by Scott H. Northrup
We are on the eve of a presidential election that many are saying is the most important of our lifetime, and I can well believe it. We are at a great crossroads in the struggle between the forces of light and darkness, between those who honor Judeo-Christian values and those motivated by a materialistic and secular worldview of convenience and expedience. Never have the issues been so sharply delineated. Rarely has the nation been so divided.
It is practically impossible to find a candidate who agrees with you or me on every issue. But there are some issues that are more foundational than others, and these must be our deciding factors. I see three issues that stand out as pivotal to Christians. These are ones that get down to core values.
Number One, how does the candidate stand in relationship to God? This must be evaluated beyond simply tokenism and lip service, but in daily conversation and lifestyle. I know only one presidential candidate who confesses to having had a born-again experience, praying daily, and spending time "in the Word."
Number Two, how does the candidate stand in regard to the sanctity of life? Is human life a sacred thing to that person that must not be manipulated for the sake of our convenience? I know only one presidential candidate who is pro-life, who favored the ban on partial birth abortions, a murderous and unnecessary procedure in which a baby is partly removed from the mother, and then has its brains sucked out before full delivery. In contrast, the message the other candidate sends is that you and I are not human beings deserving of rights to life until we are outside our motherŐs womb. Then where does it stop? Euthanasia of elderly people who are no longer "useful" to society? Elimination of children who donŐt have the hair color, eye color, and gender desired by the parents? It all sounded so ghastly to our parents and grandparents who discovered the eugenics programs of Hitler. Now it sounds almost acceptable.
Number Three, how does the candidate stand with regard to marriage as a sacred union between a man and a woman? I know only one presidential candidate who wants a constitutional amendment to define it once and for all as such, in order to prevent activist judges in even one state from making gay marriage the de facto law of the land. (It is a shame we have to make an amendment to ensure this.)
I urge believers in the Lord Jesus to get out and vote as your Christian and civic duty. As a wise man once said, "All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." I urge you to vote for the candidates who best represent the interests of Jesus Christ, for persons of integrity, honor and courage. Furthermore I exhort you to pray like you have never prayed before for this nation. And whoever becomes our next president, pray for that man.
@ copyright 2004 by Scott H. Northrup. All rights reserved.