bringing about awareness as I can. I will champion my causes – also called “works that God had planned for me in advance” according to Paul in Ephesians. American citizenship will not stop me from doing God’s will as He shows me what that is. It won’t stop you either.
Bottom line here? Vote or don’t vote. Be convicted of your choice and stand by it. But don’t tell others (or insinuate) their choice isn’t Godly unless you’re darn sure it isn’t. Can I vote and you not vote and both of us still be in God’s will? My answer is yes. And we will still love each other after the voting is done. 🙂
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[…] https://nikinowell.wordpress.com/2008/08/27/my-thoughts-on-politics/ […]
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Jennifer, just to clarify…I don’t think you’re saying my choice to vote is unGodly. I don’t want it to be taken that way by someone who doesn’t know the close relationship we have. I love you like a sister and don’t you forget it! My point was (and I should have worded it better) I don’t think voting or not voting is being Godly or unGodly.
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I think we still agree to disagree on this one. And that’s fine. I absolutely agree with your last paragraph and your retraction paragraph. We have to follow God to best of our ability where ever he leads us and not worry about where he’s leading others. Just trust he can do different things with different children.
PS Let me know what you think about the current fight on my changes post.
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PPS. I love the Becoming Jane pic on your blog!
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