Political
Activism
and
the
The
Lesser of Two Evils Choice
People have often justified their choices and actions by
saying that they decided to do “the lesser of two evils.” This
has often been the passing comment of those who face an election and don’t
like any of the choices offered. Particularly
in this time of decision, professing Christians are in a quandary and don’t
like the available options in either the Republican or the Democratic parties.
The
professing Christian “evangelicals,” as
they are often called by the media, are convinced that they
don’t want to see Barack Obama elected president. Whether
there is any substance to the allegation or not, they are
apprehensive about this Democratic contender and wonder if
he is a closet Muslim, one whose commitment to Christianity
is not real. Even
if he is not really Islamic oriented, we know that he has
been part of the United Church of Christ, an extremely liberal
Protestant denomination, one that is far from evangelical
theology. In
addition, this man is extremely liberal on many political
and moral issues. He
is in favor of killing babies (nearly unrestricted abortion),
of sodomite (homosexual) unions, and other elements of the
liberal agenda. His
voting record reveals his extremely liberal agenda, one that
conservative professing Christians view with alarm. They
conclude that it would be disastrous for such a man to lead
the nation. 
We assume that Joe Biden, his running
mate, is likewise liberal in his perspective. Although
he is a Roman Catholic, a religion that officially condemns
homosexuality and the killing of unborn infants, apparently
Biden is willing to violate the doctrines of his own church. His
liberal stance is clear from his congressional record. If
Obama should die in office, perhaps through assassination,
this man would be the next president of the United States.
As the Evangelicals look to the Republican
Party, they are not very happy with the presidential picks. The
presidential contender, John McCain, is not an Evangelical
favorite. Raised
as an Episcopalian (one of the most liberal mainline denominations
of America), McCain presently is a member of a Southern Baptist
church in Phoenix. He
is not as liberal in his moral stance as Obama, but he still
leaves much to be desired according to Evangelical thinking.
Sarah Palin, however, seems to be a favorite
of the Evangelicals, for she seems to be one of their own
fold. Raised
as a member of the Assembly of God, she is a member of the
Church on the Rock in Wasilla, Alaska. This
is a church that promotes the false teacher, Joyce Meyer,
and dominionists, YWAM. It
has had Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life programs in the
past. When she
is in Juneau, Palin goes to Juneau Christian Center, an Assemblies
of God Church. Its
pastor, Mike Rose, has ties with Rodney Howard Browne,
who promotes dominionism through Toronto, Brownsville and Lakeland
(endtimesprophetic
words.wordpress.com).
Probably many Evangelicals were stunned
by the announcement that her daughter is pregnant out of
wedlock, but it seems that most Evangelicals are prepared
to accept this and cite this as an example of human weakness
and Christian forgiveness. Professing “pro-life” Christians
were also impressed with the fact that Palin chose to accept
her retarded newborn rather than kill him before birth, as
many Americans would have done.
We found it interesting that Palin did
receive widespread recommendation by some of the leaders
in the Evangelical movement. Notice
a few quotations from the PCRA Weblog (blog.placer-cra.org/past/tags/CRA):
· Dr.
James Dobson: “McCain’s Choice of Palin ‘Outstanding.’”
· Gary
Bauer: The choice of Palin is “Historic and Energizing.” “I
believe we now have the most pro-life ticket in history running
on the most pro-life platform in history.”
· Richard
Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention: “Governor
Palin is a vice-presidential selection which shows that John
McCain at the age of 72 today is still able to think outside
the box. Governor Palin will delight the Republican base.”
· Americans
United for Life president Charmaine Yoest: “With this bold
and inspired selection, Sen. McCain has verified his stated
commitment to assembling a truly pro-life administration.
The Republican ticket stands in stark contrast to the stridently
pro-abortion ticket put forth by the Democratic Party. You
can be sure the vice presidential selections will have far-reaching
ramifications in this race.”
· Wendy
Wright, president of Concerned Women for America: “Governor
Palin will change the dynamics of the entire presidential
race. Her admirable record of confronting corruption and
living her pro-life convictions shows she is a doer, not
just a talker. Sarah Palin will make history as a vice presidential
candidate – and not simply because she’s a woman, but because
she’s a woman of substance and character.”
· Mat
Staver, pro-life attorney and founder of Liberty Council – “Absolutely
brilliant choice. John McCain could not have chosen a better
vice-presidential nominee that Gov. Palin. She is attractive,
articulate, conservative, pro-family, pro-life, and pro-marriage.
John McCain hit this one out of the ballpark. She is very
pro-life. She has a Down Syndrome child. She’s committed
to pro-life. She understands the commitment to the sanctity
of human life.”
