Note: It is my sincere desire not to offend any group of conservatives with the following editorial. It is, nonetheless, my hope to say something edifying to our current situation.
It appears Arizona Senator John McCain is most likely to capture the Republican Party’s nomination for president. Many conservatives, however, find this prospect exceedingly difficult to stomach.
Political pundit Rush Limbaugh is relentlessly pounding McCain on his radio broadcast. Limbaugh, like many other conservatives, believes McCain would give the store away to the Democrats. According to Newsmax, Limbaugh says: "We are sick and tired of how the people who seem to be triumphing in our party are precisely the people who seem to be selling this party out in terms of its ideology."
Certainly, the most disconcerting remarks were made by Focus on the Family’s, Dr. James Dobson. In a statement released on Wednesday, Dobson says: "I am deeply disappointed the Republican Party seems poised to select a nominee who did not support a Constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage, voted for embryonic stem-cell research to kill nascent human beings, opposed tax cuts that ended the marriage penalty, has little regard for freedom of speech, organized the Gang of 14 to preserve filibusters in judicial hearings, and has a legendary temper, and often uses foul and obscene language." [Dobson has since endorsed former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee for the GOP nomination.]
To say the least, there is a lot of frustration in the air on the part of conservatives -- especially conservative evangelicals. Brannon Howse of Worldview Network recently stated in an op-ed piece his frustration with certain evangelical leaders:
"The bottom line is, Dr. Dobson, Sekalow, Perkins, Bauer and Robertson should have come out early on and supported the pro-life, pro-family candidacy of Governor Huckabee. After Fred Thompson dropped out, Huckabee was the only 100% pro-life, pro-family candidate. Thanks to a lack of leadership, we now have John McCain picking up speed to the nomination. If McCain is the nominee, true conservatives may vote, but I believe hundreds of thousands will not. In a race of McCain against Hillary/Obama, I think the latter wins. And who can you thank? In my humble opinion, the pro-family, pro-life leaders that were neither leading nor thinking about the main thing being the main thing: A candidate with a 100% pro-life, pro-family record." [Gary Bauer endorsed John McCain on Monday.]
Quite frankly, I too believe evangelicals have had a great opportunity in Mike Huckabee. Social conservatives have largely held issues of morality are the nation’s Achilles heel - even trumping issues like the economy and defense. The nation is only as strong as the content of its character. America needs a leader who has it right on the social issues, even when that leader may not be as strong in other areas.
Most troubling, however, is that many conservative evangelicals are now acting as though God were not sovereign in the political process. Have we become more focused on the process than on the God who controls it? Granted, we must diligently seek to influence the culture for righteousness sake. Nevertheless, evangelicals are not sailing the ship politic and never were. There is but one Captain - the Lord - and He raises to power whomever He wills. Infighting and laying blame is counterproductive to advancing the kingdom.
These experiences test our faith in God’s mysterious ways. And they strain our commitment to Christian liberty - the very foundation of our belief in political freedom. Let us lay aside the attacks on our brethren.
Neither is this a time to withdraw. Only a straining of the facts makes John McCain equal to or worse than the godless direction a Clinton or Obama ticket would take the nation. Such would not only imperil the social agenda of conservative evangelicals, but jeopardize one of the greatest of family values - protection of the American people from the violence of its enemies. If America bails out on the war effort before the job is finished, the United States will not only be dishonored, but the terrorists will follow our troops home.
Moreover, to disengage - worse still, not to vote - I believe is a grievous mistake. Though a person certainly has the right to adhere to his/her conscience in such action, it should be noted that to do so is to walk away from one's place at the table. With what credibility can one possibly speak to those serving in office when one was previously unwilling to even vote? At that point, one's credibility as a part of the discussion - now or later - becomes significantly compromised.
For whatever it's worth, having served as a lobbyist in the North Carolina General Assembly since 1999, there are two great truths constantly before me when seeking to influence the politics of those sacred halls: (1) God is sovereign over everything and ultimately His will cannot be defeated; and (2) no person or group involved in politics ever gets all they want all of the time. But for Christ's sake, one must ever be vigilant in victory and defeat. And one must always find positive ways to stay engaged in the process.
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Rev. Mark H. Creech is the executive director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.
Comments
What a load of Calvinistic tripe! On one hand Mr. Creech is telling us all that it is God's predetermined will for all leaders and that the current political environment is of God's doing and will. Then he turns right around and implores us to vote so to make certain our party is victorious! WHAT!? This is whole article is a walking contradiction. God has empowered man with the moral agency and freewill. As for those scriptures that speak of God's hand in selecting leaders and rulers I would suggest we read those in their proper context. Think of it this way.....is Hitler part of God's sovereign plan? Was Pol-pot part of God's sovereign plan? Was Mao or Lenin or Stalin part of God's sovereign plan? If you say yes, then you do not know the Savior or his character or nature. Jesus is the God in bodily form....when we see Jesus then we see the father.
