restoring our biblical and constitutional foundations
Voting and the Constitution
There have been some notable events, namely the Janet Jackson Super Bowl flash and movements to legitimize gay marriage in Massachusetts and San Francisco, which have stirred some Christians to feel compelled to be socially and politically assertive. Efforts to bring Christian influence on the events of the day include discussions to amend the U.S. Constitution to restrict marriage to heterosexual unions, a World Net Daily commentary by Rev. Jerry Falwell declaring God is pro-war, and proclamations by Pat Robertson that President Bush is going to win reelection in a blowout because, it doesnt make any difference what he does, good or bad. God picks him up because hes a man of prayer and Gods blessing him.
Americas cultural slide has not happened overnight nor is it going to be corrected simply because some well-meaning Christians attempt to assert their world view in public debates. Note needs to be made of the fact that the country had a pretty sizable Christian population as the culture began its decline. The problem Christian activists face is that although it is easy on a broad scale to abandon moral discipline for the sake of self indulgence, it is not so easy to restore public honor for moral restraints once they have been rejected especially when that public is unwilling or unable to recognize the consequences of its profligacy.
Many Christians consider their civic duty to be fulfilled by voting Republican as a central element to the mission of sanitizing the culture. On the surface this makes sense largely because the Democrat party embraces social causes primarily moral relativism, promiscuity, abortion, gay rights, and separation of church and state that most Christians consider to be repugnant to the principles of their faith. The GOP, on the other hand, generally defends various traditional moral standards as a logical extension of conservative principals.
Too often, though, the claims that are made during election campaigns hardly ever seem to influence public policy. This is an especially frustrating reality for Christians who hope to use their vote to elect officials that effectively address issues they consider important to the future of the country. Is it enough for Christians just to vote or should they aspire to greater action as they see their values and principles defied by powerful and influential people? More importantly, what other action is there?
Perhaps the most important step for concerned Christians to take is to learn how American government is supposed to operate and how their principles apply to it. Actually reading the U.S. Constitution is a good place to start. Doing so wont take long and what one would find is that it is not a hard document to understand.
The U.S. Constitution is a secular document, which is to say that it is not overtly religious or theological. If there is one aspect of the Constitution which is significantly impacted by Biblical thought, however, it is in the oath required by those filling constitutional offices. The presidential oath, for example, follows, I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. The phrase, So help me God, is not in the text of the Constitution, but was spoken by George Washington in his first inaugural and every other president has followed his example, which only adds to the oaths seriousness.
According to the Bible, God places great significance on those who take vows in His name and promises judgment against those who violate them. In Numbers 30:2 Moses wrote, If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or takes a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. Although this verse is from a context that addresses marriage, other passages regarding vows throughout the Bible, regardless of their focus, demands adherence to the promise by the promise maker.
The fact that all American elected officials take an oath to, … preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, gives not only Christians, but all Americans objective standards by which to judge the conduct of those who serve in government. The criticisms made of officials in the government in this column have always applied the standards of the U.S. Constitution and various state constitutions as well as the obligation to honor constitutional limits on power promised by taking the oath of office.
Consequently I see nothing particularly Christian in supporting an individual or a party that defies or ignores the official oaths for the sake of enhancing a political following from a voting block that chooses to remain ignorant of the principles of American government. The lack of discretion that many Christians have used to support just about anything that claims to be Christian is as much a cause of Americas cultural demise as any of the movements that seek to mainstream debauchery.
July 1, 2004
Since 1993 Bob Strodtbeck has been writing commentaries for The Apopka Chief, a news weekly circulated in a community ten miles north of Orlando. His analyses investigate a wide range of topics from what he calls a Christian pragmatic view that is to say, he considers that human interactions are largely driven by the human instinct toward self-service, which is traditionally known as sin. This perspective has given Bob great liberty to criticize governmental officials from both parties upon the standards of constitutional laws they swear to uphold and review cultural and economic phenomena from moral standards defined in the Bible. Bob currently lives in Orlando with his bride Pam and children Charlotte and Richard. He may be reached for comment here.