· Jill
Stanek, the nurse who exposed live birth abortions: “Governor
Sarah Palin is a welcome addition to the McCain Republican
ticket. I could not be more pleased that he has chosen a
pro-life woman as his running mate. McCain/Palin offers a
complete contrast to the Obama/Biden ticket and provides
a solid background on all family issues. With Governor Sarah
Palin on the Republican ticket, it looks like Obama’s abortion
problem just got a whole lot bigger.”
· U.S.
Senator Jim DeMint, a pro-lifer from South Carolina: “Sarah
Palin is an exciting choice by Senator McCain. She completes
a strong ticket that will bring a real record of change and
reform to Washington. She is a strong defender of traditional
family values, with an unquestioned commitment to protect
life.”
· Christian
Coalition of America president Roberta Combs: “Governor Sarah
Palin is a bold choice for Vice President who is a courageous
advocate for unborn children. I congratulate Senator McCain
for his outstanding selection for his vice presidential running
mate.”
· Tony
Perkins, President of the Family Research Council: “Senator
McCain made an outstanding pick from the choices that were
on the table. Sarah Palin clearly addresses the issues so
many conservatives are concerned about. It balances out the
ticket. She’s also really a checkmate for the Democratic
Party because folks who were looking to make history for
Barack Obama can make history by voting for John McCain in
seeing the first woman elected to the vice-presidency. It
was a very strategic move by John McCain.”
Evangelicals may not like John McCain, but they definitely
are favorable to Sarah Palin, the vice-presidential contender. If
McCain should die in office, Palin would lead the nation
and perhaps lead it in a more conservative way.
One of the surprising but inconsistent
points about Evangelicals and this election would be the
view of female submission. Richard Land, president of the
Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty
Commission, stated that a woman must be submissive in the
marriage relationship (cf. Ephesians 2:22-24; 1 Peter 3:1-2),
and also in the church context (1 Timothy 2:11-15; 3:1-2),
but she is free to exercise the supreme authority in the
land as a President or Vice-President! Oh,
consistency!
We do think that some Evangelicals are
a bit nervous about the fact that the norm for a woman is
in the home (cf. 1 Timothy 5:14; Titus 2:4-5), whereas Palin
would be required to spend vast amounts of time away from
home, and even in world travel. No
doubt some Evangelicals were also dismayed when they read
that Sarah Palin’s wardrobe for the campaign cost $150,000
(“Shopping Spree for Aalin Cost RNC $150,000, Fort
Worth Star-Telegram, Oct. 23, 2008).
Another point to consider is the matter
of creation. We
know that the Bible clearly teaches that God is Creator and
that He created heaven and earth—the entire universe—by His
power and wisdom, through Jesus Christ His Son. This
is a foundational truth throughout God’s inspired Word (see
Genesis 1:1-2, 26-27; John 1:1-4; Acts 17:24-31; Colossians
1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3).
If creation is true and evolutionary theories
are false (in fact, if they are a lie of Satan, the enemy
of our soul), then we must ask what the presidential contenders
believe about creation vs. evolution. Obama
clearly believes in evolution rather than fiat creation. While
in York County, Obama stated, “I believe in evolution, and
I believe there’s a difference between science and faith.” While
no specific statement of Biden is available, Democrat James
Carville made this statement on CNN: “Every Democratic candidate
believes in evolution.” John
McCain also believes in evolution, though he would add that
God was involved in the process. Apparently
Sarah Palin alone is a creationist, according to what we
discover. If
all of this is true, Evangelicals find themselves choosing
between two evolutionists for the United States presidency!
The point here is that professing Christians
are in a dilemma regarding the election. They
surely do not want to see Obama and Biden elected, but neither
are they happy with McCain, and maybe a few have reservations
about Palin. We
think that many of the votes for McCain will come from those
who simply refuse to accept the idea of Obama being president,
with his liberal agenda and moral compromises. Thus,
they are willing to vote for the opposition. This
is not a good situation to experience!
While Obama has the decided lead at this
point, we don’t know for sure who will have the White House
as his next home. Only
God infallibly knows. The
true Christian, however, knows that whoever God chooses to
install into this highest office of the nation, will be one
whom God can work through in His providence and power.
The pagan King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream
and heard this grand statement: “This sentence is by the
decree of the angelic watchers and the decision is a command
of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the
Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows
it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men” (Daniel
4:17; see also vv. 25, 32, 34-35; 5:18, 21). This
will be true whatever the result of this political election. God,
the Most High, will be the ruler over the realm of mankind
and He will work through any unbeliever who fills the highest
office of America. This
should give us some comfort in the midst of political agendas
and rancorous battles.
Richard
Hollerman
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