In recent months leading up to the
presidential election, great criticism has been leveled at conservative
Christians for being “one issue” or “two issue” voters…referring to the issues
of abortion and homosexuality (including same-sex marriage). The gripe is that there are numerous
other matters that carry equal weight and must be considered. While there are multitudinous concerns,
I contend that conservative Christian voters have every right to allow one or two
issues to dictate their voting decision.
My basis for this stand can best be revealed through an
illustration. Please indulge for a
moment and bear with the sensitive nature of this analogy.
Suppose that in the midst of a crime of
passion, your child or grandchild was murdered. As the perpetrator of this crime is being prepared to face
the judge, his lawyer approaches you in hopes of softening your rage. His aim is to obtain a lighter sentence
for his client by presenting you as forgiving and merciful. The plan for making this happen? Sell the good qualities of the
unfortunate criminal who made a “poor judgment.” The attorney begins his well prepared, sympathetic defense
of his litigant: “My client was not raised with the advantages of most. His parents didn’t invest in his life;
he didn’t live in a decent home, nor did he have the life most young people
enjoy.” And your response… “he
killed my child!” The counselor
continues… “my client is really not a bad person, he is well-liked in his
neighborhood and his co-workers claim he is a great employee. Everyone I interviewed agreed that my
client has a good heart.” You
reply… “he took the life of my kid!”
Regrouping himself, the lawyer wets his lips and makes another run at
his defense… “you’ve got to understand, my client made a mistake. He found himself in a bad situation and
just reacted. What he did was
wrong, but haven’t all of us reacted badly at times and done things we wish we
could undo?” More adamantly, you
proclaim… “he murdered my child!”
While the attorney has raised many issues related to his defendant, one
issue supersedes all others…he committed murder. While he might be a nice guy, a hard worker, a disadvantaged
individual and someone who made an unfortunate mistake…he is still a
murderer. Anyone who chooses
murder as an acceptable option in a time of trouble has undeniable character
flaws and cannot be easily trusted.
Many important issues exist, but one trumps all others with such
significance that they fade into the background. So it is with one issue in the political realm, such as
abortion.
No conservative Christian voter would deny
that America is in “dire straits” when it comes to our economy. Our financial stability must be
addressed aggressively by the next president. The influence of America in relation to the rest of the
world has been severely tarnished in recent years, requiring our next
“commander in chief” to lead our country back to a place of prominence and
respect. Poor decisions by those
in power and faulty intelligence have cost American diplomats and soldiers
their lives, not to mention creating an environment of controversy and
cover-ups. Our White House and
administration must regain integrity and transparency. Again, this will be the job of our next
president. While these issues are
certainly of the gravest importance and will require our next leader to be a
good businessman, skilled diplomat and trustworthy individual…one other issue
supersedes these all. An elected
leader can be good in business, skilled in diplomacy and consistently truthful,
but if his personal values allow for the murder of unborn children in the
womb…he has an undeniable character flaw and cannot be trusted in any other
decision he makes. A man can be
good in business, but if he endorses murder, he is flawed. A man can be skilled in diplomacy beyond
measure, but if he excuses murder, he is flawed. A man can come across as completely transparent, but if he
is agreeable to murder in the womb, he is flawed. And, flawed character will eventually AFFECT EVERY DECISION
HE MAKES! While our next president
will be forced to deal with many monumental issues, he must have the character
required to make moral, reliable and beneficial decisions for the good of the
American population. If he agrees
with murder of unborn children, he lacks needed character to govern well. So, I contend that conservative
Christians have the right to be “one issue” voters!
