Madeline Crabb
The Christian voting dilemma: Muslim or Mormon?
By Madeline Crabb
Christians have been wringing their hands for months, wondering whether they should or could vote for a Mormon for President of the United States. We can complain all we want about having to choose between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, but WE are responsible for these choices. If we really wanted a Christian president, there were several sound Christians running for the Republican nomination that we rejected by not voting for them. So now it really comes down to voting for a Muslim or a Mormon.
Speaking of Obama, if all eligible Christians had demonstrated their civic duty in voting for the person most representative of our Christian values, Barack Obama would NOT be our current president. In that election, 20 million Evangelicals didn't vote, and that number doesn't include all the other believers from more mainline or traditional churches. Consequently, Obama won by 10 million votes. So by default, those not voting are partially complicit in electing Obama. But really, Christians have been neglecting their obligations in the political arena for years.
Dr. Bill Bright said, "Voting for and supporting moral candidates who support moral public policies are the minimum required of Christian citizens in a system of self-government. Godly people must vote for godly rulers." But over the past 100 years or so, Christians have become lax in these minimal duties. We have voted for liars, deceivers, thieves, adulterers, socialists, communists, homosexuals, fornicators, God-mockers, God-haters, murderers, and common everyday scoundrels. (And yes, I included murderers — Think Chappaquiddick and abortion.) Sometimes, we have voted for these people over and over and over again. We have allowed evil men to remain in office, sometimes for decades, therefore putting our de facto stamp of approval on them and allowing them more time to do harm. And indeed, great harm has been done.
Speaking of Christians and their duty, in 1904 Mark Twain reportedly said, "It will be conceded that a Christian's first duty is to God. It then follows, as a matter of course, that it is his duty to carry his Christian code of morals to the polls and vote them. Whenever he shall do that, he will not find himself voting for an unclean man, a dishonest man. If Christians would vote their duty to God at the polls, they would carry every election, and do it with ease. Their prodigious power would be quickly realized and recognized, and afterward there would be no unclean candidates upon any ticket, and graft would cease. If the Christians of America could be persuaded to vote God and a clean ticket, it would bring about a moral revolution that would be incalculably beneficent. It would save the country."
In 2012, we are faced with an "unclean" presidential ticket. And yet, there are major differences in the candidate's moral character. Yes, President Obama calls himself a Christian, but his actions say something else. First of all, he supports abortion, even late-term or partial-birth abortion. In the Ten Commandments, the Bibles says; "You shall not murder." Ex. 20:13 NIV) There is blood on his hands, and the hands of every other elected official and Supreme Court Justice appointed by said elected officials who are complicit in this holocaust. Secondly, Mr. Obama has openly endorsed homosexuality and same-sex marriage. The Bible condemns homosexuality. And marriage is ordained by God as being between a man and a woman. (Gen. 2:21-25) On these two counts alone, Mr. Obama does not reflect Christian beliefs. Then thirdly, we must consider his stance on Israel which appears to be one of animosity, if not downright hatred. The Wall Street Journal has proclaimed that Obama is the greatest anti-Semite, anti-Jew president in the history of the United States. That's not good, and neither is it compatible with Bible teaching. And lastly, he and his administration have mocked God by removing Him from the official Democratic platform.
Does the President hate God, or just the God of the Holy Bible? In fact, is it possible that BO is actually a Muslim? Many people refuse to think that is a possibility. To that I say, if it walks like and talks like a duck, it is a duck. (Or maybe a duck wannabe.)
Ask yourself when Mr. Obama renounced Islam? We can only speculate about whether he was actually raised as a Muslim. But by Obama's own admission, he received substantial Islamic training as a youth. He still speaks verses from the Quran in fluent Arabic, and says the Muslim call to prayer is "the prettiest sound on earth." He says, "I have known Islam on three continents" and that this experience "guides my conviction." Nowhere can I find evidence that he has renounced the Islamic faith. Instead, he bows to Muslim leaders. He honors Islamic celebrations of Ramadan and Iftar at the White House. Liberals insist that government should not be involved with Christians in any way, and yet, Obama can throw big parties for his Muslim buddies.
Among those buddies are members of the Muslim Brotherhood, to whom he is sending financial aid so they can overthrow other governments. He invites the Muslim Brotherhood to the White House, and has them serving in his administration. In fact, the Muslim Brotherhood has representation in high levels of government, including Homeland Security. I wonder if Mr. Obama knows the official motto of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is: "The Quran is our law; Jihad is our way." These are the folks who are running things in Egypt, more thugs to whom we are sending at least another billion dollars. Oh yes, they are also among those who cry: Death to America.
