On January 18, 1961, in Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania), the Afro-Shirazi Party won the general elections by a single vote/seat. The seat of Chake-Chake on Pemba Island had been gained by a single vote. According to the Guinness World Book of Records, this is the closest general elections ever occurred in the world.
Here in the United States, on August 7, 1979 in Mississippi, Robert E. Joiner was declared the winner over W.H. Pyron with 133,587 votes to 133,582. That's the narrowest recorded percentage win in an election. The loser got more than 49.999% of the votes for the office of Southern District Highway Commissioner.
The above are mere samples of the value of every single vote. The 2000 Presidential elections is another example of the value of every vote. Then, President George W. Bush won the election by a margin of just half of a percentage point of the 110 million votes cast.
With this kind of information, one can understand why I was outraged when I heard the report of a group of black pastors who were encouraging their congregations not to vote. Thankfully, the report from the New York Times was proven to be inaccurate. The truth is that some pastors will be voting on the other matters on their respective ballots. However, they will not be voting for the Office of President.
Some pastors believe to vote for President Obama in the upcoming elections will advance the same-sex marriage agenda and also affirm the Democratic Party Platform which endorses that lifestyle. To vote for Governor Mitt Romney would be to release him from the racist teachings in the Mormon Bible that “black-skinned” people are “cursed…loathsome..unattractive...despised and filthy.”
It is in light of the above positions; some pastors believe that any vote would be to endorse an evil. In other words, our only choice would be to choose the lesser of the evils. And, to endorse any form of evil would be to undermine the cause of righteousness, to which we are first committed.
If we were to apply this line of reasoning to all the decisions we make in life, we would be suggesting that every decision we make promotes the cause of righteousness. However, because there is no clear biblical prescription on how to vote, issues of this nature are treated as issues of ethical thought.
Ethical views are usually divided into two broad types – ethics of ought (deontological) and ethics of consequence (teleological). Deontological ethics are derived from a previously-determined view of reality or of the nature of God – sometimes referred to as natural law.
The crucial thing with teleological ethics is not whether the act comes out of divine command or natural law, but whether it produces good results. There are times when Christians are confronted with issues for which there is not biblical clarity. At such times, as guided by the Holy Spirit and by consensus within the wider Christian community, it becomes necessary to apply teleological ethics.
Some argue that because God is sovereign, He already knows the outcome of the elections and therefore a single vote would not make a difference. Agreed, God is sovereign, but throughout the Scriptures He is seen inviting people to be in partnership with Him to accomplish His purposes. In other words, God’s sovereignty does not absolve me of my responsibility.
Many traditionalists contend that because we are pilgrims in this world, we must not become engrossed in “the things of this world”. Jeremiah the prophet responds to this attitude of non-involvement.
Jeremiah was fully aware that the Jews were going to be in exile in Babylon for a specified period of time. However, rather than suggest a program of non-involvement in a foreign land, among hostile captors, he encouraged full participation and involvement. Here is an excerpt of his letter to those who were already in Babylon:
“…seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:7).
In a democracy, voting is one of the most cherished rights of citizens. That right enables citizens to elect representatives who are obligated to comply with laws and the wishes of their constituents. Opportunities to vote provide opportunities for constituents to contribute to the welfare of their country. In addition, voting opportunities enable constituents to appraise the work of their representatives.
This system has contributed significantly to America’s position of greatness in the world. Isn't it interesting, while many are anxious to migrate to America, others in America are not as anxious to migrate to other countries?
Monday, October 29, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Dr. Billy Graham WAS WRONG
Following a private 30-minute meeting with the Republican presidential candidate Mr. Mitt Romney, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association removed from its website the reference to Mormonism as a cult. I disagree with the timing of this decision by the Association.
According to CNN News, in the section of the website, My Answer by Billy Graham, there was the question, What is a cult? The answer was clear – “a cult is any group which teaches doctrines or beliefs that deviate from the biblical message of the Christian faith.” Some of the groups listed as examples were Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, the Unification Church, Unitarians, Scientologists and others. Since Romney’s visit with Dr. Billy Graham, those examples have been removed from the site.
