Our SBC pastor, Jamie Rasmussen, had a tremendous sermon on Sunday pointing out the 6 values that each voter should bring to the voting booth. Now, there are so many more, but each of these 6 are backed biblically. This is what we as Christians should use to evaluate our candidate.
Now, I have already chosen to vote for President Trump (he passes the test for each of these), but I wanted to share this for Tatum someday when she enters the voting booth in 11 years.
The candidate I choose shall have to pass the test on these six.
1.The sanctity of human life
He quoted a statistic which brought me to tears. 60 million babies have been aborted (killed) since 1970. We believe (and it has been proven) that life begins at conception.
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works and that my soul knows well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed, and in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16, NKJV).
2. The poor
How does the candidate view how to help our poverty problem? Does he/she (I’ll use “he” in this blog) want to throw money at them, or will he provide resources to HELP the poor. This doesn’t mean more welfare but opportunities for the poor to get out of their situation. A hand up not a hand out.
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:33)
Now, this means that God CARES about the poor and as the church so should we (and so should our candidate)
The candidate’s financial plan is also key. Will his tax plan help our country’s economy or create more taxes for the rich so they cannot invest in our country to keep it going? They employ others we must remember!
3. The family
Family values. Why is this so important? Does the candidate care that family is where our country remains strong?
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)
This is VITAL that a candidate cares about this because it is the lifeblood of our country. You cannot legislate morality, but you can do what you can to promote families staying together and children honoring authority.
4. Equality/racism
Need we say more?
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:28)
Example: The recent movement, Black Lives Matter, is not an organization that promote equality. It promotes truly the opposite.
5. Religious freedom
Our founders came to this country to escape the religious persecution they experienced in England. God wants us to choose him freely not by force.
The rich young ruler approached Jesus and “went away sorrowful,” choosing not to follow Christ. (Matthew 19: 16-23) Jesus did not follow him because God does not “force” belief in Him. God gives us the freedom to choose or reject Him; so should our country.
6. Strangers in the land
How does a candidate handle these “aliens” in our country? There is no answer to how to handle the illegal immigrants who are here, but we can protect our borders from dangerous outsiders. For those who are here, what is the HEART of our leader? Is it gracious? kind?
“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 22:21)
“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:34)
Putting a candidate through the filter of six values can ease the stress of picking a candidate.
I’m so grateful that Jamie illustrated this for us.
May God bless our 2020 election!!!