But perhaps the most telling thing about Obama's true faith comes from his own mouth on Easter 2012. From prepared remarks, Obama referred to Jesus as "a" Son of God rather than as "the" Son of God: "And for me, and I'm sure for some of you, it's also a chance to remember the tremendous sacrifice that led up to that day, and all that Christ endured — not just as a Son of God, but as a human being." Jesus asks, "Who do you say I am?" Our answer to that question tells God and other believers to whom we belong. God's promise comes to us in these words: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NIV)
What does all this mean?
Article Six of the U.S. Constitution says "no religious test" should be applied to those seeking public office. But the Founding Fathers believed, and left numerous writings regarding the fact that we should choose Christian men as our leaders. John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court proclaimed, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty — as well as the privilege and interest — of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."
Again, there isn't a Christian candidate for president in the 2012 election. So then, we must use common sense to choose from those who are running. Mitt Romney is a Mormon, but he isn't applying to be Head Elder in our church. He is applying for a job — the most important government job in our nation. He has the experience needed to fix the most imminent threat to our nation's survival — the economy. Romney has actually had experience running businesses and managing people on a large scale. He is NOT a politician. That's probably why he doesn't sound like a snake oil salesman. He is actually on a job interview, and we should not treat this interview like it is a popularity contest. We need to make our decision on previous job experience and related successes.
Finally, we should ask ourselves if we would hire this person for our own home and/or businesses. My answer is that between the two candidates, Romney is the one I would hire. He has skills we need now to solve our immediate problems. He has character, and despite what the Clintons once said, character DOES matter. From all accounts, he has stellar character.
Yes, we are faced with the dilemma of choosing between a Muslim or a Mormon, but we aren't choosing between saviors, just men. We simply are picking the most qualified man for the job whose "walk and talk" compare most closely with our Christian values. God can use non-Christian people to do His will. Scripture tells us about such men and women throughout the Bible. And when Christians don't do what they are supposed to, God says He will cause the rocks to cry out. (Luke 19:40) Let's not underestimate our God. Scripture tells us that God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. (Eph. 3:20) Why don't we give Him a chance? To anyone willing to hear....
© Madeline Crabb
September 25, 2012
Christians have been wringing their hands for months, wondering whether they should or could vote for a Mormon for President of the United States. We can complain all we want about having to choose between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, but WE are responsible for these choices. If we really wanted a Christian president, there were several sound Christians running for the Republican nomination that we rejected by not voting for them. So now it really comes down to voting for a Muslim or a Mormon.
Speaking of Obama, if all eligible Christians had demonstrated their civic duty in voting for the person most representative of our Christian values, Barack Obama would NOT be our current president. In that election, 20 million Evangelicals didn't vote, and that number doesn't include all the other believers from more mainline or traditional churches. Consequently, Obama won by 10 million votes. So by default, those not voting are partially complicit in electing Obama. But really, Christians have been neglecting their obligations in the political arena for years.
Dr. Bill Bright said, "Voting for and supporting moral candidates who support moral public policies are the minimum required of Christian citizens in a system of self-government. Godly people must vote for godly rulers." But over the past 100 years or so, Christians have become lax in these minimal duties. We have voted for liars, deceivers, thieves, adulterers, socialists, communists, homosexuals, fornicators, God-mockers, God-haters, murderers, and common everyday scoundrels. (And yes, I included murderers — Think Chappaquiddick and abortion.) Sometimes, we have voted for these people over and over and over again. We have allowed evil men to remain in office, sometimes for decades, therefore putting our de facto stamp of approval on them and allowing them more time to do harm. And indeed, great harm has been done.
Speaking of Christians and their duty, in 1904 Mark Twain reportedly said, "It will be conceded that a Christian's first duty is to God. It then follows, as a matter of course, that it is his duty to carry his Christian code of morals to the polls and vote them. Whenever he shall do that, he will not find himself voting for an unclean man, a dishonest man. If Christians would vote their duty to God at the polls, they would carry every election, and do it with ease. Their prodigious power would be quickly realized and recognized, and afterward there would be no unclean candidates upon any ticket, and graft would cease. If the Christians of America could be persuaded to vote God and a clean ticket, it would bring about a moral revolution that would be incalculably beneficent. It would save the country."