When asked about the change, Ken Barun, Chief of Staff for the Association, stated, “We removed the information from the website because we do not wish to participate in a theological debate about something that has become politicized during the campaign.” Interestingly, a search of the word MORMONS on the website provides six results related to cults, including a discussion about how to recognize a religious cult. However, specific examples of cultic groups have been removed.
The present wording on the website is much more palatable in a culture of tolerance. However, the BGEA does not in any way compromise its understanding of what is a religious cult. My problem is the timing of its decision to remove the examples, including Mormonism.
Was the removal intended to create a more cordial relationship with Mitt Romney, a lifelong member of the Mormon Church? Or, could the removal be considered an attempt to have evangelicals respond more favorably to Mr. Romney’s candidacy? As mentioned earlier, the timing of the decision creates much discomfort.
The decision is symptomatic of a bigger problem among evangelicals. Many want to endorse Mr. Romney as president, but fear that doing so might tacitly endorse Mormonism. Something is wrong with this line of reasoning. For instance, when evangelicals voted for John F. Kennedy in 1960, were they tacitly endorsing the Roman Catholic Church of which Kennedy was a member? Similarly, was a vote for Jimmy Carter in 1976, an endorsement of the Southern Baptists? Then, how could a vote for Mitt Romney be an endorsement of Mormonism?
In an earlier commentary, I shared the view that if elected, I believe Romney’s faith will inform his decisions. However, that is not the same as saying that his religious views as a Mormon will be imposed on the nation. What I would expect is a commitment to high ethical standards, an awareness of having to give account to an authority higher than that of the office of president, a regard for the sacredness of life and a commitment to traditional marriage. I would also expect him to treat people of faith with respect and to reflect much compassion in his leadership. I would expect nothing less if President Obama were to be returned to office.
At the same time, I hasten to add that a vote for President Obama would in no way be an endorsement of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, where the President was last registered as a member of a Christian church.
On November 06, 2012, Americans will not be electing a Pastor-in-Chief. Political leaders will not give account to God as pastors, but as servants who were entrusted with power and responsibility to govern, ensuring justice for all. Like the Minor Prophets, Christian leaders must continue to demand righteousness in public administration. The Book of Proverbs was correct when it said, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:23).
In this context I applaud Dr. Billy Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. They just published a series of full-page newspaper advertisements calling on voters to cast a ballot for their faith. Dr. Graham, who is approaching his 94th birthday, urged readers “to cast their ballots for candidates who base their decisions on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel.”
Such prophetic positions are good for a nation that has had a rich Judeo-Christian history. The church does not need to demand a theocratic government. However, the church needs to speak prophetically, condemning sin and promoting righteousness.
In order to obey the injunction to pray for those in authority, Christians need to use every legitimate opportunity to influence the systems of this world. Voting provides one such opportunity – to abrogate that opportunity would be irresponsible and would delegitimize one’s right to speak with integrity.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Marriage & Politics
Both the Bible and science confirm that traditional marriage is good for society. Overall, men and women who are married live longer. Science finds that being married tends to motivate people to increase healthy behaviors, habits and attitudes.
In her book, The Case for Marriage, Professor Linda Waite states, “The evidence from four decades of research is surprisingly clear – a good marriage is both men’s and women’s best bet for living a long and healthy life.”
Dr. Robert Coombs of the University of California reviewed more than 130 studies published over the past 100 years on how marriage affects well-being. He found “an intimate link between marital status and personal well-being.” His findings which were disclosed in the journal, Family Relations (40 [1991]: 97-102), went on to say: “Virtually every study of mortality and marital status shows the unmarried of both sexes have higher death rates, whether by accident, disease, or self-inflicted wounds, and this is found in every country that maintains accurate health statistics.”
In essence, science has come around to confirm what the Bible has always contended, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). For Christians therefore, traditional marriage matters because it is biblically and scientifically valid. It is for this reason Christians seek to advance this view within society – traditional marriage is different from other relationships and is beneficial to families and the society at large.
