CP 189 The devil and the deep blue sea...

CP 189 The devil and the deep blue sea…

Rosemarie and I have just returned from a family visit in the United States. Our time there coincided with the nominating conventions of both the Republicans (Mitt Romney) and the Democrats (Barack Obama). It got me thinking.

As a follower of Jesus the Christ I heard and observed the goings-on through the filter of my faith and my knowledge of the will and way of our Lord God as we know it from scripture. My understandings are certainly not infallible, and I can only express things as I saw them. I came away wondering how on earth Christians were supposed to decide for whom they could and would vote.

Consider first Mr Romney. He is a Mormon. He may use words similar to mine about God and about Jesus Christ but what he believes about God the Father and Jesus the Christ is fundamentally different from what Christians believe. Many Christians I know would find it exceedingly difficult to vote for him on that basis alone. Looking further, the Republicans appear to harbour resentment and reluctance about a social welfare safety-net. It comes across to me as a begrudgement of help to those who cannot help themselves. That grates against the notion that Christians have a particular call to look out for the ‘little people’ in our communities.

Now consider Mr Obama. He is liked by many around the world. He professes to be a Christian, and appears to be compassionate. But Mr Obama strongly supports compulsory funding by insurance companies for abortions. (I’m not 100% sure of the right wording but you get the idea.) He is also a supporter of same-sex marriage.

What does one do? Choose the lesser of two evils? Is opting out a godly response? The only thing I can come up with is to suggest that all of us pray for Americans, and especially American Christians at this time.

Some extra comments. First, we Australians are faced with similar challenges when we vote.

Secondly, it has sometimes been asserted that Mr Obama is a secret Muslim. His support for gay marriage and his pro-abortion stance would say it can’t be true.

Thirdly what to make of Luther’s remark that it would be better to be governed by a wise Turk than a Christian fool? Make that Mormon in place of Turk. Was he right? And what do you make of old Doc Hamann’s comment at Seminary that if he needed a heart operation and his choices were a Mormon surgeon or a Christian one, his choice would be determined only by whoever was the better surgeon!

I’ve rambled on a bit. Sorry if it comes across that way. Rejoice that the Father deals with us graciously through his eternal Son who is the Christ.

Fred