Who Would Jesus Vote For?

09Feb08

I was waiting for this announcement.

Christian Leader James Dobson Endorses Huckabee for GOP Nod

    After flirting with the Romney camp for the past few months, James Dobson, leader of the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, finally was “forced” into endorsing the only candidate left – Mike Huckabee. I say forced because of Romney’s recent “suspension” of his campaign and the fact that McCain, the only other Republican with any chance of winning the nomination, is far too liberal for the likes of conservative evangelicalism, leaving Huckabee – a good old fashioned “conservative” and, better yet, a former evangelical preacher. Who better to lead the free world than a man who was voted at one of the Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicans of 2007? (1)

And again, this demonstrates the two-issue politics that dominates the majority of the conservative evangelical vote, supposedly the group that stands for the things that Christ would stand for. As Dobson was quoted as saying in regard to his endorsement of Huckabee: “His unwavering positions on the social issues, notably the institution of marriage, the importance of faith and the sanctity of human life, resonate deeply with me and with many others” (2). The chief criticism I have of such a stand point is that it neglects so many of the other issues that were talked about by Christ during his ministry and are crucial to the state of America and the world in its present state. For example, supporting a candidate on the sole basis that they oppose Roe v. Wade (despite the fact that the President’s view on the issue of abortion has little impact upon the issue as a whole), neglects the fact that America is in a war that we cannot seem to get out of, and the fact that if something is not done, America could continue to slip into a deep recession. And what about the moral responsibility that Christians have to care for the poor and widowed? I realize that many would hold that its the individual and not the government’s role, but if that is the case, then why do evangelicals feel they need to elect someone who holds their moral values to be President? If this is the case, shouldn’t they also elect someone who is going to stand for the moral value of caring for the poor? (Luke 12:33) If we vote for an individual because they hold the same moral values as we do, and according to the teaching of Christ we should care for the poor, shouldn’t one of the key issues we look for in a candidate be a genuine concern for the poor?

Without being too critical of Dobson (althought I could be), I have issue with his use of his influential role for political means. I don’t mean to suggest that he is in some way exploiting his position for personal gain, I merely have issue with religious (specifically “Christian”) leaders taking sides in a political system that, while ultimately controlled by God, does not represent God. As Jim Wallis said, “God is not a Republican… or a Democrat.”

Early on in the campaign, before Huckabee emerged out of nowhere, Dobson and many evangelical leaders considered completely sitting out the election all together.  This, I would say, would be the worst thing that they could do. Not only would it lead to a candidate they opposed to win the White House, it would be setting a poor example for the blind masses that follow Dobson and other leaders without question. While Christ never became politically active during his ministry (ironic, that the Jews of the time were looking for a political Messiah, rather than a spiritual one… I’m glad we don’t have the same view today), he never opposed the government. He never discouraged fulfilling duties to the nation. He merely stated that personal faith comes before national creed. So while Christ never said “Thou shalt vote” he did say that we should be responsible citizens, and keep our leader in our prayers, whether they be Republican or not.

I also find it ironic that Dobson stressed that he was making his endorsement as a “private citizen,” and yet he ensures that his endorsement is on all the major news networks and even has his own Focus on the Family Action group make sure that the however many thousand supporters Focus has know that Dobson, as a “private citizen,” likes Huckabee. Now, maybe I’m the weird one here, but I consider myself to be as “private” a citizen as the next guy, but I haven’t called up FoxNews to let them know I wanna support So-and-So. And I haven’t set up a phone bank where I call all my friends on Facebook to let them know I want So-and-So to be in the White House. I will give Dobson the benefit of the doubt and say that he stresses that he is acting as a “private citizen” in that his endorsement does not represent the views of Focus on the Family as a whole. But he has to know that what he thinks will have some influence on a large audience. In all reality, Dobson’s endorsement as a “private citizen” isn’t private at all. If it was, I wouldn’t know about it and FoxNews wouldn’t have a story on it and I wouldn’t be writing this right now.

And finally, I wish to comment on a comment that some poor soul has left on the FoxNews story I linked at the beginning of this post. As user “Mintlee” wrote:

HURRAY for Huckabee with such an endorsement I believe that the Almight God is not through with this election. I truly believe Mr. Huckabee will be elected. God is God. He is the only true Conservative—yes McCain is to LIBERAL——-I am not sure about him. Something is not right about McCain in my spirit. It just does’t sit well with me for him to be President. So he believes in stem cell! I am praying that the Almighty God will help us. America needs help.

I find it sad that this person believes that God is “the only true Conservative.” Its sad because it neglects so many other issues that “conservatives” do not address. Its sad because its a poor definition of the term “conservative.” Its sad because it neglects the fluid nature of the political labels we apply to our two -party system. And mostly, its sad because it puts God into a man-made political box. That above all is what I find distressing about the growth of the religious right in the past quarter century. The fact that one side has claimed to be fighting for God against the overwhelming tide of liberalism. As if God was concerned with how many Democrats are in the Senate. Or whether the judges on the bench in the Supreme Court are conservative enough for Him to shine His blessing upon them. God is not concerned with our labels. And the only concern he has for our politics is to work out his plan. That being – redemption. Not of tax rebates, or welfare, or reversing Roe v. Wade. He’s concerned about the spiritual. Everything else is just an afterthought.

Filed under: Uncategorized   |  1 Comment
Tags: Christian culture, politics