Because politics is interested in the management of social structures, it would seem reasonable to ask where our politicians stand on this vital subject of marriage and family. In an attempt to obtain credible responses, I resorted to the platforms/manifestos of both major political parties – a party platform is a list of the actions which a political party supports with the view of making policies.
For instance, on the subject of same-sex marriage, The Republican Platform states: “The institution of marriage is the foundation of civil society. Its success as an institution will determine our success as a nation. It has been proven by both experience and endless social science studies that traditional marriage is best for children. Children raised in intact married families are more likely to attend college, are physically and emotionally healthier, are less likely to use drugs or alcohol, engage in crime, or get pregnant outside of marriage.
The success of marriage directly impacts the economic well-being of individuals. Furthermore, the future of marriage affects freedom. The lack of family formation not only leads to more government costs, but also to more government control over the lives of its citizens in all aspects. We recognize and honor the courageous efforts of those who bear the many burdens of parenting alone, even as we believe that marriage, the union of one man and one woman must be upheld as the national standard, a goal to stand for, encourage, and promote through laws governing marriage. We embrace the principle that all Americans should be treated with respect and dignity.”
On the same subject, the Democratic Platform states: “We support the right of all families to have equal respect, responsibilities, and protections under the law. We support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples. We also support the freedom of churches and religious entities to decide how to administer marriage as a religious sacrament without government interference…We support the full repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.
It's time we stop just talking about family values and start pursuing policies that truly value families. The President and Democrats have cut taxes for every working American family, and expanded the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit… We support passing the Healthy Families Act, broadening the Family and Medical Leave Act, and partnering with states to move toward paid leave.
We have invested in expanding and reforming Head Start and grants to states to raise standards and improve instruction in their early learning programs, and we support expanding the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. We must protect our most vulnerable children by supporting our foster care system, adoption programs for all caring parents, grandparents, and caregivers, and protecting children from violence and neglect. We recognize that caring for family members and managing a household is real and valuable work.”
Both political parties recognize the value of the traditional family. However, one party believes other forms of the family should be afforded the same respect and legal privileges extended to the traditional family. Christians need to recognize the differences and support the party that best represents your worldview.
In her book, The Case for Marriage, Professor Linda Waite states, “The evidence from four decades of research is surprisingly clear – a good marriage is both men’s and women’s best bet for living a long and healthy life.”
Dr. Robert Coombs of the University of California reviewed more than 130 studies published over the past 100 years on how marriage affects well-being. He found “an intimate link between marital status and personal well-being.” His findings which were disclosed in the journal, Family Relations (40 [1991]: 97-102), went on to say: “Virtually every study of mortality and marital status shows the unmarried of both sexes have higher death rates, whether by accident, disease, or self-inflicted wounds, and this is found in every country that maintains accurate health statistics.”
In essence, science has come around to confirm what the Bible has always contended, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). For Christians therefore, traditional marriage matters because it is biblically and scientifically valid. It is for this reason Christians seek to advance this view within society – traditional marriage is different from other relationships and is beneficial to families and the society at large.
Because politics is interested in the management of social structures, it would seem reasonable to ask where our politicians stand on this vital subject of marriage and family. In an attempt to obtain credible responses, I resorted to the platforms/manifestos of both major political parties – a party platform is a list of the actions which a political party supports with the view of making policies.
For instance, on the subject of same-sex marriage, The Republican Platform states: “The institution of marriage is the foundation of civil society. Its success as an institution will determine our success as a nation. It has been proven by both experience and endless social science studies that traditional marriage is best for children. Children raised in intact married families are more likely to attend college, are physically and emotionally healthier, are less likely to use drugs or alcohol, engage in crime, or get pregnant outside of marriage.
The success of marriage directly impacts the economic well-being of individuals. Furthermore, the future of marriage affects freedom. The lack of family formation not only leads to more government costs, but also to more government control over the lives of its citizens in all aspects. We recognize and honor the courageous efforts of those who bear the many burdens of parenting alone, even as we believe that marriage, the union of one man and one woman must be upheld as the national standard, a goal to stand for, encourage, and promote through laws governing marriage. We embrace the principle that all Americans should be treated with respect and dignity.”