In 2012, we are faced with an "unclean" presidential ticket. And yet, there are major differences in the candidate's moral character. Yes, President Obama calls himself a Christian, but his actions say something else. First of all, he supports abortion, even late-term or partial-birth abortion. In the Ten Commandments, the Bibles says; "You shall not murder." Ex. 20:13 NIV) There is blood on his hands, and the hands of every other elected official and Supreme Court Justice appointed by said elected officials who are complicit in this holocaust. Secondly, Mr. Obama has openly endorsed homosexuality and same-sex marriage. The Bible condemns homosexuality. And marriage is ordained by God as being between a man and a woman. (Gen. 2:21-25) On these two counts alone, Mr. Obama does not reflect Christian beliefs. Then thirdly, we must consider his stance on Israel which appears to be one of animosity, if not downright hatred. The Wall Street Journal has proclaimed that Obama is the greatest anti-Semite, anti-Jew president in the history of the United States. That's not good, and neither is it compatible with Bible teaching. And lastly, he and his administration have mocked God by removing Him from the official Democratic platform.
Does the President hate God, or just the God of the Holy Bible? In fact, is it possible that BO is actually a Muslim? Many people refuse to think that is a possibility. To that I say, if it walks like and talks like a duck, it is a duck. (Or maybe a duck wannabe.)
Ask yourself when Mr. Obama renounced Islam? We can only speculate about whether he was actually raised as a Muslim. But by Obama's own admission, he received substantial Islamic training as a youth. He still speaks verses from the Quran in fluent Arabic, and says the Muslim call to prayer is "the prettiest sound on earth." He says, "I have known Islam on three continents" and that this experience "guides my conviction." Nowhere can I find evidence that he has renounced the Islamic faith. Instead, he bows to Muslim leaders. He honors Islamic celebrations of Ramadan and Iftar at the White House. Liberals insist that government should not be involved with Christians in any way, and yet, Obama can throw big parties for his Muslim buddies.
Among those buddies are members of the Muslim Brotherhood, to whom he is sending financial aid so they can overthrow other governments. He invites the Muslim Brotherhood to the White House, and has them serving in his administration. In fact, the Muslim Brotherhood has representation in high levels of government, including Homeland Security. I wonder if Mr. Obama knows the official motto of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is: "The Quran is our law; Jihad is our way." These are the folks who are running things in Egypt, more thugs to whom we are sending at least another billion dollars. Oh yes, they are also among those who cry: Death to America.
But perhaps the most telling thing about Obama's true faith comes from his own mouth on Easter 2012. From prepared remarks, Obama referred to Jesus as "a" Son of God rather than as "the" Son of God: "And for me, and I'm sure for some of you, it's also a chance to remember the tremendous sacrifice that led up to that day, and all that Christ endured — not just as a Son of God, but as a human being." Jesus asks, "Who do you say I am?" Our answer to that question tells God and other believers to whom we belong. God's promise comes to us in these words: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NIV)
What does all this mean?
Article Six of the U.S. Constitution says "no religious test" should be applied to those seeking public office. But the Founding Fathers believed, and left numerous writings regarding the fact that we should choose Christian men as our leaders. John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court proclaimed, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty — as well as the privilege and interest — of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."
Again, there isn't a Christian candidate for president in the 2012 election. So then, we must use common sense to choose from those who are running. Mitt Romney is a Mormon, but he isn't applying to be Head Elder in our church. He is applying for a job — the most important government job in our nation. He has the experience needed to fix the most imminent threat to our nation's survival — the economy. Romney has actually had experience running businesses and managing people on a large scale. He is NOT a politician. That's probably why he doesn't sound like a snake oil salesman. He is actually on a job interview, and we should not treat this interview like it is a popularity contest. We need to make our decision on previous job experience and related successes.
Finally, we should ask ourselves if we would hire this person for our own home and/or businesses. My answer is that between the two candidates, Romney is the one I would hire. He has skills we need now to solve our immediate problems. He has character, and despite what the Clintons once said, character DOES matter. From all accounts, he has stellar character.
Yes, we are faced with the dilemma of choosing between a Muslim or a Mormon, but we aren't choosing between saviors, just men. We simply are picking the most qualified man for the job whose "walk and talk" compare most closely with our Christian values. God can use non-Christian people to do His will. Scripture tells us about such men and women throughout the Bible. And when Christians don't do what they are supposed to, God says He will cause the rocks to cry out. (Luke 19:40) Let's not underestimate our God. Scripture tells us that God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. (Eph. 3:20) Why don't we give Him a chance? To anyone willing to hear....
© Madeline Crabb
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
