I don’t think that anyone is unsure as to which candidate I will be voting for this election, but I wanted to fully explain why I feel that Obama is going to be my choice. As a Christian, I find myself in a dilemma when choosing my vote: Republicans have become synonymous with Christianity. I don’t agree with that, in fact I feel that, with exception to abortion, republican values no longer look to God in most things. As this is just my opinion, it’s hard to back it up with any facts, but I saw this on Reddit today and felt a desire to post it as something that I identify with.
I keep getting sent all these videos and e-mails about people prophesying that McCain and Palin will win because they are “God’s Ticket.”
I’m not trying to stir something up…but what I am curious about is this: If then, Obama wins…doesn’t that make people like these false prophets? I will be honest, my reasons for voting for Obama, believe it or not, are rooted in my faith. Read Matthew Chapter 25. On the day of judgment we will be asked a few things:
35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Which candidate will do more to feed the hungry? Which candidate will do more reach out to the outcasts and the broken? Which candidate will do more to clothe the naked, to help the sick? Matthew says that based on how we are able to answer to these issues determines whether we are cast away or welcomed unto Him. Jesus, during his time on this earth, did not go around and judge people. Gay marriage and abortion are certainly things Jesus would be opposed to. However, Jesus looked at the condition of our hearts. Whether or not these things are legal does not change that they will be done, and their legality will not change the hearts of the people involved in those activities.
Jesus would also be opposed to unjust wars. He would be opposed to taxing the poor more than the rich. Jesus would be disgusted at the lies, racism, and bigotry of the McCain campaign, disgusted to see people at the McCain/Palin rallies cheering “Kill him!” in reference to Obama, heckling an Arab cameraman, and Palin and McCain doing nothing to stop it.
At an Obama rally, people started jeering and booing McCain. Despite the fact that Obama’s name is met with far worse at a McCain rally, Obama authoritatively told the audience to “Stop that. That’s not what we need. What we need is for you to vote.” Obama had the courage to stand up to even his fans and do what is right. The same cannot be said for Mr. McCain. Obama has always held McCain in great respect, but McCain refuses to shake his hand at debates, won’t look him in the eye, calls him “that one” instead of Senator, and is frequently condescending of a man who deserves respect not only as a human being, but also as McCain’s equal in the Senate.
Senator Obama is a family man, married to the same woman all of his life. McCain had an affair with his first wife while she was disfigured in a car accident with his now wife, Cindy. He applied for a marriage liscence while he was still married to his first wife. Cindy McCain’s money (and therefore John McCain’s money) is from a company called Hensley & Co, the nations largest Anheuser Busch beer distributor. If ANYTHING has caused more problems in the families of our country than alcohol, I’m not sure what it is.
Obama is smart, graduating from Harvard and teaching Constitutional Law as a university professor. John McCain graduated at the very bottom of his class with a D- average.
These are my reasons for voting for Obama. I believe he is going to win, and I believe he provides the leadership our country needs most right now. If he doesn’t, then fine. But I do have a clear conscience about who I voted for, and I believe I have made a very informed decision. My vote has already been cast.
While I may agree with your beliefs in voting for Obama, and if I vote for Obama (yes, 2 days to election I’m still undecided) it is because I also believe he will do a better job of serving the poor and the needy of our country… I think this article is way off base and totally ignorant.
The chanting of “kill him” at the McCain rally actually isn’t true, and even if it was there is so much chanting at both rallies by extreme radicals backing either candidate that quoting it as though it is the candidates belief is kind of ridiculous. Though this article states that Obama told certain members to “stop that” when speaking ill of McCain (which I hadn’t heard before), McCain actually garnered much press by strongly defending Obama at a rally in which some of his supporters made negative comments about Obama (publicized enough for it to even be highlighted in an SNL sketch).
Also, he takes a few cheap shots at McCain… targeting his divorce as though this paints McCain as some ungodly man (which he has stated publicly many times as his greatest failure, and if you took ANY mans greatest failure and scrutinized it, would be just as bad, if not much worse) and targeting him for being aligned with alcohol which, apparently, means he is the cause of all family problems.
I think your post exactly says what my thoughts are in this election… I have had a hard time because of this truth — “Republicans have become synonymous with Christianity. I don’t agree with that, in fact I feel that, with exception to abortion, republican values no longer look to God in most things.”
Other than the, unfortunately, large exception of abortion… I tend to feel that the democratic party’s ideas fall in line with christianity whereas the republican party’s ideas seem more in line with religion.
All that said, I totally hear you and agree for the most part… but this reddit article is rubbish, and is about as biased as a Michael Moore film, albeit from a christian perspective.
I actually had a lengthy conversation with an Assemblies of God missionary that couldn’t believe that, in America, the Republican party is synonomous as the “Christian” party. I’ll chide in on the side of that arguement. I’ve heard people say “vote your values,” as being thier way of endorsing the Republican side of things. It’s rediculous and true, neither party reflects a true picture of a Biblical worldview.
However, I agree with Jesse, that article is biased and rubbish. It really stinks that these things happen on both sides of the fence. We illuminate that which we want to propogate.
I pretty much agree with what’s already been said here. The “kill him” thing never happened, and there has been plenty of terrible behavior from Obama supporters which Obama has remained silent on. And taking a shot at McCain’s first marriage is just low. Did this guy support Bush in 2004 over John Kerry because Bush had been married to one woman his whole life and Kerry had been divorced, which the Bible teaches is a sin? I’m not judging John Kerry or divorced people at large, I’m just pointing out that if that’s the new standard for Christian Democrats, this won’t last long.
It’s traditionally been said that the Republican party is in support of smaller government and the Democratic party wants bigger government, but that isn’t totally true. The Republican party wants more government intervention in moral issues (abortion, gay marriage, etc.), less government intervention in economic and social issues (lower taxes, welfare), and the Democrats are the opposite. They want more government for social/economic issues, less government for moral ones. Christian Republicans are all for helping the poor and feeding the hungry, we just believe that should be handled by local community organizations like churches and other parachurch groups. In principle, we don’t believe anyone should be forced to be charitable by having their money taken by the federal government and given to the needy.
Whoever you vote for, I do believe this: Christians should pray for their leaders regardless of who they are, what party they’re from or how they got there. As much as I joke about Ecclesiastes 10:2, I don’t believe either party is “God’s party” and if Obama becomes President, I will honestly pray that he listens to God’s guidance in his life and accepts wise counsel, same as I will for McCain.
Wow, I guess I should have edited the post a bit more (rather than the copy & paste job I did). The argument I was trying to make was that I don’t think that my religion should be pandered to on either side of the ballot. I hate the idea that I can be “bought” with a “moral obligation.” And after reading your comments I really see that neither side is the right “religous” choice. However my vote has already been cast for Obama, who I feel will do a better job restrengthening our economy and our overall infrastructure at home.
Ultimately Bridget is right “I don’t believe either party is “God’s party” and if Obama becomes President, I will honestly pray that he listens to God’s guidance in his life and accepts wise counsel, same as I will for McCain.”