On the same subject, the Democratic Platform states: “We support the right of all families to have equal respect, responsibilities, and protections under the law. We support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples. We also support the freedom of churches and religious entities to decide how to administer marriage as a religious sacrament without government interference…We support the full repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.
It's time we stop just talking about family values and start pursuing policies that truly value families. The President and Democrats have cut taxes for every working American family, and expanded the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit… We support passing the Healthy Families Act, broadening the Family and Medical Leave Act, and partnering with states to move toward paid leave.
We have invested in expanding and reforming Head Start and grants to states to raise standards and improve instruction in their early learning programs, and we support expanding the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. We must protect our most vulnerable children by supporting our foster care system, adoption programs for all caring parents, grandparents, and caregivers, and protecting children from violence and neglect. We recognize that caring for family members and managing a household is real and valuable work.”
Both political parties recognize the value of the traditional family. However, one party believes other forms of the family should be afforded the same respect and legal privileges extended to the traditional family. Christians need to recognize the differences and support the party that best represents your worldview.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Atheism & Politics
One in five Americans is not affiliated with any religion. The number of these Americans has grown by 25% just in the past five years, according to a survey released last Thursday by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
When said differently, 33 million Americans now have no religious affiliation, with 13 million in that group identifying as either atheist or agnostic, according to the Pew survey.
The religious divide is clearly seen between political party lines. Of the 13 million people who call themselves atheist or agnostic, 73 % are Democrats or lean toward Democratic policies, compared to only 16 % who favor Republicans and conservative ideology. For those who are considered "unaffiliated," 63 % side with Democrats and only 26 % lean toward Republicans.
Greg Smith, a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life and a co-author of the study, points out that in each of the past three presidential elections, big majorities of the religiously unaffiliated voted for the Democratic candidate. In 2008, as many of the unaffiliated went for Obama as evangelical Christians went for John McCain.
"The 'nones' (the 63% that lean toward the Democratic Party) seldom or never attend worship services or pray, are more likely to have at least some college, and are roughly split between those who call themselves "spiritual but not religious" (37 %) and those who say they are "neither spiritual nor religious" (42 %).
Smith says, "One of the ways that the religiously unaffiliated are most distinctive is with their views on things such as same-sex marriage and abortion - the religiously unaffiliated tend to be quite liberal in their views on those kinds of issues." According to Smith, "about 75% of them say that abortion should be legal in all cases. A similar number favor same-sex couples to marry."
The Pew survey suggested that the Democratic Party would do well to recognize the growth of the unaffiliated, since 63% of them identify with or lean toward that political group. John Green, a senior research adviser at Pew, predicted that "in the near future, if not this year, the unaffiliated voters will be as important as the traditionally religious are to the Republican Party collation.”
Green points to the 2008 exit polls as evidence for that prediction. That year, Republican presidential nominee John McCain beat President Barack Obama by 47 points among white evangelical voters, while Obama had a 52-point margin of victory over McCain among the religiously unaffiliated. According to exit polls, the proportion of religiously unaffiliated Americans who supported the Democratic presidential candidate grew 14 points from 2000 to 2008.
In announcing the survey’s findings at the Religion Newswriters Association conference in Bethesda, Maryland, Green said the growing political power of the unaffiliated within the Democratic Party could become similar to the power the Religious Right acquired in the GOP in the 1980s.
The Pew study doesn't say what were the causes of atheism in politics, however, David Campbell, a political science professor at the University of Notre Dame, thinks he knows. "There is considerable evidence suggesting that the 'nones' have actually been caused by politics," says Campbell, co-author of American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us. "Many people have pulled away from the religious label due to the mingling of religion and conservative politics."
Others believe that younger voters in particular are frustrated with the failure or refusal of traditional denominations to change with the times and embrace broader ideas on marriage and the environment. For instance, some Democrats are more amenable to social and environmental issues that do not appear to require religious endorsement.
