One Issue Voters

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!