God rules in the affairs of man. He puts people in power and removes them from power according to His will. (Daniel 4:32)
King Nebuchadnezzar got a big head one day about how great his kingdom became by the might of his power and the honor of his majesty. God removed him from power, drove him into the fields to live like an animal for 7 years until he repented and gave praise and honor to the King of Heaven. (Daniel 4:30-37)
Don't think that God doesn't reign in the affairs of man because He does. Our next President will be the person whom God wants to take that office. That person that God selects for this country will be the person God wants to use to achieve His will for us, whether it be for our chastisment or our blessing.
mr. creech - the UNION OF CHURCH & STATE is a terrifying situation to happen. you people are worried about family values but what about the spanish inquisition where union of church & state killed thousands. these pastors / tele evangelist are looking for the right GOP candidate to protect the american people from the decadent liberals, but they have CLOSED THEIR EYES on the SINS of this president. Bec these pastors / tele evangelist who told their congregation to 'vote for their conscience', they have SIN OF COMMISSIONS with this president who trashed the constitution & destroyed this country. GET A JOB YOU LAZY PASTORS!
Yes but Israel was a theocracy then, America is not, the circle cannot be squared, judges where appointed not elected.
You need to reread old testament history. God did appoint leaders but according to qualities they possessed. You should also check the prophets. David was appointed due to his qualities. God told us why. Steve, God has not released the reigns. We are still under a theocracy. You should not be ignorant of Old Testament history. Check the blessings and curses in Lev or Det.
Jesus is sovereign, but I believe He is allowing us to wallow in our own mess. Once we nearly destroy ourselves, then He will come on the scene to take over His kingdom on earth. He will have with His people what He has wanted from us all along.
It is not too late. But we all must find a sense of urgency to get out and vote for Governor Huckabee!!!!
Well ,thats what happens when you vote Republicans in.....................
Oh and I cant spare 500 pounds now, that is a little over my head, what with the dollar dying =O)
No Steve, I really do like Obama, even when I am awake. He is a very amiable guy and he has a nice message. I actually saw him speak once, which I enjoyed. It is not this though, but his policies that prevent me from accepting him. I am a Christian, and I know where my heart lies and the Truth that I believe in. I have very little against liberal economic policies, I do have something against giving lazy people handouts, but I have nothing against helping the poor, I also am not all that against liberal foreign policy. I do believe the war should be finished and the people in the Middle East given hope and a chance to govern themselves, instead of having these nutjob extremists pushing them around and killing so many of my brothers and sisters.
Shequon,
Firstly I suppose you are basing your idea that this country could not be more godless by the war in Iraq? While I am against all wars, as a Christian, it certainly is not the most godless thing. I mean no one is forcing Iraqis to become Christians or torturing them in death camps, except maybe other terrorists are torturing their own people and forcing them to adopt Islam. In any case the Middle East is a sick place, and the people in charge of many Middle Eastern and North African Countries are doing terrible things to their people.
Internally, this country is becoming more and more godless, but it is not thanks to Bush, rather it is thanks to the media, universities, and weak Christians who will not stand up for what they believe and guard themselves from immorality (myself included).
Chris333, I suspect that your dream about OB means that deep down inside you really like him but when awake can't bring yourself to admit just how much. That will be £500, thank you :-)))
Steve
Oh, Rev. Creech! I don't think that Obama or Clinton could take the country in a more "godless" direction than it has been in for the past seven years!! And no matter how much campaign support and endorsement from Christian churches O & C get, you still want to demonize them? For shame! For Total Shame!
Yes but Israel was a theocracy then, America is not, the circle cannot be squared, judges where appointed not elected. Steve
P.s For those with a life outside this site, Manchester United lead Arsenal 3-0 at half time in the FA cup ,how I love the beautiful game, English football l!!!!!
God's people perish for a lack of understanding. We cannot decide who to cast our votes. It is not as though God left us with out a blue print of the canidate. Its just we don't study to show ourselve approve rightly dividing the Word of truth, instead we like to roll dice. The Bible tells us we are in the troubles that we are in because of ourselves. Let's look to old testament and seek the leaders God placed over Israel.
Steve,
The rationality of your words are a breath of fresh air, I seem to be getting a lot of the irrational crowd lately on this site and it is nice to actually here someone thinking. I think that the main gripe most "serious" Christians have with the democrats is their stances on all sorts of issues which do indeed compromise our values. It is not so much the broader points such as the economy or how we should deal with the war in Iraq, but issues like abortion and same sex marriage, and the place of religion in society that alienates the Christians from the democratic party. It comes as little surprise that atheists, Muslims, and secularists greatly prefer the Democratic party, we do not therefore impute that the Democratic party represents Allah, Satan, or atheism. It just shows where people are lining up their values.
I actually had a dream some nights ago that I met Barack Obama. I told him that I really liked him and thought he was a great guy, I just wished that he could change his position on some "moral" values, and then I would be all for him. I also had a dream that Huckabee came to visit my church and he fell asleep while the pastor was preaching, but that is a different story. (I probably need to get out more and stop paying so much attention to politics also).