However, because of the tacit relationship between Christians and the Republican Party, it is more difficult to align the party with issues that are inimical to the Christian worldview.
In light of the current voting trends, it would seem easy to conclude that one political party is more religious than the other. One has to be careful in coming to such conclusions. In November, America will not be electing a Pastor-in-Chief. Neither will America be deciding on a theocratic form of government.
However, we must still ask the question – should Christians participate in non-religious or even antagonistic political systems? Certainly!
- we must maintain righteousness within the system
- we must not be defiled by the system
- we must seek to improve the system
- we must pray for others who lead the system
- we must ensure that the system reflects balance in the issues covered.
When said differently, 33 million Americans now have no religious affiliation, with 13 million in that group identifying as either atheist or agnostic, according to the Pew survey.
The religious divide is clearly seen between political party lines. Of the 13 million people who call themselves atheist or agnostic, 73 % are Democrats or lean toward Democratic policies, compared to only 16 % who favor Republicans and conservative ideology. For those who are considered "unaffiliated," 63 % side with Democrats and only 26 % lean toward Republicans.
Greg Smith, a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life and a co-author of the study, points out that in each of the past three presidential elections, big majorities of the religiously unaffiliated voted for the Democratic candidate. In 2008, as many of the unaffiliated went for Obama as evangelical Christians went for John McCain.
"The 'nones' (the 63% that lean toward the Democratic Party) seldom or never attend worship services or pray, are more likely to have at least some college, and are roughly split between those who call themselves "spiritual but not religious" (37 %) and those who say they are "neither spiritual nor religious" (42 %).
Smith says, "One of the ways that the religiously unaffiliated are most distinctive is with their views on things such as same-sex marriage and abortion - the religiously unaffiliated tend to be quite liberal in their views on those kinds of issues." According to Smith, "about 75% of them say that abortion should be legal in all cases. A similar number favor same-sex couples to marry."
The Pew survey suggested that the Democratic Party would do well to recognize the growth of the unaffiliated, since 63% of them identify with or lean toward that political group. John Green, a senior research adviser at Pew, predicted that "in the near future, if not this year, the unaffiliated voters will be as important as the traditionally religious are to the Republican Party collation.”
Green points to the 2008 exit polls as evidence for that prediction. That year, Republican presidential nominee John McCain beat President Barack Obama by 47 points among white evangelical voters, while Obama had a 52-point margin of victory over McCain among the religiously unaffiliated. According to exit polls, the proportion of religiously unaffiliated Americans who supported the Democratic presidential candidate grew 14 points from 2000 to 2008.
In announcing the survey’s findings at the Religion Newswriters Association conference in Bethesda, Maryland, Green said the growing political power of the unaffiliated within the Democratic Party could become similar to the power the Religious Right acquired in the GOP in the 1980s.
The Pew study doesn't say what were the causes of atheism in politics, however, David Campbell, a political science professor at the University of Notre Dame, thinks he knows. "There is considerable evidence suggesting that the 'nones' have actually been caused by politics," says Campbell, co-author of American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us. "Many people have pulled away from the religious label due to the mingling of religion and conservative politics."
Others believe that younger voters in particular are frustrated with the failure or refusal of traditional denominations to change with the times and embrace broader ideas on marriage and the environment. For instance, some Democrats are more amenable to social and environmental issues that do not appear to require religious endorsement.
However, because of the tacit relationship between Christians and the Republican Party, it is more difficult to align the party with issues that are inimical to the Christian worldview.
In light of the current voting trends, it would seem easy to conclude that one political party is more religious than the other. One has to be careful in coming to such conclusions. In November, America will not be electing a Pastor-in-Chief. Neither will America be deciding on a theocratic form of government.
However, we must still ask the question – should Christians participate in non-religious or even antagonistic political systems? Certainly!
- we must maintain righteousness within the system
- we must not be defiled by the system
- we must seek to improve the system
- we must pray for others who lead the system
- we must ensure that the system reflects balance in the issues covered.
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