Now, a question for everyone (if you’re even still in this discussion): As a Christian, what part does prayer play in how you decide to cast your vote?

Let’s be specific…

I have spent a lot of time on barackobama.com and johnmccain.com reading “official” policy stance. I also try to wade through the tripe on the Democrat and Republican National Committee sites for similar information. I also take most of the survey’s I can find that will match your answers with the candidates and let you know how closely you agree.

LL, thanks for the tag, I needed a post idea for this week.

Jim, just for my information, what does that examination process look like for you? I know it’s hard to separate the substance from hype in an election year, so I’m always interested to see the tools that others bring to tease out real truth.

You had to bring it down to Kingdom Values didn’t you . Great statement! Hit me right in my gut…

Brandon, excellent point about the manipulation of your vote in 2000 and 2004. While I don’t feel quite that wrongly, I can understand why many conservatives could feel exactly as you describe. I am definitely making the effort to examine my choices this time around wihout my standard party bias getting in the way.

(Aside: I tagged you, for better or worse. : )

As for the discussion thread of abortion, let me add a thought that struck me this morning. What I’m struggling with is that if we follow our popular American “christian” logic on the value of life and justice we come to this conclusion: a woman who has an abortion has committed murder and is worthy of the death penalty (not my view but follow me). This outcome sounds absurd; however this is where our myopic American “christian” logic has led us. So instead of just 45 million abortion deaths since 1973… we can add another 45 million on top as punishment for the death of the innocent. The reason I feel we as Christians have been largely ineffective in lowering the death rate of unborn children is because we have an incoherent view of life that betrays our lack of mercy and grace. In other words, we have not earned the right to stand up for the unborn because of how we have treated our enemies. Until we start saying and showing the world that all life is precious and on the brink of redemption (no matter your age or pre-age, nationality, economic status, criminal record, etc…) we will not stand a chance of saving babies.

Idealistic Alert!
Honestly, I see this issue as being so big and impossible (forgiving enemies along with the innocent) that I seriously doubt the Supreme Court can lead us in the charge. This is a Kingdom of God issue that will operate through different methods, quietly, under the surface, grassroots, cross-border until normal people (christian and not) catch the vision of redemption and therefore choose not to harm their unborn child and born enemy. Only the Kingdom of God (reign of God) coming to earth could make this sort of thing possible. I believe it’s possible (usually) but it’s way bigger than getting a supreme court justice appointed. If I read scripture correctly, we have been appointed for this task.

No kidding, Dan. I like it when these debates are about the issues and not about personal attacks on the people making them. I’ve been trolling around various political sites lately and it breaks by heart to see that the debate in America has been reduced to name-calling and hyperbole. People don’t even discuss issues any more, when the issues are what divide us AND bring us together. You’re a conservative and I’m an independent. And yet, I consider you to be a close friend and someone whose company I enjoy. What I want is discourse about issues, because we all need help in working these things out.

As for the Supreme Court issue, I can understand that argument. It’s a view I used to share with you. Perhaps I will again one day. For now, I am starting to feel that the importance of the court is being overstated. As far as I can tell, that court is gridlocked, and will remain that way unless someone dies unexpectedly. Any conservative judge on the court will hang on for a Republican President (as was the case with Roberts and Alito), while any liberal judge will hang on for a Democrat. Bush’s appointments only kept the same split we’ve had for a decade or more. That said, if we continue to elect conservative Presidents, eventually those numbers will shift. Folks can’t hold on forever, so I see the validity of that argument.

But consider these words from Tony Campolo:

“It is not enough to advocate the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. Pro-life Republicans must join pro-life Democrats and address the economic problems that are driving hundreds of thousands of young women to think that abortion is their only option. Such Republicans should also remember that for two years their party controlled the White House, the Congress and had a conservative Supreme Court, and yet made no concerted effort during that time to address the abortion issue. That might be why many Evangelicals who had given the Republicans their votes four years ago are having second thoughts about voting Republican this time around.”

http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2008/07/prolife-democrats-call-for-an.html

I guess when it comes down to it, Dan, I feel that the Republican party manipulated me for my vote in 2000 and 2004, and then did nothing to keep its promises. I allowed my vote to be cast for me, and that’s not going to happen again.

What do you guys think? Am I being too extreme here? Again, I really appreciate the discourse because I know that working out our vote is a somber process.

Ultimately, the power to overturn what I believe to be a flawed decision lies in the supreme court. a 4 year presidency will likely get at least 1 nomination. a two term president could get 2 or 3. Ultimately, the Bush appointments were important in that long term goal.

That being said, your comments are really food for thought in terms of the interrelated issues. Good brain food for a long weekend.

Dan

That and the fact that the economic cycle being down makes an administration change almost a certainty. I will also say that it is good that more and more people are talking about the election and what they believe, which is a GREAT thing. I also appreciate living in a country where we can exchange these ideas freely!